In agony with bad back, please help

[GetDownYouWillFall]

Thanks to lugging my heavy toddler around I have developed agonising pain in my lower back

It's making me miserable. I just burst into tears it is so bad and I feel so desperate. It's been about 6 days now, and no sign of any improvement at all.

When I've hurt my back in the past it's always got better after a week. Am terrified it is really knackered this time

Have tried paracetamol, codeine, ibuprofen, and several of the rub-in gels. Nothing seems to be helping.

I know the GP can't do anything and will just say to carry on.

Any tips on what has worked for you, or exercises for how to help it get better or stop it happening again?

you can ask your gp to refer you for physio - that may help or if you can afford it an osteo may be able to help.

It is expensive,but I found a chiropractor worked miracles on my back earlier this year. I have suffered from lower back pain on and off for many years and it now feels much stronger, people are commenting that I look slimmer and I think it is because my spine is now straight. I have also bought a back chair, one of those you kneel on for when I use the computer and I think that is helping along with exercises that the chiropractor recommended to increase the core muscle strength. I am only going monthly now for maintenance and the difference to how it had been before is amazing, I had never tried it before and had no expectation that it would make such an improvement.

I feel your pain literally. I hurt my back yesterday and was laid on the dining room floor until dh came home. Thankfully he wasn't out long. I rang an osteopath and got seen straight away though the car journey was hell. I cried a lot too.

He obviously has done some good as though still in pain at least I am moving around though I have missed out on my weekend away.

I have been to a chiropractor before and not sure it helped and when she said I need to see you three times in a week it made a bit As at £40 a session it can get expensive.

Go to your doctor and see if you can get a referral.

The GP can prescribe anti inflammatory s and decent pain killers.

Osteopath also managed to perform a miracle on me.

Heat pads are fantatic.

the gp can do something they can refer you to physio.

whilst waiting swimming is great as it supports your weight. Walking - not with toddler attached. And making sure you pull yourself in to strengthen core muscles.

Make the toddler walk. Or at least dont pick them up for a while - they wont suffer.

drugs from the GP plus physio referral

thanks all, maybe I'll try the GP if not better by next week..

It's so hard not to pick up my DD when she's clinging to my legs all the time. But I really can't at the moment or I might make it worse.

Good to hear that chiropractors / osteopaths can help

if you go to physio/ostio/chiro get them to show you what you/partner can do at home to help things. they should be very willing to give you this info.

Babes, I really feel for you - my back 'went' whilst I was trying to get out of the car last week and I ended up in A&E [DH works 3 minutes away from where I was fortunately and the hospital was only a mile away]. Glad I did as the consultant [after a 2.5 hour wait and lots of tears] gave me diazapam, diclofenac and co-codamol, which the GP would probably prescribed anyway but at the hospital they gave me a much higher dosage. See this website

www.arthritisresearchuk.org/arthritis_information/arthritis_types__symptoms/back_p ain.aspx#non

They also do a booklet you can order "Back Pain'.

If you have been in pain for such a long time - see your GP and DEMAND the drugs mentioned above, if he doesn't offer them anyway!!

I'm now finding the hardest thing is my DH and kids telling me to take it easy, then not doing grocery shop, carrying the laundry basket, out the bins out, walk the dogs, etc, so I'm still running around like a headless chicken and taking the painkillers just to keep going!

I've had back probs off and on for years. My osteopath can always help - I'd recommend osteo.