Back pain... advice?

[pstruck]

It seems to be no time at all since the last time I spent a week in agony with my back, but I am now suffering again. I obviously have a weakness and often it is the most routine of activities that sets it off: getting in/out of the car, putting on shoes, sleeping! It was fine last night, but then woke this morning, after a night on a slightly softer mattress than I'm used to, and yowch!!

So just what is the best way to deal with back pain? Do I rest it, or keep on the move? Is there anything I should be doing longer term to avoid further problems?

Being as back problems are one of the most common complaints and reasons for time off work, there must be other sufferers among us with a few words of wisdom.

( Half expecting some smutty remarks regarding vigorous night-time activities making matters worse! )

[little me]

Get yourself off to a Osteopath - they are miracle workers. I've had to go for the last 5 weeks and she cured my back problem as well as discovering I have stress problem in my neck and shoulders.
My intital consultation was £35 and £30 there after - well worth it for the relief!

HTH
Jane x

[planetdave]

Hang from a bar and take analgesics.

A BJ will help too

[Frik]

Exercise - strengthening your back can work wonders.

[voyds9]

Frik said:

Exercise - strengthening your back can work wonders.

^^wot he said
Also keep your back moving/stretching.

[scared but happy]

^^^and him

Correct! The best cure for backache now is to keep it on the move. Long gone are the days of lying on the floor or
having a board under your matress. (this does not mean lumping around large boxes).
Oh and BTW do NOT have your back stretched, as it will create more problems than it solves.

>> Edited by scared but happy on Monday 7th November 22:12

[cosmoschick]

A Chiropractic Clinic.

[superlightr]

As above post said go to an Osteopath .

I was very reluctant and suffered pack pain after a car accident not that long ago, put up with the pain (coz i iz ard) but then it was getting worse despite being fit and having a strong back via fitness.

Needless to say i came bouncing out after the first visit, and had a 2nd and whay hey Im almost fixed again! The bones had twisted and she reset the muscles ad leveled me out. It was fantastic. The relief was so good. Dont delay as the more things they will have to do to get back to the original cause. I was lucky as I knew what the cause was and where with no other problems.

Doit. doit doit doit doit.

[spicy]

I see an amazing osteopath in Falmouth (not sure where in the South West you are). I couldn't move my neck a few months ago and after one treatment I was 90% fixed and after the second treatment it was better than it had been for years. If you're nearby I can give you his name. He even loves cars!

[Boosted Ls1]

Spend a tenner and buy a book called 'Treat your own back' by Robin McKenzie, ISBN 0-9598049-2-7.

Boosted.

[dern]

voyds9 said:

Frik said: Exercise - strengthening your back can work wonders. ^^wot he said Also keep your back moving/stretching.

I went to a physio with mine and she gave me a few simple exercises to do. After a year of mind buggering pain I started to do the exercises and only a week later nearly all the pain had gone. I did the exercises on a daily basis initially and now do them less regularly but regularly none the less and I've never had a problem since.

Prior to this I went to a couple of osteopaths who gave me heat messages and told me to keep coming back for them - complete waste of time. Exercise is the key.

Good luck,

Mark

>> Edited by dern on Monday 7th November 22:30

[Ace-T]

dern said:

voyds9 said: Frik said: Exercise - strengthening your back can work wonders. ^^wot he said Also keep your back moving/stretching. I went to a physio with mine and she gave me a few simple exercises to do. After a year of mind buggering pain I started to do the exercises and only a week later nearly all the pain had gone. I did the exercises on a daily basis initially and now do them less regularly but regularly none the less and I've never had a problem since. Prior to this I went to a couple of osteopaths who gave me heat messages and told me to keep coming back for them - complete waste of time. Exercise is the key. Good luck, Mark >> Edited by dern on Monday 7th November 22:30

Can testify to the exercise thing also , I have now joined a gym to make sure it does not happen again. The trick is to do the exercises no matter how much pain you are in, it soon lessens. Take drugs for the pain in the acute stage (couple of days) and then get exercising. Specific exercises from a physio to strengthen your core muscles and general exercising for keeping the spine moving. Works wonders.

Ace-T

[Pigeon]

Gazboy said:

although I must say, bungee jumping out of a helicopter is more appealing than a night with Kylie and Dannii and a tub of Hagan Daz-

Well, you could have Kylie and Dannii lying in the tub of Hagan Daz, and have the helicopter hover over it at just the right height, while you bounce up and down on the end of the bungee cord...

[pstruck]

Have to admit, I'm a bit of a lazy git on the exercise front. Definately room for improvement there!

My last bout of pain had me down to a local chiropractor for a few sessions. This involved a little bit of manipulation (neck crunching, etc) and lots of talk about changing old habits and lifestyle to protect my back.

So what is the difference between a chiropractor and an osteopath?

Thanks for the suggestions/advice so far.

[pstruck]

Pigeon said:

Well, you could have Kylie and Dannii lying in the tub of Hagan Daz, and have the helicopter hover over it at just the right height, while you bounce up and down on the end of the bungee cord...

Willing to give that 'technique' a try! It'd certainly take my mind off the pain for a while!

[GKP]

Go and see a chiropractor. In the meantime don't use heat on the affected area. The only way to reduce the inflammation will be to use cold. A bag of frozen peas (etc) wrapped in a tea towel is needed - 10 mins on, 20 mins off and repeat.

[EmmaP]

Get a physiotherapist or ostepath to diagnose the cause of the problem first. As an almost life-long sufferer, I have found that developing very strong abdominal muscles is a massive help as they support the lower back. You also need to stengthen your back muscles and work on achieving good posture. Building the strength of my quadriceps has enabled me to lift heavy weights without putting an additional strain on my back as the legs take most of the effort out of lifting.

A good firm bed is also a sound investment. My back can crucify me after one night on a soft mattress. Also avoid taking corners like a loon because that is how I put my back out earlier this year after my first year of back free pain in a very, very long time. All is good now though!

[EmmaP]

Ace-T said:

I have now joined a gym

Ace-T said:

strengthen your core muscles and general exercising for keeping the spine moving. Works wonders.

Keep mobile, and take anti-inflamatory tablets. I would caution against any excercise that is going to jar or put pressure on the back if you have an injury. Gentle walking, if you are in severe pain or have real mobility issues, will help to prevent it seizing up and keep the back mobile.

Some osteopaths are useless, that is true. If they can diagnose the cause then you will be able to prevent it re-occuring - hopefully!



>> Edited by EmmaP on Tuesday 8th November 01:11

[allnighter]

I suffer the same problems , and i find that NUROFEN back pain SR capsules( available at any chemist) work wonders.
The trouble with back pain is when it happens you tense up and that in turn causes more pain. these anti-infalammatory tablets help kill the opain , then you relax your muscles and feel almost no pain at all.
Pop down to the chemist and get some and make sure it's NUROFEN BACK PAIN , not any other NUROFEN.
wish you a good recovery

Barry

[ladysmallwonder]

A brilliant book called "Treat your own back" by Robin McKenzie. It has some excellent advice and exercises in there. Hubby was off sick for 10 weeks with a bad back...went for physio...nothing. I worked as medical secretary and one of my own GPs recommended this book. I toddled off and got it and it's excellent. Okay, so his back isn't perfect, but it's improved about 70% since doing the exercises. Half of the battle is staying mobile. Don't rely too heavily on painkillers if you can help it as it masks the pain, you do more, and end up overdoing it. Just a thought.

Angela
xx