To want some actual treatment from GP

[Backpain2026]

A few days ago I woke up in agonising pain all over my back, could barely move. Felt like childbirth pain but in my back from neck to top of thigh. Crying with pain.

Saw GP who prescribed painkillers, diazepam, naproxen and codeine.

Been a couple of days and the combination of painkillers is controlling the pain so I'm not crying but I can't do anything.

Nor do I have any idea what caused the back pain in the first place. No obvious trigger, I didn't lift anything or do anything odd.

The GP just said to take painkillers until it stops hurting but no indication of how long that will be.

I obviously haven't been able to work as I can't move, and I really need to get back to work.

And I.want to know what triggered it, so it doesn't happen again.

So does anyone know how long muscle spasms take to calm down.

And is there anything more I can ask the GP for? Who should I ask for a referral to?

I'm in pain and confused, so would appreciate advice from anyone who had similar

Can you get to an osteopath?
How scary for you. And frustrating. I hope it eases soon.

I think it’s probably difficult for a GP to pinpoint a cause at a consultation when it’s a back pain/muscular issue - you’d be better off going to A&E where you may be x-rayed or scanned to see if there’s a trapped nerve/disc issue/fracture!

GPs aren’t orthopaedic or neurological specialists. At the moment, the most sensible thing to do is to see if it calms down. If it doesn’t, they can refer you, but the waiting time to see a hospital consultant for a non-life threatening condition (not cancer) is likely to be in the 9-18 month range. When I’ve had similar from a trapped nerve, it did get better in a few days. I would absolutely take the suggestion to see an osteopath though. Mine is truly a miracle worker when it comes to back pain. Alternatively, you can see someone privately, but they’d probably want to send you for scans and on top of £200 per appointment, you’d be looking at probably £600-800 for a CT scan, more for an MRI. I’d hang out and see if it went away before shelling out that sort of money.

I agree and tbh I have known a family member consult an osteopath after being fobbed off by the GP who has then rung the GP themselves with a precise diagnosis and the GP then arranged a same day follow up hospital appointment. You never know.

I suffer with back pain that seems to come out of nowhere and would recommend seeing a physio asap. Last time mine got me from being unable lift my feet off the floor, sit down or move my back at all to functioning relatively normally in a couple of sessions (and then focused on giving me stretches to prevent it happening again).

I would also push your GP for a referral for an MRI if it persists (mine showed some unfortunately unfixable damage from pregnancies but gave my physio information on what to focus on).

I know it’s miserable, I hope you feel better soon.

A GP is limited for what she can provide by way of treatment beyond prescribing routine medicines and making referrals to specialist services.

Your NHS trust will probably have a pain management service which you could ask for referral to but that would normally not be triggered until you have been living with the pain for a significant time.

To narrow down what might be causing the pain - does it get worse or better as you try to move around? Do you think any of these potential common causes for Morning Back Pain are more or less likely than others? You can ask your GP for tests to identify which of 2-4 might be present if you are sure it isn't #1 which you can improve with self-care.

Muscle/Ligament Strain: Often due to poor sleeping posture, improper lifting the previous day, or a worn-out mattress.
Herniated/Bulging Disc: The cushioning discs between vertebrae press on nerves, with pain often worse in the morning due to overnight inactivity.
Arthritis or Spinal Stenosis: Inflammatory, age-related wear on the spine can cause stiffness and pain upon waking.
Sciatica: A compressed nerve causing intense, shooting pain from the lower back down the leg

Thanks all. I know GPs are specialists but wasn't sure if they could refer for a scan or something to see what was causing it.

The pain level is just really high and I didn't know if it would be okay to see an osteopath or physio when still in so much pain

Could it be kidney stones? That pain sounds very severe.

Honestly a scan probably won't tell you much at this point. People can have scans that show disc bulges and be in no pain and the same bulge can trigger huge pain on another person. It's typically symptoms based diagnosis.
You need to get to the point where things calm enough to get treatment. Are you taking these meds normally the diazepam should help. Do not sit at all, lie or stand. Can you get to a specialist physio or osteo? Definitely find a physio who is specialised in backs.
You need to take the anti inflammatory according to the prescription not the pain ie it builds up over time so it's not going to help if you stop or change the schedule.
I find a heat pad helps too or hot water bottle

I have a scoliosis of the spine and also had the misfortune of and this is not the correct term but I popped 3 discs in my back hauling DH in to the recovery position when he knocked himself unconscious about 18 months ago.

As someone who has managed a spine condition all my life osteopaths and physiotherapists are worth paying out for. The only time I tried a chiropractor I now regret and they are not recognised by the NHS.

I agree about seeing a physiotherapist, it will cost you about £60, so I hope that is affordable. The time I saw a physiotherapist last I could just about manage to walk to the bathroom it was excruciating . Try laying in a bath of deep water I do this as it is a bit weightless.

@Backpain2026 if you ring the osteopath's office and explain they'll advise. The receptionist will be trained to know. Or they'll ask the osteopath and get back to you.
I've been so bad before dh had to wipe my arse! Don't know what I'd have done if I'd lived alone? Osteopath worked miracles. I had exercises to do at home too.

@Backpain2026 do you have a tens machine? I've found them very helpful too.

When my son was having trouble with his back like you he went to see a Sports Physiotherapist. He fixed DS back in one session . DS had previously attended an osteopath who wasn’t able to help .

Mine was usually last straw, so I would do something really trivial like walking upstairs and my back would seize up completely and I would have to just stand there until I could gingerly get to the top. If I thought back a few days I would find I had been lifting things I probably shouldn't have or doing some really heavy work but it had been fine at the time. Usually resolved itself in a few days, but very iffy for weeks or months afterwards.

Go see a physio.
they usually have good advice.

The two things to do are: 1) try and relax as much as possible and detach from any worries about it - these just prolong the spasm. You need the mind and body to relax for the muscles to relax and for the pain to go. Also, take any Diazepam they offer, don't try and wing it without, it's the best thing for relaxing muscles.

And 2) see a physio, who will be much more competent than the GP to diagnose the actual problem, and give you a treatment plan to get you out of this acute phase and make sure it doesn't happen again.

They should at least try to identify whether it is muscular/skeletal or possibly caused by something internal.

I assume they've done that and decided it was the former. In that case, they will give you painkillers and wait and see because these things may settle down.

If it continues you need to go back and they can refer you onto a physio / pain management pathway for more investigation and treatment.

Back pain can be extremely painful so my sympathies. I hope you get better soon.

Some surgeries have first contact physios, if your GP diagnosed you with a muscular back problem they could be worth seeing, or ask for a referral to msk physio or orthopedic team.

Most causes of back pain just needs time, progressive gentle exercise, appropriate analgesia to get better - scans etc not required/pain would be expected to resolve before the wait time for said scan. GP would have screened for things that would warrant further testing but if your symptoms worsen/progress, or aren't improving over 4-6weeks then return.

GPs appear to be crap with pain. My husband has been in pain for 7 months now and has been signed off work for a month. It took until I went in with him last week for them to even do any scans or tests. They just kept telling him it would probably go away and to give it another month.

Thanks all. For those who have suffered similarly, any idea how long this agony stage will last?

I obviously haven't gone to work yesterday or today but need to give them.some indication.

I can barely type here let alone use my brain

I'd say if it's not a slipped disc then 2 weeks for recovery. If it is then 3 months. When I aay recovery I mean back to almost normal, able to function without too many issues.

Acute pain shouldn't be lasting more than a few days, given appropriate meds (diazepam etc). If not working, then ask GP if you can increase the dosage.

Go and see a physio privately. Unless you’re in the UK and your NHS GP surgery has a physio in it ? NHS Physio access varies hugely access the UK.

This is a good resource about back pain:
https://sheffieldachesandpains.com/pain-type/back-pain/

Another good one here:
https://www.nhsinform.scot/illnesses-and-conditions/muscle-bone-and-joints/neck-and-back-problems-and-conditions/back-problems/

Most back pain flares should be settling by about 6 weeks - but you GP should have given guidance about when they'd want to see you again/new symptoms & worsening. The NHS inform site lists some ot the 'red flags' for which you should definitely return.

Knowing the guidance im surprised you're suggesting your GP hasnt treated you. That's quite an extensive prescription, diazepam isn't actually recommended anymore in guidance for back spasms/considered that patients should manage without so they've gone further than most. I suppose a physio referral for guidance on strengthen exercises to promote recovery would have been beneficial if this wasn't offered maybe the waits are very extensive in your area.

In most cases scans don't change management so they're not really chased down unless there is an indication in your history/how you're presenting.

That's like asking how long is a piece of string.

Get thee to a physio, and then go from there. Flare ups start as if by magic, but can stop just as quick.

Did the Dr prescribe any anti-inflammatories? That's what used to help me.

Another voting for physio or osteopath, but remember the diazepam IS treatment. It's a really effective muscle relaxant so will help treat muscle spasms.