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I've had low back issues on and off for 15 years; poor discs. Normally ends in a spasm and with opioids for a few days tends to clear. I'm pretty fit, and do stretch. Cycle loads. Sadly my swimming which I think was keeping it in check stopped with Lockdown.
Anyway recently I over did some squats and I've entered a whole new ball game - sciatica!
Upsetting number of weeks to be honest, gets you mentally. I'm now on a medical route, consultant, MRI - having for a decade sworn off that approach and focussed on osteopaths and massage. But a bit lost as can't shift it.
Anyone else also have the old lower back dilemma? any tips welcome?
I had been standing at my desk quite a bit during lockdown which I thought was helping. As sitting is of course the devils work... and will be seen as nicotine and booze one day (well sort of).
Anything welcome! I found 4 bottles of moretti initially soothing last night. But ultimately bad.
Think the days of skiing and football are over for me.. boo hoo.
Any lower back sufferers on TWTD? on 15:08 - Mar 12 by Steve_M
Similar to what I described, bulging disc (L4 or L5 I think). I have had several MRIs over the years so the consultant was able to demonstrate how a previous one had cleared up which was reassuring.
It first flared up in 2004 and has done a couple of times since, last being Sep '17 to Dec '18. I'm mid-40s now.
Diazepam is certainly worth having to hand, especially if sleep is an issue. Paracetamol and codeine too at times. You are probably a long way from surgery being suggested, an injection is a step well before that but generally most consultants seem to prefer time and physio.
I had a bulging disc (L5 I think) that physio and chiro made no impact on. I could only stand for 10 minutes before it got too painful and had to sit down. I finally got referred to hospital and ended up having a spinal injection. It took about a month, but the pain started to subside and fortunately since then, the last two years have been pain free.
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Any lower back sufferers on TWTD? on 19:32 - Mar 12 with 1052 views
Any lower back sufferers on TWTD? on 14:56 - Mar 12 by unstableblue
Yes funnily enough - mine was caused by not lifting but by doing squats against a wall to ironically strengthen my legs to protect the back. But I was dropping right to the floor, and was basically jamming the lower vertebrae repeatedly! can't believe I did it on reflection. Gutting.
It such a mine field of what not and what to do.. and agree some physio / osteopathy is done way too early.
Thanks for your note and so pleased you're out the other side.. 3 months is a long time off work... and I've had just a few days off (its hard to actually disappear from the role, which is a problem). Last night thought when you can't sleep due to the sciatica and not getting comfortable.. you sort of convince yourself you'l never be free of it. So thanks for update.
The thread just shows what a common and bastard ailment it is. Do you mind me asking how old you are (as per another poster). No worries if not.
Mid 50's.
"They break our legs and tell us to be grateful when they offer us crutches."
Any lower back sufferers on TWTD? on 16:31 - Mar 12 by MedwayTractor
Think you'll find that sciatica is the symptom, not the cause of your pain. Sciatica means pressure somewhere on the sciatic nerve, commonly from a prolapsed spinal disc.
That's what I had nearly 40 years ago, I was sent to a physiotherapist for traction and ultrasound massage. This treated the symptom, but not the cause. A few years later, my back had seized up almost to the point of not being able to bend over. I was fortunate enough to find that one of the country's top qualified chiropractors (at one time she was an examiner for trainee chiropractors) had opened a practice near me and I was referred to her by my GP. At that time, I had private medical cover with my job and that paid for her treatment. She fixed the back & the sciatica disappeared.
She is retired now, but became a family friend. She might be able to recommend a chiropractor near you, send me a PM & I'll ask, if you think it would help.
I walked into a chiropractors who trains other ones when my back was in spasm and he went in way too hard trying to rectify some curvature issues. This meant that I was unable to get off his table and collapsed twice trying to stand. I eventually made it to my van, drove home and collapsed again trying to get to the door. I think he essentially completed the prolapse process.There is a time and a place imho
"They break our legs and tell us to be grateful when they offer us crutches."
I had sciatica a few years ago - I feel for you. I could hardly get in or out of a car, couldn’t put my own socks on and couldn’t stand for long periods.
Chiropractor seemed to help. 2 Paracetamol and 1 Ibruprofen every 4 hours definitely helped as long as I kept taking them regularly and didn’t stop when I couldn’t feel the pain.
Thankfully I haven’t been too troubled since - but I do stretch as soon as I feel it aching.
Any lower back sufferers on TWTD? on 19:44 - Mar 12 by BanksterDebtSlave
I walked into a chiropractors who trains other ones when my back was in spasm and he went in way too hard trying to rectify some curvature issues. This meant that I was unable to get off his table and collapsed twice trying to stand. I eventually made it to my van, drove home and collapsed again trying to get to the door. I think he essentially completed the prolapse process.There is a time and a place imho
Absolutely - people should always feel free to call 'stop' - again, listen to your body, even the best 'experts' can't feel what you're feeling, and wouldn't push things too far too fast.
Although it hurts to do, try to remain as active as possible, resting may feel great, but it's not good for it.
There's some sciatic exercises available online, one that really seems to help me when I get it is to sit on the floor, lay both legs out infront of you, bend your left leg so your knee is in the air and then bring your right ankle and place it ontop of your left knee. Stay in that position for 10 seconds, rest, then another 10 seconds, do this daily.
Make sure you have a good natural posture when going to sleep, don't have to many pillows, you basically need a nice natural position for your back and neck.
Plenty of water drinkage, lay off caffeine, and use paracetomol.
Slow walks is great, again not great when doing it, but will help.
about 5/6 years back I attempted the lightest warm up of squats, and felt a ping in my back, poor form and tiredness as went to the gym from a night shift. the next day the pain down my left leg was horrible, this just didn't go away. I went to the Dr's and pretty much said I couldn't even bend down to put kids in cot etc, they had me in for a MRI about 3 weeks later, then the injection maybe 4 weeks after that, and touch wood not a single pain since.
I found sitting at a desk with the bad leg crossed, rocking back and forward helped
Any lower back sufferers on TWTD? on 23:47 - Mar 12 by textbackup
sciatica!
feel your pain my man.
about 5/6 years back I attempted the lightest warm up of squats, and felt a ping in my back, poor form and tiredness as went to the gym from a night shift. the next day the pain down my left leg was horrible, this just didn't go away. I went to the Dr's and pretty much said I couldn't even bend down to put kids in cot etc, they had me in for a MRI about 3 weeks later, then the injection maybe 4 weeks after that, and touch wood not a single pain since.
I found sitting at a desk with the bad leg crossed, rocking back and forward helped
Had sciatica now and then and agree mate that this exercise is an god send and works without a doubt, I do it now everyday for about 20 seconds a side and not had any problems for ages....sciatica is the worst feeling, whether you lie flat on your back or on your side it's still there lingering, awful feeling..
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Any lower back sufferers on TWTD? on 10:26 - Mar 15 with 896 views
Any lower back sufferers on TWTD? on 09:52 - Mar 15 by strikalite
Had sciatica now and then and agree mate that this exercise is an god send and works without a doubt, I do it now everyday for about 20 seconds a side and not had any problems for ages....sciatica is the worst feeling, whether you lie flat on your back or on your side it's still there lingering, awful feeling..
If people don't want to sit to do that, it can also be done very effectively with your back on the floor - something that a St. Dunstans' trained practitioner in Ipswich between 1972-4 taught me (forget his name, he was blind or partially sighted).
I used to suffer from lower back problems, had sciatica about 10 years ago, had months of physio, facet joint injection, an epidural still had pain then went to see Osteopath who was brilliant, I had tight hamstrings and after a few months my back was so much better no more sciatica and winthin months was back playing football and tennis. Osteopath was in canary wharf but have seen a couple Gilmour Piper in Ipswich who was good. But then my missus had back problems since childbirth went to Osteopath and wasnt any good for her. I do some yoga stretches for my back which helps as likie you working at a desk all day and driving doesnt help.
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Any lower back sufferers on TWTD? on 14:54 - Mar 15 with 870 views
Depends a lot if you have structural disc issues, or just muscular problems. It sounds like the former & that's a lot harder to deal with & I couldn't help much as it's important to get the best medical advice. Most GPs are near useless with such issues. If it's muscular, finding the right physio/chiropractor/osteopath is the key, although that's always a bit hit & miss. I developed a bad back years ago & after trying a few physios & one chiropractor, an osteopath recommended by a friend came up trumps, with the only downside that he's a Budgie.
My lower back pain and being in chronic pain ever since, Mine all started in 2002 with muscle pain in the lower back on the right side, still playing football under the influence of a couple of 400mg ibuprofen before and after the game I managed to continue this for several months. All I can put this down to was pulling a muscle while carrying a sheet of ply up a staircase and twisted too much but looking back that was the start. Around six months later it started to turn into sciatica and the longer it went on over the coming days it got worse finally causing pain in my toes. When it reaches all the way down there then you have significant pressure on your nerves from a prolapsed disc resulting in seeking treatment from a chiropractor which after 3 visits had put me off work for three days and five days bed rest with a sharp pain like a knife being stuck in your back everything time I put weight on that side. Still coping with the sciatic pain about 4 months later I turned over in bed to awake in the most incredible pain I have ever felt(3 months of work and rehabilitation), it was then I found out I had finally prolapsed 2 discs in my lower back. After being up all night in agony the next day I was given Co-codomol 30-500mg as my first painkiller which to this day am still on. I have had pregablin (too tired to work) gabapentin, trammadol, about 6 others all to no avail with permanent damage to my nerves in that area. Some solace came from Morphine sulphate as well as maximum doses of Co Codomol with the only operation available at the time was to fuse the vertebrae 3 of them but was advised against it due to limited movement saying to put up with the pain after 5 years of this and constant thoughts of wanting to end my existence from the constant chronic pain I was living with which led to battling with depression which like most blokes I kept to myself I finally sought help by going back to the specialist. At the time the Nhs push forward with appointments to private hospitals and I took that up with a MRI and a follow up to discuss a Micro disectomy where they cut away the protruding discs. One month later it was all done and a follow up to say it had gone well but I’m stuck with the nerve pain as the discs over that time had gummed or stuck to the spinal nerves and had to be scraped away (another 3 months off and rehabilitation)
I work in construction as a site carpenter since 2012 formerly in a joinery shop before then. I suffer with the pain each and every day with the co codamol 30 -500 mg only being the common denominator in pain relief and leaving it too long I get bad cramp in my right leg to the point of the leg wanting to seize up. Tried all the steroid injections to no avail and only other option is a nerve stimulator inserted into the lower back connected with the 10year battery inserted into on of the buttocks. Apologies if a little long but here is my story and it took 2 years to find out what was really wrong as so called doctors thought I was swinging it as I could move okay still touch my toes etc. I wouldn’t bother with a chiropractor and focus on the MRI straight away while making sure your posture is good especially at rest times. A good core is essential to cope with lower back pain and like yourself have found Cycling the best exercise along with swimming also thinking about Yoga and one to look at is Diamond Dallas Page’s (famous wrestler) yoga course Have heard great things from fellow workers to check out a Steve Kirby who runs get fit stay fit a neuromuscular and rehabilitation clinic near Norwich, www.getfitstayfitnorfolk.co.uk
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Any lower back sufferers on TWTD? on 22:21 - Mar 15 with 829 views
I had sciatica on and off for about 20 years until 12 years ago, a combination of light stretching exercises, very hot epsom salts baths and hot and cold flannels on my back over a period of a few months seemed to cure it. Get the occasional twinge where I'll use the hot and cold flannels.
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Any lower back sufferers on TWTD? on 07:59 - Mar 16 with 799 views
Any lower back sufferers on TWTD? on 20:07 - Mar 15 by Behind_Enemy_Lines
My lower back pain and being in chronic pain ever since, Mine all started in 2002 with muscle pain in the lower back on the right side, still playing football under the influence of a couple of 400mg ibuprofen before and after the game I managed to continue this for several months. All I can put this down to was pulling a muscle while carrying a sheet of ply up a staircase and twisted too much but looking back that was the start. Around six months later it started to turn into sciatica and the longer it went on over the coming days it got worse finally causing pain in my toes. When it reaches all the way down there then you have significant pressure on your nerves from a prolapsed disc resulting in seeking treatment from a chiropractor which after 3 visits had put me off work for three days and five days bed rest with a sharp pain like a knife being stuck in your back everything time I put weight on that side. Still coping with the sciatic pain about 4 months later I turned over in bed to awake in the most incredible pain I have ever felt(3 months of work and rehabilitation), it was then I found out I had finally prolapsed 2 discs in my lower back. After being up all night in agony the next day I was given Co-codomol 30-500mg as my first painkiller which to this day am still on. I have had pregablin (too tired to work) gabapentin, trammadol, about 6 others all to no avail with permanent damage to my nerves in that area. Some solace came from Morphine sulphate as well as maximum doses of Co Codomol with the only operation available at the time was to fuse the vertebrae 3 of them but was advised against it due to limited movement saying to put up with the pain after 5 years of this and constant thoughts of wanting to end my existence from the constant chronic pain I was living with which led to battling with depression which like most blokes I kept to myself I finally sought help by going back to the specialist. At the time the Nhs push forward with appointments to private hospitals and I took that up with a MRI and a follow up to discuss a Micro disectomy where they cut away the protruding discs. One month later it was all done and a follow up to say it had gone well but I’m stuck with the nerve pain as the discs over that time had gummed or stuck to the spinal nerves and had to be scraped away (another 3 months off and rehabilitation)
I work in construction as a site carpenter since 2012 formerly in a joinery shop before then. I suffer with the pain each and every day with the co codamol 30 -500 mg only being the common denominator in pain relief and leaving it too long I get bad cramp in my right leg to the point of the leg wanting to seize up. Tried all the steroid injections to no avail and only other option is a nerve stimulator inserted into the lower back connected with the 10year battery inserted into on of the buttocks. Apologies if a little long but here is my story and it took 2 years to find out what was really wrong as so called doctors thought I was swinging it as I could move okay still touch my toes etc. I wouldn’t bother with a chiropractor and focus on the MRI straight away while making sure your posture is good especially at rest times. A good core is essential to cope with lower back pain and like yourself have found Cycling the best exercise along with swimming also thinking about Yoga and one to look at is Diamond Dallas Page’s (famous wrestler) yoga course Have heard great things from fellow workers to check out a Steve Kirby who runs get fit stay fit a neuromuscular and rehabilitation clinic near Norwich, www.getfitstayfitnorfolk.co.uk
Bloody hell, I've had episodes that have been nearly as bad as some of that but nowhere near as long lasting. You have my sympathy.
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