Back Pain- Exercise?

[Scarlett]

Following on from my last post- I'm still in agony with my back; this is day 4 and still no better. Fairly sure it's facet joints. Straightening up is so painful as is sitting. Only lying down alleviates pain. I use ice/heat/co codamol and diazepam- all which seem to do very little. My Physio has told me to do exercises where I tilt my pelvis backwards and forwards - which really hurts. The pain seems to worsen throughout the day. I'm in less pain when I first wake up. So- should I be pushing and doing these exercises, or wait til the pain naturally subsides and then try? What's your experience of exercising when your back has gone?

[dannyk13]

Only take your exercising as far as your pain will allow.Be gentle.

[Sqad]

Scarlett.....I am not too sure that I am completely ar ease with your diagnosis.
Can I ask......is the pain in your lower back, confined to your lower back OR does it radiate down the back of your thigh (one or both thighs) and does it affect your knee and or ankle?
This is important.

[Scarlett]

Sqad- it feels like an intense stiffness inside my lower back towards the right hand side. It feels tender to press on it. I get right leg pain (more of an ache) when I sit down. No ankle pain. I've had 2 slipped discs in lower back for years, and a recent medial block got rid of my pain/stiffness temporarily, leading me to believe that the facet joints are to blame!

[Sqad]

OK...this sounds like acute sciatica with muscle spasm and as i mentioned in your previous thread, whatever the treatment, it will last at least 5-6 weeks.
If this continues, you could ask your GP if he would recommend a trial of a drug called Pregalin which may help. Taken in tablet form.

[Sqad]

I forgot to answer your question on exercise......I agree with the post of dannyK13.

[Scarlett]

Thanks Sqad. Do you think I should be taking an anti inflammatory rather than co codamol/diazepam? I'm asthmatic and if I take too much ibuprofen my colon bleeds. But I can usually tolerate some. Is it worth trying?

[Sqad]

Sorry, I fell asleep in the chair.

Difficult question Scarlett, to which I shall give my personal opinion which may not be the opinion of your GP in which case I would take his. I would take you ibuprofen 400mgms every six hours and Diazepam 10 mgms at night.....but remember what i keep saying......this pain may last for up to six weeks and if it doesn't settle, ask your GP's opinion re Pregalin.
Tough month ahead Scarlett.

[Scarlett]

Thanks. I got in touch with my doc
who suggested Nurofen meltlets as they bypass the intestine. Not sure
How many to take though?!

[Sqad]

Sounds good advice........take two 6 hours.+ your diazepam 10mgms at night.

[Helewel]

Hi Scarlett. I hope you are getting some relief and would like to offer my heartfelt sympathy. I have been following your other post and can empathise with everything you have described. I had similar meds and similar side effects. Talk about adding insult to injury! Hope it improves for you soon.

[Scarlett]

Thankyou Helewel. It is the worst pain I've had, and I've had this for 20 years now! Got some Nurofen melts coming tomorrow so fingers crossed they actually do something to the pain!

[Helewel]

Oh my days! I'm clearly a rank amateur by comparison. I had several episodes of this caused by the most ridiculous of things - locking an awkward door and switching off the alarm clock are two I can bring to mind. Argh! Hope you have the right mattress for you. Once better I have lost a little weight and have walked as much as I can.
Keep as cheerful as you can and keep us up to date.