Urgent Help Needed!

[Maminpain]

Morning everyone

I'm after some advice urgently. I've strained my lower back and I am in agony. I can't stand up straight and I can barely walk. When I get going I can manage to walk but it's really painful.

I've had back pain before and the GP just prescribes painkillers and does a physio referral.

Does anyone have any tips for short term relief? I've got a toddler and an older child, my husband works long hours, we don't have much support near by. I simply cannot be out of action.

Any tips for pain relief or exercises etc would be much appreciated!

Thank you

Mam in Pain

Heat and tens machine. If you can walk do, rest is not good for backs. Stretching out by (trying to) touch your toes gently or the childs pose from yoga.

I had this the other week, its awful! The best thing you can do is to keep moving, I know it hurts but it'll keep the muscles from being tense in one position for too long and seizing up. Heat rub and hot showers/baths help too as well paracetamol to take the edge off.

I did this once, I gently started bending my back upwards and downwards from an all fours position. I think it’s cats cradle and something about a cow if you google it. Just really small movements daily and gradually pushing so it gets a bigger movement. These where the best exercises I found for my lower back

I found Voltarol gel very effective. I also see a private physio ASAP, its well worth the £40. Very gentle yoga to stretch the spine is also good.

I have had this.

What worked for me:

• Anti-inflammatory painkillers
• Back exercises (I did the NHS ones)
• Standing up all the time (work got me a standing desk)
• Keep moving as much as possible

Bad backs are awful

Try alternating hot and cold, try a wheat pack then an ice pack and see if either one eases it.
My OH is a gym bunny and swears by ice packs.
I also suffer from back pain and I find gentle yoga helps, YouTube yoga for beginners and try the cat and cow movements, they are gentle movements that stretch your back muscles.
I also agree with the pp who said keep moving or you can seize up

Private physio.

Thank you all so so much. I have been doing some gentle stretches but there is so much on YouTube I was worried I'd do more damage so I'll try the exercises you've suggested.

I've been sitting with a hot water bottle on it but also trying to keep moving which does seem to loosen it up (with two kids we don't have a choice but to keep moving lol)

I am praying that this only lasts a few days!

I was thinking about a chiropractor??

Not a chiropractor!!

I was going to suggest exactly what @Mrsdarwin has. When my lower back stiffens up, that's the easiest way to start finding some movement again and makes it less painful.

Personally I'm wary of chiropractors but have had great help in the past from osteopaths. I think their training is in a more gentle approach but is excellent for mobilising muscle spasm.

Definitely stretches and alternating heat/cold packs

Hope you feel better soon

I found d a tens machine cab help a bit, it certainly takes your mi d off it a wee bit. Keeping moving as much much you can is key, and so are back stretches. I hope you're feeling better ASAP.

Omg, those typos, sorry.

Thank you all so much!!! I took all the advice on exercises and hot/cold and it is much better this morning.

I can still feel it there and it's painful to bend etc but no where near as bad as it was yesterday!!!

I'll continue today and hopefully see another improvement tomorrow

Thank you!! I'm back in action