u/emste

Hello fellow back pain-ers!
Unfortunately I am no stranger having severe scoliosis (now double fused) myself and 2x slipped discs, one majorly herniated one and one just protruding (L4/5 and L5/S1 respectively).

I am a fairly young woman (almost 30) but know due to my complex background that I need to be careful lifting. That being said, a week and a half ago I stupidly wasn’t careful lifting heavy pews (I manage a heritage building).

The day after I had huge muscle spasms in the top right of my back. It was totally seized up under my shoulder up to my neck and down to my right ribs. I couldn’t turn my head or twist my body. Couldn’t support my spine sitting up. After a couple days I had shooting pain down my leg and tingling in hands. It cleared up and 111 said just to take anti inflammatories.

It seemed to be improving until Saturday when I leant back weirdly and it returned. Today, Monday, alongside the other previous symptoms, minus the shooting pains, my right hand is a bit numb and tingly.

What do you think I should do? My GP just advised me to advise my back hosp who are just ok. I’ve found with all of these probs in the UK I’m repeatedly pied off or not taken seriously enough. I seem to be marked as some sort of hysterical woman despite my pain and scoliosis + consequential problems being very real. My back doctor, who hadn’t seen me in 15 years, only sent me for a lumbar MRI to check my metalwork when I’m fused all the way up to just below my neck (asked last week to have it instead do entire back) This is on top of other mistakes such as getting my name wrong!

I’m a bit concerned for the lack of mobility but mostly my arm as 1) I am right handed 2) I am also an illustrator and the only thing that has EVER brought me happiness and respite throughout my 20+ years of back problems is drawing. I’m worried my life will be injury after injury.

Thank you! 🩷

sigh. My spine is mostly fused except for my neck and the bottom from scoliosis. I already have an L5/S1 bulge.

On Wednesday I was doing some lifting at work and wasn’t careful enough. When I got up on Friday (Thursday was ok although I was exhausted) I could barely move. I have this severe pulling in my upper right back. I couldn’t turn my head or turn/twist without a pang of pain. Assumed it was my muscles and tried to do some physio and roll it out, didn’t work so spent a lot of time lying on the floor

Yesterday, on Saturday somehow it was worse. I had to sack the day off as I could only lie down and walk a bit. I couldn’t sit unsupported without pain as well as the pain of movement. It got better for a bit after some ibuprofen and a lot of deep heat. However, perhaps only temporarily better before it was worse again - sitting (supported) felt like my spine was collapsing, like I was falling into myself. Was worried I would fall over when I stood at at one point. Then I started getting shooting pains down my left leg, which is new. I have sciatica in the other but not this. Can’t sleep at all. My bowels waterworks etc are ok.

Any advice I’ll deffo take it!! Thank you