Have friend with excruciating pain...?!
Question: My best friend has had 4 herniated discs before and has been okay for the last three years. She thinks she ruptured another disc last night and no doctor can see her for at least 24 hours. She is in so much pain that she can hardly get out of bed to go to the bathroom and is having sciatica every time she moves and numbness in both legs. BUT she told me that if she doesn't move at all, she feels no pain. Should she go to the ER since no one else can see her today or should she wait until tommorow? And what are some treatments she can do in the meanwhile for her pain?
Answers: My best friend has had 4 herniated discs before and has been okay for the last three years. She thinks she ruptured another disc last night and no doctor can see her for at least 24 hours. She is in so much pain that she can hardly get out of bed to go to the bathroom and is having sciatica every time she moves and numbness in both legs. BUT she told me that if she doesn't move at all, she feels no pain. Should she go to the ER since no one else can see her today or should she wait until tommorow? And what are some treatments she can do in the meanwhile for her pain?
The ER won't be able to do anything except maybe provide pain medication. If the pain is unbearable, then a trip to the ER may be worthwhile. Another option is to call the office of the doc she is visiting tomorrow and ask them if they could send to the pharmacy a pain med prescription with just enough pills to get through tomorrow.