Acute low back pain

Prevention of back pain is always favoured but when the dreaded “My back has suddenly gone into spasm, I can’t move“ is the call how should we deal with this unpleasant but often simple problem?

Suddenly “out of the blue – for no reason“, apart from laying paving slabs over the weekend, you bend over on a Monday morning to pick up something and you feel “something go” in your back.

What do you do?

Well the first thing is like all disasters don’t make them any worse…so

Don’t panic!

Don’t apply heat, although after the “angry” phase has settled heat can help.

Don’t try and exercise it to force it “back into place”.

Don’t sit in a chair too long – you will get stuck.

Do support your back with your hands or a towel tied around your waist as you gently walk around.

Do a few simple movements whilst you support yourself with your arms on a window sill or work surface.

Stand facing the support with your arms straight feet apart and comfortably back. Move your weight first to one foot then the other by sliding you hips to the side. You will probably find it easier to slide your hips towards the painful side. Try and slide your hips forward a bit to gently hollow your back. If you can, try and round your back bending your knees as you do and keeping your head up.

A minute or so of this gentle repeated movement should make you more upright and a bit more comfortable. If it does – repeat it when ever you get up.

Do take full dose of paracetamol and Ibuprofen and repeat these doses over the next 24 hours (unless there is a good medical reason why not).

Don’t be a hero, the drugs are there to help the pain but also to make you move a bit easier which will minimise damage and help your recovery.

Most simple back pains subside to the bearable level within 48 hours and thats the time to come and see us or as soon as you think you can make the journey without making yourself appreciably worse. If you are not sure what to do…talk to us.

If you really cannot get to us
we can come to you.

Rarely your back pain may not respond to these simple measures and if you have been lying down (usually because you cannot stand up) and the pain will not ease enough to get a few hours sleep you may need stronger pain control from your doctor.

Very rarely the acute back pain is the start of a more serious disc episode. Some buttock and leg pain with a bit of tingling in the toes means definitely stay put for now but still don’t panic. Good management and treatment means you will probably make a full recovery. Aagain talk to us.

Very, very, very rarely the disc damage is more serious and this is a time to panic maybe just a little.

If you lose sensation around your backside or frontside don’t have control of bladder or bowel, cannot feel below one knee or your foot is all floppy…DO NOT DELAY. You need urgent hospital admission and nothing else will do.

Most of the time acute low back strains settle down in a few weeks but that’s the time to let us try and sort out your underlying problems and help prevent the next attack.The paving slabs may have been the immediate cause of the pain but usually its more profound changes in the workings of your back which will benefit from treatment and advice. Thats our job – use us!

We are available outside normal practice hours call the practice for the current emergency number which is on the phone message.

Miles James