Tinkerbell, I know all about that being told to rest and it just making things worse! I just went downhill so fast it was unbelievable. Was spending all day every day in a recliner, and taking unbelievable amounts of diazepam to try and stop spasms. Only started coming right when I decided it had to be some kind of arthritis rather than chronic fatigue or fibromyalgia or functional neurological symptoms and started taking regular full dose NSAIDs.
So, not to hijack the original post, my advice still is: deal with the inflammation, use muscle relaxants at least temporarily, heat or ice as well, and if you need walking aids like crutches or a zimmer temporarily use that too, but definitely don't stay immobile.
