How do I fix my bloody husband?!

[fedupnowthanks]

It's so ridiculous but basically after having covid and a bad cough for a week, my husband coughed one morning and something happened. He suddenly had agonising pain in his back and it hasn't stopped since. He's unable to pick up either of our kids, he's constantly crying out in pain and can't stand up straight etc. He's been to the GP and been prescribed stronger painkillers twice. He's a bit of a zombie on all of the meds and as much as I do feel sorry for him I need some bloody help with the kids again! The GP said probably a slipped disc and apart from pain killers and anti inflammatories just said it'll take time. It seems insane that one cough has derailed our lives so much, he's off work, and just feeble and weak and it's starting to grate on me having to do literally everything. He's having hot baths, I'm trying to massage it, I've got him copying some physio videos online. Argh! How do I get this better?!

from NHS website https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/slipped-disc/

He should go back to his GP

A GP might prescribe a stronger painkiller, a steroid injection or a muscle relaxant to use in the short term.

I wouldn't try massaging it yourself. Do you have a decent local osteopath (NB not a chiropractor)? Worth asking around - mine is excellent and sorted out a terrible spell of sciatica and a bulging disc in two sessions.

He shouldn't be copying physio videos online he might make it worse.

He needs to see a proper physio.

Yes it's shit when people are in pain and you have to pick up their slack.

But he needs proper help not you making up massages and random physio videos.

The GP won't refer on to anything until it's been 6 weeks as apparently it should resolve itself in that time! Haven't really got a small fortune to fork out on private treatments.

He needs to see an Osteopath.

I thought these days you had to arrange physio yourself. thats how our surgery does it

Bluntly, NHS physio has long waiting lists and there are limits on how much you can have.

I was in a severe accident and couldn't walk due to damage to my foot and I waited a year for NHS physio and even then was only entitled to 4 sessions.

Your GP will not refer until 6 weeks because that is the guideline but even then there will be a substantial wait.

Realistically your options are pay or put up with it.

Have you tried a TENS machine - cost c£20 - can be very effective for back pain.

Google your city name and 'self refer physio'

This is what they do in Leicester www.leicspart.nhs.uk/services/referrals/?v=12911

Which meds is he on OP? Gabapentin was a life saver for me when I had a slipped disc. Excruciating pain I had for weeks went in 48 hours of taking it.

is there any way for you to see a private physio? because depending on what the actual problem is, he might need imaging?

I wouldn't reccommend going to an osteopath or chiropractor without a firm diagnosis first- can definitely make things worse.

I was in a lot of pain from a disc. I saw a physio. The pain continued. I saw an osteopath and after three visits and some exercises the pain completely went.

@fedupnowthanks this is exactly me. I herniated a disc coughing. It was absolutely excruciating would rather give birth again. Shooting pains and spasms. I got an out of hours appointment who sent me to a&e. Prescribed diazepam and tramadol which is the only thing that’s helping the pain. As I understand it the disc needs time to scar over/ return to normal I wouldn’t be doing any exercises etc yet as this could aggravate it and make any bulge worse. A mix of rest and gentle exercise eg walking for short periods of time is what I’ve been told for the first couple of weeks. Definitely would not be lifting children my partner is having to do it all. It’s a pain but the alternative is it makes the disc worse. I feel guilty that my partner is doing everything but I would take that any day over the pain.

I'd get him seen by a private physio or osteopath. GP's don't really know what to do and sometimes the person who has specialised knows exactly what they are looking for.

Osteopath. Gentle exercise - sitting around is the worst thing you can do.

I had 3 small DC when mine went. Just had to get on with it.

Dh has, we presume, a slipped disk. Last time it went he opened the pantry door to reach for cereal and sneezed. That was him on strong pain killers for a fortnight.
Agree with previous poster who said it needs time to heal.
Dh suffers maybe once a year. Twice if unlucky.
We presume a slipped disk as Dr refuses to scan or xray just gives dh strong painkillers.
He's been seeing a chiropractor for years who we definitely believe is keeping dh mobile.
Nhs physio was pointless, they sent him away with pilates bands.