Hurt my back. GP today or tomorrow?

[PavlovtheCat]

I have hurt my back. Second time in 6 months. about a week ago I went to lift DS high up in the air while walking on a slope, did not bend down far, bent legs, and woosh into the air, only half way up and a searing burning pain shot across my back. I managed to walk to the car (DH took DS from me) and it got steadily worse and worse as the afternoon and evening wore on, shooting pains down legs in particular right leg, right to calf/foot. A good rest/sleep and some ibruprofen and it was ok the next day.

Not brilliant. Just ok, I could do stuff as normal, just been more cautious/careful with lifting as it jars more easily, and by the evening my posture has been more bent. Been able to continue with rough and tumble for the most part. And every so often I have taken ibruprofen to ease it. And instead of burning, mostly experiencing nerve pain down leg.

However, yesterday, I pulled it again, not even sure what I was doing. And since then it has got steadily worse again. I now cannot stand straight and struggle to move without legs apart John Wayne style. It burns, and the pain is eminating into my organs (so it feels anyway) and sharp nerve pain down legs. I forget as it eases and twist the wrong way, end up doubled in pain. After sitting for a short while, I am unable to move at all after standing (if you can call it that!).

I have had this before, but much much worse than this, so i feel a bit like a fraud as I know I am lucky. Last time, I could not move for several days without screaming in pain. I could not get up for the loo even.

My problem is whether I should just brave it out today or call out of hours GP. Last time, out of hours gp spoke to me on the phone and gave me prescription for codeine/paracetamol/ibruprofen combo, sent it straight to pharmacy and DH collected (sunday). I could wait til morning, go to gp but it gets complicated. I won't be able to go to work as it is open surgery so you wait for as long as the whole morning. I need to get there for 8:45am and DH has to drop DD off at school. I can't drive. I won't be able to sleep tonight as ibruprofen is not touching it.

If I call ooh gp, i could get prescription and take it tonight, and be (hopefully) ok for work tomorrow as normal as it will have kicked in by then.

ok called for some advice to see if gp can prescribe anything or suggest something to buy over counter that might help. I would prefer not to miss work tomorrow. Have a busy day. As it is now, unable to move enough to do my job, but if I can get some anti-imflammatory that works better than ibruprofen i should be ok for work ...

spoke to ooh and he is faxing a prescription to ooh pharmacy. He said it is likely a disc problem, pressing on my sciatic nerve hence reoccuring.

Marvelous.

not good - have a

You need to not do anything at work which will aggravate your back. Also, he's likely to be prescribing something like co-codamol or stronger and it'll make you floaty. Best of luck to you, back pain is fecking vile. x

thevisitor he has prescribed 2 x 15mg codeine 3 x daily ! plus 400mg ibruprofen and max dose paracetamol whatever that is.

I don't necessarily do exercise at work. It is an office job but i see clients so do a lot of up and down at my desk, interview desks walking across floors, up and down stairs, generally marching around in a rush! I found last time, as it all started getting better the walking around bit was ok, once I started walking, but getting from sitting to standing was terrible and I walked with a hunchback for at least 5 mins first, sometimes longer, every time I got moving. Not a good look for my clients! And floaty - well, my job might be better if I feel floaty

sharbie thank you

The worst thing about the back pain is that momentary respite, which means you forget, then reach or bend, or stand or generally move without thinking, followed by absolute agony.

In the middle of the night I sneezed really hard, immediately proceeded by a very loud yelp of pain. that really hurt. So nex time I sneezed (this morning several times) I had to prepare myself and bend forward and bend knees and try to do it slowly !

I'm so glad my back is healed! Might be worth a visit to an osteopath to get it all clicked back into place. Mine has been great since I got sorted 2 years ago.

thevisitor oh that involves money which have no spare of right now for frivolitoties such as private healthcare! as much as I would love to...maybe if it continues for a while, i shall forfeit getting my hair done!

Codeine - yes, well lets just say I am glad I only took one today just before work! I was rather space cadet and felt a little like I was slurring at work ! I kept my head down and avoided conversation for an hour or so! It took the edge of my back, but did not stop the leg twinges. I would get up and sort of gingerly move about for a while, start to get mobile then need to sit down for work then it started all over again! Now after looking after 15 month all afternoon lifting and moving awkwardly I am in a fair bit of discomfort .

lots of fibre and fluids if you are on codeine. It is rather good at ;slowing things down'.

oh yes I have read that, thanks for reminding though, I would not have remembered that is not going to help back pain is it?!

Just to say, I've never needed more than 2 sessions with the osteopath, and I feel your pain financially, as I could afford it right now if needed. I'm also space cadet today due to amitriptyline and naproxen. It's rather nice. On a serious note, you could probably do with a couple of days off sick from work if you can. You need to take the full dose of codeine to feel better.

No can do re work. Not now anyway. I have been told today I am facilitating a group tomorrow, with a co-facilitator who has not run it before and only ever run one group and she is a tad nervous. I can't let them down as there is no-one else to do it. Also have a lot of other work to do that just simply cannot wait. Also rather pleased that I have had no time off sick since beginning of november and want to keep it that way if I can!

I have taken max does of paracetamol (1000mg) too much ibruprofen (800mg, took two absentmindedly thinking they were 200mg each, not the 400mg they actually were!) and 30mg of codeine. I feel a bit spaced, but the pain down the leg is not really subsiding much...

Funnily enough, I am most comfortable sat on the sofa cross-legged. You would think that would make it worse wouldn't you?