My back has seized up

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   IzzyMposted 14 years ago

   Just as the title says my back has seized up and I can barely move. I was involved in a serious incident 6 years ago where I broke my neck and lost three vertebrae from my lower spine, so I'm all metal pins. Bionic woman! lol
   
   But it's never felt like this before.
   
   I had full movement - couldn't run or jump but apart from the odd twinge I was fine.
   
   I recently bought a bike to try and exercise my body back to fitness, but I haven't even been on it for several days.
   
   Two days ago I had a bug and had to stay in bed most of the day because I felt sick if I sat up. Must have happened then as I usually can't lie in bed at all as I get sciatica.
   
   Any exercises anyone can suggest?

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      earnestshubposted 14 years agoin reply to this

      Of to the doctor for you young lady! Go on!

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         IzzyMposted 14 years agoin reply to this

         Well, it's Sunday and if things are the same tomorrow I will need to go to the hospital I think.

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      recommend1posted 14 years agoin reply to this

      There are some gentle yoga excercises that I use for exactly this and for similar reasons.  They involve laying on your back and rolling the legs from one side to the other to stretch and rotate the spine gently - unfortunately without being able to show you I don't know how to explain them properly
      
      Maybe I can find them online for you.   best of luck with it and I hope it gets better soon.

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         earnestshubposted 14 years agoin reply to this

         You can also look up Feldenkrais exercises and the Alexander method, but first ensure you don't have a leaking disc.
         Good luck with it.

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            IzzyMposted 14 years agoin reply to this

            Right. I'm doing nothing till a doctor rules out a leaking disc. Never even thought of that but the symptoms include going to bed one night and waking up the next day barely able to move, which is me. I didn't move any heavy boxes or anything. Thanks. Going back to bed now.

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               earnestshubposted 14 years agoin reply to this

               I have a friend who damaged a disc turning over in bed causing it to leak.He is an ex theater nurse and damaged it lifting people on and off tables.
               
               If it is the lumbar between L3 and L5 (lower back) it will usually have a sharp pain associated with it that will definitely limit you to certain positions. I understand something of which you speak, a son-inlaw has 3 very badly worn discs and has constant pain 24/7 from it. Backs are a worry.
               
               Discs that leak in the thoracic usually leave one short of breath, because when you breath in it feels like a knife in your back that makes you real careful how you breath in next time!
               If you are not getting jolted, you may have been in pain too long and the strong muscles in your back have locked up.
               If so I have some advice.
               Deep tissue massage.
               Put a hot towel across your back and keep it hot for half an hour, replacing it as soon as it cools slightly.
               Put on enough oil ( any oil) to protect the skin. Massage the lower back muscles away from the spine until they feel soft. If no severe pain, use more weight, such as an elbow, and continue through the next layer of muscles, then the next. It will take a full hour, but if the muscles were locked, you will be back on your feet again straight away. Been there sadly.
               I do hope this helps, I don't like being seized up either.

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         IzzyMposted 14 years agoin reply to this

         Might be worth trying to make some kind of movement in bed as any movement when lying down is agony.
         I was thinking more of some kind of stretching exercise while standing? The only position I can find that is pain free is standing and leaning slightly forward on something (propping up a bar springs to mind!)

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            sofsposted 14 years agoin reply to this

            I guess Earnest's advice is great the (first one ).. .. Go to the doctor and take care ...

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      superwagsposted 14 years agoin reply to this

      Bloody hell, what did you do to break your neck?!

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         IzzyMposted 14 years agoin reply to this

         Got thrown our of a window 17 feet off the ground by a nutter. He only got 4 years, but he should have got life.

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      prettydarkhorseposted 14 years agoin reply to this

      I can't recommend anything except to say that I hope that the  back pain that goes with it will be minimized. You are working hard perhaps in front of the computer. Although I learned basic Thai massage, you are very far away!!

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   Joy56posted 14 years ago

   Even if you cannot get to a hospital or doctor today, you need medication to totally shut your body down and rest, all your nervous system seems to have gone into a spasm.  Sunday or not, seek medical help, surely you have an emergency help line, and a friend who could pick up some medication for you.
   
   Dont forget to keep us updated, we are all thinking of you.

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   IzzyMposted 14 years ago

   Thanks folks! Shouldn't really be back here, but I am waiting for an ambulance now. Will update you later what they say at the hospital.

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      Joy56posted 14 years agoin reply to this

      cant wait to hear how you get on, and i am convinced you are doing the right thing, well done..... They may sedate you, so come back after a good rest.....

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      Randy Godwinposted 14 years agoin reply to this

      Good luck, Izzy!  Many of us can sympathize with you concerning back pain.  At least you'll get some relief of some sort at the hospital. 

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   CASE1WORKERposted 14 years ago

   oh, izzy. am thinking of you... i do hope it is just a strain and in a few days you will be up and around.
   At least the health service in spain works on a sunday

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   seanorjohnposted 14 years ago

   Hopefully a good physio will show you some good exercise techniques. Back pain really needs to be managed carefully. Hope you recover quickly.

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   IzzyMposted 14 years ago

   Typical A & E - hanging around for hours! Anyway, good news it is muscular according to the doc, and I got two injections that's kinda knocked me out a bit, but still can't walk very well.
   No physio, no follow-up care so hopefully it'll go away on its own.
   Getting all sorts of lectures here about how it's "sitting at that computer for hours" that's caused it. I doubt it, I've mostly sat at a computer for 2 years and this is the first attack of this type.

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   lrohnerposted 14 years ago

   Glad to hear it's nothing spinal, Izzy. Best wishes for a speedy recovery!

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      IzzyMposted 14 years agoin reply to this

      Thanks! Hopefully tomorrow it'll be much better

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   DIYweddingplannerposted 14 years ago

   I feel your pain and you are right to go to the hospital.  I've made that trip several times and mine was L4 & L5, herniated disc and no fun!  Don't play around with this and get someone to stay with you if need be.  And ask for Demerol!!  Morphine doesn't touch this kind of pain. Let us know and when you're feeling better, it'll be good info for a hub!

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      IzzyMposted 14 years agoin reply to this

      They gave me Nolotil as a painkiller, plus a muscle relaxant, both injected IM.
      I'm not so bad just now, we'll see how tomorrow goes.

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         Michael Willisposted 14 years agoin reply to this

         Hopefully you will be able to get some rest today and tonight before the Doctor visit tomorrow.
         With the history of the injury you mentioned, it sounds like you are wise to see the doctor before doing any exercises for the back at this point.
         Best of luck!

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            IzzyMposted 14 years agoin reply to this

            Thanks Michael. I actually went to the hospital today - had the pleasure of sitting in a wheelchair waiting for about 4 hours! Anyway, I am feeling much better now but if it seizes up again tomorrow, the local surgery is open.

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      earnestshubposted 14 years agoin reply to this

      Spot on! In fact I found morphine makes it worse. You have been there too I guess.

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         DIYweddingplannerposted 14 years agoin reply to this

         Yes, after watching me writhe in agony for two hours in the ER after they gave me two shots of morphine, they finally gave me Demerol.  I went home and slept like a baby!

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   seanorjohnposted 14 years ago

   Take care Izzy. I get back pain now and again and I know how painful it can be. I use a beanbag microwaved for 2 mins and it helps. Why not google and see if you can get some good tips on excercise techniques. My physio was brilliant. Showed me many great manouevers.

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    IzzyMposted 14 years ago

    Good idea. Just remembered the doc told me today to put a heated pad or electric blanket on my back three times a day for 10-15 minutes. That'll be fun! We've got a heatwave here and can't get cool enough!

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       Joy56posted 14 years agoin reply to this

       you can buy these things that wrap around you, and heat comes out all the time, they were the best thing ever for me.  Getting heat into the painful area is the best thing to do if it is muscular.   We never get really hot weather here, so dont know how you will fare with the hot weather, and the heat pads.

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    DIYweddingplannerposted 14 years ago

    Wow, different doctors say different things evidently.  My doctor had me ice mine and told me NOT to put heat on it.  He said it was the worst thing you could do and compared it to putting leather in the sun and it drying out and cracking. I thought he was nuts, but he was right, it worked!

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    IzzyMposted 14 years ago

    Strange that is two of you saying that morphine doesn't work for this type of pain!
    Morphine is the strongest known painkiller to man, but it must act on the CNS differently to others when it doesn't help.
    
    Good to know.
    
    There was another woman in the ER yesterday too, and I jut felt so sorry for her. She waited as long as I did, but she was in agony the whole time with sciatica. At least I wasn't in pain sitting still.
    
    Stiff and sore today, but nowhere near as bad as yesterday. Doubt if I'll be trying to walk anywhere far though.

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    sofsposted 14 years ago

    Great to hear that you are feeling much better. Take care!

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    IzzyMposted 14 years ago

    I've found a great mixture - vodka and Nolotil and the pain has subsided.
    Unfortunately, I'm not quite 'with it' enough to write but it's nice to be pain-free for a while

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       recommend1posted 14 years agoin reply to this

       How are you doing you drunken drug crazed writing woman !
       
       nice to hear it is easing up - and hope the dmaged area settles down soon so that you can get back to a normal.

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          IzzyMposted 14 years agoin reply to this

          Any relief I've been finding late at night has worn off by morning, so here I am day 3 and still seized up. The mix last night was great - slept like a baby!
          I can't write just now because I can't sit here long enough.

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             recommend1posted 14 years agoin reply to this

             I can sympathise - I have a mild touch of sciatica at the moment and it is hard enough - the full monty back pain must be horrendous.
             
             I get rid of my sciatica through gentle yoga that alwasy works, albeit slowly.  It is more a preventative than a cure but we get lazy  . . . .

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                IzzyMposted 14 years agoin reply to this

                Sciatica is horrendous and I fully sympathise with anyone suffering from it. I get sciatica every morning when I wake up - have done since my operation 6 years ago, but it disappears as soon as I stand up so not a great problem. What I've got is a dull ache in my lower back that turns into a sharp stabbing pain on movement. Any movement. So leaning back in the chair will bring it on. Turning over in my sleep will bring it on. Standing and walking is awful but no-one has said if it is better to exercise or rest. I walked to the village and back yesterday, about a mile all in but by about half way home I was almost in tears and only able to walk baby steps.
                My ex-husband suffered severe back pain for years. I now sympathise with him as well. He used to lay in bed with a solid piece of wood under the mattress but it never helped. Exercise helped him.
                I just hope this isn't going to be forever.

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                   recommend1posted 14 years agoin reply to this

                   My sciatica is just a minor thing, not hte full blown knife in the hip joint type.
                   
                   I sure hope they get you back on your feet again soonish.  I will try to find those simple and gentle yoga excercises for you, they are the best 'excercise' I know for back problems.  If I can't find a good video I may write a hub about it - may even video myself doing it for you AND put clothes on for the vid

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                      IzzyMposted 14 years agoin reply to this

                      Really? lol you make it sound as if you often make videos while undressed! OK we won't go there!
                      That would be brilliant if you could do that, thanks

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                         recommend1posted 14 years agoin reply to this

                         Not the videos you very rude bent over sideways lady !!   I normally do the Yoga naked   a sight you really do not want to be exposed to!

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