Freaking out about my back

[WalkingPrimrose86]

Could someone kind please advise? (I appreciate that advice given will be general and not medically accurate as you cannot examine me!)

Last week I was folding a sheet. I twisted awkwardly doing it and pulled a muscle in my lower back. It hurt, but not too much. I was late for an appointment and managed to rush there and even break into a light jog without issue on the way.

That evening it hurt like hell and I stopped being able to stand up straight. I assumed a bit of rest would fix it, but I ended up struggling so much I went to the GP after a couple of days.

The GP was adamant I need a shed load of diazepam. I scared myself stiff reading the side effects leaflet and I haven’t taken it. I’m usually pretty hardy and not a worrisome person, but I currently have two very small children so am scared of getting drowsy/out of it.

My husband is currently using annual leave to help me at home. It’s been 11 days now and I still can’t stand up bloody straight. It really can’t go on.

I called the GP again and he gave me a ticking off and said it was diazepam or bust.

Should I get a second opinion? Also - any wisdom on how to sort this injury out would be welcomed.

Yes get a second opinion.
GPs are useless with back pain. If I'd listened to mine I would be disabled.

I've taken diazepam for a back injury before. My muscles kept spasming so that helped it to relax. I also took anti-inflammatories and that combination sorted me out.

Like you, my injury started as a twinge and I carried on but within 24 hours I was in significant pain.

I don't typically take pain relief and wasn't off my face on the diazepam. Although it's good to have your partner around to help out.

If you feel you need a 2nd opinion go for it. I suppose I'm just saying not to rule out the relief you've been given

I would take it. The best thing for back issues is to keep moving and good posture. If you can't do those things because you're back is tense then it'll get worse.

Chiropractor is my only advice, it helped me tremendously and I stupidly suffered the back pain for almost two years.

Two visits and pain was gone.

God take the diazepam! It really helps and it doesn't make you high or really drowsy. It's just a mild spaced out/ very mildly stoned feeling, and if in pain you probably won't even feel spaced.

I would take the diazepam - I took it and didn’t get woozy at all, stopped after just under a week with no ill effects. Also as PP said the pain relief helps correct posture which for me all the stiffness and out of alignment caused more damage. Please see a physio- don’t mean to scare you and this wouldn’t be the case for most but I let similar to you go on for far too long (months) and ended up herniating a disc. The GP just wasn’t able to diagnose or help. Physio diagnosed me in the first session by which point was a slipped disc sadly.

I wonder whether it might be a good idea for you to book a consultation with a physiotherapist. They might have more of a clue than the GP.
It'll have to be private, I'm afraid, as the waiting times for NHS appointments are ridiculously long.

I have suffered with my back for years. Take half a diazepam and straighten yourself up. The relief will be enough to get you moving more smoothly and naturally. You'll also get a better night's sleep. Then, yoga, heat and as much walking as you can do. I have Crohn's disease and I can't take painkillers, so this is what I do instead.

I took the diazepam and it was the only thing the worked as it stopped the spasm.. I felt absolutely fine on it and it massively helped.. take the medication. Then get to chiropractor or osteopath whatever works for you to ensure it doesn't happen again .

Diazepam is amazing for back spasms. Take it, for goodness' sake! You won't be stoned, and you will be better able to take care of your LO than you are now, when you're in such pain.

Yes take it, it will relax your back so you can start doing all the things you need to do to recover. No point going to a physio or chiropractor till it has settled a bit.

I would try it - it relaxes muscles, which it sounds as though is needed in your case. GP will have (should have) ruled out a disc problem, so the diazepam is what is needed.

Take it. It's the only thing that had any impact when I did similar. It loosened my muscles up enough that I could move normally again and that then meant rapid improvement.

When one of my discs prolapsed I was given diazepam to relax the spasmed muscles around it.