Discussion
This morning I bent down to pick something up and immediately felt something snap in my lower back.
I appreciate (as my wife has helpfully pointed out) that the ultimate reason this has happened is because I’ve put on weight and have no core strength. When the pain subsides I intend to eat less, move more and work on my core. However this doesn’t help right now.
Any tips to lessen the pain? I’ve been lying in the floor most of the day and taking copious amounts of pain killers which aren’t really helping. What else can I do? Is heat or a cold compress best?
Thanks in advance.
I appreciate (as my wife has helpfully pointed out) that the ultimate reason this has happened is because I’ve put on weight and have no core strength. When the pain subsides I intend to eat less, move more and work on my core. However this doesn’t help right now.
Any tips to lessen the pain? I’ve been lying in the floor most of the day and taking copious amounts of pain killers which aren’t really helping. What else can I do? Is heat or a cold compress best?
Thanks in advance.
I've used a back support to alleviate an acute specific instance of pain. It must not be overused as it will make the underlying problem worse. Chronic pain needs something else.
I've also used a TENS machine. This type: https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Med-Fit-1-Dual-Channel-...
Not a cure, just pain relief.
I went to a sports physio. I'd already tried all sorts of alternative therapies, but the sports physio was a different level. Much is left up to you to follow instructions, as it seems there's little that can be done for you.
Best of luck.
I've also used a TENS machine. This type: https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Med-Fit-1-Dual-Channel-...
Not a cure, just pain relief.
I went to a sports physio. I'd already tried all sorts of alternative therapies, but the sports physio was a different level. Much is left up to you to follow instructions, as it seems there's little that can be done for you.
Best of luck.
Try to relax. I know that sounds like dumb advice when you're in agony, but the more it hurts the more you tense up, and the more you tense up, the more it hurts. Your body will naturally try to tense to protect the injury. The tension will also make you stressed, which makes you more tense, which is cyclical until you're in agony. Try to consciously counter the tension. A calm mind will really help. It might even be the only thing that helps if your GP can't find the right kind of pain blocker.
Meditate. Breathe. And, don't laugh, hug. Get a loved one to just snuggle in and stroke your head or something. It's relaxing on a primal level somehow. Reach for the ocean noises, whale song, chillout albums. Whatever relaxing sounds and music works for you.
As for drugs, there's know way of knowing which ones will work without some professional guesswork and prescription pot-luck. Took weeks of different trials for me. If it's muscular, probably opioides. If it's a trapped nerve, they won't work, but nerve blockers might. Your GP will advise. Regardless, pop whatever anti-inflammatories you can for now, e.g ibuprofen. It'll help the healing process, but probably not the pain I'm afraid.
I had a hell of time of it for years, but you're correct that you will need core strength to prevent re-occurrence. Nothing else really makes a difference except exercise and staying strong in the long term. I had a couple of re-ouches just as things were getting better and I forgot to protect the injury, so don't get complacent down the line. Just because it doesn't hurt any more, doesn't mean it's not about to!
Good luck! It's miserable, but you'll get there.
Meditate. Breathe. And, don't laugh, hug. Get a loved one to just snuggle in and stroke your head or something. It's relaxing on a primal level somehow. Reach for the ocean noises, whale song, chillout albums. Whatever relaxing sounds and music works for you.
As for drugs, there's know way of knowing which ones will work without some professional guesswork and prescription pot-luck. Took weeks of different trials for me. If it's muscular, probably opioides. If it's a trapped nerve, they won't work, but nerve blockers might. Your GP will advise. Regardless, pop whatever anti-inflammatories you can for now, e.g ibuprofen. It'll help the healing process, but probably not the pain I'm afraid.
I had a hell of time of it for years, but you're correct that you will need core strength to prevent re-occurrence. Nothing else really makes a difference except exercise and staying strong in the long term. I had a couple of re-ouches just as things were getting better and I forgot to protect the injury, so don't get complacent down the line. Just because it doesn't hurt any more, doesn't mean it's not about to!
Good luck! It's miserable, but you'll get there.
In my early 60s, I had a muscle spasm in the back. Absolute agony. Crawling on all fours, unable to lie down or sit up for any period. If I dosed up to the eyeballs, all I did was put off the pain. I went for an MRI and they discovered a couple of problems, one of which was down to cycling bent forwards. I ground two vertebrae (L5?) together. If the pain came, I got back on the bike and it went, but I was just making the pain worse.
My physio told me I cycled, but with my thighs anyone could guess that. She said that I cycled off road, but that’s popular round my way. And rounded it off by saying that I was too macho to have suspension. Three out of three; you’ve got to think that proves something.
If you don't know what's wrong with you, you can do more harm than good with your own cures, although, of course, core strength is an essential.
My sports physio, but in her NHS guise, was magic. With the MRI scans (I had a couple) in front of her she could focus on particulars and ensure that I did not exacerbate my problems.
I’d gone through a stage where I had pain every day for about 2 years. Sometimes it wasn't too bad. After the exercises, posture and such, it's no longer chronic. I go weeks, on occasion months, without debilitating pain. I'm 'better' now than five years ago. But it is degenerative.
Until you know what is specific to your back, you can't really treat it apart from generally. I was given exercises and treatment by as osteopath, and when I told my doctor my exercises, he told me to stop at once. He seemed visibly shaken. This despite a back X-ray by the osteopath. Yet others swear by them. My physio was quite vociferous about the treatment I was getting, which included a neck twist. I know there's a lot of rivalry between the two camps, but I read up on the neck twist. Not good reading. Felt good after though.
Get an accurate diagnosis. It might be nothing. It might be temporary. But you might make it worse.
My physio told me I cycled, but with my thighs anyone could guess that. She said that I cycled off road, but that’s popular round my way. And rounded it off by saying that I was too macho to have suspension. Three out of three; you’ve got to think that proves something.
If you don't know what's wrong with you, you can do more harm than good with your own cures, although, of course, core strength is an essential.
My sports physio, but in her NHS guise, was magic. With the MRI scans (I had a couple) in front of her she could focus on particulars and ensure that I did not exacerbate my problems.
I’d gone through a stage where I had pain every day for about 2 years. Sometimes it wasn't too bad. After the exercises, posture and such, it's no longer chronic. I go weeks, on occasion months, without debilitating pain. I'm 'better' now than five years ago. But it is degenerative.
Until you know what is specific to your back, you can't really treat it apart from generally. I was given exercises and treatment by as osteopath, and when I told my doctor my exercises, he told me to stop at once. He seemed visibly shaken. This despite a back X-ray by the osteopath. Yet others swear by them. My physio was quite vociferous about the treatment I was getting, which included a neck twist. I know there's a lot of rivalry between the two camps, but I read up on the neck twist. Not good reading. Felt good after though.
Get an accurate diagnosis. It might be nothing. It might be temporary. But you might make it worse.
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