Close to tears........

[Surelynot]

Finally bouncing back from cancer scare and hospital infections, training and swimming daily then............bent down to switch a pedestal fan on..........and back 'went'.

 

Couldn't stand up, had to remain crouched at 90...........made it back to the bed and I am now lying down, flat on my back, feet slightly raised.

 

With some serious effort and a deal of pain I can, having rested for a couple of hours, just get upright to slowly shuffle to the toilet.

 

Is this a slipped disc or could it be soft tissue? (never had a 'bad' back before).

 

How should I lie, should I be lying down?

 

Should I take anything? (pain is tolerable once I am still and in the 'right place')

 

I know the upshot is go to the doctor........and I will if this continues......but just wanting some advice in the meantime from people "in the know".

 

Thanks in advance for any advice.

[talahtnut]

Go to an osteopath.

[Surelynot]

6 minutes ago, talahtnut said:

Go to an osteopath.

Don't want to spend any money......555

[scubascuba3]

It will take about a week + to get back to normal probably, ice (or frozen peas) help, just needs time. Can be a disc problem, either way, just rest, no need for specialist just yet, unless numbness. When it happens to me I try to get back to normal as soon as possible, that means cycling and golf

[greenmonkey]

I did a similar thing once the day before my 11 hour flight back home to the UK. Had to cancel my flight and stay in bed for a couple of days - it wasn't a slipped disk. I was advised to lay down on my back on a flat surface quite solid (i.e. firm mattress) had someone to rub Thai oil (the stuff that gives a burning sensation similar to deep heat) gently into the painful areas and that really helped ease the pain. Within a few days was walking again. Obviously you should see a doc but if you can't get to one then can follow how I did.

[Surelynot]

4 minutes ago, greenmonkey said:

I did a similar thing once the day before my 11 hour flight back home to the UK. Had to cancel my flight and stay in bed for a couple of days - it wasn't a slipped disk. I was advised to lay down on my back on a flat surface quite solid (i.e. firm mattress) had someone to rub Thai oil (the stuff that gives a burning sensation similar to deep heat) gently into the painful areas and that really helped ease the pain. Within a few days was walking again. Obviously you should see a doc but if you can't get to one then can follow how I did.

On your back, did you place a pillow in the small of your back, lifting it into an arch....or is that not a good thing to do?

[Surelynot]

8 minutes ago, scubascuba3 said:

no need for specialist just yet

That what I was hoping someone might say......see how it goes first.....slight numbness in right leg.......but that could be lying down for so long plus my imagination!!!!!

[KhunBENQ]

14 minutes ago, Surelynot said:

slight numbness in right leg

That's a bit concerning and points to a more serious incident ("slipped disk").

[scubascuba3]

13 minutes ago, Surelynot said:

That what I was hoping someone might say......see how it goes first.....slight numbness in right leg.......but that could be lying down for so long plus my imagination!!!!!

When it first happens panic can take over, no quick solution, just needs time to settle. Personally pain killers don't touch it, but occasionally co-codamol  can switch off fake pain

[faraday]

Where's the pain?

[G Rex]

Could be intervertebral disc compression, could be facet joint problem, could be just soft tissue - but more likely to be spine or joint issue.

If you have not had issues in the past , initially apply cool for 30 minutes or so , and when pain subsides alternate with heat...  The cool reduces the inflammation - (= pain) and the heat increases circulation to area to improve healing - but heat is not so important when the injury is so acute.  If you are in pain , take some sort of pain reliever - panadol / voltaren etc - you get no medals for coping with pain!

When my back is sore - I have a lower lumbar facet joint instability - I find lying on my side is more comfortable than laying on my back . Massage & stretching can help as well. (NOT that kind of massage! - but hopefully your happy ending is pain relief).

It is always the transition from sitting/lying to standing that is most painful.

Whatever you do - it will take about a week to come back to normal.

Enjoy!

 

[Surelynot]

2 minutes ago, scubascuba3 said:

When it first happens panic can take over

Yes it did.......completely locked up, sweating......

[Surelynot]

4 minutes ago, KhunBENQ said:

That's a bit concerning and points to a more serious incident ("slipped disk").

Hoping it is my imagination......you know what it is like......read up on symptoms and bang......you have them.

[Rhacsyn]

I have done my back twice. First time foolishly bending down and trying to push a heavy box away from my body.  Bang, trapped nerve near swollen discs,  dreadful pain as you say, and stuck at 90 degrees! Had to wait patiently for a week for it to start to improve such that I was able to walk "normally". As it was a trapped nerve, had to be careful not to make it worse. Slept a lot in the foetus position.

 

Second time was done bending down too quickly to pick up a golf ball after yet another chunk shot.

 

I sympathise as the pain is excruciating and for me ice packs helped and rest, Would be careful with anti inflammatory tabs as they might help but can sometimes mask the issue and you end up making it worse. I am not a medical doctor and only relaying my own experience!

 

After recovery, and if you want a basic exercise, lie flat on the floor face down, hands behind your head.  Raise your head a few inches and hold for a couple of seconds. Repeat about 10 times. Certainly helped my lower back muscles and.........

 

Not much help I'm afraid.

[Surelynot]

3 minutes ago, faraday said:

Where's the pain?

Lower back, below the 'small' of the back or lower end of it.......a little to the left.....hurts when a place my left heel down, not so much the right.

[Surelynot]

6 minutes ago, G Rex said:

Could be intervertebral disc compression, could be facet joint problem, could be just soft tissue - but more likely to be spine or joint issue.

If you have not had issues in the past , initially apply cool for 30 minutes or so , and when pain subsides alternate with heat...  The cool reduces the inflammation - (= pain) and the heat increases circulation to area to improve healing - but heat is not so important when the injury is so acute.  If you are in pain , take some sort of pain reliever - panadol / voltaren etc - you get no medals for coping with pain!

When my back is sore - I have a lower lumbar facet joint instability - I find lying on my side is more comfortable than laying on my back . Massage & stretching can help as well. (NOT that kind of massage! - but hopefully your happy ending is pain relief).

It is always the transition from sitting/lying to standing that is most painful.

Whatever you do - it will take about a week to come back to normal.

Enjoy!

 

Will give the hot and cold a buzz.......fat chance of the massage.....as you say any transitioning fills me with dread.

[Surelynot]

8 minutes ago, Rhacsyn said:

 Would be careful with anti inflammatory tabs as they might help but can sometimes mask the issue

YES....I wondered about that......the pain and swelling are there....I assume...... to stop you aggravating the situation by moving about too much???

Edited June 21, 2021 by Surelynot

[faraday]

Take some Tramadol, so that you get some pain relief & able to get into a more comfortable position.

 

Do you have a partner who can help?

[Surelynot]

2 minutes ago, faraday said:

Take some Tramadol, so that you get some pain relief & able to get into a more comfortable position.

 

Do you have a partner who can help?

Yes thank god......would be a real struggle trying to cope without her........have some 'happy pills' the doctor prescribed me when recovering from a biopsy.......never took any......but tempted to try one or two now...555

[RichardColeman]

My back hurt like mad the other week. Looking in the mirror I could not stand properly, all leaning to one side.

 

Found best thing was dosing up with pain killers and walking 5km twice a day, and then laying flat as much a possible when home, 7 days and it was pretty much back to normal.

 

I think most of us get bad backs getting out of chairs than gyms in old age !

[Surelynot]

Just now, RichardColeman said:

My back hurt like mad the other week. Looking in the mirror I could not stand properly, all leaning to one side.

 

Found best thing was dosing up with pain killers and walking 5km twice a day, and then laying flat as much a possible when home, 7 days and it was pretty much back to normal.

 

I think most of us get bad backs getting out of chairs than gyms in old age !

Very true....... do an hour a day in the gym........running and weights.....nothing excessive......then bend down to switch a ßloody pedestal fan and boom....crippled.

[faraday]

2 minutes ago, Surelynot said:

Yes thank god......would be a real struggle trying to cope without her........have some 'happy pills' the doctor prescribed me when recovering from a biopsy.......never took any......but tempted to try one or two now...555

Take the happy pills, get your wife to give you a very gentle massage.

 

[The Fugitive]

52 minutes ago, talahtnut said:

Go to an osteopath.

100%. An Uncle (now deceased) endured a decade of debilitating back pain, sometimes walking bent over for days. Physiotherapists and hospital specialists proved useless. The specialist finally 'signed him off' with the words; 'Whatever it is that you are doing that you think might be causing this, stop doing it'. He went to an osteopath and paid £10 GBP. He was warned that it was going to hurt and it did. He never had any further back problems. True!

[2 is 1]

Have had many times sciatic nerve problems normaly start to me if my back have get cold or have lift something in wrong position. Try to get some muscle relaxing medicine and pain killer(only ibuprofen help even little to me). To me this pain feels like somebody hit knife in down back in right side.

[Surelynot]

7 minutes ago, faraday said:

Take the happy pills, get your wife to give you a very gentle massage.

 

Feeling happier already....555

[Surelynot]

3 minutes ago, 2 is 1 said:

Have had many times sciatic nerve problems normaly start to me if my back have get cold or have lift something in wrong position. Try to get some muscle relaxing medicine and pain killer(only ibuprofen help even little to me). To me this pain feels like somebody hit knife in down back in right side.

The pain started centrally.....and does seem to be shifting to the lefthand side.......can you recommend a muscle relaxant?

[poohy]

I'm not a doctor but do get the odd bad painful back caused from bending

My solution a gout remedy colchicine and diclofenac and a good rest preferably a nights sleep for me its greatly relived the following day

[thaibeachlovers]

43 minutes ago, Surelynot said:

Hoping it is my imagination......you know what it is like......read up on symptoms and bang......you have them.

If in doubt see a doctor. They ain't all quacks. A Thai consultant diagnosed my gout in 2 minutes, despite having seen western doctors many times for years with no success.

[thaibeachlovers]

21 minutes ago, Surelynot said:

The pain started centrally.....and does seem to be shifting to the lefthand side.......can you recommend a muscle relaxant?

Voltaren works for me.

[tifino]

biggest killer is to lay back on side of bed with legs as shown... and to then lie the top half of body flat on the bed - the lower back stress from that combo with the knee flex is best avoided. The pain is not immediate, but if slept like that; the pain on awakening is when it really hurts the lower back...  Found this all out after flopping onto bed after a hard day at the Office...