oooh yes I have back spasms regularly, at least once a week since I retired, and I'm sitting around more..all caused by the herniated lumber discs. some days I have to have the heat pad or hot water bottle on all day... 20 minutes on 20 minutes off. When I was working I'd get them occasionally if I lifted anything heavy or bent down sharply but because I was walking most of the day I rarely got them after I'd had the surgery Last night I was sitting at the desk, and I had my feet up on the ottoman at the side of me so I was kinda side onto the computer, and as I went to lift my feet off, my back went into full spasm , so my o/h had to lift my feet gently off the ottoman, so I could get out of my seat and gingerly go and microwave the heat pad!! It happens so often to me, I'm used to it...I've already had 2 operations on my back as well as cortisone injections
Yeah I have herniated discs, my spasms aren't often but when I get one it doesn't let up for a week. If I move the wrong way I could scream in Pain. I really fear them because they immobilize me for so long.
Heat is what I use on my back when it spasms, and I use the heating pad for that usually. If I can move enough to get into the shower, I will take a shower and get it on my back and as hot as I can stand it. Another thing that really helps me is to take a laxative. It seems like that helps to relieve the pinched nerves in the back that are having the spasms. If I can feel that my back is wanting to seize up, then I try the laxative right away, and sometimes that stops it just by itself. It is a scary thing when you are by yourself and can’t move because of a seized up back, so I can guess how you are feeling, @Chrissy Cross . Saying a special prayer for you today. And Patsy is right, keep the heating pad where you can reach it even if your back is seizing up. I learned that one the hard way, too, and trying to stand on my head to get it out of the bottom of my closet shelf. Now, I try to keep mine where I can get to it when I need it fast and can’t bend over or hunt for it. When you go to Walmart the next time, get one of those back braces that wrap around and Velcro in place, and keep that near the heating pad. It will help support your back, and also helps to keep it warm.
I have these....as heat pads.. one for the shoulders and one for my lumber region whichever is hurting at the time.. https://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/B00V4TB9DI/ref=oh_aui_detailpage_o07_s00?ie=UTF8&th=1 https://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/B013T0WADM/ref=oh_aui_detailpage_o07_s00?ie=UTF8&th=1 because I know exactly what the excruciating pain is like...where I find myself begging my o/h whose trying to help me ''don't touch me please,..don't touch me..''...but if I try and stand my lower back just won't take the weight of my torso and he's trying to pull me up from the armpits to take the weight off my back to try and keep me standing and not crumpled on the floor...it's excruciating..and as i said..this is after 2 procedures and 2 ops on my back.. ...fortunately I can go a week sometimes without any pain, but other times I can go a whole week with it..
Ive not seen one like the first link. I used to have one that just went around my neck area but I thankfully don't hurt there anymore. Thanks @Holly Saunders I'm feeling better but it still feels iffy...one bad move and it could spasm, so I'm doing nothing and being very careful bending to give Pickles water etc. But from past experience it was never anything I did..it just happened.
Exactly , you have to be verry careful how you move or bend, take everything verrry slowly... and carefully..
Not sure if this is a Peak or Pit, but after much discussion with the wife and checking the finances, made the decision not to go full time at work. Staying at 20hrs a week. Guess its the right move; she makes a good case about over working. She knows how I can get when things 'hit the fan'. 40hrs turns to 50+ pretty easy...
Peak of today: It is getting warmer over here, today's high will be 53 degrees and tonight will be the last freeze for a while.
I just got back from the store and it's pretty warm out there at 10:00 am. Wore what I always wear and I was sweating..had to turn the A/C on in the car on the way home.
Even when it's only 60 here, the sun seems very hot. I don't know why.... Maybe because we're in a basin with little wind...don't know. I just looked and it was 63 at 10 am...a high of 70 today.
I sure would like to sitting at a nice warm beach right now....but most of the beaches are having cold weather right now too.
Pit :...No sleep last night at all..didn't get to bed ''till 6am.. and then only 3 hours sleep until the delivery man knocked the door.. so I'm very tired tonight ( it's 8.45pm here now).. Peak : ...Finally managed to get to see my GP ( primary care doctor)...after a 3 week wait for an appointment. He's referring me ''urgently'' to a neurologist after realising that certain things were missed in the last 2 years of my treatments. Came out of the surgery , with a shed load of prescriptions for pills and 2 different inhalers.. jeez...I feel like a walking advert for a pharmacy. ...but the meds will help me breathe ( particularly during the night) and the pills will keep my pain at a tolerable level at least until I get to see the Neurologist...which could actually be several months in reality despite being marked as urgent .. After we left the doctors surgery...hubs treated me to dinner ... it was beautiful to sit and look out the window of the pub into the dark streets and the lights from the store windows and the Christmas lights still up everywhere.. and watch people going home from work or still shopping
Holly, I will never complain about America's Health Care system again. At least we can go to the Emergency room and see a Specialist there if we need to instead of having to go through what you are going through. And our Primary Doctor we can usually see that day if we are having problems. I'm so sorry you are having to deal with all this and praying you will find the help you need and feel better soon.