As part of my fibromyalgia, I can get bad lower back pain. I have learnt stretches that ease it over time but nothing prepared me for the extreme back pain I’ve recently experienced.
About 2 weeks ago, I was just about to leave the house. My back had been getting tighter and more uncomfortable over a day, but I wasn’t anything I hadn’t dealt with before. However, out of nowhere, I went to move, and my back just became agony, to the point that I couldn’t move at all, and I let out a little scream.
Thankfully, my husband was home and rushed to me when it happened. This kind of extreme pain had never happened before. He helped me to the floor as I thought perhaps I could stretch my back out, but once I got the floor, I couldn’t move for 2 hours!
My poor husband was worried about me and wanted to help, but every time I attempted to move even an inch, the pain would be excruciating. He got me some ice packs, and then I also used my TENS machine, which slowly started to help.
2 hours later, I finally managed to move slowly to get onto my knees and inch by inch and made it closer to the sofa. I then rolled onto the sofa in agony, where I stayed for another few hours.
With many painkillers in my system and my TENS machine on permanently, the pain started to improve enough that I could waddle to the toilet when I needed to, and I really do mean waddle! The pathetic way I looked made me laugh, which also exacerbated the pain!
That week, I couldn’t drive as I knew I wouldn’t be comfortable enough, and I relied heavily on my family to do things for me, including putting on socks as I couldn’t reach my feet.
I have made sure to keep moving while my pain is bad whenever possible, moving my hips and walking as much as I could while also giving my back time to heal. I was given some extra stretches by a physio, which have started to help now. I’ve been using my TENS machine to relax, and using heat on my lower back also helped a lot.
I feel like whenever a pain is exacerbated, it takes so much longer for someone with chronic pain to recover than anyone else. It may be some time before I am back to my usual self. Slowly but surely, it is improving, and I have been able to drive this week, although using the handbrake is still quite painful!
Hello Fibro Blog 
Ouch that sounds so painful Bethan and hope you’re doing ok now. Great that you have found that stretches and tens machine help though. Totally agree it seems to take longer to get over things like this when you have a chronic illness
Take care and best wishes Sarah
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Thanks for sharing your experience,
strength, and hope for a better day for people with fibromyalgia.
I didn’t realized that fibromyalgia effects the lower back since I have had back problems before my fibromyalgia diagnosis 9 years ago.
I’m preparing for my lower right back surgery soon because of my back’s
stenosis and scoliosis.
Wishing you always brighter days ahead,
Sincerely,
Esthy Lue
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I agree with you it takes so much longer for most of us with fibromyalgia to get better after a flare of symptoms. Love this great photo of you in this blog post and hope you are having less pain soon.
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