Medication for lower backpain that worked?

[Jo19899]

6 month ago I started to have lower backpain (L5 region) and into buttock and have so far seen both an osteopath and physio to no avail. I am self funding so stopped at 12 sessions as it wasn't making any difference.

I have tried OTC cocodemol and voltarol gel but these haven't helped either. The pain is bearable but very uncomfortable at times. I have a TENS machine which does help.

Does anyone have any experience of stronger medication prescribed by a doctor for this or a similar condition that eased the pain? or had an injection by a specialist?

I cannot take oral NSAIDs as I have IBD.

Grateful for any advise/experiences.

Watching - don't have the answer but I have similar issues and have done for a year. I use voltarol which I find helps a bit. I also use ice packs when it's sore.
I am doing tons of physio exercises. I think eventually I will have to try and get an injection.
Have you had an MRI?

I use advance 7 gel. It really helps along with a heat pad. If going out I use a sticky heat pad from B&M. I've been recommended Pilates by a trained physio so hoping to start that soon.

My GP last week upped me on to 30mg of lansoprazol in the morning then 500mg of naproxen. It's not completely killing the pain but movement is easier.

NHS physio agrees with my osteopath as to it being my Sacroiliac joint, so strengthening the ligaments and muscles up as I have hypermobility and fibromyalgia. Osteopath is seeing n my E fortnightly as physio is off for a month.

Hoping things get better soon.

I found Co-Codolmol prescribed by my GP helped keeping pain reasonably under control Amitriptyline helped a bit with the nerve pain, I was on a cocktail of drugs & have been having physio for over a year has improved but a very slow process I’m also investigating steroid injections, I hope you find something that works it’s miserable.

Junemoon222 - yes I have a hot water in a belt! very uncool but helps a bit

Majestic - next step is a consultant appointment and possible MRI but it is expensive. If an injection is recommended for pain even more money. The wait on NHS is too long for an MRI so was hoping there were some meds which could ease the pain a little. I too am doing loads of physio exercises.

Gabapentin was the only thing I found to help, amitriptyline did nothing. Pilates is great but look up which exercises to avoid if you have lower back issues as you probably don't want to do anything in flexion, do more in extension or neutral position.

I was alternating between codine and ibuprofen with Lyrica.

I ended up having to have a steroid injection under CT to stop the pain.

Not medication but yoga is working for my husband. The back muscles are getting stronger and the pain is less.

On the NHS wait for an MRI - my county has massive waiting lists etc but I have been sent for multiple ones within a month as the department is working over weekends. Do you know how long your wait will actually be as I was told mine could be months plural.

I've had a history of back pain on and off for years following collapsed discs. I get flare ups every few months and the only thing that has helped long term to prevent this is amitriptalyn. Prescription medication, helps with nerve pain.

Thanks for all your replies. Very helpful and will give me more confidence when speaking to a GP as it is sometimes difficult to tell over the phone how knowledgeable or empathetic they are.

You could try BioFreeze gel. Don't bother with deep freeze / deep heat. But BioFreeze works extremely well for some people
I am not affiliated in any way but I recommend it loads at work

Hello, I'm on 12 days of daily cortisone intramuscular injections in the buttock after having the same issue for the last 6 months. I had 2x MRIs which showed a herniated disc. I also had a different herniated disc 25 years ago was treated with 7 days of Costine tablets, but injections are less harsh. For me it's the only thing that works. I'm not in the UK so I'm not sure if this is done there

I have chronic low back pain with no palpable cause.

Amytriptyliene works for me at a low dose 20mg. Takes the edge off and promotes sleep. Then cocodamol during a flare up

Stick in heat patches are good too. Naproxen also

Had injections they did nothing

@Jo19899 I had very similar back issues a few years ago, and something that helped me massively was getting bespoke insoles for my shoes. I had a gait assessment with a podiatrist after my physio realised that I wasn't walking evenly, and the insoles absolutely transformed my pain situation.

I'd already had an mri to check there wasn't anything actually amiss, but I was in enormous amounts of pain despite regular physio and painkillers. If you can't take NSAIDs then I second the Biofreeze recommendation. Podiatrist assessment plus insoles was a couple of hundred pounds in total, and was a complete game changer for me. Good luck, it's horrible to be in constant pain.

I had this last year. Because I have osteoporosis the GP sent me for an xray and MRI. The xray showed no fracture. The MRI took 7 months.

I went to a physio while waiting but they refused to treat until I had a diagnosis.

The MRI showed two bulging discs and a trapped nerve. I also have degenerative spine disease which is basically a lot of wear and tear.
Once diagnosed the physio gave me exercises which helped. It took another 4 months to be "better" but has recently flared up again and now causing hip pain as well.
A heated pack was the best thing. Also Volterol (diclofenic gel) helps. I can't take NSAIDs and hate codeine so I never asked for more pain relief.
My rheumatologist has offered cortesone injections but I'm holding off as long as possible.

Beware of following specific advice on exercise or insoles until you have a diagnosis.

I've had an unstable SI for 30yrs plus a herniated disc L4/5. I've had every medication known to man, physio, trigger point injections, steroid injections, tens machine, heat pads, cold pads, alternative medications, the lot. Do you know what works? Bloody none of it!! I have to use a walking aid now, I'm 52 ffs. I was told that by now the pain would lessen because your body stiffens as it ages. Pah!