Well. y'all, I am, as they say in Tennessee

[Jilly_in_VA]

"down in my back". And boy, am I! I'm not sure how I got this way except that Wednesday I was workin in my jewelry studio, which involves sitting on a tall stool (it has a back) and at some point I had to get down and crawl around on the floor to look for something I had dropped. By the time I went upstairs my back hurt. Nothing severe, just hurt. Thursday it hurt BAD. Bad enough for me to message my doctor and ask for muscle relaxants. It has gotten progressively worse, to the point where I am walking with a cane and have to be helped in and out of bed and can't dress myself in the morning. I don't know whether to go to the ER (where they're pretty sure to see me as a drug seeker) or just to my GP in the morning. I think I made it worse by trying to get myself out of bed to use the bathroom last night, which I had done okay the couple of nights before. The pain is awful, about a 8-9/10. TENS unit helps a little.

[Siwsan]

1. Yikes!

I've had 'out of nowhere' back muscle spasms hit that feel like being kicked by a mule, but they don't last all that long, and a hot soak in Epsom Salts usually brings great relief.

Side note - I once suffered from really bad muscle spasms so my doctor prescribed Soma. One day I took one and it didn't seem to be helping so I decided to take a hot soak. Damn. My muscles turned into cooked spaghetti and I was barely able to get out of the tub. I actually ROLLED out, on to the floor, and belly crawled to my bedroom. I was able to drag a blanket from the bed and I stayed on the floor for what seemed like forever. However, I also remember thinking I've never felt more relaxed.

Eventually I was back up on wobbly legs. When I told my doctor what happened, she laughed, but warned me to NEVER do that, again.

[captain queeg]

2. Back pain is the worst. People who have never had it just don't get it

A few years ago I was laid up by my back. Crawling to the bathroom if I had to get there, otherwise pissing in a bucket. I never had anything like that till I was about 40. I used to listen to the old guys about back pain and never really believed it. I’ve had worse pain for short duration but back pain can go on and on.

[2naSalit]

3. I have disscovered...

That my favorite chair, an antique, is trashing my back as I can hardly get up after using it for any length of time. So I plan to get a different one that is better for my back. I have serious and getting worse arthritis in both upper and lower back with differing issues but the lower back thing being a mobility problem is new. I have decided that some furniture changes are needed and more attention to a better diet... I've been slacking lately.

[LuckyCharms]

4. I'm so sorry.

I feel your pain. This happens to me every few months. It's one of the worst things in the world.

My unsolicited advice is to go to the ER if you feel safe enough with the status of the hospitals in your area.

They will probably do xrays and a CT Scan. You will not be seen as a drug seeker if something shows up on the scans.

I have a multitude of problems in almost every vertebrae, so they usually give me 10 Percocets and some muscle relaxants. The problem however, is that I cannot take the opiates without feeling even worse...they mess me up for days. So the last time, I took one Percocet, cut into quarters, and that was it.

If you get pain medication, please take as little as possible, especially if you get one of the stronger opiates.

Try to meditate on your pain. In a sense, try to "befriend" your pain. If you can take the emotional component out of the pain you feel, you will feel slightly better.

When this happens to me, it lasts a few weeks, then goes away.

I wish you all the best.

[brer cat]

5. I'm sorry to hear this.

Back pain is the pits and can be very hard to treat. I do better with heat and sometimes topical diclofenac.

I hope you can get some relief soon.

[Wicked Blue]

6. I hope your pain dials down and goes away quickly

Heat? Cold?

[CentralMass]

7. I have a tendency to not drink enough water and dehydrate myself.

It must have hit critical mass this week because I was developing aches and getting odd muscles cramps. I slipped on some greasy wet silt in the parking lot and while I caught myself before I pulled a Charlie Brown I "threw my back out" where it had been bothering me. I was have a gard time sitting and getting up.. However I don't normally have these issues. So I have been drinking a lot of water for the last several days and the aches and muscle cramps have gone away.

[multigraincracker]

8. I hate pain pills because I can't poop for a week.

I do yoga stretches. Like pulling my knee up to my chest while lying down. Lots of them on the net. I should do them every day but as soon as I feel better I quit.

Wish you the best.

[panader0]

9. I was a bricklayer for forty years so I'm no stranger to back pain.

Many people on this forum make fun of chiropractors, but when my spine was out of
alignment, an adjustment was the only thing that worked for me. Back when, the cost was about
$25 and relief was almost instantaneous. I knew people who had surgeries and they always
regretted it later. Sometimes it took ten minutes to walk from my work truck to the front door,
but once my back was popped, I could stand straight. I usually waited a couple of days to return
to work, not because of pain, but to let my muscles readjust.

[llashram]

10. something similar

happened to me years ago. I was down for close to two months. Thank god I had saved up enough sick days. I wish you well...8-9-10. It's bad.

[frogmarch]

11. Please see a doctor

From what you described, my symptoms began much the same way yours did. When I finally saw my doctor and he referred me to the Spinal Clinic in Rapid City, SD (I lived only an hour's drive away), I was told by several surgeons there that my condition had progressed to the point that fixing it with surgery would be impossible. I am still able to plod around with a walker, but am steadily losing ground. If only I'd gone to the doctor sooner!

[Irish_Dem]

12. With new pain level that high, medical opinion is necessary.

And it is also aggravated by bathroom usage, another marker for medical consultation.

[electric_blue68]

13. Hope you feel better very soon!...

If I sat a certain uneven way side to side multiple time for too long it could trigger darn nasty lower back pain ?(6-8) for a time.

But saying this - I realize this hasn't happened in a bunch of years.
---------------------------------

Different topic - when you feel up to it please tell me some about your jewelry making! 👍❤️

[Fla Dem]

14. Gosh, go to the emergency room or see your Doctor 1st thing in the morning.

Unfortunately, today most doctors practices won't see patients on short notice. They say if it's an emergency go to the ER. So you might want to just consider getting to the ER. What should be concerning is the pain is getting worse not ebbing.

I so hope it's not a serious condition. Please keep us updated.

[SWBTATTReg]

15. Sorry to hear this! Back pain has always been part of my life for decades, all I can say (w/

years of personal experience), is only take the muscle relaxers/pain pills as a last resort, sometimes you must do so, so your back will not cramp or stop the cramps. Ice packs work the best for me too, I fold up small washclothes, wet them down, and stick a bunch of them (various sizes too) into my freezer, and then take out the appropriate one to use (and you have plenty on hand too).

Heat pad at night when you're laying down or asleep (of course get the heating pad that shuts off after a while).

Good luck to you!