back attack

[Rÿcher]

I've had a bad back since my teens. I threw it out again recently probably shoveling snow and I had a really bad spasm today. It hurt like a mofo and still does. I can barely walk or stand from a seated position.

Took a couple vicodin. Hope it helps. I wish the chiropractor would actually do something intensive instead of a 2 minute "*crack*, you're done. See you next week. That'll be $120." Gimme a shot of cortisone or something. Make sure a nerve isn't being pinched. I'm tired of it constantly going out.

 

[SPOCKED]

Are you Dr. House??

 

[gh4chiefs]

Have you had a MRI on your back? Sounds suspiciously like what I had, a herniated disc. The Doc took that sucker out, been a LOT better ever since.

 

[jamestyler]

Have you thought of acupuncture?

I have some severe back problems and it's helped me a great deal. I never considered it until the boss told me his sister would do it for free, and the free has also helped my wallet.

 

[Rÿcher]

Now this is weird:

I picked up Olivia from her afternoon nap and somehow the weight of her bearing on the non pain side provided partial relief and now I'm able to walk around without hobbling or shuffling but getting up from sitting still takes some work.

I'd call my doctor but he's out for the weekend.

 

[JNG]

I wish the chiropractor would actually do something intensive instead of a 2 minute "*crack*, you're done. See you next week. That'll be $120." Gimme a shot of cortisone or something. Make sure a nerve isn't being pinched. I'm tired of it constantly going out.

Have you considered seeing an actual doctor? Those suggestions of yours are much more the bailiwick of, you know, real doctors.

Or perhaps you could talk to an astrologer about your back, or a faith healer. This ought to be at least as effective as the chiropractor or other forms of unscientific "alternative medicine."

 

[JonathonWally]

I've had a bad back since my teens. I threw it out again recently probably shoveling snow and I had a really bad spasm today. It hurt like a mofo and still does. I can barely walk or stand from a seated position.

Took a couple vicodin. Hope it helps. I wish the chiropractor would actually do something intensive instead of a 2 minute "*crack*, you're done. See you next week. That'll be $120." Gimme a shot of cortisone or something. Make sure a nerve isn't being pinched. I'm tired of it constantly going out.

How are the arches on your feet? When you walk and your heels hit the ground the wrong way it screwed with your knees and your back. Try not to go barefoot for now, even though you're inside, try to keep a pair of shoes on with decent support to cushion impact.

 

[Rÿcher]

Osteologist or something?

"Osteologist"? Is that even a practice?

 

[Rÿcher]

How are the arches on your feet? When you walk and your heels hit the ground the wrong way it screwed with your knees and your back. Try not to go barefoot for now, even though you're inside, try to keep a pair of shoes on with decent support to cushion impact.

no idea. I do have a nice pair of running shoes that I can try. Thanks.

Initially happened in the most f'ed up way too. When I was a teenager, I learned how to attract bats by trowing rocks up in the air and bats came swooping in thinking the rocks were mots or something. Apparently I threw one wrong and I felt it. It was all down hill from there.

 

[Noname Given]

Now this is weird:

I picked up Olivia from her afternoon nap and somehow the weight of her bearing on the non pain side provided partial relief and now I'm able to walk around without hobbling or shuffling but getting up from sitting still takes some work.

I'd call my doctor but he's out for the weekend.

Sounds like you might have some spinal alignment issues. I threw my back out badly two years ago, and it took 16 weeks and 23 PT sessions to recover to the point where I could even start walking again. (The doctor had me on complete 100% bed rest for 3 full weeks and that was sheer hell). But I also tried acupuncture and it helped GREATLY (I continued it oce a week for 4 months); along with a twice a week treatment of pelvic traction (they hook you up to a device that stretches and uncompresses and re-aligns your spuine for about 20 minutes per treatment).

Once I was back on my feet - the therapist gave me a 20 minute regimen of various exercises to maintain back stregnth and flexibility - and I now do it religiously every morning.

End result - I went from massive/constant pain for 7 years (leading up to the incident that finally threw it out as I described above - I have a high pain tolerence, and people who also had bad backs were telling me 'it's normal as you get older; and just deal with it, I do...'); to today where I walk pretty much pain free (the occassional twinge if I don't watch how I lift or if I spend a lot of time on my feet).

Everyone thought I had slipped a disc when if fact it was just years of sleeping on one side, and not really exerciseing to keep in shape.

Seriously go see your actual doctor,and get some x-rays (or an MRI if your insurance will cover it); and find out what's going on. I wish I hadn't waited 7 years - and had to endure a major incident with total bed rest for a long period. It's not relaxing, and you don't want to experience that ever. It's the one memory that keeps me doing the exercise regimin every day.

Also, I found out that sitting puts the most strain on your lower back, standing is next, and lying prone puts the least strain. Also, if you have a habit of sleping on your right or left side; start trying to retrain yourself to just sleep prone on your back.

 

[Rÿcher]

awesome. That's the best advice I've gotten in a long time regarding medicine. Thanks so much. Fortunately with my disability, I have some pretty heavy-duty insurance but I have to jump through some hoops to get some tests like MRIs and whatnot. Be worth it in the end methinks. Traction and PT sounds like just what I need.

I can't fall asleep on my back. I usually fall asleep on my front with my head cocked to one side or the other or in the fetal position. Strange when I wake up, I'm usually on my back.

 

[Rÿcher]

Osteologist or something?

"Osteologist"? Is that even a practice?

Orthopedic doctor.

Duh!

 

[trampledamage]

Osteologist or something?

"Osteologist"? Is that even a practice?

Orthopedic doctor.

Duh!

LOL! yeah, I was just going to say I know them as "Osteopaths" but they are doctors who specialise in bones

 

[Rÿcher]

Took a couple Tylenol 3's last night. Slept like a rock. Got up this morning able to stand up without wincing. I'd say it's about 60% better today.

 

[GMac]

Could well be a case of something not quite in alignment somewhere - I had years of grief with mine (stiffness, aches, spasms - the works) and it turned out to be due to a pelvic tilt that resulted from a broken leg I suffered in my early teens. I'd been walking around with one leg more than an inch shorter than the other for 20+ years and that had caused my spine to be out of alignment on one side (compressed vertebrae and a bulging disc). Once the chiropractor I went to for treatment spotted it, I was referred to a specialist by my GP inside a month, was measured for orthotic shoes soon after that and have been right as rain ever since. Makes buying shoes a bitch as I can only wear certain types (basically anything with thin soles is out, as are trainers) but it's worth it to get rid of the other symptoms (and it's saved me from likely hip replacement surgery by the time I'm 50).

GM

 

[Gertch]

If that's all your Chiro is doing, find another. Mine orders x-rays when need be and never just cracks. You might want to ask others who they see and how they like there's.

 

[Mr Awe]

I used to work in a lab that did spinal research, back pain included. There is no significant difference in pain relief for chiropractic care, surgery, or rest. So, if the chiro is, in fact, not working for you, stop going and just give your back a rest, try a warm tub.