I got shipped off to hospital last night with a very sudden and acute back pain, the kid that makes you unable to walk, constantly crying and grinding teeth.
I've got an 18 year history of back problems and it's in the same region as I've got bulging discs anyway so it seems likely, given the sudden nature, area dna history that it's a slipped disc.
The hospital have given me morphine, tramadol, diclofenac, diazepam and paracetamol ( all at once) to manage the pain until Monday when I'm supposed to go for an MRI.
It is managing the pain and although I'm in bed I'm able to go to the loo etc.

So, first of all does it sound similar to anyone elses experience of a slipped disc?

Secondly, does anyone have any further advice about what to do?

I have periodically seen people at The Wainwright Clinic but I am wary of spending the vast amounts of money it will cost to go there if I can manage most of this alone and with the NHS.

my sympathies zebra,i have had a slipprd disc and know what you are going through ,i laid flat out for six weeks but found moving around almost impossible,luckily when it clicked in i had no trouble with it for years until one day a friend called me from some way of,as i turned i felt it go again and was once more in agony,take everything steady and if you have family use them as best you can for houshold chores,... good luck

My sympathies, I did mine ages ago, and every so often its there again. I was once in agony and carefully walking down stairs when I slipped and slid all the way down, and that cured it for a few years. Not that I am saying throw your self downstairs.
Like Depoix says you only have to turn the wrong way and there it goes again.
I find it so frustrating that you can't do simple things, like putting your shoes on, or taking your trousers off.
So good luck, take it easy, I find going for a slow walk usually helps.

I am a Chronic pain sufferer and have been for 30yrs. It is NOT easy to get your head right but it can surely help.

I slipped 2discs and was in bed for over 9mths.... Distraction is the key for me. Whither it is putting mirrors in such a way that you can see out of the window from your bed.

Don't be angry or upset, try to accept the situation and come to peace with it. I find the body relaxes more this way. Tension brings stress, stress brings more pain.

Lie still and take the tablets. You the person might not want them but your body NEEDS them to help with the shock and pain.

Take this time out while you are resting to think of all the good things in your life....I did say it wasn't easy ha ha

Bring a kettle cup etc and other things you might need into the bedroom. Buy baby wipes to freshen you up, works wonders.

I do hope you get relieve soon. All the very best. A fellow sufferer

My best advice is to get a physio referral from your doctor.

I know it's difficult and painful but moving about is the best way.
I slipped a disc in 1973 and I was in plaster from my backside to my chest for 6 weeks and when it was removed I was no better and finished up being off work for about 9 months.
Whenever I have problems these days I'm straight off to Wainwrights myself and they almost always sort it out within two visits, I have known times when I have almost crawled into the surgery and could have sprinted out.
The only time that they have not been able to sort me out is when the muscles go into spasm and that is the most severe pain I have ever experienced, unfortunately when that happens you have no choice but to stay in bed as you cannot move.

Good luck and I hope you're feeling better soon.

I went through the pain of a severe prolapsed L1 S5 disc due to an accident at work. The initial pain dropped me to the floor in tears. The after pain's in the right hand side of my hip and down my right leg was worse... for months I had Physio but was then sent for a scan and found to have a really bad bulge on L1 S5 that needed operating on. I had a discectomy and decompression on my spine and was out of hospital in two days. Now I only get a slight twinge every now and then in my right leg.. Have the operation if you can, it's a really simple in/out operation nowadays and the scar is less than 2 inches.. ;)

Thanks for all that info everyone.

I'm surprised at how well I'm doing at the moment although I'm very aware of the pain which is still present despite the drug fuelled haze. I can sleep for England, which I'm guessing is courtesy of the Tramadol.
I sometimes feel a bit nauseous which I've known to be because of pain before but I can't decipher if it's the pain or the drugs now.

I might just have to suck it up and see Wainwrights, the idea of surgery scares me. I've lived with back pain for 18 years so far and I'd really like to manage it a good 20 years yet before doing anything drastic.