Messed up my back

[ancientprune]

Yesterday I bent over nd felt somthing snap in my lower back. I I've.w.ent to the walk in clinic and was advised to increase my pred. I've been tapering from 9.5 mgs last month to 9 mgs this month so I took 10 mgs at my 2am dose time.Called the rheumy but have no idea how long before I hear from him.The pain fierce .Any advice is so welcome and I thank you all for your help

[PMRpro Ambassador]

Far from sure an increase in dose is the way to go. IF, then take 5mg extra for a few days to see if that will help. If it is a muscle spasm/real damage then pred won't deal with injury and you can drop back to 10mg easily.

You could try 800mg ibuprofen in a single dose (with some stomach protection) and heat and/or ice on the painful area. Been there a few months ago - more pred didn't really do anything.

[piglette]

I would get co-codamol if you have hurt your back.

[SnazzyD]

I agree that as something ‘has gone’ in your back, not sure what an increase of 0.5mg will do. Sounds like it isn’t a Rheumy issue job here but someone who can deal with injury rather than chronic disease.

[SheffieldJane]

Personally having felt something snap in my back would prompt me to go to A&E. You need an expert to look at an injury like this that may need immediate remedial action. Let us know what happens to you. Good luck!

[LBM1953]

Did something similar in February day before holidaying in Lakes (tieing my shoes). Managed to get there but couldn't walk without collapsing every now and then . I prolapsed a disc in my thirties and this was similar but not quite as bad. I suffer from a bad back generally and this was not my "normal" muscular pain. Wife went walking in her own!! I sat reading for a week with a wheat bag which was comforting but gave me the most enormous bruise which is only now fading. Back is still a bit stiff but now functioning more normally (within the limits of PMR).

[Hidden]

I agree with Sheffield Jane, A & E is the place to go ASAP. You don't want to worsen things. Hopefully you will have an X ray.

My husband takes ibuprofen with codeine when he goes out with his bad foot as he is in very bad pain when he walks any distance. Maybe it would help take away some of your pain, however, if it works, it will only be a temporary help and won't solve the problem of the snap in your back. (Codeine, as you probably know, can be addictive, so only use it for short term relief).

Good luck with A & E, hope to hear you are better soon.

[Hidden]

I’d suggest you need an X-ray and doctor dx. This is only from my experience My best to you.

[Amkoffee]

That's how it felt when I broke 2 vertebrae. Steroids can cause osteoporosis and in my case I bent down to fetch something out of the fridge and like you I felt something snap. Did they xray your back?

[ancientprune in reply to Amkoffee]

Thank you for sharing your experience.My rheumy was shocked that walk-in clinic did not x-eay and he will call them tomorrow to order one.What did they do for your breaks in your vertebrae?

[PMRpro Ambassador in reply to ancientprune]

If it is a stable break it is just a matter of time for healing. My husband got a corset to support it and reduce the pain - depends where it is what sort of support. Then it was rest and wait.

[Amkoffee]

If there is any way for you to just do like PMR Pro husband that is the best in my opinion based on my experience. I had a surgery done called kyphoplasty. Unfortunately I had a rare but possible problem. With this type of surgery the doctor injects a liquid bone cement into the vertebrae. Once inside the vertebrae it hardens. What happened to me was that the surgeon accidentally injected some of the bone cement into my pulmonary artery which runs along the spine. The cement travelled up my pulmonary artery and landed into my lungs. Two hours after I got home from the surgery I ended up in ICU because I could not breathe. I was on blood thinners and oxygen for 6 months. The pieces that went into my lungs were very very small. Had they been bigger this could have killed me. However this is a rare occurrence. It is called a pulmonary cement embolism. It is so rare that none of the doctors involved including the emergency room doctor and the surgeon who did this to me knew how to treat it. They had to contact a medical school in our state to get some recommendations.