hurt my back

suzy-wong_5

out of the blue I took a very sharp pain across the base of my spine which brought me to my knees. Three hours later I could still not stand up straight and sitting is very very painful. My brother took me to my GP, who immediately put me off work for 2 weeks when I have to return and see him. He said it is mechanical. I was in too much pain to ask more questions. The day before my boss asked me to move furniture in one of our clients bedrooms (social work residential care) I should have refused, however I did not. I did not feel any pain when doing this. However could my back injury be from moving the furniture. This is day 3 and I am no better. I am concerned because in my job I need to push wheelchairs around and I need to bend alot. At the moment I cant even bend to put on my shoes. Moving furniture is not in my contract and under health and safety I should have known better.

Pat__3

Sorry Suzy_Wong to hear of your accident/pain
Is it a slipped disc ::)

I'm sure this needs an xray---its just a thought

Did you get this in the accident book at work I think it should be entered in there.

I'm sure there is someone on this site that will know the full technical & mechanical ways of a employees contract

Sorry i'm not much help but willing to learn

Lucie_2

Pat is spot on - you definately need to get this put in the accident book at work.
A colleague of my father in law cut his leg on a piece of metal sticking out from a desk (barely more than graze really) & ended up with septicemia (?sp) & lower leg amputation. He didn't report it & was unable to claim against the company.

ALWAYS put it in the accident book!!

suzy-wong_5

Hi everyone

I did not put it in the accident book because at the time I felt not pain, I am not saying it came from moving the furniture but I cant think what else would have caused such a sudden problem. Please advise. I am now off work and cant even complete the accident book, what would I say anyway.

Lucie_2

You should be able to report it retrospectively, but I would do it sooner rather than later. If it did end up as a claim, you can be certain that their lawyer would be asking questions as to why you took so long to report it. Is there a "friendly" colleague who will fill it in for you over the phone? You need to sign it to confirm that it is a true & accurate record, but that could be done at a later date.

mandymack

Suzy

Get yourself along to an osteopath, doctors can do nothing for bad backs.
I did my back in a few years ago, and like you don't really know how I did it.
Was bent double in agony until I saw an osteopath, hobbled into his surgery and walked out.
He/she should also be able to tell you whether it was moving the furniture that did it
you can find registered osteopaths in your area on this site http://www.osteopathy.org.uk/

Poppy9

The back pain is caused by a muscle spasm. A severe spasm will move the vertabre in your back and you may notice that your spine is no longer straight. The muscles in your back will go into a spasm to protect an injury. Until the spasm subsides (at least 5 days) you will be in agony. The spine will straighten back up when the spasm goes. Don't be a martyr take strong pain killers with an anti inflamatory in them - I use Ibrofen (doctors can prescribe stronger than you can buy from Chemist).

I have recurrent episodes of this problem since being knocked over by a car in my teens. After years of being told it was definitely not my discs I am now told it definitely is. Anyway diagnoss does not help that much as there is no real treatment apart from Physio which does nothing for the acute pain.

I read a book on the McKensie technique - available from your library called something like "treat your own back". It is fantastic. The main exercise is do-able even when in agony.

Basically lie on your tummy on the floor. Slowly, while breathing in, lift your head and feet a small way off the floor. you may feel a centralisation of pain - this is good apparently as it means your back is moving back into place. Hold for 5 seconds and release. Repeat about 10 times as many times a day as you can manage.

When sitting ensure you maintain an arch in your back. This means sitting upright on a chair and putting a cushion or rolled up towel in the arch of your back. Don't sit slouched with your feet up.

Keep this up for ever and you should reduce the recurrence of the injury.

I know its hard but don't lie in bed - do a little of everything. Lie on your tummy during the day - go for a gentle walk etc. Keeping the muscles warm and active helps them to recover.

As regard it being caused in work - have you undertaken a Manual Handling course? If so the employer will be covered as you have been trained in proper lifting techniques. If not you could try and claim it has attributed to your problem. Your union should be able to help you.

aussielle

Suzy,

Sorry to hear about your back, I know how agonising it can be.

The best advice is to take painkillers, if they don't help get something stronger from your doctor. Just be careful taking large amounts of tablets containing Ibuprofen, they can cause tummy problems. Don't take them if you have asthma/indigestion/or an ulcer.

Using an ice pack or even a bag of frozen peas will also help control the pain and relieve some of the muscle tension. If you really can't move, rest for a couple of days, then try and keep yourself mobile......just gentle walking will do. It will help with the pain and prevent you becoming stiff. Don't sit on a soft chair, sit on a dinning chair, it helps to keep your posture. Poppy is right, try and keep the hollow in your back by using a rolled up towel.

Massage is also good for you, gentle rubbing can ease the pain and help to relax the muscle spasm.

Ask your doctor to refer you for physio or get yourself off to a chiropractor. Refrain from doing exercises given by others, however well meaning their intentions, it can cause further damage.

Make sure you get this entered in the accident book at work. Although, if you told the doctor what you told us, it should be in his notes, so don't worry if you decide to make a claim in the future.

If you experience any numbness, pins & needles, difficulty passing or controlling urine......go straight back to the doctor.

Hope you feel better soon.

suzy-wong_5

Yes, I have been on moving and assisting training. However, the training protects staff for lifting or I should say assisting residents, not furniture. I contacted my union this afternoon. They advised that I contact my manager and ask for the accident to be recorded in the accident book. The union also said I should ask for personel to be contacted and told that I am off work due to an injury received at work. I was told that I would need to complete health and safety forms. I will contact my union again tomorrow. I know we are all responsible for our own health and safety, however this manager was aware that myself and another member of staff was moving furniture and in his position he should have advised against this.

Poppy9

Suzy - glad your union is helping you out. Be aware though if you have ever been to your doctor or A&E regarding any back pain it will be taken into account.

With regard to painkillers - if you are asthmatic or suffer from Ulcers speak to your GP. My partner who is asthmatic can take ibrofen with absolutely no problem but cannot tolerate asprin (i.e. before long haul flights).

I have tried massage to relieve the muscle spasm with no effect. 1 physio recommended by my GP left me black and blue and still bent double! Also a friend who had a bad back but could bend backwards but not forward was pushed into a forward bend by a NHS physio and slipped a disc so badly that only surgery was an option. While on the waiting list for surgery they read an article in a Daily newspaper about the McKenzie technique. They tried it and after months of being bend over started to straighten up. This was 2 years ago and the Doctor has deferred the surgery. I prefer when having a 'bad back episode' to keep well away from Chiropractors, physios and osteopaths. From mine and friends experience they never help you recover quicker and they could do more harm than good.

Below is quite a good link explaining the Mckenzie technique.

http://www.brillpt.com/news2.htm

Theyarv

I have had back pain for about 10 years now. For what you have i would go with the above hot/cold packs and some type of osteopathy. You might also want to try and get some diazepam and diclofenac which is what i am on for the month - work wonders. Just don't take diazepam too much as its highly addictive (if its prescribed)