lower back pain worse on waking

[Patricia19]

I’ve suffered from lower back pain for over 10 years but it is getting much worse and I am not getting any help from GP. The pain often wakes me during the night and make getting up and walking after waking difficult and painful. The pain lessons after an hour or so but discomfort frequently returns during the day. I go to gym and swim twice per week, Pilates and yoga every week. I have good flexibility, can put palms on floor with straight leg bend. I’ve had a lumber X-ray which showed some deterioration but apart from exercises (which I do) I am not getting any help or diagnosis from GP. I can’t take nsaid painkillers because of hiatus hernia. I am concerned that perhaps this constant back ache might be related to problems with internal organs, uterus or o eries etc. I’ve only been examined for this problem by surgery physiotherapist. Would cancer of spine show on lumber X-ray? I would appreciate any comments.

[wobblybee Administrator Pioneer]

🙂 Chronic pain is awful..and it can be hard to pinpoint the exact cause.

I know myself..how difficult it can be when you’ve already had a diagnosis, the problem persists and worsens….and yet the GP is convinced no further action is necessary.

It would be doing you a disservice to ‘speculate’….it’s likely there could be various reasons for the pain you experience..far better to seek medical advice.

For peace of mind..

You will need to discuss this again with your GP …maybe start by asking for a referral to Gynaecology since you mention ‘organs/ovaries’…or ask whether ‘deterioration’ refers to arthritis.

[Mollywoo]

I use an electric bed which helps me lie in a comfortable supported position. They are expensive though. I also roll up a small towel and place it at the base of my spine to keep my back slightly arched overnight.

[giggy63]

I suffer exactly the same as you. As i sit here with a hot water bottle on base of spine,i find it invaluable! I also have to sleep with a shaped leg pillow between my legs. The soft type not the hard one like jml. If i sleep without it i can hardly get out of bed...

[Patricia19 in reply to giggy63]

Thanks for your response. I’ve tried to sleep with shaped pillow between my legs but as I turn a lot during sleeping I kept losing it. It was a hard one, so maybe I’ll try again with soft one. I’m frustrated that the Gp’s answer is to send me for X-ray but don’t report back to me or follow up to interpret what the X-ray shows and how that might explain my pain. Trying to get at Gp appointment in Uk these days is very difficult.