Hurt my back - GP or wait it out?

[ASecretLemonadeDrinker]

I often have an achey back, mostly doing nappies etc. that I am pretty sure is down to my size & my boobs (GG). This is mainly lower back. However, on fri night I (think I)turned round to take baby from dh who was stood behind me (twisted round, I was sitting) and after that I have had really bad upper back pain, between spine & right shoulder blade. I couldnt move my right arm all night without pain, sleeping was agony but I thought it would go away. It has got abit better, but is still painful. When dh touched the area is was painful too. driving hurts but I have sachool run with 3 tomorrow (4, 2 & 4m) so lots of lifting and carrying. do things like this settle or do i need to see gp? (sorry about typing - BFing) thanks :)

usually 3 days for a bad back - keeping moving is good

I went to the GP just to check that it wasn't anything serious - 3 days!!! I'm into the 4th week.

4 weeks how do you cope? I am used to my generic 'bad back' but this is so painful and in one small area - feels like someone smacked me in the back with a hammer.

lower back can sometimes be about 6 weeks web is that where yours is?

Yes its lower back - its better than it was in the first week when I had to be hauled out of bed by DH in the mornings or I'd be stuck there all day.

bad backs are just grim

I have found that religiously taking ibroprufen/diclonfenac ( sp )every 4 hours really does help .
I guess ( aside from pain relief ) it must reduce inflamation and aid healing .

thanks, might try that, seems to be flairing up :(

Go and see an osteopath and don;t bother with the GP - they are crap about bad backs - you need someone who knows what they are talking about - mine told me to keep it warm, lots of lovely long warm baths and take ibuprofen/diclofenic etc. A month later I was crippled and after 2 trips to osteo was all better (oh and he said warm baths were worst thing for it - cold bags of peas was the way I should have gone!)

Yes, I second that - see an osteopath and don't trouble the GP unless you want painkillers.

do you have to pay for osteopaths? And how do you go about seeing one? Thanks :)

Sadly yes, unless you have private medical insurance or your GP refers to (massive waiting lists though I would guess).

This site tells you all the osteos in your area. I can't rate them highly enough. Cost depends on area..I pay £40 a session, worth every penny.

i saw one once (and paid £35) and had accupuncture from him - didn't make the slightest difference still took 3 days to get better.

You just ring one and make an appointment, no need for a referral.

are sessions weekly? I stopped my bupa :( Thanks for the link :)

You had acupuncture from an osteopath? Are you sure? They do massage and manipulations - I've nevr heard of anyone offering acupuncture.

You go as often as you need/can afford. Acute pain usually needs a couple of sessions relatively close together, then they get less often say once a week then once a fortnight, once a month, every 2 months etc until you are better.

maybe a chiropracter then, one or the other

Alot of osteos offer dry needling ( a form of acupuncture) It helps with relieving spasm and enables them access to the joints which may be "blocked" by muscle spasm.

spelling argh

Ah, as long as it isn't a few times a week Thanks alot, found a few near me, I will have to wait a week until DH gets paid :( but one offers pilates too thanks!

Oh I never knew that! No one has ever come at me with a needle before..very wise!

Doesn't hurt, I love it!

Hmmmmmmmmmmm

I occasionally do my back in - usually by twisting like OP - and I head straight to Dr Pill-Happy at my surgery (the Dr I usually avoid as he's completely unsympathetic and throws vast quantities of drugs at every problem). He gives me the best painkillers known to humanity and they blitz the pain - which then means I can move around and do things and the back gets better in a few days.

I have had acupuncture in the past too which actually seemed to work well, but Dr Pill-Happy's method is cheaper and works. I think it's very strong co-codamol (30/500) he gives me.