Agonising back pain - any advice?

[FlamingoPip]

I lifted a heavy chair last Monday. Slight niggle that then went. I then went swimming on Wednesday. I was fine in the pool but my back started to hurt on my walk home. Things then got progressively worse and by the evening I was in agony.
I couldn't stand, sit, walk.

I called 111 and ended up in A&E. I was fast tracked due to the horrendous pain. Had blood and urine tests. All fine apart from a minor bladder infection (unrelated to back pain). They wanted to give me morphine but I declined (bit scared). They didn't want to do an MRI as aparently no nerve involvement (I really pushed for it but they wouldn't budge). Was eventually sent home with nefopam, diazepam and antibiotics.

I was told to get up and move around do stretching but that's almost impossible at the moment. I managed to go downstairs earlier and put a load washing on, which nearly killed me. Now back lying on my bed. Pain goes when lying down. Feeling super guilty as DP having to do everything. Plus we're doing work on our house at the moment so he's looking after me and doing that.

I don't know what the diagnosis is. I've suffered back pain in the past but mainly dull, achy long term pain. Plus I have a grade 1 spondylolisthesis (vertebra out of position) and previously some bulging disks. This feels so different. It's acute and agonising. The doctor at A&E said it didn't matter what the diagnosis was as treatment is the same: pain killers, physio, exercises. I wonder if it's a slipped disk or worsening of the spondylolisthesis?

Anyone experienced something similar?
All tips for speedy recovery gratefully received. Thank you!

Crikey I would have taken the morphine it's terrific stuff.
The rest and move around business is just to stop you seizing up, I wouldn't be putting any washing on. Just do a little pottering every hour or so during the day- make a cup of tea, a sandwich or go to the loo.
Take the recommended amount of painkillers with food and drink plenty of herbal tea.
I wouldn't feel bad about do having to do things for you a uti and a bad back at the same time is so miserable.

You have basically sprained a muscle from lifting the heavy chair. I know it's agony because I've just sprained my upper back carrying a heavy bo and can't move. I've got my son giving me massages, aspirin on the go, in bed with a hot water bottle and crying to my mum on the phone. Absolute agony. Rest and stretch op.

If you have a spasming muscle, which it sounds like you do, you need to get up and get moving. Even if you're just shuffling along, keep walking. Slowly, and no sudden movements or lifting. Laying down is actually prolonging the agony. I get this a few times a year and I know exactly how horrible it is. The pain is so intense it actually makes me laugh, some weirdo response I have to the pain. You have my sympathies

Thanks for the replies and advice everyone. And massive sympathy to BigBumHead (love the name!) for your current suffering. I will try and keep moving!

BoredBumHead! Not Big 😂

Haha might change my username to that. Hope you are feeling a bit better today.

Sounds like a slipped disc, especially the not being able to sit and lying down taking prsssure off. The recovery can be quite slow (sorry) but it should slowly ease week by week. Heat can help for now to reduce the muscle spasms. Do you feel pain in your bum cheek or leg?

Muscle relaxants (pills) & back exercises you can do in bed. In long run try to strengthen your back & tum muscles.

Not really got any pain in bum cheeks or legs, @skippetyskoo... What would that mean in if I did? Will try a hot water bottle for spasms, thanks.

Defo need to build up my back muscles, @lljkk. Any good exercise suggestions?

This sounds like a classic pulled muscle and yep they are absolutely bloody agony. Just the absolute pits

Try the following .::

Keep on top of painkillers - you should have taken the morphine! Take a muscle relaxant

Alternate hot and cold on it

Pilates. A physio session. Google exercises to do. Flex legs and feet before you get out of bed in the morning. Move around as much as you can

Hot baths with Epsom salts

Try a tens machine - they're very effective as distracting you from the pain

And then you just wait. It'll take a couple of weeks or maybe a little more. But it WILL improve

Oh and any pain coming into the bum or legs is sciatica. Again, treatment remains the same as above

Thanks @RolyPolyBatFaced (great name). Really good tips, thanks. And thanks for being the reassurance that it will get better. Much needed at my the moment!

Osteopath osteopath osteopath you cannot go wrong. They will sort you out. It is worth every penny

Ooh some more tips!

Sleep with a pillow between your knees- just a slim pillow. If you sleep on your back, a bigger pillow under your knees.

Magnesium spray may help too. Likewise tiger balm as the burning feeling from it at least distracts from the pain

And it's your pain as well as my own that I'm feeling right now. I've got sciatica again today and it's painful and irritating and just debilitating, half the battle here is keeping positive

Thanks for the tips and advice User and RolyPoly. Things are improving... but slowly. Definitely feels like a pulled muscle on my left side. Awaiting physio referral. Been doing lots of stretching and hoping that helps. Went for a longish walk today .. yay! Back to work on Monday. Not relishing sitting at a computer for long periods!

Hope your sciatica is improving RolyPoly!