Back Pain

[WhatABore]

Just looking for a bit of advice from anyone who has had anything similar.

I have, for the past 7 or 8 months, had terrible lower back pain. The pain feels almost identical to when I slipped a disc. However, unlike when I slipped the disk, I can walk about and bend ect although uncomfortable. It's a sharp, shooting pain. It's the worst when laying in bed and is always worse if I've been sitting/standing/walking for long periods.
I've had a back back for a long time, but it was only ever bad, and not this bad, when I'd been walking all day or on my feet all day.

Now however, I am struggling to sleep because its so painful in bed. Laying on my side, it almost feels like it's crushing my back and the stabbing pains start. Laying on my back also causes it. Laying on my front, again, causes it.
I struggle to turn myself over because I can't even lift myself slightly because of the pain.
Sneezing is also something that causes it.

I have been to 2 different doctors. Both of which have told me it's probably because I'm overweight. Yes, I am, I'm a size 14.
However, both doctors refused any tests or anything because they're saying it's just my weight. One offered some painkillers for a month, but said if I haven't lost weight after the month, he won't prescribe them again.

I'm not debating that my weight does not help. But I feel it isn't just that.

Kind of hoping somebody has maybe had similar so I can go back to the doctors with a few more options maybe.
Everything I've searched online suggests slipped disk and that it should go away within 4-6 weeks.
But it's been 8 months now

 

[CatVonMe]

Just looking for a bit of advice from anyone who has had anything similar.

I have, for the past 7 or 8 months, had terrible lower back pain. The pain feels almost identical to when I slipped a disc. However, unlike when I slipped the disk, I can walk about and bend ect although uncomfortable. It's a sharp, shooting pain. It's the worst when laying in bed and is always worse if I've been sitting/standing/walking for long periods.
I've had a back back for a long time, but it was only ever bad, and not this bad, when I'd been walking all day or on my feet all day.

Now however, I am struggling to sleep because its so painful in bed. Laying on my side, it almost feels like it's crushing my back and the stabbing pains start. Laying on my back also causes it. Laying on my front, again, causes it.
I struggle to turn myself over because I can't even lift myself slightly because of the pain.
Sneezing is also something that causes it.

I have been to 2 different doctors. Both of which have told me it's probably because I'm overweight. Yes, I am, I'm a size 14.
However, both doctors refused any tests or anything because they're saying it's just my weight. One offered some painkillers for a month, but said if I haven't lost weight after the month, he won't prescribe them again.

I'm not debating that my weight does not help. But I feel it isn't just that.

Kind of hoping somebody has maybe had similar so I can go back to the doctors with a few more options maybe.
Everything I've searched online suggests slipped disk and that it should go away within 4-6 weeks.
But it's been 8 months now

I went to a chiropractor as my GP just kept prescribing me medication and it was the best thing I ever did. I had been in pain for nearly 2 years, it would come and go but when I eventually went to the chiropractor I could barely walk with the pain! I was better in just a few weeks of weekly treatment.

 

[Millyve]

I can’t help with any advice about going to the doctors, but I’ve suffered with lower back pain for the past 4 years and only just 30 , I’ve tried most painkillers going and the only ones that touch the sides knock me for six so I try my best to avoid these unless the pain is unbearable, I would advise trying yoga this has significantly improved my pain precovid and now just found a class I enjoy to get back into it along with CBD oil, but good luck with the doctors.

 

[Fizzwhizz2020]

I’ve suffered lower back pain and it can be debilitating. Sleeping with a pillow between your legs might help. It might be worth seeing an osteopath. I’d suffered for 10 years with back pain on and off, to the point where once I had to call an ambulance out to give me an injection so I could move. Turned out, the issue was never with my back but with my hips. If it’s muscular a few sessions with an osteo would help ease the muscle tension and get to the root of the problem. Drugs just mask the problem. Sorry you’re in so much pain. I sympathise completely x

 

[MaryX82]

Please keep going to the doctors.Do not let them fob you off.Your concerns are more than justified.If not go to A&E and insists on a scan/referral to a chiropractor.I hate when medical professionals don’t take people’s health concerns seriously.

 

[Greencatfysh]

Rude. You can be a size 14 and not overweight. You can also be overweight and have back pain for another reason. Literally hate GPs sometimes
I’d also recommend a chiropractor or osteopath. However if you’d had a slipped disc in the past it may be worth pursuing a consultant.

I have arthritis in both of my hips and spurs on my femur that cause it to rub against the ball socket of my hip. It causes major hip and lower back pain and reading your symptoms sounds so similar. I can’t sit for that long or walk for more than 45 mins. I went to many GPs and finally got diagnosed after going private through work medical insurance. I had surgery and when I went back to my normal GP, she’d never heard of the condition. Just shows you how much can be going on that they have no clue about.

 

[WhatABore]

Thank you for everyone's responses!

Luckily I was fully expecting the weight response as I've learnt from the past!
Seems to be if your bmi is above normal, they'll instantly fob it off as a weight issue.

 

[Giggling Squid]

Push to be referred to an orthopaedic team for assessment. I had a lot of lower back pain (my SI joint) which morphed into hip pain, and I ended up having keyhole surgery on each hip to reshape and repair the joints…

 

[Greencatfysh]

Push to be referred to an orthopaedic team for assessment. I had a lot of lower back pain (my SI joint) which morphed into hip pain, and I ended up having keyhole surgery on each hip to reshape and repair the joints…

Hip disfigurement pals!

 

[footylass2021]

It sounds like maybe your disc could be herniated
my hubby has a calcified herniated disc where the nerves are shooting out randomly and causing sharp shooting pains
it’s worse when he’s been either on his feet all day or lying in bed through the night

do you get any numbness in legs or feet ??

 

[WhatABore]

It sounds like maybe your disc could be herniated
my hubby has a calcified herniated disc where the nerves are shooting out randomly and causing sharp shooting pains
it’s worse when he’s been either on his feet all day or lying in bed through the night

do you get any numbness in legs or feet ??

I don't think I do. Not that has been noticeable anyway

 

[orla1989]

I’m overweight and I suffer with lower back pain when I don’t go for my nightly walks ( 30 mins 5 nights a week) I stopped this for 2 weeks a couple of months back ( just out of laziness) and my lower back pain was something else.

Def some exercises work better than others!! I hope you find a solution for your back pain

 

[LennyBriscoe]

Please, please look after your backs! This isn’t in direct response to your post @WhatABore as I know nothing about back pain other than what happened to my husband. And I’m not posting this to scare people, just to make people aware because treatment is crucial.

My husband has a manual job he’s done for years and he’s previously suffered from sciatica. About 6 years ago, he thought this has returned, he saw the Nurse Practitioner and she gave him Tramadol, agreeing it was sciatica.

The following day, the pain was much worse so we arranged a home visit and the Doctor gave him a Tramadol injection. There were no other symptoms other than the back pain.

The day after that, he was in excruciating agony but he wouldn’t let me call an ambulance (I’m still annoyed at myself for listening) but when he couldn’t control his bladder, I called the GP and she phoned an ambulance to get him in straight away - he had Cauda Equina Syndrome. He got emergency surgery that night and needed a further operation a few days later. He was in hospital for 4 months.

He is back at work, he’s back driving but he has balance issues, no muscle tone in his left leg and he needs to use a walking stick most of the time. It could have been a lot, lot worse.

I’m not trying to frighten anyone, just raise awareness because this is a life changing condition. It’s also very rare. I hope you get your back problems sorted @WhatABore, any back pain can be debilitating.

 

[Saddlesoap]

Have you tried sleeping on your back with a pillow under your knees? Make the pillow high enough so your lower back is touching the mattress.

Fobbing you off about your weight is bull. I mean, yes it could be a factor, but I would have thought the fact you have history of a disc issue should be a flag.

If you can afford it, pay to see a physio or chiropractor. I have had shoulder pain as long as I can remember and just put it down to my physical job. Finally decided to see a physio after if reappeared after 12 months due to working differently due to covid. Although he's not solved it, he explained what he thought was causing it and it totally makes sense. I'm actively trying to improve my posture etc and it's making a difference.

 

[Chicken_nugget87]

I've had back/neck/shoulder pain everyday for as long as I can remember but it got to the point a few months ago that I realised it's not normal to feel that way everyday.

Luckily my doctors were really good and I got into physio and gave me some exercises to do. The exercises didn't help at all so he cracked my back and neck. Very strange experience but I felt relief for a bit afterwards.

However the thing that has really helped me was getting into strength training. I purchased this back in June and have been doing 20/30 minutes on it every 2/3 days. Honestly it's amazing. Or you could start off with some dumbbells to get you going.

https://www.argos.co.uk/product/4368016?clickPR=plp:1:21