Trapped nerve!

jenniewb

I am pretty sure I have trapped a nerve in my lower back. I was having 'issues' with my hips last week (kept stretching my lower back as my hips felt odd- the more I stretched, the more I wanted to stretch and think I have pretty much caused this through all the yanking and stretching my waist!)

I think its the L1, L2 parts of my spine that are affected (low down towards the end, top of hip level). I feel pain and it radiates down the edge of my thigh.

Have tried pain killers to no effect though pain killers rarely work on me as I think my body is used to them- I take them alot for period pains. Either which way I am unable to sleep as the pain wont go away! It doesn't seem to matter if I am moving around or still, feels just as painful but is preventing me from moving around very fast.

Does anyone have any tips on releasing trapped nerves? am due to see my GP next week but as far as I can tell, pain killers seem to be the only thing advised when I search, that and rest, neither work!

Thanks to anyone who can help!

shandypants5

Hi Jennie, You have my sympathy.
I am sitting here right now using a TENS machine because I cant sleep due to shooting pains down the back of my thighs.

I cant give you any advice to help you right now but a cheap tens machine works wonders for pain releif on back pain and allso helps me a lot with tense muscle type back aches.

I got mine from boots for about £30 its the one with 4 pads, you could possibly get one much cheaper on the net but when I bought mine I needed it NOW, lol.

Have you tried laying flat on the floor?

Bananabelly

It doesn't make that much difference, but it is unlikely that the problem is 'L1, L2' as they refer to different areas and not really the outside of the thigh (more the front). Also, depending on the pain killers, people don't really get 'used' to them, especially over the counter stuff, you probably have more pain than they can cover.

It doesn't matter what level it is really. You need to go to your doctor ASAP, or to the local hospital, particularly if you get changes in your toilet habits or walking. Otherwise, the thing that works best is resting positions (eg, on your back with a pillow or stool under your knees, or on your side with a pillow between your legs), ice and/or heat (whatever works best, try ice first) and gentle, small amounts of walking around the house.

Last thing - don't take medical advice from a forum! If it gets worse, go to the emergency department. Otherwise, do the stuff above and head to your doctor/physio/chiro as soon as you can. (I am a physio BTW)

jenniewb

Bananabelly wrote: »

It doesn't make that much difference, but it is unlikely that the problem is 'L1, L2' as they refer to different areas and not really the outside of the thigh (more the front). Also, depending on the pain killers, people don't really get 'used' to them, especially over the counter stuff, you probably have more pain than they can cover.

It doesn't matter what level it is really. You need to go to your doctor ASAP, or to the local hospital, particularly if you get changes in your toilet habits or walking. Otherwise, the thing that works best is resting positions (eg, on your back with a pillow or stool under your knees, or on your side with a pillow between your legs), ice and/or heat (whatever works best, try ice first) and gentle, small amounts of walking around the house.

Last thing - don't take medical advice from a forum! If it gets worse, go to the emergency department. Otherwise, do the stuff above and head to your doctor/physio/chiro as soon as you can. (I am a physio BTW)

Thanks!

Sorry- I am not being very clear when I say "outside of the thigh" I mean as oppose to the inner thigh (think: exercise pointers and you'll see what I mean!) I am just fed up with it and although have an appointment booked, its not 'till mid week as the doctor I need to see is not available 'till then and I am also not free to get to the surgery in time.

Will try Ice but its kinda hard to locate- the problem feels as if it comes from the inside of my spine! Its not touchable or massageable or even affected by me walking, can Ice but I don't know if I'd reach anything.

Am not looking for medical advice BTW, I have that from physio sites and books! I just wondered if anyone had any tips on dealing with trapped nerves and how to ease the pain. Not expecting anyone to have any solutions to it, just to reduce it for a bit until my appointment.

jenniewb

shandypants5 wrote: »

Hi Jennie, You have my sympathy.
I am sitting here right now using a TENS machine because I cant sleep due to shooting pains down the back of my thighs.

I cant give you any advice to help you right now but a cheap tens machine works wonders for pain releif on back pain and allso helps me a lot with tense muscle type back aches.

I got mine from boots for about £30 its the one with 4 pads, you could possibly get one much cheaper on the net but when I bought mine I needed it NOW, lol.

Have you tried laying flat on the floor?

Thanks! That sounds like a good idea- my mum has the foot thing which name I have forgotten! think if I can get her to buy one I could 'borrow' it to use when I visit her!:T

Bananabelly

jenniewb wrote: »

Thanks!

Sorry- I am not being very clear when I say "outside of the thigh" I mean as oppose to the inner thigh (think: exercise pointers and you'll see what I mean!) I am just fed up with it and although have an appointment booked, its not 'till mid week as the doctor I need to see is not available 'till then and I am also not free to get to the surgery in time.

Will try Ice but its kinda hard to locate- the problem feels as if it comes from the inside of my spine! Its not touchable or massageable or even affected by me walking, can Ice but I don't know if I'd reach anything.

Am not looking for medical advice BTW, I have that from physio sites and books! I just wondered if anyone had any tips on dealing with trapped nerves and how to ease the pain. Not expecting anyone to have any solutions to it, just to reduce it for a bit until my appointment.

Sorry if I came across a bit abruptly, people do post on here without doing sensible things like seeking medical advice, which you are obviously doing.

Assuming it is coming from your back, and assuming it is like the majority of back pain, there is no simple way to ease it, but keep in mind that the first 2 days are usually the worst, so it should start to ease soon. The resting positions I suggested above can be useful, it is good to continue walking for short periods, ice or heat or TENS may help, talk to the pharmacist about stronger OTC painkillers. When you see your doctor, ask for a physio referral on the NHS and make sure he/she writes that it is an acute problem that it affecting your function (eg are you off work, etc?) and they should see you fairly quickly. If you can't wait until then, ask around if anyone can recommend a physio or chiro, but the truth is it will probably settle down with a bit of time.

I hope you're feeling better soon.

jenniewb

Update: been using the power plate at the gym today, really seems to have helped! Shame I can't get to the gym tomorrow to use it again!

Thanks for the tips on what to ask my doctor- I have a doctor who doesn't seem to like referring for anything at all even when there are clear symptoms so looks as if I will need a second opinion on this one! Seems to have faded enough that I may be able to sleep tonight without the aid of so many sleeping pills, have had this before and it does go away so would be good to get it sorted when I do speak to my GP.