Chronic Back Pain

[Caran]

I think I may have a trapped nerve. Never known pain like it. Can't move, get up from sitting, go to the loo, walk, everything is agony. Is there anything that can be done to relieve it. Is it worth going to A & E. I'm desperate.

[Maydup]

Do you have any codeine Caran?

[Buenchico]

Start here:
https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/back-pain/

(See 'When to get immediate medical advice' to see if anything there is relevant).

[kvalidir]

You can take paracetamol and ibuprofen maximum dose together if you have no codeine Caran x

[snags]

Codeine and Diazepam was the only thing that worked for me.

[Caran]

Thank you Chris.

[Caran]

Thanks snags.

[jim360]

Just to stress teh first point in Buen's link: "stay as active as possible and try to continue your daily activities – this is one of the most important things you can do". Absolutely vital to try and keep moving through the pain.

[Caran]

I agree I will not give in to any pain. I keep going. But it is so painful. I have all my family coming for a meal (7 of them) on Sunday and a bit worried how I will cope. But we do these things don't we?

[Theland]

Lie on the floor face down. Put your hands in front of you palms down under your chest. Press your hands down so that you are arching your spine and hold it for ten seconds. Repeat it for as long as is comfortable. Repeat the exercise as often as you can, BUT DONT OVERDO IT AND STRESS YOURSELF. LITTLE AND OFTEN IS THE KEY.

[waterboatman]

Theland has given you good advice Caran. But Don't overdo it.

[Ken4155]

I have had a trapped nerve in my neck for almost 2 weeks - i know it's nothing more sinister as i had suffered trapped nerves in the legs before. For the first couple of days i hardly slept a wink despite trying heat pads, cold pads, painkillers, etc, etc. Then i began redecorating a house and while i am busy, there is hardly a twitch. It's only when i am at rest that the pain begins again. Two co codamol tablets about an hour before bedtime help me grab a few hours, though i am waking much earlier than is normal. Keeping as active as possible is the key and just pray, each morning, that you will wake and the nerve will have untrapped itself.

[bednobs]

is it chronic back pain (been going on for a while, being investigated) or is it acute back pain (sudden onset)?

[woofgang]

Not knocking exercises done on a hard surface BUT as a retired Occupational Therapist, if you are going to get down on the floor MAKE SURE YOU WILL BE ABLE TO GET UP AGAIN. When my back goes ping, getting down on the floor would be difficult and agony, getting up again would be impossible. Its one of the things that ambulances get called out for and a little forethought can avoid it.

[rowanwitch]

When my back plays up and as an ex nurse it can get me with no warning, I find lying flat on the bed and gradually trying to extend a tiny bit at the time, stretching a fraction on every out breath and holding the stretch for the in breath can give relief fairly quickly. I agree with Wolfgang, the floor is not the place in the acute phase I have rolled around the floor until I found furniture to pull up on.

[bookbinder]

You could give a physiotherapist a try.

[anneasquith]

If you are desperate and in so much pain and unable to do simple tasks like walking. Maybe contact NHS telephone service for advice ?

[NoMercy]

If it's chronic, they'll probably wonder why you aren't already under the care of the Orthopaedic / Pain Management Teams. If it's acute, your best bet is to present to A&E for triage, they'll send you to Emergency Care (as it's not life threatening) and you'll see an out of hours GP.

I've suffered how you're suffering now, repeatedly. You have my utmost sympathy.

[gojaya0]

At first, I think you need to change your sleeping position and bed.