15-year-old hurt back at gym, severe pain, go to minor injuries?

[KurtCobainLover]

DS 15 was trying to get a PB at leg press in the gym yesterday and ended up wrenching his back quite badly and can’t walk barely walk. He’s a bit better this morning but still puts the pain at 7/8 despite paracetamol and ibuprofen. Would you take him to minor injuries to get checked or ride it out?

He’s not going to to school today and minor injuries is a 10 mins drive away.

I would be more inclined to find an osteopath/chiropractor or physio to look at it.

Yes - this is a new acute injury and I imagine he was lifting heavy - there are risks with big weights involved. Minor injuries and ideally you need to get him in private physio (possibly see an osteopath if you can get a recommendation).

I lift heavy and have two kids in sport, but am not a medic.

It’s hopefully just a muscle spasm but minor injuries might prescribe you stronger anti inflammatories/painkillers. A GP could also do that, if you can get an appointment.

Otherwise agree with physio option.

I probably wouldn't. I'd lce/heat depending on which he prefers, carry on with pain meds and encourage as much movement as he can and see how it goes for a day. I can't imagine sitting in minor injuries for hours will be a nice experience!

Our GP practice allows self-referral to a physio . Could you check whether yours does? I would do that so they can 1) give stretches to recover and 2) help your lad lift sensibly. Hope he feels better soon. Did he do too much too soon?

I’d book an oestopath and ask GP for better pain relief.

Thank you all. I don’t think I’ll be able to get him a GP appointment today and unfortunately can’t afford private physio / osteopath. I think MIU can’t refer him so will ask. It’s not too bad of a wait there if you go in the morning so I’m hoping we won’t be sitting around for hours.

Physio will help, but go see someone today who can refer for x ray or scan as that will help plan treatment and recovery.

GPs and minor injuries / A+E are absolutely useless for any muscular / back injuries in my experience. They're just not set up to deal with anything like this. I agree with other people saying to find a good physio.

I had costochondritis and went to see GP and A&E as it was absolute agony. They were useless. Physio diagnosed it in about 5 seconds.

Agree with others that they probably won’t do much for muscle/back pain. In January I ended up in A&E with severe back pain (the last time was blue light) but got dismissed each time (although I was kept in overnight each time dosed up on morphine trying to sleep on a trolly in corridors (not idea whilst on chemo) after the 3rd time (and ambulance) they discovered 2 blood clots on my lungs! (Obvs this won’t be the case for your son) but it’s just seen as pain and not a lot they can do?

It sounds most likely muscular, so scans etc won’t be much use. Our GP can refer to physio/ osteopath. Is it worth giving yours a call and seeing what they can do? Even if it’s stronger painkillers while ice and rest do their job? It’s a lottery with GPs isn’t it. We’re lucky that ours will triage same day stuff and will call back for something like this.

Rest, ice, anti inflammatories. Contact gp on Monday if pain hasn't significantly reduced. Ask for physio. Any reputable massage therapist/osteopath/chiropractor will not touch him for a minimum of three days after an injury. Minor injuries can't do anything for muscular problems.

As a physio, take him to minor injuries. And avoid going anywhere near a chiropractor.

You can get OTC codeine and paracetamol tablets combined, that'll help the muscle spasms. See if minor injuries will give him codeine or a stronger anti-inflammatory like naproxen. Rest for a few days, then use heat patches as the movement will ease the pain.

Minor injuries 100%. Fellow gym injury sufferer here and ended up with herniated discs and spinal cord indentation. From something as simple as going to the gym. GP told me muscle spasm but ended up herniated discs. Better safe than sorry. I’d push for mri.

He's 15 and no one on here can say what he has done. He needs a proper diagnosis. I would go to A&E or if you have one any urgent care centre that can at least X-ray. For all we know he could have fractured something (yes not likely but possible). Get him seem properly. The wait is irrelevant!

You dont need minor injuries OP! The injury is barely 24 hrs old so it's bound to be painful. The recommended course of action is to maintain gentle movement, OTC paracetamol and ibuprofen with regular ice or heat pack as helps.

Monitor for 'red flags' - sudden change in bladder or bowel movements, numbness in the saddle area and get a referral for the NHS Osteo or Physio. The likelihood is its a soft tissue injury and will improve over the week.

Hope it went well. Glad you decided to go to minor injuries.

An osteopath is about £50 is there no way you can pay that? It is the best treatment

Sorry, I forgot to update yesterday. We went to minor injuries who were great and prodded and poked him a lot. They arranged a codeine prescription (and some laxatives in case he needs them!). They also referred him for physio - they said it would be a months wait which is less than I was expecting.

In the meantime no gym for a month and when he does go back he’s got to start with lower weights on his legs which he isn’t happy with.

Thank you for your replies, I was scared by how much pain he was in.