very painful back/rib injury, advice wanted :o(

[Greensleeves]

hello

i wrenched something in my back yesterday lkifting ds2, i felt something rip. i went out yesterday evening having taken lots of painkillers and although it was sore it wasn't unbearable.

i had a really bad night unable to get comfortable... now it ias pure agony, i can't walk to the loo without help, i can't take a full breath, andf as well as the back injury6 i also have a sort of soft (waterfilled?) swelling on my front corresponding to the pain on my back, it is so painful, i am not exaggerating.

i called nhs direct and they told me to take ibuprofen which I was already doing and it does bugger all. Any nurses around? I'd be grateful; for any advice.

If you don't mmind me asking Becky, how long did your dh's take to heal? dh is worrying about taking time off work, but he's going to have to, at least a couple of dayss by the look of it.

Let us know if we can do anything

I wish there was something

I've just asked DH and he's come over all macho and "well I wasn't incapacitated at all blah, blah", but on further delving he admits that he WAS desk bound and therefore in an easier position than you. He reckons he was able to move around OK after a couple of days, but not able to "cycle vigourously (?!)" for several weeks. He went go-karting after six weeks, and wouldn't recommend that you do that.

Unfortunately his top tip is NOT to pick up your boys. That apparently will hurt like buggery. He does realise that this is not what you want to hear. Sorry

Oh Franny, sing me that lovely song about the barbed wire, that will cheer me up

(seriously - did your party gig go OK?)

Yes it was fine thank you and I DID NOT SING THE BARBED WIRE SONG

Thanks Becky (and your dh!) that sounds pretty much as I'd expected. I can probably arrange things so that I can look after the boys without having to lift them after a couple of days (get dh to come home at lunchtime and do nappy change/lunch, then come home early)

Oh gwan gwan, Franny, I want to snigger at somebody worse off than me

Oh, and don't get a cold. Dh has hayfever and it REALLY hurt when he sneezed. Coughing too. Avoid.

greeny.

these painkillers are bloody useless

What painkillers are you taking Greeny?

Could I suggest Syndol? It's paracetamol that has a muscle relaxant which will help with the spasm. Often Dr's prescribe Valium for back strains due to muscle spasm - can you not get a few days worth from your GP tomorrow?

Did you see my thread?

syndol is good. my dh takes them when his back is giving him gyp. (i do appreciate your level of pain is somewhere above 'gyp' but they might help...)

is that how you spell gyp? is is actually gip? have i just insulted a minority cultural group again?

PMSL Aitch!

are you drunk, vvvqv?

gyp

How do you all function the next day after talking bollocks on here all night?

Greeny I hope you got some sleep my dear

I suppose it depends on what your definition of "function" is

wha?? who? whasshetalkinabou?

and i think you'll find that wikipedia supports my case for being free and easy with my spelling of gyp/gip/jip, miss filly.

tis gwetting worse,I can't sleep, ouch ouch ouch ]

Oh Greeny sorry you had such a bad night. A&E today?

I've just seen this - been away for weekend. You poor thing. what a rotten lot of doctors. Try applying a thick layer of Ibuprofen gel, all over the sore place, back and front. cover it with a muslin nappy or a soft teatowel, then bandage, not tightly, just to hold in place, with a wide crepe bandage. then lie down with a heat pack or HWbottle. i realise this may be impossible if you are trying to look after children, etc, but could anyone get these things from chemist for you? Obviously you can't apply bandage by yourself - is there anyone nearby to help? where do you live? I am in north london.

Please stop lifting the boys! At least as much as possible. You can do nappy changes on the floor, surely?

Also, please go see your regular GP, and try to get a scrip for something more serious. Voltrol? This anti-muscle spasm stuff that others are talking about?

(Also, maybe get a referal to a physio, who can give you exercises to prevent this happening again? In the long run? Pilates is good for back strength, generally.)

Voltarol gel. These gels seem to work really well IME and don't have the unfortunate side effects of nausea and upset stomach / drowsiness of taking tablets. But if your usual GP is approachable/sympathetic, definitely ask for an urgent appt. today.

Mmmmm. I'm told the science behind the use of antiinflammatory gels is ... weak. It's not certain that any of it gets absorbed. I think Greeny needs the pills. Voltrol doesn't make you drowsy at all, although it's not ideal on the gut.

Oh, it's worth knowing, even if you're maxdosing iboprofen (and, ahem, there's a higher weight-based maxdose, which you can look up online), you can also take, say cocodamol, which won't help fix the underlying problem, but will help you sleep.

Good luck today, Greeny

how heavy are your children? this sounds just awful... do hope that you get some proper help today.