Anyone know anything about back problems...... (Its a long one)

[lauraloola]

About 8 years ago I put my back by lifting a heavy box the wrong way - Didnt bend my knees. I felt something go and the doctor in a and e said I had snapped a disc although I didnt have any x rays. My gp told me different and I never had physio.

Anyway, about once a year since then my lower back 'goes' again. Once I just got out of my car and it went - When it does I cant walk properly, cant sit down and am in agony for a few days.

On Saturday night I moved a cooker a short distance. Stupid I know. Since then I have had a sharp pain in my lower back as I do when my back goes but nothing actually went this time IYKWIM. When I stand up I am bent forward and sruggle to walk. I cant get comfy sat down only when lying.

Having a 5mo dd is a nightmare!

Any ideas what I have done. I cant get to my gp until next week. I am having lots of baths and trying not to lift etc.

In haste: osteopathy and acupuncture combo works wonders for me!

well, you could have done ANYTHING

your best bet is massive antiinflammatories and painkillers (if you are not bf)

and keep ACTIVE, do not spend all day in bed

and see GP

Thanks. Did you get those on the NHS? Someone said about a Chiropractor but they are very expensive.

Also, did you get referred from your GP? What tests did they do to find out what was wrong?

Sorry for the questions but I hate going to the doctors but I need to get this sorted for my dd's sake.

IME they won't do anythign with periodic paid TBH except give you valium (if not BF) and painkillers

I was in a right state with periodic pain (2 or 3 days every 2 weeks) for nearly 3 years before I got an MRI

Physio is on NHS

DH had to take a lot of time off work so you have my sympathy!

I had a bad back on and off for years until I went to a really good physio who helped me rebuild my muscle strength and taught me corrective exercises to rebalance my posture after years of over compensating to protect myself.

Physio was free, but was on doctors referral and took about a month so I'd agree with Dot in the first instance if you can stretch to the cost(s) get some relief go to an osteopath/ acupuncture.

sounds discy, but as MP says you could have done anything

paracetamol
ibuprofen (check re bf)
keep active

OH HELL EVERYTHING WHAT MP SAID and she isn't a physio or anything

and hot packs (she didn't say hot packs)

See GP asap and ask for physio referral pronto.

yes you could try hot packs but I always think that is like telling women in labour to think about their BREATHING

but yadda yadda, hot pack for 20 minutes (hot water bottle wrapped in towel) alternate with frozen-peas-in-towel for 5 minutes

the whole purpose of that is to relax the muscles

or you could try BREATHING

You need to push your GP for an xray and MRI scan. I had both last year. Your symptoms sound just like mine - I have a herniated disc in my spine (4th vertebrae up from tail bone). The disc betweeen the vertebra has been squeezed out and is pressing on the spinal cord - it's absolute agony - do you have trouble lifting your legs to put socks shoes on when it's bad? I've had injections for it from a spinal surgeon and these have helped loads - less trouble since March...........

I do WALKS when back very bad

3 miles in the cold night air with a lot of painkillers inside me

sometimes it helps, sometimes not

I can't even wipe my BOTTOM when I'm bad

my children DRESS me hehehe

I have a letter saying I have a herniated disc from a consultant

BUT my MRIs showed NADA

you just don't know with backs a lot of the time so you have to take responsibility

I do however have a GREAT package of MASSIVE DRUGS which does the job

Thanks. Did you get those on the NHS? Someone said about a Chiropractor but they are very expensive.

Also, did you get referred from your GP? What tests did they do to find out what was wrong?

Sorry for the questions but I hate going to the doctors but I need to get this sorted for my dd's sake.

I would recommend hot packs (for reduction of muscle spasm and pain gate mechanism pain relief) and breathing (for cerebral cortex oxygenation)

No baths though.

i have to agree with the staying active bit and industrial quantities of painkillers

also, if you have soft tisse damage then it can be very painful

acupuncture is good IME and physio

a physio has just been asking mnetters for a nmae for her new business on Chat. She is very grateful to mn. Quick - ask her now!

GP will give hardcore drugs (are you bf?)

Gp will refer you to physio - mine saw me same-day every time I've needed it badly

they can do manipulation and bash things around

after physio (months of) they will refer for x-ray

after x-ray they will refer to Back team (surgical)

after back team (surgical) they will refer to MRI

laura GP will ask some questions and should do a brief neuro exam. If you get referred to phyio they will do a more detailed exam (45min ish), lots of questions and much longer physical. If physio thinks there is anything suspicious they will refer back to GP.

L-spine x-rays tend not to be very helpful (I assume you are not 80 with osteoporosis).

You really need a referral to see a spinal specialist ASAP - push for it if you have to. He will put you on the waiting list for an MRI scan - you need to know what the problem is - spinal injections in the facets and epidural injections are sometimes recommended with sedation for short term relief. If things get really bad they sometimes recommend surgery but you need to know what theproblem is IMO - you can't go on in agony especially with a young child.

I think I x posted with you all!!

I will go to my gp asap I think then but I feel I have a battle on my hands as tomorrow I could wake up and be fine again.

I did go for a long walk today so will do the same every day.

Its not as bad as it has been at the moment. When its really bad I cant do anything -Like you mp I cant wipe my bottom without pain either!

I am kicking myself for not getting this sorted out years ago but the pain goes so fast sometimes that I forget about it until the next.

drugs might be the best bet TBH if it is so sporadic - probably no point having an MRI unless you are in an episode, so there isn't much interest in them putting you on a waiting list for one

some of the drugs are GOOD though

Im not bf and am only 26 LOL

If I go when Im not in pain will they still find out the cause? I wonder if it is disc related when the pain goes does that mean Im back to normal for a while until something happens again??

If you are not in pain then it will be more difficult to try to assess the cause, although a good subjective assessment (the questions at the start) will give the examiner a fairly good idea of the structures that are causing your pain.

It's worth going anyway, even if you are pain free as, as MP and waswondering say you will get given exercises to improve your core stability (and try to prevent further episodes).

(are you a physio, Slubber? )

I have hijacked the thread in Chat!

I cant get to my doctor until probably Friday. I expect I will still be in pain as picking up, carrying dd is really straining my back.

Am thinking of getting a Hippychick to help me out for the time being.

many moons ago MP. I have just paid £135 to the Chartered bleeding Society of Physiotherapy for the pleasure of being a non working member, so by God today I am a Physio.