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My younger brother is screaming in pain... (lemmygrad.ml)

submitted 2 days ago by Makan@lemmygrad.ml to c/comradeship@lemmygrad.ml

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I would like to help him but I don't know what to do...

His screams echo through the house due to a lower back muscle spasm that he got recently, likely due to a herniated disc in his spine or something. He's never gone through this before, I think. He's almost 26, but our family has a history of back problems (and heart problems) for whatever reason. Don't know if that could mean something.

I am a lot older than him and have never had back trouble, EVER. But how can my younger brother have such immense pain in his mid-twenties? I thought back problems only grew more acute later on, such as in your 40s or 50s? I believe we will at least have the x-ray results soon.

I live in Virginia and am wondering if there is a better place nearby to take him than just the Inova hospital around around here. He is being taken right now to the hospital nearby.

His screams trigger flashbacks and traumatic thoughts and memories in my head (doesn't help that I have misophonia). So yeah, fun, fun, fun...

Anyway, let me know what you think because I could use some suggestions.

Just want to know how I can help and what I can do.

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[–] gnuthing@lemmygrad.ml 5 points 1 day ago (1 children)

I'm sorry to hear about your brother's pain. I have a herniated disk in my neck that is from an injury I got in my 30s. If it's the disk, he might end up needing an MRI as well. Sometimes they want physical therapy tried before doing an MRI. To me the herniated disk feels different from something like muscle pain because it has like electrical pulses, it's very distinct feeling.

My treatment started out with prednisone, then about 8 years ago I was able to get physical therapy. Since then, any time I have a flare up, I consume large amounts of cherries, fresh or frozen are best, like 1-2 cups a day. Sweet cherries work as a natural COX-2 inhibitor similar to ibuprofen. This is why cherries are used to treat gout and arthritis. I generally feel relief at day 2 but I eat them for a full 10 days just like I would with prednisone. I do not know of any negative side effects, it's something he could try while waiting for the Dr.

It might be a pulled muscle instead of a herniated disk. With a herniated disk ice can help reduce inflammation, but for muscle spasms heat is often more relieving and ice can actually trigger a spasm. Hot baths with epsom salt can help relieve muscle pain. Aspercreme has an OTC lidocaine cream that can help muscle pain as well

I hope your brother feels better soon!

[–] Makan@lemmygrad.ml 1 points 1 day ago (1 children)

Wow, like an electric pulse, eh? Sounds excruciating.

[–] gnuthing@lemmygrad.ml 3 points 1 day ago (1 children)

unpleasent for sure, but not the worst I've had and it is localized to a single nerve

[–] Makan@lemmygrad.ml 1 points 1 day ago

Gotcha.