A few weeks ago I woke up with a very bad back pain and a leg that refused to lift. At the time I thought I had strained my back the previous day when I dragged myself to the pharmacy (my mobility wasn't great before due to ms). Over the next couple of weeks I kept telling myself my back and leg would sort themselves out, they didn't. So I took myself to my GP. She was very nice and was suitably concerned as she poked and proved me. She said she didn't know if it was a relapse or simply a back, possibly pinched nerve, issue. She advised me to attend A&E which I thought was a tad excessive. I emailed my MS Nurse to advise her what was going on, she called me back and told me not to go to the A&E but that she also couldn't say if it was a relapse or something else. She said she would email my GP to have them prescribe me something for the pain and to do some tests to make sure I didn't have some sort of infection and then possibly put me on steroids to aid my recovery. Later, another GP called me. I went through everything again with her. She had read the email and wanted to put me on steroids. I declined telling her what my nurse had said, and that really I wNted something for the pain while I'm waiting for test results. The GP really didn't want to give me anything but in the end she begrudgingly prescribed me cocodomol which, if this is nerve pain and not muscle pain, probably won't help much. Through all of this, which took place over the last two days my neurologist was unreachable by anyone in his no doubt air conditioned ivory tower. Now I am waiting to see my MS nurse next week and by then we might know if it is or isn't a relapse, or we might not. Hey ho. Playing healthcare professional ping pong is frustrating, especially in this heat! I hope all my fellow UK people are coping ok. It seems a bit cooler today.