Agonising back pain

[SmileyClare]

Any advice?
Ive had niggling lower back pain for several weeks- carried on with life/ work as recommended on the NHS website. I have a very physical job (self employed cleaner).

However at the weekend I tried to get up, felt like my back gave way (?) and couldn’t- the worst pain ever- lower back all down my leg- just horrific.

Im now on Naproxen, pregablin and coccodamol but can barely stand or walk without feeling sick with pain.

please can anyone advise? Is there an ongoing back pain thread on here?
I really need to return to work soon as I’m self employed. And get on with everything at home- two teenagers here.

Just feeling so desperate.

Ok will do!
Sounds like you’re really throwing yourself into the exercise, great stuff. Don’t push yourself too hard..marathon, not a sprint remember 🙂

Christ how awful. That’s an impressive drug cocktail 😮

im hopefully past the screaming with agony stage and now at the pain, sciatica numbness thing you describe.
Progress of sorts 😂

Everything I’ve read says cauda equina is very rare so trying not to panic about that.
Looking forward to getting it ruled out tomorrow 🤞

You were very unlucky @Rebel2 but it’s great that you’re back on the horse now. Literally.

Yeah the numbness was a relief!
Here's the trouble disc and my post op scar

Ouch! Impressive battle scars though 😉
A very neat job. We can’t criticise the NHS too much can we when they perform such amazing emergency surgery.

After my last bout of sciatica a few years ago I had a numb feeling all the way down the outside of my leg all the way to my foot. I still have it. If you ran a feather down my leg I wouldn't feel it. Doesn't really cause a problem.

I also damaged my IT band last year which is another layer of pain. It's kinda similar to sciatica but not as bad. That's playing up at the mo and I got NHS physio straight away. Booked this morning for tomorrow. So, NHS can be quick but depends where you live.

I do understand the poster that says it's difficult to get NHS physio which is why they go to private osteopath or chiropractor. I would go to private physio first.

I have the numb foot. I'm 3 months post op for a herniated l5S1 and my foot is numb and cold. If feels like I'm walking on rock of ice. It tingles a lot too. The surgeon said if could be permanent nerve damage or it could regenerate over the coming year.

I'm still doing physio to get my movement back, I was 6 months on the sofa.

Today I've tried K tape on my foot and it strangely seems to have helped. I can walk barefoot without it feeling like my foot is scrunched up (it's not, it just feels like it is). I had the numb foot with the sciatica, at least the pain in my calf, ankle and thigh have gone, I'll live with the numb foot if it means I never get sciatica again.

Ah ok it sounds like this numb foot thing can just be an unfortunate consequence of bad sciatica. Thanks for your replies.

I can relate to the walking on a rock of ice feeling. Sorry to hear you’re still having problems @Mxflamingnoravera are you able to walk normally with nerve damage, do you have to wear special shoes or trainers? Hope you continue to improve.

@Jewel1968 good to hear you’ve accessed some physio!
I self referred online which warned of a 20 week waiting list. I don’t know if there’s any sort of priority based on urgency. Will ask gp tomorrow.

I definitely have a new respect for anyone going through the hell of back issues now!

@SmileyClare I can walk normally, yes, but only in soft shoes (trainers, sliders, fit flops etc) even with these my foot feels scrunched and rock like.

It sounds a difficult thing to live with. @Mxflamingnoravera Relieved to hear you can walk normally though.
I know nerves can regenerate slowly so hope yours gradually improves x

So my NHS physio was pretty much as expected. Exercises proposed and sent via email - except email not arrived. Oh well off to try private physio.

I had an x-ray yesterday. Apparently it's the 1st thing to do. I'd previously refused, but now I've agreed, just do that no one can accuse me of not following guidelines. My scan I was tied there was an 8 week wait, but I've managed to get one in 2 weeks by chasing. That'll be 7 weeks post fall.

I'm not in pain, or discomfort all the time, only sometimes, it gets worse as the day goes on. Pain killers make me constipated. I'm seeing osteopath privately again on Thursday. I'm so fed up of all this.

That’s disappointing. This is why I looked up basic exercises to do online. I think NHS physio is essentially handing out photocopies of exercises to do at home.

Dh had the same experience after a fall at work. He was fortunate to have some private care through his work insurance.

Its very frustrating when moneys tight.

@Oblomov23 I totally sympathise. I’m fed up too Progress is so slow.

I had a doctor’s appointment yesterday to check out a totally numb foot and twitching toes that’s developed. She did very little, basically said I wouldn’t get an MRI on the NHS unless I had “saddle anethesesia” or incontinence and nerve damage is expected. Told me not to consider working or driving for at least a few weeks Came away totally deflated! 😫

She said I could try stopping Pregabalin- however my back pain returned with a vengeance last night I’ve hardly slept.
Cried this morning about another day trapped in this shit situation. V. Worried about not earning any money too.

The private physio I contacted has advised I have a diagnostic scan before proceeding . Is this usual practice? I can’t afford a private MRI.

I know there’s not any point moaning and there are people worse off but it feels a bit cathartic writing it down 😬

My physio did some massaging and gave me some exercises to do but told me he would only do that a couple of times before referring me for an mri scan. I went privately but I do have health insurance. I think your physio is being sensible not wanting to do anything until they know what is actually wrong. Why did the GP suggest stopping the pregabalin? I really feel for you, I know how painful it is and apart from everything you have tried I don't know what else to suggest. You really do need an mri.

Hi @steppingcarefully yes I suppose it’s sensible not to do intensive physio without any formal diagnosis. Feels a bit like I’m going round in circles. It’s tempting to turn up at A and E and ask for an MRI . . however I suspect they’d say No Clare this isn’t an emergency!

Ive gone back on the pregablin. Dr suggested come off it because I don’t like the side effects- blurred vision, grogginess, weird trippy dreams and it’s highly addictive..but after realising how painful it is without, I’m prepared to put up with all that for now.

At the mo, approaching this with a DIY route of gentle exercises I found on the internet for herniated disc., and trying to walk about as much as possible.

My son bought me a really good back support from Amazon as an early Mother’s Day present- feels v. supportive. I’d recommend it to others wanting to move around with lower back pain 👍

Bored and fed up here. I’ve watched 3 seasons of Luther on iPlayer in a week #desperate times

Had second osteopath appointment today. Gawd I'm achy. Will take a painkiller in a while. He said I've improved flexibility a lot compared to last Thursday. I'm more sure of the exercises now . Hopefully will see further improvement. Husband said I'm walking upright again rather than chimp like.

It's a going to take some time to get back to something approaching normal osteopath said.

Sounds like you’re really putting the work in @justasking111 🦾
(very careful) pat on the back from me.

Chimp like? God what a description! Glad to hear you’re both keeping a sense of humour in testing times 😂

I walk like a chimp but bent to one side 🤣 I find using a crutch on the side I’m bent really helps to straighten me up though (recommended by physio)

I feel a bit left out of the chimp walking! don’t dare ask dh what I look like.

for you both for keeping your sense of humour.

Ice it, not heat. Bag of peas wrapped in a tea towel for up to 15 minutes at a time.

I wonder if anyone can offer me advice. I've posted twice before. Sorry for hogging your thread op.

I fell over onto my bottom 5 weeks ago. Not my coccyx. Base of spine and glutes hurt. I've now had nhs X-ray, (even though sure I haven't broken anything they told me I had to do this first), ultrasound booked for 2 weeks time, was originally told 8 week wait. I've seen an osteopath privately twice. I told her that I felt id fallen out of line again. She said I was and corrected me again. I'm in discomfort. Not pain, just discomfort. I feel like I've lost all my inner strength, girdle strength, top of thigh strength. I wake up ok. It gets worse as the day goes on. By 3pm I'm don't know what to do with myself. Pain killers make me constipated bloated and sore, hot baths, peas, water bottle, gel from Gp, Not cutting it. I'm so fed up of this shit. I'm frustrated with my back. No one seems to know what exactly is wrong. There's no diagnosis, no specific exercise suggestions, other than osteopath telling me to bring my knees up and over to stretch glutes. no resolution, no goal for it being over. Fed up.should I pay for my own mri?

Well you're badly bruised I suspect soft tissue inflammation. If the x-ray showed no breakage I'd wait for the scan. I too wake up okay. Lying flat on stomach I think. I can lie on the sofa but not for too long. Was told to get up every 30 minutes or so and walk around. Sitting in a chair doesn't help at all. My dressing table stool even a few minutes to do hair, make up aggravates it.

Do you sit at a work desk?

@Oblomov23 I would go to a physio. I know lots of people swear by osteopaths but I don't. I have tried everything over the years but private physio is what has helped me the most. A good physio will often use non traditional things e.g. acupuncture alongside traditional things.

Thank you Just and Asking. I will consider this.