Agonising back pain please help

[febbabies2023]

I am in SO much pain

I can't even lift the kettle without it hurting. If I stay absolutely still, it's a very dull ache.

But the second I move, roll over in bed, try to stand up, walk, anything, i am in so much pain

I'm not sure what's happened. I was fine yesterday, then all of a sudden, gone

Like my lower back has completely given way. I literally can't put any weight on it
And with a 3 year old and a 4 month old baby how am I meant to do that

Any ideas what can help or what to do
I've taken zapain which hasn't helped (just made me feel horrendous) and I've tried ibropofen

Please someone give me some good advice I am in AGONY

Could be covid. This is the only symptom I had

@Anxioys I am only 28 so I do wonder how on earth I'll manage the rest of my life with this pain if it comes again frequently

@febbabies2023 I feel for you! This was me on the first May bank holiday, I had a 10 week old and a toddler. It sounds like sciatica to me. Mine was pretty acute and came out of nowhere, although I had had an issue with a disc many years ago. I phoned 111 and they can prescribe you cocodamol, that will sort the pain. I didn't take it because I was still bf.

I ended up going to A&E and they gave me diazepam, cocodamol and diclofenac (naproxen doesn't agree with me). I then saw a private consultant and sent me to get an MRI. I suggest you line up some osteopathy and physio sessions, they have helped a lot. I had to have a spinal injection to stop the inflammation and have time to do rehab. Surgeon said I needed surgery, most discs will heal with time and the right therapy. Surgery isnt an easy solution, let alone with two young kids.

Hang in there, my mum just left today after staying with us for four months as I couldn't pick up my youngest, I still can't carry him much so we have an au pair moving in with us next week. Things have really improved, it takes time which I know isnt Ideal with kids ..

Currently I ma not taking any meds, just homeopathic remedies, stretching and doing my exercises. I have been told that sciatica is a journey.

Hope it will improve for you soon xx

Dr has said it's sciatica

Here we are a few days later feeling no better and probably in more pain than I was

Partner is at work today so just me and two kids
Not sure how I'm going to cope tbh 😭

There isn't anyone who can even take the kids for a few hours so I am quite literally flying solo

For those talking about cocodamol, the OP already has that - zapping is a brand name for it.

OP it’s a horrible pain, I’m sorry you’re suffering so much. I hope it eases for you soon. Just do what you can to get through today. As long as you’re all fed and nappies are changed anything else can wait till your partner gets home.

*Zapain

@FlowersareEverything thank you
I'm counting down the hours!
I've let the toddler watch tv pretty much all day as I just cant play with him. And luckily the baby loves a nap so she's just about manageable!
Toddler has now fallen asleep on the sofa and whilst I should wake him up so he's not a nightmare at bedtime, I think I'm going to let him have half hour so I can rest too 😴
God the mum guilt is real today

Stop with this mum guilt nonsense, you’re physically injured and in pain it’s not like you’ve ditched them to go down the pub.

Oh bless you, OP - this can't go on for you, it's not manageable.

I have lumbar disc disease so not the same medical issue as yours - but the pain and the immobility sound similar. I need help with so many things, mostly from DP. In the short term at least, your DH might need to be looking at a day or two of parental leave, and/or you ask/buy in/beg for other assistance, while you explore that private healthcare or private help.

Other helpful meds meanwhile include nortriptyline/amitriptyline, btw. You obviously have access already to NSAIDs and codeine. The stage up from codeine is tramadol and I've had this prescribed when the pain was unbearable, but it sounds that would knock you out and you'd need your DH to be around.

Absolute sympathies

@Garman I know it's not my fault I just hate feeling so utterly useless. I'm a generally fit and well 28 year old so it seems stupid to be in this much pain!

@AutumnCrow thanks for this, very helpful. I'll go back to the Gp if things don't improve for something stronger. I've found my naproxen which was prescribed previously and taken that with the paracetamol and omeprazole
I think I'll take some more zapain later when my partner gets home as they make me feel horrendous, but also very sleepy so at least I can rest. I have taken tramadol before and that too has the same affect so would be cautious as to when I take it of course
Thanks for your help x

I'm sorry you're still in such pain
One thing I forgot to mention on my last posts
You could try a mini tens machine
It's like a little remote control to use with sticky pads to place on the painful areas
They're around £20
I have a Lloyds chemist brand one which is available from Amazon
Not saying it's miraculous but may take the edge off the pain.
Please don't feel guilty about screen time, you're incapacitated and in great pain
Do whatever you need to get through the day, and the rest can wait

Also more targeted nerve pain killers will help much more than naproxen etc
Pregabilin, gabapentin and Amitryptiline( Amitryptiline taken at night May help you sleep)
I was literally begging my GP and was given them over the phone

It's this one £31.99 now

@uncomfortablydumb53 thank you that's handy to know!

Crazy that I managed to birth my second child with gas and air but this backache has me on my knees 😂

You've all been so kind, thank you.
Whilst it's not nice that anyone else suffers, I'm glad I'm not alone and that there are people that understand how much this hurts

Yes, I think it really is the worst pain I had my third son without even a paracetamol and have Cerebral Palsy so my pain threshold is high
I hope you get some relief very soon

I had sciatic and still get odd back issues and pain and I go to a chiropractor regularly. Sorted out my initial issues and I go now whenever I feel a twinge. McTimoney chiropractic is very gentle. Or you could try an osteopath. Acupuncture can also be very helpful with pain.

@uncomfortablydumb53 wow you're brave! I'd also like to think my threshold is quite high. My first was an emergency section so I didn't have much of a choice but even that labour I was okay with just the gas 🙃
This and toothache - can't stand that either. Awful pain

@Peridot1 thank you! I think I'll give the acupuncture a miss 🤢 but I'll definitely be trying a chiropractor

I got through today. I'm in so much pain but we did it

Toddlers in nursery tomorrow so should be a little easier

Taken all of the drugs I can, deep heat loaded on top and I'm off to bed at the same time as the baby

Daddy can deal with the toddler now! Gooooood night! 💫

I hear you. My back problems started with DS1's posterior birth. It was indescribable pain a wall of labour pain with no breaks between contractions. And a midwife who thought it was funny I couldn't cope at 1/2cm.

Neither dh nor I understood until dd was born and it was dreamlike.

@febbabies2023 - honestly acupuncture doesn’t hurt. You’ve given birth! It’s much easier! My DS had it and was needle phobic. Our lovely chiropractor did acupuncture as part of treatment and he showed DS how to do it to him. The ‘needles’ are incredibly fine. Really.

But I get it. If you don’t like needles it can be a hard thing to contemplate.

But please try a chiropractor or osteopath. Either of those could really help.