Can I get crutches from gp or local hosp? Back has gone badly

[PavlovtheCat]

Cannot move without holding on to the wall or furniture to take the weight. Having to take slow considered steps and even they are agony. Both searing back pain and sciatica. Cannot stand straight. I suffer from disc problems so guess one has 'popped'. Although it happened yesterday as I had a fever and very very sore nerves and muscles, pain in my back and I sweeped the floor and suddenly it was like someone took out my back with a big stick so maybe relates to this bug I have.

I have taken codeine and ibruprofen, ran out of paracetamol. So far not touched it but only taken half hour ago as I had to eat something first. yesterday too, co code mol and that did not really help so hoping codeine straight will do something.

Is it possible to get crutches to help me move around ? I can literally do nothing. The kids and I have had pombears for brekky as I can't get to the cereal and there is milk spilled which my 5yo dd cleared up. Pathetic, I need to have some movement.

Ok so now the children are eating grapes. An unconventional but healthy breakfast ! Ds in particular is making lots of his sing song eating noises and occasionally running up to me going 'these are yummy grapes mummy!!' so at least they are happy! But I still cannot move. I am scared of getting up. I am sat in a very strange sitting forward position on the sofa!

Do you have anyone to call to help? Call NHS Direct and see what they say. I'm not sure about the crutches but if you can't get them from GP / NHS then you can get them from your local medical loan centre.

Hope the drugs start working soon and that you get some relief.

It's going to be difficult to get equipment on a Sunday. I would go to A&E if you're able to, as out of hours are unlikely to be able to prescribe them even if they want to.

Is there anyone who can come and help you?

Pavlov, you need help....probably more than crutches. Have you and friends or family you can ring. You ought to go to a&e. I was like this one weekend last year and I was admitted for a week so they could do an urgent MRI and sort out better pain meds. Hope you're feeling better soon.

trip Dh is here in bed. He is tired from work and this his birthday lie in ( birthday tomorrow but work and school mean no lie in then) he will be up soon enough and give the children some proper brekky. But I have not been able to do his birthday breakfast, clean the kitchen and even when he gets up I won't be able to move. He will grumpily that his celebrations have been ruined and fair enough sort the kids not an issue there. I feel a fraud going to A&E as I know what is likely wrong. If I lose function in my bowels or bladder or my foot goes numb I need to get up there quick smart but that has not happened so no real need. Unless I cannot get the pain under control, but a few hours of taking anti inflammatories should help, just will take all day to get in my system.

I think under the circs your DH's birthday lie-in needs to be postponed, sorry.

A&E may be able to get you some crutches was my thinking. But call NHS Direct for advice. Your pain and loss of movement sound severe.

viva I had an MRI about a month ago. It showed several disc bulges but I could not make the osteo appt this week to discuss in detail where and how and why. Was told on the phone no nerve entrapment as have suffered from sciatic pain since Christmas when it last went. But no pain like this since Christmas.

Ds aged 2 is hanging on my neck casually kicking into my back I have actually screeched at him. It took several attempts and dd pulling him for him to get off.

I hate this.

Funny thing is. I gotto go upstairs to wake him up! And can't get up...

Poor you, and poor ds. I think you need to send him and dd upstairs to tell your DH he needs to get up.

I'd try A&E. They'll have crutches on the premises, OOH is very unlikely to. Hope you get sorted soon OP.

Pav - you need to be flat on your back in bed, your DH will just have to accept at this point your need is greater than his. DH is 9 weeks into recovering from a slipped disc and for the first 4 weeks was told lying down or standing up only by the consultant. No sitting for longer than 10 mins, the journey to A&E nearly was a riot of tears (his) swearing (his and mine) and yelling (him). No crutches just bedrest, tramadol, muscle relaxants.

My best advice is go to a&e - even call an ambulance if you don't think you can get in the car.
when I injured my back it took four adults to get me onto the ambulance trolley. There was no way I could have got into a car. I now use two walking sticks or a Zimmer frame.

Once in a&e they will process you and get you in the system and at least give you painkillers.

There will be disability places where you can hire equipment, and some chemists also rent equipment.

I sent DD upstairs to get DH up about an hour ago. it took me 10 mins to get the courage to get up, 10 mins to get upstairs, in agony. I then needed a wee! luckily, DS is 2 so we have a potty. It took me 5 mins to get on the potty and that is how I know the painkillers have worked a little bit, as I could get on it, in pain, but I could do it.

I am now in bed, propped up with legs up on a million cushions as I can't lay flat. I can either lie on my side with some pain, or in this position with some pain, mostly twinges of sciatic pain down my right leg/in my buttocks and groin area. It has taken me about 30 mins to get into a vaguely comfortable position. My back even hurts if I move my arms.DH has said crutches will not work in this place as we have little stairs here and there and some of the corridor is narrow.

DH is cancelling his birthday plans. I said he can have some people around this afternoon/evening for some beers. He is a bit morose but trying to pretend it is all ok. He said I should have got him up earlier as he did not want a lie in at the expense of me being pain, but he is quite down.

We have had an absolute pig of a month, kids had chicken pox one after the other, DH works long shifts including evenings and weekends and had lots of them, lack of sleep, then last weekend DD broke her wrist. So this week has been frought. friday I threw up which was the start of a bug, which we feel is because my body has just realised it has been through the mill and now DD has been given the all clear with her arm (no more surgery needed). And that is when my back went, just simply sweeping some rice crispies from the floor, while feeling awful, looking after the children while DH worked all day but nothing, absolutely nothing strenuous at all.

If the painkillers do not fix it by this afternoon I will call the GP for some diazepam, that should help a bit eh?

as always, thank you ladies. you help me through the shittiest times, and i have had a few of those over the last month.

You have my deepest sympathy. I've got a flaky wonky back.
IIWY, I wouldn't be waiting for diazepam, I would be on the phone to the OOH or GP asking for a home visit.
There are stronger analgesics available. I can't remember but have you had some anti inflammatries?

ripisphere I have had some ibruprofen, normally have diclofenac, but I can't find it, it is in a top cupboard and DH is hunting for it for my next dose. I have had napraxen but that makes me throw up!

I am not sure I can stronger than codiene from gp can i?
Sorry to hear you suffer too with a bad back. it is the absolute pits.

i don't think they will come out to see me either. they did not last time, just prescribed over the phone.

sorry, spelt your name wrong.

Pav, you can get all manner of narcotic from out of hours, although of course they will be reluctant to dole them out at will.

It is a shame for your DH but that's how it goes. His birthday can wait, frankly.

Can you set up a camp downstairs? I'm guessing not if your loo is upstairs.

Will you have DS on your own tomorrow? That doesn't seem feasible.

pavlov I think your going to have to call GP.

Are you taking paracetamol, ibuprofen and strongest codeine?
You're right you'll probably need diazepam to relax the spasms caused by disc bulge.

Is there anyway you can get hold of a TENS machine? They won't cure the problem but will ease the pain a bit.

peanut I have taken ibrupfofen 400mg/codeine 30mg. Not got any paracetamol left - normally take 1000mg of that with it. DH is off to shop to buy some now. I will take diclofenac at next dose, but I can't remember what time I took the first lot this morning, as I was in so much pain i did not check the time. I am going to have to think about that.

I can now move my legs without crying out in pain as long as I am lying pretty flat, with legs slightly bent. I have found the best position to be in I think, and I am going to stay put. About to call GP for diazepam or something else that they think might help.

Pavlov, have pm'd you.

You can take 60mg of codeine x 4 a day pavlov
As well as the paracetamol 1g and diclofenac 50mg x3 a day.

Let us know how you get on

ok spoke to gp. She said crutches won't help, as I won't be able to stand straight to use them in the first place, and by the time I can do that I won't need them.

She has upped my codeine dose. I have been taking 30mg of codeine, and the cocodemol that i would normally take it 8/500 x 2. she has upped this to 30/500 x 2! plus a couple of valium to ease me over this rough bit.

she told me to move every hour if i can.

peanutbuetter gp has just prescribed that strength. DH is off to get it in mo, so I am hanging off taking any more til he has been.