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Original poster

Lower back pain in 18 year old

30 replies

Chubbybum · 28/09/2021 19:30

My (just) 18 year old DD has been complaining of a bad back for several months now. She has not (to our knowledge) done anything that could lead to an injury. Over the last few weeks the back pain has got increasing worse and I’m currently watching her pace the living room with tears streaming down her face. She is taking the maximum dose of paracetamol and ibuprofen every day and using heat but this doesn’t seem to help. She can’t sit, stand or lie down for any length of time and is starting to miss a lot of school. The pain either stops her getting to sleep or wakes her up most nights too. She has had a couple of telephone appointments with her GP and has another scheduled for tomorrow but they don’t seem to be very helpful. Can anyone suggest anything that may help or have any idea what this could be?

OP posts:
lljkk · 28/09/2021 19:38

Is back pain literally her only symptom?

No pain in legs, no UTI markers, no joint aches, absolutely nothing else?

How bad is her posture?

Original poster
Chubbybum · 28/09/2021 19:43

Sometimes the pain travels from her back, through her bum, backs of thighs and as far her knees. Her posture seems fine and I’m pretty confident it’s not a UTI as she has no symptoms

OP posts:
MsFrog · 28/09/2021 19:52

Could be sciatica, that tends to travel down and can be very painful. You can get it at any age.

MissMaple82 · 28/09/2021 19:57

It's really difficult to determine what is causing back pain without scans etc and even then unless something shows its still unknown. I have had back pain since 21, I am 39 now. Maybe a chiropractic appointment to realign her spine/hips etc. I personally find chiropractors more knowledgeable and helpful than any of the multitude of Dr's I've seen over the years. A chiro will also give some stretches and excercises.

Original poster
Chubbybum · 28/09/2021 20:02

The GP (over the phone) has given her stretches to do but these don’t seem to be helping. I’m at a loss as to what to do now but it’s awful seeing her in so much pain. As a newly 18 year old who is very sociable when it keeps her in on a Friday and Saturday night I know she’s really suffering with it.

OP posts:
MCMelon · 28/09/2021 20:05

I watched my husband suffer with this and he had sciatica. I can honestly say the GP and any subsequent NHS appointments were appalling. If you can afford to go private to see a specialist then please do. My husband suffered for months and months and as soon as he saw a private consultant he was diagnosed with sciatica, had a scan and then an injection into one of his disks. He's been pain free since. The pain made my husband scream and cry. It was utterly horrendous. Thanks for you and your daughter.

another365togo · 28/09/2021 20:15

I was like this at your daughters age, and it turned out to be a form of arthritis called Axial Spondylitis. I was living away at uni and my flat mates used to have to help me out of bed, although I would get some periods in remission where it wasn't so bad. Unfortunately it took 10 years of repeated doctors visits for me to be diagnosed, but since then I'm well medicated, have a pretty normal life, and carried two children! It may not be this but I thought it's worth mentioning as I can remember how awful it was to be constantly in pain at 18, with no idea what it was! The NASS website is brilliant and has loads of information, including a symptom checker and info on diagnosis. I wish I'd known about it and it might not have taken me so long! I really hope your daughter is ok x nass.co.uk

mineofuselessinformation · 28/09/2021 20:26

To add to other possible causes, I'm wondering if she's hyper mobile?
She needs a face to face GP appointment so they can examine her and possibly refer her for x-rays, physiotherapy etc depending on their findings.

vincettenoir · 28/09/2021 20:31

Does she have difficult periods? Lower back pain can be as a result of endometriosis.

Covidisdrivingmecrazy · 28/09/2021 20:40

Another vote for running out inflammatory back pain. Under 40, slow onset, woken in the night,'stiffness after rest. Any one of these should be looked into

Yubaba · 28/09/2021 20:47

My daughter had really bad back pain and it turned out to be scoliosis.
She had uneven hips and shoulders but you don’t necessarily have visible symptoms and you need scans and X-rays to properly diagnose.

Garman · 28/09/2021 20:52

Have you taken her to an osteopath, physio, deep tissue massuese, anything? Calling gp pain meds doesn't deal with an issue, just masks it. Sounds like sciatica or an injury that could've built up over time and may not have been noticeable until it was inflamed or out of alignment.

Original poster
Chubbybum · 28/09/2021 21:15

I definitely don’t want her to be prescribed painkillers without finding out what is actually causing the pain, I agree that masking it is not the answer. She does suffer with painful (but not heavy) periods which also gives her back pain but she describes this as a different back pain if that makes sense? Other than this she is a fit and healthy young adult who has only ever suffered the normal set of childhood ailments such as chickenpox and the like

OP posts:
Original poster
Chubbybum · 28/09/2021 21:16

An osteopath sounds like a good idea too if she doesn’t get any further with the GP

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CanIbeRio · 28/09/2021 22:52

Oh bless her...I really feel for her. I've been prone to back spasms since I was a teen. Definitely go private and see an osteopath ...GPS are useless when it comes to back pain. Do any stretches/exercises advised....tell her not to be frightened of moving. I always was...didn't do as I was told and am now like a siezed up old lady and I'm only early 50s. Walking is great...I now try and walk every day. Pool walking is brilliant for a bad back as the water is supportive and takes the weight off the joints. Swimming is also great....but I can't swim! Good luck. Really hope things improve for her Flowers

doadeer · 28/09/2021 22:55

Osteopath or chiropractor see what they say. She needs to have a scan, push the GP to make a referral. If its impacting her this much she absolutely needs it

userxx · 28/09/2021 23:04

@lljkk

Is back pain literally her only symptom?

No pain in legs, no UTI markers, no joint aches, absolutely nothing else?

How bad is her posture?

What would those symptoms indicate?

lljkk · 29/09/2021 04:57

a million things, I guess, userxx.

Lower back pain with UTI symptoms: kidney or bladder woes (antiBs might help)

Pain radiating down the legs: sciatica

bad posture or joint aches: weak abdominals, slipped disks (fix with physiotherapy, home exercises)

  • All the other things ppl are describing here.
MrsLargeEmbodied · 29/09/2021 05:03

is it her mattress?
how active is she?

Porridgealert · 29/09/2021 05:20

I had a slipped vertebrae which trapped a nerve. Depending on which nerve is trapped you can get pain down the front or back of the leg. I couldn't get the gp to do anything so I went to an osteopath and a chiropractor. Although they gave me some temporary relief, long term they made the situation worse.
In the NHS there is a set procedure for back pain
First, gp will give you a sheet with exercises.
Second, they will give you painkillers, eg gabapentin
Third, they will refer you to an NHS physio
Fourth, you will get an mri.
Fifth, you get referred to spinal team
Sixth, you will be offered an injection
Seventh, you will be offered an operation

It's this order and they do not deviate from it. They hope you will be sorted as high in the list as possible. It can take a long time to work through the list.

My BIL had a slipped disk and he went private. It cost one or two thousand with scans. But it was sorted very quickly. He didn't need an operation but at least he knew what was going on and his options were laid out. He did some exercises and it sorted itself out. Unfortunately I had to go the whole hog on the NHS and ended up having a back operation.

Try to get to see an NHS physio. They will give you the most appropriate exercises. Be persistent. Sge has my sympathies - it's an awful pain to have.

Puddlelane123 · 29/09/2021 05:54

I would be really concerned by this OP and would want to be with DD at the GP appointment to advocate for her and ensure that the severity of her pain and its affect on her daily life is properly communicated. Pain to that degree, and waking her from sleep in a young person should be considered a ‘red flag’ for underlying and potential serious causes until proven otherwise. I would definitely be asking GP to refer her for further investigations including MRI. And if I got no joy there I would in all honesty go to A&E with her.
Hope you get to the bottom of it soon and she gets some relief from the pain.

userxx · 29/09/2021 08:16

@lljkk

a million things, I guess, userxx.

Lower back pain with UTI symptoms: kidney or bladder woes (antiBs might help)

Pain radiating down the legs: sciatica

bad posture or joint aches: weak abdominals, slipped disks (fix with physiotherapy, home exercises)

  • All the other things ppl are describing here.

I've got more or less all the symptoms you listed. I thought you could diagnose me rather than trying to get a doctor's appointment 😏.

Mistymoors · 29/09/2021 08:19

You need to push this with the GP to have it further investigated ! Don’t take no for an answer it doesn’t sound right !

Original poster
Chubbybum · 29/09/2021 08:38

The GP appointment today is face to face and she has agreed that I can go with her which I’m relieved about. I’m worried sick about her if I’m honest

OP posts:
Original poster
Chubbybum · 29/09/2021 16:19

GP today has ordered blood tests before doing anything else including prescribing any painkillers. Poor DD is now crying herself to sleep after being, prodded, poked, twisted and bent about. Very grateful that the GP seemed to be very thorough and asked a lot of questions.

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