Follow-up: ER Visit for Excruciating Back Spasms

[Missus835]

On advice of my former Neurologist, I went into the ER on Wednesday past and sat for 4 hours. Could sit no longer due to the spasms from hip girdle to diaphragm and a little higher. Left the ER. Yesterday, I decided to go in the morning. Waited about 2 hrs. They gave me a shot of something which starts with "G" and is a substitute for Ibuprofen. A couple of shots would have helped more. He thought it could be my magesium levels, but on checking blood, they were fine. Ended coming out with a sheet of exercises and nothing for pain relief. I asked for another CT-scan as things have escalated since the last one 4 weeks ago. So, he checked my last one and compared it also with an MRI I had done in 2019. No significant changes.

The nurse felt up and down my back and when she hit a trigger point (which are many), I cried out in pain. That's when I got the shot of "G". Whatever it stands for, I cannot remember. The shot is in a muscle. It did just touch the pain and lasted a few hours.

I can barely move. Barely! Certainly cannot get to the floor to do the exercises. He was sad I could not afford and physio or massage clinic. Boo hoo! He says it's "my posture" as well. Now this could be possible as regular sitting or standing lasts for about 2 minutes. I try to keep myself as upright as possible. I will try a couple of the "exercises", one which looks like a form of spinal decompression. At one time (even a couple of weeks ago), sitting was not a problem, but it is now and my job is sitting for 5-10 hrs. per day. So glad I'm not working at this time, but I do have to go back.

These muscle spasms wrap around my whole torso, with a boa-constrictor type of squeeze. No end to it. I sleep from exhaustion. My stomach is affected because those muscles pull right across the diaphragm. It is like an MSHug. (Google it.)

On an experiment last night, I upped my Pred from 30mg to 40mg to see if it would alleviate the back pain in the morning. It did NOT. I conclude it's not PMR related. So what are these spasms? Possibly nerve related? I do have an appointment with Rheumy on June 26th after much stress trying to get it moved forward. ER doc said he was going to recommend another MRI to her. Hmmm.....we shall see. 😤🙄🧐

[piglette]

Was it Botulinum they used? I slipped a disc a while back and it caused sudden spasms so I really sympathise with the pain.

[Missus835 in reply to piglette]

No idea Piglette. It started with a "g". I was wondering if I had put a disc out of place, but no pain down the legs. Left thigh does go numb. That's why I asked for another scan. While I was able to sit before, now I cannot. This guy wasn't doing "shite". Why do they decide that your back pain isn't worthy of further testing right there? It costs hundreds of $ for an ER visit here in Nova Scotia. At least we're covered, but that's not the point.

[piglette in reply to Missus835]

Sorry you said it started with ‘g’ my brain translated it to ‘b’. Mind going! When I slipped my disc I did not have leg pain but I did have numbness in my leg including the three middle toes on my foot. Did they x-ray anything?

[Chihuahua1 in reply to Missus835]

Was it gabapentin?

[Missus835 in reply to Chihuahua1]

No. It was like a 6 letter word. No worries. Didn't do much anyway. Thanks.

[Missus835]

No x-rays or ct-scan this time around. Things have escalated terribly since those were done about a month or so ago. I could not convince this doctor how drastically it had changed and therefore NOTHING was done, except that one shot. I should've asked for one for the road. LOL. There is numbness in my left thigh, also pins and needles. He glossed over that too. Anyway, I see my Rheumy on the 26th (getting an appt. is a big deal, if we could actually look into something, instead of her saying 'I think it's your muscles'.

[HeronNS]

Gabapentin? It can be administered as an injection.

[Missus835 in reply to HeronNS]

No it wasn't Gabapentin. This was simply a substitute for Ibuprofen. It was a six-letter word. I cannot think of it for the life of me. LOL.

[PMRpro Ambassador in reply to Missus835]

Genpril?

[Missus835 in reply to PMRpro]

Genpril. Could have been Pro. It's the closest yet. I do see it's an Ibuprofen of sorts. I don't see anything about Genpril or Genprid shots. My hearing is not the best with the pressure from "inside my head".

[sidra1968]

It kills me how their answer for everything is exercises and ibuprofen (or in your case a substitute). All I can usually say is "gee , I never thought of that!!" or "don't you think if I could do any form of exercise I wouldn't be spending tons of money and time in the ER?" From my experiences all you can do now is badger your GP (or whoever would order an MRI) and at least rule things out and then keep badgering until someone helps you.

I was getting 10 minute spasms through the diaphragm and around my upper back..hurts like hell but at least they would go away (30 minutes was the longest)..they chalked it up to stress over all my maladies. Try to rest and keep on them come tomorrow.

[Missus835 in reply to sidra1968]

I know right. I get esophageal spasms as well. Feels like a heart attack. Now all these other spasms is just too much pain. I don't have a GP, sadly. Thanks for your thoughts.

[emmamom]

Fibromyalgia? Just guessing here.

[Missus835 in reply to emmamom]

I don't know but I'm going to find some answers next week

[Krawlins]

this sounds like slipped disc trapping a nerve, spasms, pain, numbness. I had it all in 2012 and had had this bad disc bulge at L5S1 which affects the sciatic nerve. The spasms were the worst pain I’ve had in my life, can only compare to labour near the end with absolutely no pain relief. I was crying constantly. Eventually got into hospital and sent home only to have to present again. I was t eating, drinking and could no longer move whatsoever which meant I couldn’t wee. By the time I was admitted I could not wee any longer and had to have a catheter. Had MRI eventually after days of morphine which confirmed the slipped disc. Had to have emergency surgery but it left it’s issues. The op however was like a miracle. Having lain prostate in a foetal position for weeks

[Missus835]

Yes been there with disc op 2X. Also L5,S1. I know that pain. My pain is going upwards from hips and wrapping itself around my torso. Still could be another disc/nerve compression. This morning it's burning muscles from my hips up my back and by that I mean when I touch the skin over the muscles, it's burning. I cannot take this pain much longer. This is now 2 hours after taking pain meds. Thanks for the info. I know the relief after the surgery. Also losing my appetite at this point, mainly because muscles in back are so spasmed they are pulling on my diaphragm and across my stomach. All the best to you!

[catdance]

Sorry Missus835, I'm coming in rather late on this. I can tell you my experience for which I can sympathize and what I do to alleviate the issues. First, of course do not stop pursuing the path you are following for the MRI. Always good to check if numbness is involved. I have had some pretty incredibly painful cramps involving the muscle from the inside of my knee all the way up to my groin, the lower part of my hip up to under my shoulder blade, from my groin up to my stomach, etc. They can be very tense and may last up to half an hour or more, only to release and either start back up again or move to another area. I spent many sleepless nights. I have also had it happen in my back when getting a hug from someone much taller than me or from trying to reach something on a high shelf in the store. Here is what I have had to do to get the cramping mostly under control or at least less time and other areas, calves, feet, toes, fingers, etc. much easier to stretch out of it or walk it off. Stay hydrated. I don't mean just water, drinks that have electrolytes such as smart water or by adding, a mix called LiquidIV, especially if you can't stand water. It is surprising how much water you need to combat this, even if you think you are drinking enough, add 2 or 3 or more glasses. I also had to add a potassium 99mg supplement, 2 Xs/day, magnesium glycinate 665mg, (specifically glycinate) 1X/day. I know you said you got a blood test to check but from what I understand they aren't accurate. It isn't going to hurt you even if you don't need it because if it doesn't help, you won't be taking it for more than a few weeks to a month. It does take a bit but for me this combination started with only potassium and I needed both. I'm considering adding zinc to the mix as well. This has helped me tremendously. I still get them but it's much better and usually I realize I forgot to drink water. I haven't had the numbness as you describe but I have had a bit in my left foot/toes but it's not always there. Again, water related? Not sure if this will help you but it might be worth a try?