Back pain - is this usual after injury?
Discussion
Morning guys,
Yesterday evening, my wife somehow managed to fall over in the garden whilst planting up her seedlings (always when you least suspect it!). She fell backwards down two steps, and landed on the edge of a low brickwall, impacting with her side just above the small of her back.
Ended up calling 111, because she felt sick with pain, and couldn't get up off the floor. They sent an ambulance out. The crew examined her - but reckoned there were no broken bones, and said it was probably a soft tissue injury. They helped get her on to her feet and indoors - but recommended, in the light of COVID19, that the A&E department was not the place to be at the moment, and recommended they didn't take her to the hospital for further tests
Just wondered what level of pain is usual with a soft tissue injury around that area? Basically, she gets close the point of fainting every time she has to stand. I found some Codine tablets in the cupboard, but aside from allowing her to grab a bit of sleep - they don't really seem to be numbing the pain very much.
If that's normal, then we'll just weather the storm - but I'm just trying to gauge whether she should be more concerned.
Currently waiting for the GP to call back - but would welcome any thoughts you might have.
Steve.
Yesterday evening, my wife somehow managed to fall over in the garden whilst planting up her seedlings (always when you least suspect it!). She fell backwards down two steps, and landed on the edge of a low brickwall, impacting with her side just above the small of her back.
Ended up calling 111, because she felt sick with pain, and couldn't get up off the floor. They sent an ambulance out. The crew examined her - but reckoned there were no broken bones, and said it was probably a soft tissue injury. They helped get her on to her feet and indoors - but recommended, in the light of COVID19, that the A&E department was not the place to be at the moment, and recommended they didn't take her to the hospital for further tests
Just wondered what level of pain is usual with a soft tissue injury around that area? Basically, she gets close the point of fainting every time she has to stand. I found some Codine tablets in the cupboard, but aside from allowing her to grab a bit of sleep - they don't really seem to be numbing the pain very much.
If that's normal, then we'll just weather the storm - but I'm just trying to gauge whether she should be more concerned.
Currently waiting for the GP to call back - but would welcome any thoughts you might have.
Steve.
I managed to crush a couple of vertebrae in a fall.
The pain came in a day or two later, if they were touched it sent me into spasms of pain. A&E missed it, a chiropractor diagnosed it. A position that was given to me for some back relief was flat on my back, legs raised but bent at the knee. Imagine on the floor with legs hooked over a chair.
Apart from pain management, it just needed time and movement.
Backs are tricky things. If you can manage it walking, level, even ground is good.
The pain came in a day or two later, if they were touched it sent me into spasms of pain. A&E missed it, a chiropractor diagnosed it. A position that was given to me for some back relief was flat on my back, legs raised but bent at the knee. Imagine on the floor with legs hooked over a chair.
Apart from pain management, it just needed time and movement.
Backs are tricky things. If you can manage it walking, level, even ground is good.
PositronicRay said:
Apart from pain management, it just needed time and movement.
Backs are tricky things. If you can manage it walking, level, even ground is good.
Thanks - we have a family member who's a chiropractor - and he did say that if you can move, then move. So we'll work on that. Backs are tricky things. If you can manage it walking, level, even ground is good.
The doctor is writing up a prescription for some strong pain killers, which I'll go and collect for her later.
Thanks all - queued up at the pharmacist for 2 hours this afternoon to collect her prescription of Naproxen and some other meds the doctor prescribed.
Will see how it goes. At the moment, one coping mechanism is to ram an ice pack on it when the pain starts. This has helped with sitting up.
Hopefully things will start to improve gradually.
Will see how it goes. At the moment, one coping mechanism is to ram an ice pack on it when the pain starts. This has helped with sitting up.
Hopefully things will start to improve gradually.
I have had back pain, (muscle issues) that have reduced me to tears. Inability to stand, move lie down, barely blink an eye without searing faint inducing pain.
Have used,
amitriptyline
diazepam
codeine
co-codamol
My advise is use pain killers, muscle relaxants until the pain is bearable, then start on mobility and stretching routines as soon as she can manage.
If it is soft tissue damage then mobility exercises will help more than drugs in the long run.
Have used,
amitriptyline
diazepam
codeine
co-codamol
My advise is use pain killers, muscle relaxants until the pain is bearable, then start on mobility and stretching routines as soon as she can manage.
If it is soft tissue damage then mobility exercises will help more than drugs in the long run.
load of great advice on here so far. nsaids are ideal so naproxen is a good shout. the problem with the back is that it has an involvement in pretty much any movement we perform so it's going to be tough. movement is good when possible but avoid if the pain is too sharp/stabbing to begin with.
if it happens quite severely when she moves from lying to sitting or anything that involves her core flexion it may be the erector spinae (trunk muscles at base of back, either side of spine). can be excrucuating but if on naproxen i'd expect four days to be the longest before some semblance of normality of movement returns. should be given some form of stomach prep med as well (lasoprazole or equivalent).
really important: if taking naproxen, do not take any form of ibuprofen at the same time.
source: i get beaten up a lot.
if it happens quite severely when she moves from lying to sitting or anything that involves her core flexion it may be the erector spinae (trunk muscles at base of back, either side of spine). can be excrucuating but if on naproxen i'd expect four days to be the longest before some semblance of normality of movement returns. should be given some form of stomach prep med as well (lasoprazole or equivalent).
really important: if taking naproxen, do not take any form of ibuprofen at the same time.
source: i get beaten up a lot.
I have moderately severe spinal problems that sometimes cause my back to go into spasm which sounds as though what your wife might be suffering. There's been lots of good advice here already so I can't add a lot, but alternating ice packs with a hot water bottle can sometimes help the muscle spasm reduce and, if she can safely get in and out, a hot bath might also help.
I wish her well, it really isn't nice.
I wish her well, it really isn't nice.
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