Extreme pain in lower back and pins and needles in feet.

Happy new year to you all. As you might remember I was so happy with the result of having a shoulder replacement operation in November, which took away the dreadful long term pain in my shoulder and arm.

Now however, it seems that something new has come up. I have the most awful pain in the bottom of my back which radiates into my bottom. It doesn't seem to go down to my foot, but both of my feet have constant pins and needles in them. It is hard to sit, walk or stand and I am hardly getting any sleep with it. I could just sit and cry with the pain of it.

Tomorrow, I am going to see the physio for the second time after my shoulder op and I am going to mention it to her, although, as I have not been referred to her for that, I doubt she can do much, but I am just hoping for advice as to what I should do. If it wasn't for the fact that I am going there tomorrow, I would have tried to get an appointment with my GP today although that might not have been possible so quickly.

I just wondered if anyone here has experienced pain like I am describing. Apart from all I have said above, I feel exhausted and I can hardly lift my feet up from the floor. I am wondering if it could be a very painful sciatica or a flare up of RA. I would be glad of any answers here.

[allanah]

Definitely one for the docs. If it worsens or you get no feeling around your anal area or inconince of urine then call.999. Anyway if you are unhappy call 111 tonight xxx good luck

[helixhelix]

Agree with Allanah, any loss of sensation in groin and incontinence then call 999. Otherwise sounds like you’ve got some pinching of nerves in your sacrum if pain is running into your bum and making your feet tingle. Talk to physio and fingers crossed that he or she will be kind and check you out. If not its back to GP again... my physio has worked wonders on my sacrum and lower back.

[rounder]

I think speaking to your GP would be a good plan. I have compressed nerves following a nasty slipped disc which has partially reduced , but 9 months later still have the pain in the base of spine radiating into my bottom.

[Hidden]

Hi to all who have been good enough to answer me. The physiotherapist who I saw yesterday, said I should see my GP as soon as I could get an appointment. I rang up the surgery and was seen by one of them yesterday evening. After a lot of poking and prodding in my back, I was told it was muscular and could last for between two and six weeks but that because I am on very strong pain killers already there was not much that could be done about it. I had a better night's sleep last night and the pain has not been so bad today and I have been resting up much more, mainly because I have been so very tired and I just kept falling asleep. It is still painful but much improved so I will see how it goes on from now.

[Hidden in reply to Hidden]

You must feel so relieved. The nature of RD means even something little can be a much bigger issue. I’m glad you feeling better just take it slow.

[Hidden in reply to Hidden]

Thank you for replying J1707. My back is more painful again today, it seems to keep changing. The doctor did say that if it is still as bad in about a month to go back again and it would probably mean physiotherapy. I feel quite low about it all as I was so pleased with the result of my shoulder replacement and now to get this seems a blow. As I am sure you will know, people really have no idea about the nature of our illness because some people seem to think that because my shoulder op is now over that I will be ok for pain etc and be able to go out and about again. They seem to forget that I will still have all the other pains in my back, knees, feet and hands.