Back problems ~ any advice?

[K'Ehleyr]

I hurt my back 10 years ago at work by stupidly ignoring what everyone knows about manual handling and throwing heavy boxes out of a van too quickly. I think the official Dr's diagnosis at the time was 'yes you've pulled something'. A huge help
It re-occurs on occasion and this time the pain is shooting from my lower back upwards to my shoulders and making my arms tingle, instead of down my legs as before. My Dr's surgery is so crap I cannot get an appointment until Weds. Until then, and the supply of decent painkillers and relaxants, I am doomed to walk like a robot.
I do pilates to keep supple and am very aware of the importance of good posture, but I think this was sparked by walking around London for a day in heels last week (I don't care ~ it was my birthday and I'd do it again!)

Does anyone else suffer from a persistant back problem and what do you do to help it?

 

[John Clark]

More than I'd like I'm afraid. I originally damaged it years ago. It's usually only a bother if my back gets cold

I don't have much in the way of advice though. I usually just put on some painkiller gel, try to sit perfectly straight and move as little as possible.

 

[gturner]

My L5 vertabra has slide down and forward, so my lower back can easily go out.

I believe we have a chiropractor on the board (Zachary Smith, perhaps?)

 

[Kestra]

My lower back decided to freak out several years ago for no apparent reason at all, and since then I have been through a world of pain that comes and goes with annoying randomness.

I actually got an MRI done before my wedding as the pain was affecting my mobility to a frightening degree, but none of the "solutions" presented really appealed to me and my injury isn't such that it warrants surgery, nor would I want it.

I went to physical therapy for awhile which helped, but I couldn't keep doing that forever. I practice the exercises they showed me, I do yoga at home, and I am trying to develop and strengthen both my ab and back muscles. Ultimately, I think that's my best chance at relieving pain.

I do take the occasional painkillers but I loathe taking medicine so it's very limited. I think the most important thing is prevention. I keep very good posture, I try to to choose seats that I know will support my back better when available, and I am careful and conservative in lifting heavy things. I believe in staying mobile and active as much as possible.

 

[K'Ehleyr]

More than I'd like I'm afraid. I originally damaged it years ago. It's usually only a bother if my back gets cold

I don't have much in the way of advice though. I usually just put on some painkiller gel, try to sit perfectly straight and move as little as possible.

I empathise with your pain.
I've got the painkiller gel, which I find works well and also tiger balm which is great too. I've been advised to exercise it though and not stay still too much I think this is the thing about back problems ~ there does not seem to be an answer.

My L5 vertabra has slide down and forward, so my lower back can easily go out.

I believe we have a chiropractor on the board (Zachary Smith, perhaps?)

Thanks gt, Hopefully he will see this

ETA reply to Kestra. I think you're totally right with keeping up the exercises and agree with the 'randomness!'. I should do more ab work ~ they are, obviously, the "front of your back" (that does make sense doesn't it?) and need strengthening too keep a healthy back.
Oh it's just a pain in the ass...

 

[MANT!]

Fell out of a B-52 onto the ramp when I was in my 20s...nothing (not even the base quacks) helped until my friend's wife (a very small Vietnamese lady) treated me by carefully walking on my back...apparently this is common practice in Vietnam...no major issues since...only minor ones such as sometimes a dull pain if I sit too long..

 

[Kestra]

ETA reply to Kestra. I think you're totally right with keeping up the exercises and agree with the 'randomness!'. I should do more ab work ~ they are, obviously, the "front of your back" (that does make sense doesn't it?) and need strengthening too keep a healthy back.
Oh it's just a pain in the ass...

Abs can make a huge difference with things like posture as well. I know it's annoying, but I'd rather exercise than deal with this type of pain my whole life, at least at this intensity.

When it's really bad I take advil but honestly the only thing that takes any significant amount of pain away is a muscle relaxant. Of course it's a pretty strong drug and makes me incredibly loopy so I might be pain-free for a short time, but I'm totally unable to be productive!

I also don't want to rely on medicine for something like this that's chronic, at least as much as I can help. So yeah, stick with the pilates, do some ab work, maybe look into yoga. Yoga can often help relieve some of the pain, though I still have to be careful when attempting some of it.

 

[John Clark]

I empathise with your pain.
I've got the painkiller gel, which I find works well and also tiger balm which is great too. I've been advised to exercise it though and not stay still too much I think this is the thing about back problems ~ there does not seem to be an answer.

.

I was thinking more of while I'm at work, the chairs are supposed to be fairly decent, but if my back is bad, they seem completely hopeless and I can't use the back at all.

Exercising while it's bad seems to jar things from time to time. (Though most of my exercise tends to be jogging or sit ups. Those may not be the best types of exercise in this case)

 

[Misfit Toy]

This resolved my back issues, but I don't really recommend it.

 

[gturner]

Fell out of a B-52 onto the ramp when I was in my 20s...nothing (not even the base quacks) helped until my friend's wife (a very small Vietnamese lady) treated me by carefully walking on my back...apparently this is common practice in Vietnam...no major issues since...only minor ones such as sometimes a dull pain if I sit too long..

Dude, you're supposed to use a parachute.

 

[Tan Ru]

Chiropractic-assist and an inversion table.

Fixed all my lower back issues as well as put the curve back into my neck.

No back surgery for me! Never, ever............

 

[Udat]

I`ve hurt my back at gym today.

 

[Holdfast]

It re-occurs on occasion and this time the pain is shooting from my lower back upwards to my shoulders and making my arms tingle, instead of down my legs as before.

If it was me in that sort of pain, I'd raise whatever merry hell was required to adequately diagnose just where the nerve compression was, and then to have a proper consultation as to my options, even if I decided to do nothing about it afterwards.

 

[Kirby]

I injured my back and neck in a car accident 12 years ago and I'd highly recommend a chiropractor to correct anything that is out of alignment, and a good deep tissue massage will work your muscles and open up any knots you've developed.
I go to a chiropractor about once a month, get a massage every couple of months. This is down from nearly weekly appointments many years ago.

I had a doctor tell me to "take 5 or 6 Ibuproffen tablets 3 times a day, that'll fix it." Unfortunately the recommended dosage is 1 tablet and all that stuff does is mask the symptoms, it won't cure the problem. It'll also damage your liver if you take too much of the stuff.

Alternating ice and heat and painkiller gels are the best to take care of it in the short run, but if it persists, you need to deal with the root of the problem.

 

[trampledamage]

ETA reply to Kestra. I think you're totally right with keeping up the exercises and agree with the 'randomness!'. I should do more ab work ~ they are, obviously, the "front of your back" (that does make sense doesn't it?) and need strengthening too keep a healthy back.
Oh it's just a pain in the ass...

Be careful which ab exercises you do - sit-ups actually damage your back.

When I badly strained my back the doctor told me to do these exercises to stretch and strengthen it:

Lie on your back, pull up one leg (bent at the knee) to your chest, hold it for a count of 20, repeat with the other, then do both legs.

Then with both arms stretched out, lift one leg and bring it over to the other side of your body - rest it with your knee on the ground underneath your other arm (does that make sense?), hold for 20. Repeat with other leg.

Only go as far as it doesn't hurt.

 

[MANT!]

Fell out of a B-52 onto the ramp when I was in my 20s...nothing (not even the base quacks) helped until my friend's wife (a very small Vietnamese lady) treated me by carefully walking on my back...apparently this is common practice in Vietnam...no major issues since...only minor ones such as sometimes a dull pain if I sit too long..

Dude, you're supposed to use a parachute.

Not when the A/C's on the ground..

The fall was from the upper deck to the lower deck, then out the belly hatch onto the concrete..I remember my buddy looking out the hatch, and suppressing his laughter as he asked if I was OK..

 

[K'Ehleyr]

Fell out of a B-52 onto the ramp when I was in my 20s...nothing (not even the base quacks) helped until my friend's wife (a very small Vietnamese lady) treated me by carefully walking on my back...apparently this is common practice in Vietnam...no major issues since...only minor ones such as sometimes a dull pain if I sit too long..

I have heard of this and can actually understand how it could work.
But if you'll pardon my 'titter', if you know, or anyone else is familiar with Alan Bennett's (an English writer) 'Miss Fozzard Finds Her Feet' you will understand why I find it amusing ~
Basically it's a story of a middle aged woman who goes to a new chiropodist who, instead of charging her, ends up paying her to walk on his back with different shoes on for his pleasure rather than her pain relief!

...When it's really bad I take advil but honestly the only thing that takes any significant amount of pain away is a muscle relaxant. Of course it's a pretty strong drug and makes me incredibly loopy so I might be pain-free for a short time, but I'm totally unable to be productive!...

Good advice, I intend to stick to the exercise ~ well the pilates and will look into yoga. Also I'm on my feet all day with my job so am pretty active.
But what I feel I need at the moment is the muscle relaxants as I'm tensing up in different parts of my body. I need to go floppy! ~ Hopefully not in the middle of service

I empathise with your pain.
I've got the painkiller gel, which I find works well and also tiger balm which is great too. I've been advised to exercise it though and not stay still too much I think this is the thing about back problems ~ there does not seem to be an answer.

.

I was thinking more of while I'm at work, the chairs are supposed to be fairly decent, but if my back is bad, they seem completely hopeless and I can't use the back at all.

Exercising while it's bad seems to jar things from time to time. (Though most of my exercise tends to be jogging or sit ups. Those may not be the best types of exercise in this case)

Your company has a responsibilty to provide you with a comfortable working environment. Talk to HR and explain your needs and if nothing gets done tell them you'll sue them
And I'm talking gentle exercise ~ yoga, pilates, stretching, not running

This resolved my back issues, but I don't really recommend it.

Oh my! Ooch Did it work though?

Fell out of a B-52 onto the ramp when I was in my 20s...nothing (not even the base quacks) helped until my friend's wife (a very small Vietnamese lady) treated me by carefully walking on my back...apparently this is common practice in Vietnam...no major issues since...only minor ones such as sometimes a dull pain if I sit too long..

Dude, you're supposed to use a parachute.

Sometimes we really should listen to health and safety advice

It re-occurs on occasion and this time the pain is shooting from my lower back upwards to my shoulders and making my arms tingle, instead of down my legs as before.

If it was me in that sort of pain, I'd raise whatever merry hell was required to adequately diagnose just where the nerve compression was, and then to have a proper consultation as to my options, even if I decided to do nothing about it afterwards.

That's the thing with back pain ~ no-one wants to get involved. It could be nerve damage, muscle damage or 'just a twinge'. It is the worse thing to try and get an answer for. Unless, or course, you're Misfit Toy and to be honest I'd rather take the pills than that.

I injured my back and neck in a car accident 12 years ago and I'd highly recommend a chiropractor to correct anything that is out of alignment, and a good deep tissue massage will work your muscles and open up any knots you've developed.
I go to a chiropractor about once a month, get a massage every couple of months. This is down from nearly weekly appointments many years ago.

I had a doctor tell me to "take 5 or 6 Ibuproffen tablets 3 times a day, that'll fix it." Unfortunately the recommended dosage is 1 tablet and all that stuff does is mask the symptoms, it won't cure the problem. It'll also damage your liver if you take too much of the stuff.

Alternating ice and heat and painkiller gels are the best to take care of it in the short run, but if it persists, you need to deal with the root of the problem.

Crickey 5 or 6 ibuprof 3 times a day? I'm limiting myself to 2, 4 times a day ~ they make me feel sick! The heat rubs work for me but not the freeze ones in a tin. Plus Man has to rub the tiger balm onto me, which is nice, but then again reminds me that I'm not going to have sex for a while Sorry if that's TMI

I'm hoping to get properly 'pilled up' Wednesday as we tried to get cover for me at work for a couple of days so I could recuperate but to no avail so I'm going to have to be a brave soldier and battle on, my name sake would

 

[K'Ehleyr]

ETA reply to Kestra. I think you're totally right with keeping up the exercises and agree with the 'randomness!'. I should do more ab work ~ they are, obviously, the "front of your back" (that does make sense doesn't it?) and need strengthening too keep a healthy back.
Oh it's just a pain in the ass...

Be careful which ab exercises you do - sit-ups actually damage your back.

When I badly strained my back the doctor told me to do these exercises to stretch and strengthen it:

Lie on your back, pull up one leg (bent at the knee) to your chest, hold it for a count of 20, repeat with the other, then do both legs.

Then with both arms stretched out, lift one leg and bring it over to the other side of your body - rest it with your knee on the ground underneath your other arm (does that make sense?), hold for 20. Repeat with other leg.

Only go as far as it doesn't hurt.

Oh! I have that exercise in my pilates dvd but the thing is you can't see it when you're flat on your back ~ Why do they not think of that???

Man helped me complete exercises ~ with a slightly evil look in his face, but it does make sense and it does help. It also helps to make us laugh together ~ especially when I'm wearing my Winnie the Pooh pajama bottoms .

 

[trampledamage]

There's a reason why I only ever do my exercises when mr trampledamage is either out or downstairs!

 

[K'Ehleyr]

There's a reason why I only ever do my exercises when mr trampledamage is either out or downstairs!

Hey girl nice to see you.
I was grumpy with pain, said a bad word and had to make it up to him by performing my pilates in front of him!
It sounds weird but was actually great fun ~ in a very odd way