Oh holy shit. What have I done to my back, and how do I make it feel better?

[GrumpYULEhorsewoman]

11 years ago (tomorrow, actually) I was breaking in a young horse when it reared over backwards with me, crushing me beneath it. I broke my hip, and spent 5 months on crutches. After that, whenever the cold, damp weather set in, it would get painful, and once (riding another young horse...notice a pattern?) I tore the ligaments in the sacroilliac joint which was very painful but got better with physio and magnetic therapy.

The last few years it hasn't been much of a problem, as I'm not riding horses professionally any more, but yesterday whilst out with naughty DD2, I was trying to lift her up off the ground when it just 'went'. It is excruciating and I don't know how to make it feel better. I have taken Anadin Extras, and used a heated wheat bag (which gave a little bit of relief) but it is very pinched-feeling, and I'm struggling. Walking isn't too bad, but sitting down, getting up, turning around etc are agony. Is it worth going to the doctor, or will it just fade away? I don't know if I've just trapped a nerve, but it seems a bit suspicious, being in the damaged hip.

Poor you. Doctor, and possibly chiropractor too? If you're sure it's muscular, alternate hot and cold, but if you're not sure, wait till you've seen someone about it.

Yes, I wondered about a chiropractor. Do I need to see a doctor first?

You don't need to - you could just go straight to the chiropractor, but the doctor might be able to refer you to one, which might make it cheaper (not sure if this is true though)?

Second those who say straight to a chiropractor - I and various family members have done similar, and chiro has always sorted us out. I can recommend mine, if you're in London?

Wish I was in London!

Unfortunately now live in the arse end of nowhere. Friends back from holiday tomorrow who know the area well. They may be able to recommend one. Thanks.

If you're in the arse end of Oxfordshire, I can recommend mine too . Good luck with it.

Oh, I dream of Oxfordshire!

I am in the Notts/Lincs/S. Yorks corner. Where every other building is a fish and chip shop.

You can [www.osteopathy.org.uk Find an Osteopath local to you here]] instead of a chiropracter? I know about osteos and can highly recommend.

Ar*e. Does this work:

you can find an Osteopath local to you here

I can recommend a chiropractor in Lincoln if thats any use?

Just to say the other side of the coin - I have sacroillitis from my arthritis and my gp told me not to go to Chiropractor as she said that manipulating it could make it much worse.
So, I guess I'm saying tread with care!

I would not go down the chiropractic route (have suffered for years with spinal injury), you could try an osteopath but my advice would be to get some anti inflammatories (short term) from your GP, some decent pain killers and sit and wait it out.

When it has improved then try to enrol yourself on a pilates class as that will improve your core strength and the muscles will be able to counteract the weakened muscles in your spine.

HTH (oh and you have my sympathies as back pain is miserable )

Thanks, all of you.

The pain has eased a bit today - it seems much better when I am in the warm. Unfortunately my office is freezing, and shivering does seem to make it hurt a bit more! I am waiting it out for a few days and hoping it will go on its own. Tell me more about Pilates!

Other than for supply of decent painkillers I have found most GPs worse than useless when it comes to back pain - I have suffered for about 15 years on and off now. I would recommend the osteopath route every time - I am at the arse-end of the south west in Cornwall and have found myself a really good osteo. I now have a stretching regime each morning b4 i get out of bed which she recommended I do.

May be worth trying a cold pack on your pack which will help to reduce the inflammation (its not so comforting as a hot wheat bag but that's what my osteo recommended when I tore the edge of one of my discs).

If you're an office worker make sure you have got a decent supportive chair with your computer screen etc at the right height and angle too.

Hope it starts to improve soon !

Agree with Jan for the most part but some GPs are worth their salt; mine is especially good.

I am not an expert on pilates by any means but am now walking without sticks and am off most of my meds and the only thing I do differently is the pilates - it was very difficult for the first few months and challenging (but that appealed to my natural sportsman's personality) every other sport 'post ops' that I was allowed to do were just boring. It strengthens your middle area as well as the rest of you and I have found that I have fewer attacks where I am completely immobilised and feel much stronger day to day. My specialists say that the stronger your columnal muscles get, the more they will alleviate the pressure on the weakened structure of the spine.