Would you go to the DR's with a strained back?

[KateShmate]

Am asking because am not really sure what to do.
This morning, at breakfast time, was wiping one of my DD's faces and something in my lower back just went Twang and I nearly screamed - pain was ridiculous. Found myself short of breath and not being able to breathe properly because of the pain.
Eased off slightly after sitting down (slowly and carefully) and thought that it must be a trapped nerve, so expected it to go soon.... but it never did/has.
After taking some pain relief at about 9am, at 10 I had to get someone to come over and help with childcare as I was in so much pain.
Have been putting heat packs on all day and that has eased it off a bit - standing up straight is absolutely fine (although have to arch my back to make it comfortable) but leaning forward is horrendous. When sitting down, if I arch my lower back, that causes a large amount of pain too.
Finally sitting down properly after putting DD's to bed, DH ran me a hot bath but after relaxing on sofa for 15 mins, I was in tears trying to get up as my back had seized right up. Am now panicking that in the morning I literally won't be able to move. Am now alternating with ice (which weirdly doesnt feel cold) and heat packs.
Now, DH says that I really need to go to the Dr's in the morning - but personally I dont think that a doctor will be able to do anything. I suspect that they will tell me to carry on with ice/heat and to rest but keep moving it. Would they even give me any pain relief stronger than ibuprofen/paracetamol - it is only a pulled muscle at the end of the day, albeit a severely pulled and extremely painful one.
Thanks for reading

I'd go, in the hope of stronger pain killers (who wants to be in an aching mess over Xmas?) and proper advice on what best to do (I know a lot about what goes wrong with my back, but wouldn't like to venture an opinion on yours).

If it's the first time Your back has done this, then I think it is especially important to get advice from a qualified professional.

Sounds like it definitely needs to be looked at - call doctor in the morning and have them come out for a home visit if it is that bad. You need stronger than paracetamol - co-codamol at least, I would have thought. When my back went suddenly it was agonising (muscular, underneath ribcage) and the doctor came out with pain-relief and diazepam. You will need to rest, rest and rest. Hope you're feeling better soon.

It is possible that you may have some degree of slipped a disc, particularly if you heard a twang / pop.
There is remarkably little that can be done for this, so it is up to you, but you could definitely get a prescription for some much stronger painkillers, possibly some muscle relaxants too. You may get a referral to a physio too.
If it is a slipped disc, then you should really try to rest it and lie flat. If it is a pulled muscle, then you are right you should keep moving.
I'm not a doctor, but have both slipped a disc & pulled muscles. My instinct is that if the pain was really that excruiciating that quickly, you have probably slipped a disc - possibly not fully but maybe partially.

I would do three things (seasoned lower-back twanger here )

1. Ice your back rather than use heat; this is better whenmuscles are in spasm. Frozen peas are good.

1. Go to doctors and get diclofenac (Voltarol) on prescription.

1. Go to see an osteopath. Pricy, but worth every last penny.

Hope you get some relief soon, it's awful.

Thank you for the replies -
tethers Have just started using ice and couldnt believe the difference it made! Really numbed it all - although was very strange as I couldnt feel any coldness on my lower back on the right.

Edith - exactly what I was thinking - normally would just ache it out, but I am not going to be bed-ridden/sofa-ridden over Xmas. Am worrying slightly that the Dr's Surgery is going to be ridiculously busy tomorrow as its probably the last day they are open before Xmas; or do you think they may be open Xmas eve?

Post I didnt hear the twang, but it kind of went twang - I didn't suddenly stand up quickly and pull something. I was wiping my DD's faces and was bent at the waist for a few minutes doing this, didnt move any differently when it suddenly just went.

Thank you again, I will try to get an appt - but like I mentioned earlier, am worried now that I won't be able to get a bloody appt because everyone and their uncle has realized its probably the last day that the surgery will be open for a few days.

Honestly, if you can afford it, ring an osteopath tomorrow and get a same day appointment.

They will be able to accurately diagnose, and hopefully treat the problem. I really can't sing their praises enough.

Also, you can get Voltarol over the counter if you can't see the doc; it's the best painkiller for me when my back goes.

How you getting on today Kate? I hope you've been able to get a doctor's appointment.

Second vote for emergency osteopath appointment. I did something similar a couple of years ago and GP just told me to take Nurofen Plus. It helps because it is anti-inflammatory and contains codeine too but it doesn't resolve the situation. I practically skipped away from the osteopath's office after one treatment, having been unable to sit, stand, or lay comfortably for days on end.

Thanks for coming to check up on me Post!
Was really lucky and managed to get an appt this morning - unfortunately my usual horrible Doctor wasn't there so I got a lovely one. I was in there a good half hour whilst she did loads of tests and felt around my back and made sure nothing was numb.
Have been given Diazepam to relieve the muscle spasm, some co-codamol for the pain and also some extra extra strong ibuprofen that I can take with the co-co-codamol. Took them as soon as I got home from DR's, (about 11.30) and feeling much better already!
Been told to carry on resting it, but every half hour swap the ice/heat and when I do, just move about and stretch it slightly to keep it moving.

Anyone been on diazepam before? Dr said that sometimes can make you feel a bit funny and drowsy.. will it relax all my muscles?

Tethers and uj thank you for the advice - am getting on okay with the painkillers, DR said that it should feel much, much better by Sunday. But decided that if its not getting better by Tuesday then I will seek out an osteopath!

I would go to see an osteopath. I adore mibe, she normally sorts me out after 3-4 treatments, yesterday she tortured me 'so im ok until after xmas' today i feel better than i have in weeks, no headache, no neck pain, no hip pain.

Really osteopath is the way to go, most are still working, mine is even working tomorrow mirning

Painkillers are not sorting your problem though, just masking the pain

Diazepam can make you feel a little shaky, iirc. Sounds like a mega dose of painkillers though. Watch your tummy on the ibuprofen. It can cause upset.

Only if you need stronger painkillers, eg tramadol, and/or are willing to pay for private physio.

Glad you got to the GP Kate.
I have a stash of diazepam - wonderful stuff. You will probably have been given 2mg or 5mg, which is a fairly low dose. It makes me feel a bit drowsy, so I usually try to keep it for bed time.
Second what others have said about the voltarol, it is harsh on the stomach. I only take it when really, really desperate but I have also been able to get quite a strong prescription gel (might be available over the counter too), which means you get pain relief without the heavy toll on your stomach. The co-codamols / co-dydramols are great and I never go anywhere without them.
I found a very good physio, who has really helped me. I have a whole series of exercises I can do to relieve any pain I get & she has also taught me lots of pilates exercises to do to strengthen my core & therefore use my muscles rather than my spine.
Even though the pain killers will keep you going, try to spend time lying flat if at all possible and be very, very careful about lifting things.

Thank you PBB :) Feeling much better!
You're right - Diazepam is amazing stuff! Was given 2mg 4X a day - low dose, but certainly does the job! Took them at 11ish and actually slept for 2 hours at about 1pm because I was so tired from last night - it was horrendous, I kept waking up and my back had completely seized up. To stop it seizing obviously I have to keep moving and not stay in the same position - but I couldnt move to a different position because it had seized up! Was a very painful circle!
Have been taking ibuprofen between the Co-codamols - Co-codamols are every 6 hours, so 3 hours after taking them I take 1 ibuprofen just to 'top it up'.
Do you really find the gels good? I've only had a cheapy ibuprofen gel before and doesn't feel like it makes any difference at all - maybe I need to get a better one.. can you steer me towards any good over-the-counter ones?
Have been meaning to look into Pilates for a while - am just so bloody busy, after putting 5 DD's to bed, I honestly haven't got the will power to go to a Pilates class - maybe this will give me the kick in the right direction, because I know that I need to do it to help in the long run.
Thank you for all the advice Post - has been brilliant :)

I had something similar happen to me and it turned out it was a trapped nerve. If you can afford it, I'd highly recommend you visit an osteopath. Once you trap a nerve, it can happen again and boy, does it hurt!

Be careful with the gels if you're taking ibuprofen btw, check with your pharmacist.

Hope you're feeling a bit better and not too floaty on the diaz! It made me feel like I was flying. I lay on my bedroom floor and made 'snow angels'.

Oh and Merry Christmas Eve.

crashdoll ha ha ha!! Snow angels! Am on quite a low dose so haven't been flying too high! Although feeling very 'day dreamy' and got very heavy eyes so looks like I'm high on something else!
Have swapped ibuprofen tablets for some decent gel today and so using that instead of taking the pills.

Merry Christmas Eve to you too Crash - all very very exciting in our house

For anyone that can help, if its just a badly pulled muscle - can you sometimes feel it in your back? Right in my lower back I can feel a kind of 'knot' thats very hard and really painful - is this just some muscle? Sorry if its a silly questions!

Hope you're feeling better very sood. Muscle spasms can feel just like a knot in your back in my experience.

Can I second, or third even, osteopathy? But I see a traditional osteopath not one of the 'crunchers and clickers'. Since surgery for a prolapsed disc with cord compression, the traditional osteopath has got me relatively pain-free which no-one else has achieved. Worth finding one if you can.