lower back pain

I've been dealing with similar issues for over a year now from the same cause. First I got a better (orthopedic) chair. Ahhhhh.... now I can sit for even longer!!! Ooops... but that means when I try to stand up I'm even more stiff than when I couldn't sit comfortably as long. Lesson learned - it's probably not a good idea to buy a more comfortable chair. Then, I started going to a chiropractor. Ahhh..... bliss! But that only lasted a few days at a time and I found myself only getting out of my comfy chair to go to bed or to the chiro. Then I discovered a hot water (37C) therapy pool that works wonders for muscle strain. I'm still using that 2-3 times/week for 30-45 mins/session. I really does help a lot to stretch in very warm water. Most recently I starting taking MSM for inflammation. It's the best thing yet. Completely natural and works wonders but you have to start slowly (I started with 2 900mg capsules/day) and work your way up to a therapeutic level - defined as that level which alleviates your pain. Also, it's not a cure. It won't cure your bad back - only getting out of your chair will do that. It will bring you relief and allow you to do things besides sitting in your chair.

http://www.amazon.com/Miracle-MSM-Natural-Solution-Pain/dp/0425172651

The best remedy for back pain is a daily routine of sit-ups and slow stretching. Good luck.

Rosborne, I can barely sit...forget sit-ups right now. It feels more like an inflammation than a damaged back, since the pain crept up only within the last month and I have been exercising regularly before it started, also had no similar issues before that I recall. I've been traveling and have gotten few minor colds over the last month... My ovaries are a bit sensitive right now, too, I have a sore throat as well...but the back is by far most prominent right now.

Maybe if my back was stronger i'd be less vulnerable to this, I'm sure.

I will definitely check out the MSM's.... wish I had a jaccuzi or at least a tub, I only have a shower corner. But the shawl wrapped around my lower back feels good. I'll keep it for a few days.

You're not preggers, are you? Hmmm...

If not, then don't just mask the symptoms, go and see what's really wrong with you. I had what you experienced for about 2 weeks and I had to walk really, really slowly and all hunched over. It is no picnic, for sure. I'd talk to the doc and a physio about it - that's unusual at your age, I'm thinking, unless you did something particular. In my case, I was reading all night, curled up on a couch. Normal, for me (can't put the book down), but in the morning, I was in agony. I thought I was just stiff, but oh no... pain, pain, pain. In the end, after two weeks, it worked itself out, but boy it wasn't pleasant.

I injured my lower back last summer while attempting to lift BBB up off the ground after a fall. I heard and felt a pop (what I think was a disc) at the time and was okay until a few hours later when I could barely get myself up out of bed. It took a few weeks and I was okay again, but now for the last year any slight bend in my back for more than a few minutes means I have to rest a few minutes before attempting it again. When I'm picking tomatoes and other veggies from the garden, I can only do it for a few minutes and then rest for a few minutes before doing more. If I push it, the muscles spasm for a few days. If I really push it and try lifting something heavy it goes out for several days.


All that is overture to me saying that the best remedy I've found so far is a heating pad and generic aspirin. Sometimes when the pain and spasms get really severe I'll resort to an old prescription of codeine and some of BBB's muscle relaxers.

One thing that I've also found particularly soothing for my back is one of those large inflatable exercise balls. It works on a similar principle as that Back2Life device you see on infomercials. Here's a photo of the back2life device:



It gently rocks your spine back and forth and side to side to stretch and loosen it. I use the exercise ball to mimic the same motion.

While laying on my bed, I prop my legs up on the stability ball like this and use it to make gentle motions that stretch and loosen up the spine and surrounding muscles. It helps relieve the spasms and the disc seems to slip back into place sooner than trying to just lay motionless in bed until it heals.




BBB has severe osteoarthritis in her lower back in the facet areas. She also has several vertebrae that have nearly compressed together. About the only thing that relieves her constant back pain is some sort of steroid being injected directly into that location.

I'll second Mame's suggestion to go get it checked out. Kidney problems sometimes present similar symptoms you describe. Since you've been traveling and drinking from multiple water sources, it wouldn't hurt to get checked out and eliminate the kidneys.

mame, it could be something similar actually - you know how you lie on the beach for hours...propped up on elbows....it could just be something stupid like that. let's hope. i will see a doctor.

b-flynet, that sounds muy painful. i have two friends who had discs operated on, both several times, as it tends to come back, and both have terrible recurring pain. it really limits their daily lives. no picnic indeed.

Yeah, listen... I had this situation with my right shoulder and upper arm for years - just thought it was a strained muscle but I never got enough time to let it heal. Pain! Then I finally went to a doctor, got the x-rays, ultrasound and arthogram - two complete tears in the suprasinasta or whatever it's called. It was a bigger problem than I thought. Doesn't hurt to get it checked out - they know what they're looking for and how to test it (range of motion, etc). Then you'll have peace of mind about that, at least.

I tend to wreck my body in bed, or getting out of it. No kidding. Would I were having fun each time that happened.

But - the first time I was missing seeing a curb and jolted down; have done that several times since due to peripheral vision matters. So, whenever I get back pain, it is always in that same place - and I seem to do it simply getting out of bed. I remember one time watering my rather large yard standing at an approximate 90 degree angle.

Yes, yes, I know, exercises. The one that makes most sense to me is that we shouldn't just sit at a computer stolid for hours. At the least, move the spine forward and back - upright not being the best position as is assumed, key being flexibility. I once had a link on this, but it whooshed into a computer crash. Also, there is much advice out there that we stand to work at computers. And I think Roger had a particular kind of chair/stool he thought was good.

I swear I sprained my thumb recently reading a thick book in bed..
oh, never mind.

On serious back injuries though, there are many pros and cons, mostly adamant. So far so good in my experience, perhaps not so serious, to keep moving. On the other hand, my cousin's son had major scaryshit back surgery and what I remember about it was that he shouldn't have moved.

But that doesn't sound like Dag's situation, per description. I'll bet dollars to donuts, Dag, you are in much better physical shape than the majority of us, re muscle support.

Anyway, yeh, see the doctor.

The person that can find out the cause of your pain instead of just trying to ease the pain is an Orthopedic surgeon who specializes in SPINES.

My orthopod injected my spine in six places in my discs (no surgery) and the next day, the pain was gone and I could stand up straight for the first time in months. It's been a year since he treated me and I remain much better.

BBB

I've always had backaches now and then, sweated them out by resting, or something, like not using it. Finally, the doc gave me a set of exercises to do that begin with (1) lying on your back w/small pillow under neck, pull your knees up and hold them against your chest with your hands, then prop up one knee placing ankle of the other leg against the other knee (as though your sitting as men do commonly) place your hand against the thigh and raise both legs off floor. (4) prop knees up with feet flat on floor and press your back against floor (4) lie on stomach and raise one leg straight up, then hold other leg up while on stomach.

Work up to doing 3 sets of these exercises 3 times daily, or as much as you can.

Everytime you feel a twinge in your back, do these exercises. At least it won't get worse and sometimes the pain goes away first time.

Sorry your back hurts. The one time I went to a doctor he gave me these exercises. I don't know if anyone can figure out what this means unless they get a drawing of how it's done.
Actually, if you did these exercises every day you might not hurt your back anymore.

i read the first few posts and stopped, they all sound better than what i'm about to say.

yoga! =D

i do exercise few times a week, but this started on a vacation. i think it has more to do with my cold, the wind by the sea, cold water etc. than weak back. maybe i would be less susceptible if my back was stronger, but i don't think lack of exercise is the cause in my case.

the heat therapy yesterday and overnight helped, it feels a bit looser this morning. also, my cold is getting better, which is probably helping, too.

Whatever the cause of your pain (nerve ligament or muscles) it wil not correct itself until the inflamation is reduced. You should go to a doctor and have it checked out. Its probable that Anti infalmatories will be prescribed. Nurofen does have some anti inflamatory action and may be useful until you can see a doctor.
There are specific excercises designed to strengthen you lower back muscles and you should get advice from a physiotherapist about those.
I also advise you not to ignore this. It does not result from you cold/flu.
The pain is telling you something dont ignore it

i've had a couple of bouts with this over the summer.
treatment -- advil, sports creme, and plenty o' rest.
am now very mindful of posture while sitting, and try not to sit for long periods of time if i can help it...

Dagmaraka, I had severe pain in my left shoulder and back, running all down my left arm.
The doctor spoke of "trigger points," but made no referrals. (I really need to find a different doc anyway.)
I wound up taking huge amounts of Excedrin Extra Strength tablets for a couple of months then started getting massages. The massages were heaven and over two months, the pain has almost disappeared. Now I'm thinking one massage a month should keep the pain away.

You've gotten good advice, but the most important is to see a doctor. You are very young and it would be silly to let it develop into what could be a serious condition.

Good luck.

Hmmm,. the colds you've been having make me worry (mother stuff). Again, you are too young to be getting a couple of colds in a month.

I'll send some chicken soup.

I'm familiar with that. Lower back pain (and back pain in general) can be debilitating. For me the biggest thing for resolving it and preventing it is stretching. But do it slowly and regularly. Exercise is good, but it's the stretching that really solves it in the long run. So you can forget the sit-ups and exercise for now and just do very slow stretching little bits at a time until your back muscles accept the release. Once your back gets better, continue the stretching daily forever, and you will find that you get far fewer back and neck problems. At least that's how it's been for me. You can add various exercises back in once your back feels better again.

This is Slovakia... I stopped at the doctor's this afternoon, but he left early..."for a meeting". Therefore I will get to see a doctor, an internist, tomorrow afternoon and god knows when I will get to see a specialist. Hopefully this week though... At least that is good about Slovakia, even if doctors leave during office hours as they please sometimes.
I got Voltaren from a pharmacist for pain for now- it's like Ibuprofen, more muscle specific, I guess.

I do have a fitness ball and do slow stretches, that helps tons. What sucks is that I do have to sit behind a computer and at meetings all days long. TOday I left work early, think I'll try sitting on the fitness ball for the rest of the day while I work on the computer. It's too low though....argh.

Read up on the info on this site to prepare for your appointment. It will help you help your doctor pinpoint the cause, diagnosis and treatment much quicker:

http://www.emedicinehealth.com/back_pain/article_em.htm