shooting pains in my back

[binie27]

hi all

am hoping i keep getting really bad shooting pains in my back and cramps it hurts when i cough i have been taking pain killers it takes the pain away for a little while but i seem to be taking more and more pain killers and this is not me i hate taking pain killers can anyone help me please binie

[cyberbarn]

Have you seen a doctor or physio to find out what could be causing this? It sounds like the shooting pains might be muscle spasms.

Sometimes drugs don't help because they are addressing the source of the pain. If that source is musculoskeletal then a physio or osteopath would be able to show you exercises that could stop the shooting pains and cramps and help the muscles relax.

I have a series of little exercises which is just gently moving my neck and shoulders in certain ways. I will be doing these exercises for life now and if I feel my muscles starting to go again I just increase how often I do the exercises. I no longer get the neck, shoulder and back pain enough to take painkillers.

so it is worth making sure that it is just a musculoskeletal problem, then finding a good physio. In some areas you can self refer as well.