Hey,
I've done my back and am currently bedridden till at least 9pm. I can't really move as my back spasms everytime I try to. Been stuck like this for a few hours now and really need to pee.
Anyone have any suggestions? I don't think I can make it to 9pm when the doctor reckons the painkillers will kick in enough for me to shuffle to the toilet.
I can't turn to my side. Tried using a cut hose and a empty milk bottle but the one we have isn't wide enough.
Anyone that can buy elderly nappies from supermarket?
Thanks for the suggestions.
I can't move enough to get one of them on. The missus tried sticking an ice pack under me and the pain was agonising.
@TheAccountant: No problem, I’d say drink plenty of water with panadeine forte because of the constipation it can cause but then you’d need to pee even more..
Are you boasting that you can't fit into the opening of a milk bottle? Perhaps do it yourself, rather than having your wife hold it, this is no time for a chubbie.
Have your spouse suck it out like venom.
Bottle?
Pretty rubbish painkillers.
Panadeine Forte? I'm hoping it works.
Have taken 2 naproxen so far and nothing 😩
I have a prolapsed disc in my lower back, best thing I've found is valium. 5mg if it gets bad, relaxes the bits that are causing the issues enough. Probably not the best if you have an addictive personality. Depends what you have wrong with yours though, I found panadeine forte to not be very effective.
I'm not too sure what's wrong to be honest. I was bent slightly forwards trying to plug in a cable to my PS4 and felt it. Luckily I was in my bedroom so I just turned around and laid straight down.
Wouldn't valium be prescription only? And would the doctors prescribe it immediately?
@TheAccountant: Sometimes mine is bad from doing heavy work for hours, but often it's similar to what you described, one seemingly simple movement drops you.
It is 100% prescription only, though is scarily easy to get. It may or may not work for you, depending on what has caused your issue. I hope the panadeine does serving for you, I know your pain, it isn't fun.
To answer your op, I get up in the least painful way, stay hunched over or whatever works, while hobbling to the little boys room. Can be extremely painful, but when you have to go, you have to go.
@brendanm: Thanks mate, I will ask my doctor for it if the pain doesn't subside by a fair amount by tomorrow evening.
Sorry to hear about your back. The pain is something you can't describe unless you've experienced it I guess. What were you doing that caused it? I'm going to be more careful about this stuff.
@TheAccountant: No worries, just be careful with it if you do get it, I really hate to recommend things that can cause dependency.
What were you doing that caused it?
I'm relatively tall and was an automotive mechanic. Bending over all the time probably inflamed it, then one day I was lifted a gearbox and twisted from the lower back (very stupid) and "bang" instant agony, and has never been the same since.
Fingers crossed yours is just a once off 👍
@brendanm: Many sympathies. Did the same with a very heavy battery up and over into the tray of a ute. It was the twisting that did it.
Ended up in Emergency. I couldn't breathe because of the pain.
They gave me some drugs and sat me in a chair for a few hours.
I was able to get up after that. Valium works well, as I still get pain 14 years later.
@Zachary: People hurt themselves at gym all the times 🤣🤣🤣
Some don't, if they educated and know how to lift correctly and supported.
@[Deactivated]: Don't they give out instructions on how to lift correctly and support? So you can't possibly muck it up?
@brendanm: "though is scarily easy to get."
Please tell me how.
I'm in an abyss of grief over my mum's untimely death, but the doctors won't prescribe Valium for me to help with my grieving because of all the addiction-prone people out there getting into trouble with it.
WTF? Getting into trouble with something as harmless as Valium???? The mind boggles ,,,
I'm not addiction-prone [NEVER BEEN ADDICTED TO ANYTHING IN MY LIFE] and have told the doctor this, but it looks as if all those Valium [supposedly] addicts have spoilt it for us normal people.
Some time ago it was quite easy to get a script for Valium, but no longer.
@Gekov: Valium is addictive.
I'm not going to be telling people how to get something that their doctor doesn't think is appropriate sorry.
Sorry to hear about your mum.
@Gekov: Actually, upon retirement I didn't even bother finishing off the Valium tablets I had left over!
They were still with me, lying in a drawer for years.
But I finished them off to help with my recent loss.
So much for the "addictive" story …
For weak minded addiction-prone people.
Yes well that is basically what 'addictive' means. Not everyone turns into a junky, but it is risky.
@brendanm: "I'm not going to be telling people how to get something that their doctor doesn't think is appropriate"
AWW come on be nice …
@TheAccountant: Were you doing anything more physical in the last few days? I've pulled my back a few times in the past and it's generally been because I was doing something like pulling weeds in the garden, went to bed fine, woke up fine, then had a spasm while I was doing something innocuous later that day.
When you get better, it's worth doing some strength training on your back (after checking with your doctor). I found that I had almost no back problems after lifting weights.
@macrocephalic: I found losing weight helped a lot. And better work rest practice.
Sitting down all week then going crazy physical on the weekend didn't help anything.
Now gym 5 days a week and smarter working at home has helped me reduce time taken down with a dodgy back.
I've heard tramadol or codeine (although you probably won't get this one) is pretty good
I had both Tramadol and Codeine but didn't find it to be quite as effective as Endone. But Endone is legal heroin and very addictive. I had it daily for about 6 months (never felt a high or anything like other people seem to) and then when I suddenly stopped, I went through three days of migraines, sweating, shaking and fevers. It wasn't nice.
@bobbified: Oh yes endone was the one on the tip of my tongue. You're right though, that's really strong. My mum was on it when she had extreme pain in her abdomen. I suggested tramadol because that can be used more long term I think and both probably more effective than panadeine forte. Another one I just remembered that's good for quick relief is celebrex.
@bobbified: oxy and heroin are different but you absolutely shouldn't take either if you can avoid it. they're very very addictive. Its how the opioid crisis started and how the sacklers of Purdue got super rich destroying the lives of millions.
@sarahlump: Yeah, I heard it was very addictive before I got it so I only took it when the pain was unbearable (after open heart surgery).
@bobbified: I had a simple skin graft recently and they scripted me a ton of them, took them one day got sad, constipated and tossed them out. falling asleep and warm felt really good but (profanity) it sucked and I only had a tiny bit once. I have a LOT of empathy for all those poor people out there who have opiate addictions.
constipated
Oh yeh! I forgot about this one! They gave me laxatives to take while I was on them.
…all those poor people out there who have opiate addictions.
I was very lucky to be able to force myself to hold out through the withdrawal symptoms for a few days and get off them completely. It gave me some insight into how hard it was. I only took them for about six months so I can't imagine how hard it would be to get off them after a few years.
Voltaren is the go for acute muscle pain
A couple of the 12.5mgs (also available in 25s but they are prescription only) and you might forget you had a back issue, but don't let that stop you taking things gently.
It's an NSAID (non steroidal anti inflammatory) that is specifically for such. Used to be used for arthritis also but it turns out it may increase the risk of heart issues in certain people.
Over the counter at chemist. Decently affordable. Also available in a gel format but the tablets work best
Gives a chance for things to heal.
Good luck
25’s aren’t prescription only. 50’s are prescription only. But no point getting 50’s, just take two 25’s.
Just get someone to go to supermarket and buy incontinence pads.
Looks like I'll be trying adult diapers tonight. Thanks for the suggestion.
Hey mate - You may want to look up a "Condom Catheter". Discuss with your doctor if these would work for you.
This link explains what they are: https://www.healthline.com/health/condom-catheter#_noHeaderP…
Best of luck and hope you feel better soon.
IIRC it was an Aussie that invented the 'sneaky leaky' for not losing his place standing in a queue to buy tickets. or something. Just had to stand with a foot in the gutter…
A long hose or a hoselink that retracts automatically once you are done.
Thought by title it would be Ineed2pee
Thanks for reminding me!
Ask @iNeed2Pee
Prostate still going strong for now, let those rivers flow!
Gonna spitball a couple ideas…
- Large Slurpee Cup (7-11)
- Vacuum Cleaner (remove filters and pray…)
- Towels (lots)
- Pool noodle (duct tape on one side!)
I do what Lloyd Christmas does and just pee in a bottle and offer a drink to a Police Officer when I get pulled over.
See if get someone to get you voltaren and do a hefty dose every few hours. Eg 50mg.
Not a dr
Can't help you with the toilet tho
Doctor prescribed Panadeine Forte so gonna give that a go.
Have you had good pain relief from Voltaren?
yes and get the strong stuff if it's bad,
I've had bad lower back problems
it's it's lower back look for stretches on Google
a lot of the problems is due to tight hammy and tight arse!
Yes. I have a bad disc and it was the best to reduce inflammation while I did physiotherapy
Took half a day to take full effect.
Not a dr
If you have torn ligaments, the Voltaren will attack the split tendons and give you a lesson in extreme pain that you will never forget.
This is from experience.
I forgot to add that it's the gel, not the pills.
Hope you don't get constipation from the Panadeine fort. Can make back pain feel like a blessing :-(
consider a stool softener if you have to take the panadeine for more than a day or so. we don't need the next post to be 'poops too big, how do I get it out?'
Best stool softener money can buy is an iron tablet.
Call your next door neighbour to come in and give you a hand .
seriously do not stay in bed. that is one of the worst things for a bad back.
standing and walking is far better than laying in bed. I say this as someone with a serious back injury that resulted in a partially paralysed leg for 6 months. I have been in excruciating pain many times and unable to move. But move you must.
My back pain never fully goes away. I have been prescribed the highest dose opiate painkillers available (never took them after the first couple because of the side effects). It still gives me grief when I sit down, particularly chairs that lean back slightly like airline seats, cinema seats etc. When I lay flat on my back my legs go numb even now.
Thanks for the advice. I definitely understand that it's bad to lie down but the pain is so bad I can't really move.
I will try it a bit later tonight hopefully once it subsides a bit. I tried earlier as I felt lying on the floor would be better since my spine would be straighter but couldn't take the pain once my first foot was on the floor.
I hear you. It is incredibly painful and you get little sympathy for anyone because you don't look "sick". It's the worst.
Btw, I'm not saying never lay down. Just try to move as much as you can.
Lie on your tummy and gently prop your self up on your elbows (subject to pain) . This arches your back and takes the pressure off the pinched nerve in your back.
Do it for a few seconds and see if it helps. If you can tolerate that then do a few more for longer.
You need to see a physio, not a doctor.
Terrible advice, you have no idea what exactly caused the OPs injury so can't prescribe a simple "get moving" solution.
Sometimes staying in bed and being immobile for days is the best to look after a severe acute episode.
This is the prescribed advice for certain situations from back experts like Sarah Keys and Stuart McGill. OP, highly recommend you read their books if it's an ongoing issue.
flushing mellows?
You're going to have to get out of bed, and it is going to hurt a lot. But, you need to move.
Try a hot shower. If you find it helps, then try go to your supermarket and buy a heat pack. The heat pack will also help you sleep a bit better.
I also was told to take Voltaren Rapid 21 tablets. Not sure if this will help, but placebo is good.
tens machine, back support strap and heat - the only things that worked for me. and from now on I always bend the knees and lift properly. its not how heavy the item is either (was doing weights, no worries, went to the front yard, and put the back out picking up the hose!)
twise and lift - guaranteed I'll be in pain for a week
The answer seems pretty obvious. Just let it go whilst your wife plays "catch the fountain" with a large bowl.
If golden showers wasn't part of your bedroom repertoire, it is now.
Tks you gave my lockdown the best laugh today hehe .
If you think number 1 is a prob what about number 2.
Try the hospital help line for advice.
hot water bottle moved around your back, as it gets hot in 1 spot move adjacently
its nearly 10:30 mate! Hope you haven't pissed yourself
It's past 9pm, hope you made it
I did.
I ended up placing a adult diaper on my upper thighs to catch any drops then placed a milk bottle between my legs. Worked well.
I haven't tried yet but I'm confident I should be able to make it later this morning to drop the kids off at the pool. The Panadeine seems to be working as I can move a bit more with a bit less pain.
Don't overdo the pain killers either. You don't want to damage your liver.
Give curcumin a try. It's a strong anti inflammatory.
Curcumin takes at least a month to get into your system to notice any improvement.
@robbyjones: It often comes with piperine (from black pepper) , which increases bioavailability 20 fold.
In this study it took 15 minutes to show up in blood serum.
Mate, for future reference.
If you're in so much pain you can't get to the toilet, call an ambulance.
They will give you Penthrox (the green whistle) to get you moving. Holding on that long could cause more issues.
just piss urself, pretend your a baby again
stream it, make some money while he is at it.. must be a market for that..
Some people find relief with cold others with heat.
Hope your Dr finds the source of problem with Xrays etc.
Physio may be needed short term.
I've also known some people who managed to realign their own discs.
"Exercise Physiologists" are for the long term fix.
good luck
Depends, remove before it gets too cold 😀
Went through something similar recently, was bed ridden for well over a week but could at least turn to my side a bit ,used the girlfriends wine carafe..😳
Short term option, not ideal but maybe just wee into a really absorbent towel.
Longer term option, purchase a urinal bottle.
That ShamWow may now have a use
For your bad back, try icing it 20 mins every couple of hours and sleep on very firm bed. Soft bed makes it worst too.
A catheter would be perfect for you, OP.
hope you aren't due a number 2
You need external catheters, called "Uridomes", which are like a thick condom with a hole at the end which connects to a length of tube.
https://at-aust.org/minor_groups/598/list/1
You don't need the bottles and valves that those who depend on the permanently need for infection control, so any 2 litre bottle that wont' get knocked over easily will do.
The best brand I came across wasn't as popular as it should have been , as it came in three sizes, small, medium and large rather than a more male appropriate large, oversize and largest. I'm not sure if there is a fitting service.
I have had this issue - bulged disc. The disc pushes out of its normal spot just enough to touch the nerve and cause extreme pain - feels like electric bolts down your leg and made me feel faint.
I'm good now - the best thing was getting one of those door-mounted chin-up bars and hanging off it with your feet up (bend the knees) for at least 5 or 10 minutes a day. That should stretch out the back enough that the disc should move back into place
also if you sit all day look at getting a better chair that lets you sit more upright without the lower back going into extension. Slight flexion is the position you want to be in with the pelvic to spine junction. There's exercises you can do like childs pose and lower back flexes to strengthen the muscles but between pain killers and spine decompression with hanging, my symptoms cleared up in a couple of weeks.
anyway the above is clearly not medical advice but it helped me. get your doc to organise you an x-ray or even better MRI if it continues to see exactly what the issue is.
I can only hope your GP doesn't rule out a gout attack. If it is, and if it has happened after a covid vaccine remember to report your reaction. Very different NSAID for gout and it almost works immediately.
Beside peeing…. have someone pull gently upon your ankles. this will alleviate pressure upon your spine.
It will take a few days to recover. Repeat above suggestion every few hours. Then wriggle your torso like a snake when the pain subsides. You are freeing up the nerves.
Milk bottle.
For true back spasms, you need valium to loosen it up so you can move - at least that's my experience. Pain killers do nothing as far as releasing or stopping the spasms. I only need to take it for a day or less to stop the spasms, then the muscles are sore for a week before I recover fully.
You can buy proper reusable bed bottles. Just had knee surgey and the hospital had them. Was so good when I couldnt walk to the toilet. Wish I had one when I got home but I'm pretty sure there is no way my housemate would be willing to empty it so did the toilet trip on crutches.
When I was younger in Canberra my mancave (seperate to the house) didnt have a toilet. So when it was -6°C outside during gaming nights we just used empty sports drink bottles.
Ask your GP for some Palexia if your in a lot of pain.
Keep moving, see a physio, don't give up
Make a game of it. Try and piss in your own mouth
I laughed so hard at this 😂
use a brake bleeder kit , you just need the tip and then you're all good.
Had the same issue a little while ago. I lay on the floor. That helped the most and was able to roll onto my front and then stand. Took a couple of days for it to settle. As for the toilet you may just need to wee into a towel or bottle with the help of the wife. Not pleasant for her but little choice.
Hope you got to wizz.
It sounds like you got some muscle strain which I seem to inflict on myself every couple of years.
I found that;
- Some (very careful) movement helps. Laying in bed relieves pain and prevent spasms but I found the sooner you get moving, the sooner you recover.
- Apply heat. Get a wheatbag that you can warm up in the microwave and apply as much as possible. A very hot shower while bending forward (stretching the back musles) helps heaps. Heat increases the blood flow through the muscle and increased blood flow heals it faster.
- Stretching the effected musle area helps. This was most valuable thing I got out of physio, they would basically put a wheat bag on, heat it up, then go through a routine of lower back stretch's. I went from hobbling in to the appointment to walking fine heading out. I now use the same stretching routine when it feels like it flares up again and this seems to keep it at bay.
- Painkillers help with sleep but I avoid them during the day. Pain is your body sending you a warning message so if you block it, you're ignoring what it is telling you. On really good painkillers, you can sense the muscle seizing but no pain…this is the muscle telling you it's not fkn going anywhere and you're only straining it further by attempting to.
Once you have recovered, you need to exercise man! Anything that increases your core strength helps and will minimise it in future.
Empty milk bottle.. the opening is larger, fine to throw away