Fell down stairs and injured my back :( getting nowhere!

[TickleMyTitsTillFriday]

Hi all, I have just seen the back thread which I will read later on, I feel a bit of a fraud as I have only had this injury for three weeks and some of you have suffered for so long.

I fell down the stairs 3 weeks ago, pain got worse and worse to the point I couldnt walk so went to gp who stuck his finger up my bum and sent me away with tramadol and valium (I know there was a reason for the bum searching! It was just unexpected!)

Been seeing a chiropracter at £31 a pop and I am not sure if its helping.

Took myself to a and e last night as pain got ao bad and they finally gave me an xray which shows there is no fracture etc which is such a huge relief.

But it can't tell if there is anything wrong with the discs can it? How long do you think it will be before they suggest further investigations?

Again, I am so sorry to come here moaning about it when others have had it for years. I am back at work now and every morning I want to cry at the thought of going in. Also not sure how long I should take 800mg of tramadol a day for as it can be addictive?! Is there something better to manage the pain?

Thanks in advance for any replies, I am off to hobble to the shower to go to work!

Sorry to hear about your pain. 800mgs of tramadol is a lot to still be needing after three weeks.

An X-Ray is basically the bluntest tool in the workbox. An MRI will show up far more. Is the pain localised? Leg pain?

'They' don't generally suggest expensive MRIs or referrals without the patient asking very firmly. I would be going back, explaining just how bad the pain is and asking very firmly for an MRI (and a sick note. Can't believe you are working through this!)

Do come and join us on the back story thread pavlov for one has a chronic problem which started with an untreated injury.

You should definitely come on the back thread. I don't have a serious back problem involving surgery etc. but the posters have been very helpful. They can give you lots of good advice about drugs, doctors and so on.

Another reason the thread has been helpful to me is that one of the problems with a bad back is dealing with bad pain over some time can get you down and it is great to have some support and a laugh.

I fell down the stairs, and was taken to A&e and had X-rays, but nothing broken. The pain was so bad I was given gas and air ( and I have had two dc). There is no easy answer I'm afraid. The pain will fade, but takes a long time. The Doctor I saw said that tissue damage is just as painful as a break.

800mg tramadol a day? I'd be worried, the max daily recommended dose is 400mg! (or 300mg in the slow release form).

A lot of mechanical back pain doesn't respond well to opioids - tens can help, physiotherapy can help - but definitely if there was a clear preceding trauma (ie your fall) go back to the doctor to make sure there isn't anything else going on. Xray won't show up soft tissue injury (MRI will), discs can cause problems but they are less likely to be an issue as a result of a fall; disc prolapse is a lifting/turning awkwardly/strain injury.

Glad the doctor did stick a finger in, good to be thorough. Any change at all in leg sensation / bladder or bowel function and you'll need to be seen urgently. If it's "just pain" it's not as urgent but I'd think after 3 weeks with no improvement you need to go back.

About drugs are you taking anything other than the tramadol? I find naproxen has been very helpful for my sciatica, it is an anti inflammatory as well as a painkiller. It can be hard on your stomach, but is not addictive.
I do think going back to the GP is a good idea. As long as he doesn't stick a finger up your bum again!

God I am such a twonk. I am indeed on 400mg tramadol. Thanks so much for replies, I am nearly at work (am on phased return) but will come back this afternoon.
I did mention to consultant last night that sometimes I am struggling to wee, only the last few days but he didn't seem interested.
if it is not disc problems, do you know what it could be? Just bruising on the spine? My bum is completely numb :( and I have pain down my right leg whixh has led to muscle spasm in my calf :(

Yeah I was a bit shocked about the finger up my bum but was in so much pain I didnt care much! Naproxen makes me feel horribly sick unfortunately.

The consultant should have been interested. Problems with passing urine are a red flag for cauda equine

www.patient.co.uk/health/cauda-equina-syndrome-leaflet

It needs urgent treatment as the nerve damage can be permanent. If you are at all concerned about having this go back to a&e immediately.

Hope you're ok.

It does sound like some kind of nerve pain or sciatica. Another thing I have read is good for nerve pain is gabapentin. I haven't taken this myself. Can you take normal ibuprofen? That might help with inflammation and you can combine it with tramadol.

Matilda, that link freaked me out! I am going back to dr on monday. I don't think its that as I can still wee, its just sometimes harder to go iyswim? Thanks all for your help :)

I feel your pain! I'm looking everywhere online to find answers with my pain! at school about 6 months ago i fell down about 8 stairs! I've went to the chiropractor, a massage therapist, and many people have walked on my back, absolutely NOTHING has worked...my back won't pop either. it hurts worse everyday, when i went to the chiropractor they took an x-ray of my back and said it looked normal, but it was hurting so much, so i thought they were wrong! the only reason i thought they were wrong is because iv gotten an x-ray for my knee and it said nothing was wrong so they gave me crutches and said if it still hurts really bad then to get an mri, when i got one it showed i broke my knee, after i was walking on it for a week, i have no idea what to do!