24/7 pain - lower back

[Poorlymumneedssleep]

Hello all 👋

I’m looking for advice and just general guidance as I feel at a loss? I’m a 29F, mother to a wild 2 year old DD.

3 months ago I lifted our huge pram in a very awkward position, through a very small space and when I put it down.. well I’m sure you can guess lol.

Back seized. I didn’t panic, I’ve had some very small episodes of acute back pain before that resolved super quick, so I kept on working, kept on going and continued daily life (hindsight is wonderful). This was following all NHS guidance.

After 3 weeks of grinning through the pain (which was just on the right side of the lower back) I decided enough was enough. I was working (I’m a therapist, so I have to sit!) and the pain became worse than giving birth. It completely floored me and I ended up going off sick for 6 weeks, 3 of those spent resting as I couldn’t stand for more than 1 minute. I was bed bound pretty much and my entire body was weak and exhausted.

During that time my symptoms started down the leg, groin etc, tingling and numbness in both legs and in toes/feet. Sitting was unbearable and I couldn’t walk for more than 10 minutes without collapsing. It was like my back was on fire.

I’ve spoken to several doctors, had an A&E visit, and generally just been turned away and given more pain meds or ignored. I’m on the waiting list for an MRI which could take 6 months or more. Everyone’s best guesses are that it’s a disc issue? But who knows 🤷‍♀️

I’ve been disciplined and tried my best to keep going and build up my strength and resilience. I have a little one so I don’t have much choice but to keep going and push through the agony.

To date I think I’m doing better but im in pain 24/7. I’m managing between 5-8k steps a day, I can stand for about 15 minutes but sitting down is still pretty bad. It’s agony and after 20 mins or so both my legs go to sleep and tingle.

Currently:
-pain in the bottom of my back, mainly in and around the butt cheeks, the sides vary
-pain when pressure is applied
-tingling/itchy skin
-stabbing pain in my SI joints/buttocks/hips
-walking sometimes helps, sometimes it doesn’t and I get horrific stabbing pain
-driving is pretty awful
-doing basic things like cooking, cleaning, caring for my DD, bathing her, changing her etc are very very difficult and it completely floors me
-sometimes I’m stiff in the morning sometimes I’m not
-sometimes I feel like my joints are just going to give way and I can’t weight bare, this always feel really random and scary
-soreness after bending
-difficulty staying on my feet for longer than 30 minutes max
-I’ve done NHS physio and private physio. Currently waiting for hydrotherapy referral.
-tried loads of pain meds with nasty side effects so currently on max dose of paracetamol and ibuprofen and amytriptyline at night
-using heat pad and hot water bottle
-doing strengthening exercises for core, glutes and back such as bridges but some days this is too difficult

I’ve been back and forwards to the docs with little to no avail. They’re not really concerned and aren’t very helpful but as a busy working mum (I’m working the bare minimum) this is really difficult and it’s upsetting me so much. I can’t go on days out with my kiddo, attend birthday parties, take her to the park or just do normal mum stuff. I don’t have much choice but to lift her etc so some actions I have to do.

Any advice, wisdom, encouragement would be great.

The option to go private is pretty small. I’m not sure if a private MRI would actually get me anywhere with the NHS. They only intervene if cauda equina is present.

Thank you for reading.

People love to hate on chiropractors but mine has got me out of this exact situation safely and quickly. When combined with Acupuncture it can be even more effective. Where are you based?

I’ve had a very bad herniated disc (twice) and it sounds like that. The instant pain sounds like the point of herniation. If I was you I would stop all exercises for now - when the disc herniates the muscles can sieze too. That all needs to relax and strengthening etc should be post immediate recovery. Find a good physio (I know from experience not all are equal!). The MRI is useful but wouldn’t necessarily change treatment route. Lots of rest initially and mckenzie exercises- and it’s a slow recovery 8-12 weeks. Your body needs to basically clean up any disc in the spinal canal. Also any pain in both legs straight to a&e - I had my MRI in a&e due to suspected cauda equina which needs urgent attention (i was marginally off that as my nerves weren’t fully compressed). And also heat and tens machine are useful. My electric blanket was my favourite thing. And my sympathies I have young children and it’s just beyond grim

Have you had muscle relaxants? Pain from back injuries often comes from referred pain from muscles in spasm. I have one troublesome muscle that guards by sacroiliac joint - if I don’t keep on top of it with regular stretching it quickly leads to absolutely torturous back pain.

the best therapy for chronic back pain I had was from a physio who had just been on a course about myofascial release - it was painful to go through but sorted me out. I had many of the symptoms you have constant pain.

definitely time to try something very different - I’m not a massive chiro fan myself and would recommend myofascial release, but there are options you’ve not explored yet.

good luck - I know how miserable it is!

I’ve thought about acupuncture - I’m not far from Exeter. I’ve read some physios do it but that are sometimes not as qualified as they should be to perform it.. do you know how I can find someone who is? TIA! X

No I haven’t had anything like that. I’ve often wondered if that would help. I’ve got a GP appt in a couple weeks so I might enquire about it. Would be interesting to see if it does help me!

Sorry to hear you’ve been through this more than once. The pain is so horrific isn’t it.
ive not necessarily got pain in both legs but they both tingle and go to sleep sometimes, especially after sitting. I mentioned this to my Gp who didn’t seem bothered at all.

Once the disc had herniated the pain was so unbearable I found it completely unmanageable. In the first few days to a week diazepam was the only thing that helped. In my experience (and not saying for all just my own personal experience) GPs had very limited understanding of disc issues. I saw a few (as don’t seem to have a dedicated one at my practice) the first time it happened and none of them suggested a disc issue. This was the time before I ended up in a&e so that time I was pretty much left to it with some coedine. After going to a couple of different a private physios (one said i had weak legs and had me doing walking down logs etc which in hindsight was absolutely the wrong thing and probably led to the completed herniation) I found a really good one who helped me recover. The second time was the emergency mri so skipped the GP bit and went straight to them prescribing painkillers relief and emergency nhs physio - luckily that physio was fabulous too. That was quite long winded but just to say it feels so so awful when you are in it, and I remember being scared that nobody seemed able to even tell
me what was wrong let alone help, but you will get better and heal, and I would definitely recommend seeking out the best care. It’s such a relief when you find someone who can help.

I’m deffo gonna enquire about the diazepam because I do feel pretty tensed up because I’m obviously holding myself differently trying to manage the pain and there will be a lot of muscle guarding! I’m glad that helped you when you experienced this. It feels like nothing helps at all sometimes.
do you mind me asking how long it took for you to feel better? I’m over 3 months into this. Do you have any exercise recommendations too? Thank you x

It was different stages so originally it just started with a sore and achy back then a couple of months later I developed sciatica. This then culminated in the herniation which the first time round I did during a stretch to try and ease off my muscles. From the onset of sore back to the fully blown herniation was four or so months. I think then it was 2-3 months recovery from the herniation to back to normal. The second time round was about the same but I ended up with foot drop which is 80% or so better but not sure if it will ever resolve now. Exercises in the early stages were mainly mckenzie so cobra etc and hanging to create space in the spine (pull up bar or even between chairs). The diazepam was definitely a god send and a week of it was enough to get me moving etc again as like you I was completely siezed up with the pain.

I second the recommendation to see a chiropractor. On my first visit I needed crutches, I am now back to driving again. It's taken a long time, but she had many years to undo.

I have had back pain since 2010. It started similar to you in that what seemed like a minor action (sorting the washing in my case), left me completely unable to move. Excruciating pain in my right lower back, which then radiated down my legs, similar to childbirth contractions but no bundle of joy afterwards, just an ambulance to A&E.

After 13 years of the NHS not making a difference (other than prescribing a bucket load of painkillers), I found an absolutely brilliant chiropractor. She also does acupuncture, but I can't say whether that helps or not - I feel better after each visit regardless of whether she uses needles or not! It is (was?) available on the NHS, but didn't work for me on it's own. Doesn't mean it won't for you, of course.

I would also recommend hydrotherapy once you are starting to improve. Exercising in warm water does wonders.
Diazepam is brilliant for getting you through the day, as is a hot water bottle.

Go easy on the exercises until you have been advised what is beneficial for you. Whilst it's good to maintain your core muscles you could inadvertently aggravate your problem by doing the wrong thing. I'm sure looking after your 2 y/o keeps you active enough!

Listen to your body - it is telling you what not to do. If sitting causes you agony, avoid it where possible; the same with walking more than you're comfortable with.

Good luck, I hope you find a treatment that works for you 💐