Sudden severe back pain

[deborah27]

I am seeing a neuro physio. I have explained that I am experiencing an increase in body pain over last eighteen months. She has given me exercises. On Thursday, I experienced sudden severe back pain, so severe that I couldn't walk. I was crying out when I moved. I have no recollection of injuring myself. Friday, saturday and today I have not been able to go upstairs, wash or make food. I have painkillers and freeze spray that my Grandaughter brought. I have a short period of some relief but still too painful to walk. I live on my own. Doc says that I am seeing a physio and to continue with exercises. Not sure how to deal with this.

[Leaf100]

Hi Deborah,

That sounds pretty rough, and not sustainable. You've had to miss some days of activity , and that isn't helpful.

I would talk to Headway and the neuro physio - you can ask explain you live on your own, and they incapacitate you - my guess is they can modify the exercises. I dont think that is the goal at all, and may be a sign they need modifying.

You may need to only do 1 type per day for a bit to figure out which one pushes it over the edge. The physio will have a plan.

Slow and steady wins in the end, in my experience.

Keep us posted.

Leaf

[deborah27 in reply to Leaf100]

Thank you, three more days of really acute pain. I knocked my phone off my coffee table and couldnt reach it. I eventually slid myself along floor to see a couple of missed calls and messages. One of the missed calls was my neuro physio, so frustrating and i just cried. I ordered a Tens machine from Amazon, it is to arrive by ten oclock tonight. Anything at all, at least i am able to buy this, i appreciate not everyone can. I am not really that hungry, pain takes over everything. I have to believe that relief is coming. I had called out of hours doc, he didnt listen, said to call ambulance to A&E, really!! I need to have serious chats with people, this happens and life is hell. I am going to put a bit more effort into self care, as soon as this pain flare subsides a bit, i need to celebrate the relief. I appreciate your response, thank you.

[Leaf100 in reply to deborah27]

Thank goodness you are able to get a TENS, I read below others have had success.and I hope you do, too !

I get the - oh just go to emergency - a lot here. That's not always achievable- or sensible. Generally they at capacity and a 12 hour wait here. Not exactly practical. Though my guess is the phone doc start thinking opiods and you have to see someone to rx those. The TENS is much safer in a lot of ways.

Is your pain inflammatory? One of my docs suggested P.E.A. which is an otc supplement with a lot less side effects than some nsaids.

It is one of those things that takes several days to kick in though.

PEA is Palmitoylethanolamide and is an alternative to the standard NSAIDs

Hang in there, the TENS will arrive today.

Lesf

[1949liz]

Hi Deborah have you thought about a chiropractor. Maybe you have a trapped a nerve. Also codine with paracetamol works well for pain. Talk again to your doctor ( if possible) ice packets then a hot water bottle it helps as I suffer from back pain. Take care Liz xxx

[deborah27 in reply to 1949liz]

What seems to have happened is that brain injury, trauma etc.. triggered symptoms of chronic pain and flare-ups. I am in pain all over every day, but mostly manage not too bad. Then a real surge of acute pain comes and wipes me out. The docs say things like - peripheral nerve pain, neuropathic pain, parasthsias etc... some have called the symptoms fibromyalgia. Im sure you are the same, in that, you just want pain to stop regardless of the name its given. I actually cannot plan anything... hard to commit to travel to appointments etc at times. The flares are just so severe that i am stuck. I am going to give the Tens unit a go, never used one before. Even placebo effect would be good lol, dont care just as long as i can move. Thank you for your response, i appreciate it a lot.

[1949liz in reply to deborah27]

Hi Deb, the tens machine are great I have had two and they smooth the pain away why I don’t know but start gently at first and then you can turn it up. Take care Liz

[deborah27 in reply to 1949liz]

That is great to hear, I am excited now, says delivery before ten oclock tonight. Relief might not be too far away, a sleep to follow. Just need some quality of life, now all we need is a machine to fix fatigue! Thanks for your response, good news.

[deborah27]

Tens machine here!! Plugged in and wired up lol. On for an hour now, set at 4, WOW! is all I can say. I can stand up!! What a wee gem, it can stay.

[Bluelyn]

can you contact your physio? the physios i hadin my last location were useless and i know if i was still there no way would i still be doing my physiobut my current physio i email her with any problems, plus ordinarily physios have to be careful touching the back. i slipped a disk twice it was agony thankfully it was pre stoke, but i have sciatic nerve trouble so my back is often bad from that i use a heat pad to help ease the spasms and pain, heat pads have auto shut of so it eases professionals fear of burning. plus threy can be set at a low heat if preferred. and no hot water.

[deborah27 in reply to Bluelyn]

Thank you, yes Tens working hard and gives some relief, enough to let me stand up. Still having to edge my way leaning on furniture. My son in law brought me food and I am glad about that. It feels like there is no end in sight, but I know that it will calm down eventually. I have reached the conclusion a long time ago, that medics know stuff, but they don't know everything! I hear so much nonsense, things that just aren't practical and sometimes impossible when in pain or without transport or support... have learned how to manage a lot and end up coping not too badly. My medical records read like that of a mad woman, who cares, incompetent consultants etc... a lot of the time haven't a clue!

[Exhausted101]

Have you told the physio about this? It definitely sounds not right. Push to see them again as soon as possible.

I've ached after exercising but never in the way you've described. Please do let us know how you get on.