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

64 replies

lauraloola · 18/11/2008 20:15

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.

OP posts:
lauraloola · 18/11/2008 21:45

Oh! I see, I do not want an MRI then

My bum now seems to start at my waist and I havent a clue how to shift it

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SlubberOverTheYardArm · 18/11/2008 21:47

sorry MP, how mean of me. And I have met you in RL, I cannot see how there is any room for any backfat. You are a lovely svelt thing with the nice norkage

laura, people wear all sorts of weird get ups. The paper pants always help them to remember to come suitably attired.

lauraloola · 18/11/2008 21:50

Nice, I will defo remember mine May try to get away with wearing my Spanx incase I do get a fitty.....

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SlubberOverTheYardArm · 18/11/2008 21:53

spanxs will be rolled down (to examine the spine and wobbly abdominals.

believe me a rolled down spanxs with your belly hanging over the top will send you into a spiral of depression from which there is probably no return.

lauraloola · 18/11/2008 21:57

Damn it.

I think this is what has put me off doing anything before now now I have fat in places I never thought possible.

Another question - Could I be told to loose weight?

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SlubberOverTheYardArm · 18/11/2008 21:59

Well they wont tell you (well I never did) but you might get asked "are you happy with your weight?" and when you say no (virtually everyone says no) then you will be told that loosing weight may well help.

lauraloola · 18/11/2008 22:00

Having thought about it though, this is the first flare up I have had since before I was pg with dd.

Before then I was a good weight for my height and had a good BMI so surely it cant be that much of an issue??

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SlubberOverTheYardArm · 18/11/2008 22:07

No, probably not. Main thing is getting your core stability muscles going again. They tend to go on holiday if you suffer from LBP and even more so if they have been all stretched by a baby.

lauraloola · 18/11/2008 22:12

Brilliant, thanks for everyones help. If I think of anymore questions I will add them, Im sure I will think of something.

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SlubberOverTheYardArm · 18/11/2008 22:14

no worries.

Hope back gets better soon.

Dottoressa · 18/11/2008 22:53

In haste again (so I haven't read the other posts, and apologise for any duplication):

I bypassed the GP (who isn't much cop where bad backs are concerned, IME) and went straight to an osteopath recommended by a friend. This particular osteopath just happens to be trained in acupuncture as well. Osteopathy on its own works pretty well; the combination of the two has sorted out about four very, very nasty recent episodes for me (including post-pregnancy-related problems). He costs £31 for 30 minutes, which is well worth it. I don't know if it's available on the NHS as I've never asked; I get half the amount back via insurance (their rule is that the osteopath has to be a member of the General Osteopathic Council or whatever it's called).

I did have a phase of seeing a chiropractor, but it didn't really work for me. He wanted me to see him twice a week for six weeks, which was way too expensive. I did do it, but didn't feel that the results justified the expense.

Painkillers never worked for me (not even the powerful ones I saved up after my c-section!!)

LittleMissTickles · 20/11/2008 14:49

Hi Lauraloola

Sorry this has taken so long, just spotted your post on my thread as my youngest is unwell at the moment...

I probably don't need to start about how everyone is diffferent etc so will just start with you!

To get an urgent physio assessment (as opposed to 6 month wait) you need to tell your GP about your CURRENT episode ie just few days since onset, emphasise problems caring for your little baby, and once you have the referral, call the physio department that you were referred to and keep calling and again emphasise your acute problems. Otherwise it will be seen as a chronic problem and treated as such.

In the meanwhile I would also try anti-inflammatories (assuming there is no reason why you cannot).

As Morningpaper so wisely advised, you need to keep moving as much as you possibly can. Your back is NOT a 'no pain, no gain' situation, and you should not aggravate it by movement, but exercise like going for walks or possibly swimming would be very good especially at this early stage.

Physio assessment (underwear only )will include many things - posture, muscle spasm, movement quality and range, spinal movements by pressing on joints of the spine to check the movement at each level, neurological involvement - to see to what extent the nervous system is affected, dynamic movements eg how you lift, turn in bed, carry your baby. It should not be painful at all.

Treatment should include manual therapy - targeted at the muscles and joints affected the first few sessions, and the most important bit (MORNINGPAPER!!!!) is the ongoing management which largely depends on you doing your exercises, but not exclusively. Of course you could end up with very experienced physio or the opposite, but in general the exercises prescribed can make an enormous difference in recurrence rate. You can be relatively sure that this episode will get 'fixed' soon, but maintenance will be important for you for a couple of years to allow healing to take place. I know it takes a large commitment to keep doing boring Pilates-style core strengthening exercises when you are busy with a small child, but it is really worth it in the long run.

Good luck! Any more info required I am happy to advise, but am in USA at the moment, so advance apologies for delays.

lauraloola · 20/11/2008 21:50

Hi LMT - Thanks very much for that. My back is a lot better today but lifting dd is still painful. I am having lots of baths and walking everyday so I think that is helping.

Will defo go next and will take your advice and keep calling - I guess because they will get so fed that they will give me an appointment!!

Ps - Did you see my name idea for your clinic?!

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LittleMissTickles · 21/11/2008 01:29

I did!

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