back pain

[Pops15]

Good advice so far....naproxen or ibuprofen to relieve pain and reduce swelling. Just don't over do the meds or you could damage your liver.
Sleeping on your back with a big pillow under your knees does wonders. Nothing will instantly fix your back. Figure 3 weeks of the meds, pillow under your knees while sleeping and taking it easy before you get back to your normal routine. If you try to rush things you're just inviting another back injury which will just prolong the pain! Ask me how I know.
Since nothing showed up on your x-rays, etc going to a chiropractor could be very beneficial.
When sitting use a foot stool or foot rest on your recliner. That will take some of the strain off your lower back.
I've tried the back belt and it helped at first. After awhile my back just hurt higher up.
You need to talk to your doctor about going to physical therapy. They'll teach you some exercises that will help. My Mom recently went to PT for her back and it helped her immensely.
Also, a cortisone shot will probably help.

 

[JB4310]

I used to have to go to a Chiropractor every 4-6 weeks , could not get past this . Since learning how to do this , I have not been back for 8 years .

Yup I learned a few tricks and have been DIY since. People think I'm nuts when I lay on the floor and have my wife step on my back for an "adjustment" this works great and is fairly simple for upper back.

Lower back is much trickier, When I get a lower back ache I take a Motrin (Ibuprofen) just before bed and lay flat on my back, that combination of anti inflammatory and relaxed sleep is usually enough.
1 Motrin is enough for me, you can take 2 or the Advil PM that is Ibuprofen with a sleep aid, that really helps you relax and sleep still.

I have a pretty good back and don't normally have problems, but one time I sneezed just as I was trying to twist my hips and stretch up to sit on a high table. Must of been the perfect combination for a major blow out, found myself stuck in the bent over position, at first I thought it was funny and how I must of looked ridiculous, after a few minutes it wasn't funny anymore when I still couldn't get up past 90 a degree bend. Finally able to stand up after awhile but was in pain, that's how I ended up at the chiropractor the first time.

JB.

 

[timswi]

The hot tub and a beer works for me...Have had a bad back since I was 10...

Believe it or not hanging upside down from a swing set or something (by your knees) for 10 minutes has always fixed the really bad hurts..And not I'm not part bat.

 

[Matt_Jr]

I've had back pains since I was in my 20's. First week, I couldn't stand up straight for a whole day. My doctor gave me a piece of paper with exercises and stretching positions on it, yet I had my doubts, 'cause I was pretty heavy into martial arts at the time, and was very flexible(jump and kick 2-3 feet over my head) and understood good body mechanics. But my living(fixing cars) plays havoc. Bending over the hood of a car is your backs worst nightmare. Doing it everyday.. you get the idea. I learned to crack my lower back on my own, my neck, and need my wife's help for the upper back. I also bought an inversion table and hang upside down when it gets bad. Sleeping on my back with knees raised, and separated too. One of the best exercises you can do for you back is walking. You must have good posture while walking, but believe it or not, it helps a lot. Not instantly, but progressively over time. Proper stretching is good too. If it's a muscle ache, massages don't hurt. Hot showers or baths to loosen up the muscles followed by the stretching and message. Work on core body strength and flexibility, and avoid the lazy boy. My back hurts most after too much relaxing. Oh yeah, have someone else use the shovel for a while.

 

[kidr]

Having recently undergone back surgery I am on on a first name basis with back pain. I learned a few things in the past year. Doctors are just about useless for back pain ,except to provide meds. and surgery. Surgery fails 85% of the time. Most pain pain goes away after a while even if you do nothing. Prevention is the key. Drink tons of water and take an omega supplement.(Pure Encapsulations flax/borage oil is a good one). The back discs can dry and lose their cushion if you don't drink enough. Coffee tea etc. are not water . Drink water not beer or soft drinks. There is a big difference between a doctor and a healer. A human being is a lot more than the sum of his parts. Empathy, understanding, touch, attitude and lifestyle are important. Find a healer. Ask in yoga and martial arts studios. Especially Chinese martial arts places. Tai Chi is great exercise . It's gentle movements stretch and invigorate every muscle and joint in the body with no strain. It teaches to relax the muscles and the mind. It's fun too. Keep up the preventive maintenance even after you feel well. If you go to a chiropractor find one who is also into holistics not just a bone cracker. Treat yourself as good as you treat your tractor. I'm going to get killed on this one, but speaking from experience as a player and coach, keep your kids away from contact sports. A lifetime of pain and discomfort is not worth a few years of glory and ego stroking. I'm flinching as I click submit reply.

 

[aczlan]

We go to a chiropractor who specializes in sports medicine (he works with quite a few baseball players and jockeys) but the most important thing is that he doesn't try to have you come back a million times, I had a back spasm in Oct or Nov (very exciting let me tell you) and he had it cleared up in 6 visits, 2/week for the first two weeks, a fifth one a week later and a final one two weeks after the 5th. Then we didnt go back until mid Feb. He also works on my wife's wrist when she does in (she has carpel tunnel issues) and he showed her how getting carpel tunnel surgery would not help in her case, because it only works for problems right on the wrist/palm joint area and her issues are in the 2-3 inches leading up to the wrist.

So, find yourself a good chiropractor (I second kidr's suggestions of asking a martial arts or yoga place for a recommendation and drinking lots of water rather than other drinks) and see what they have to say.

Aaron Z

 

[MossRoad]

Does anyone out there have some suggestions on ways to relieve pain. I think I just got a pulled muscle in lower right side. Funny though, the doctor never did tell me what happened; even after running the "good" tests. I never did get checked by a doctor that might be a muscle doctor. Go figure.

Cheers...Coffeeman

Yes. I have had chronic back pain since I was a little kid. The solution? Physical therapy from a professional to get you relief and being taught special exercises to strengthen the muscles that support your back. Strengthening your core muscles in your stomach and back will do amazing things to prevent you from injuring yourself in the first place. And they are simple exercises that don't take very long and don't bulk you up or tire you out. Any time I get back pain now, it is because I have been slacking off on my exercises, so I start them up again. They only take 10 minutes a night and require no equipment. Most of them are done just laying on the carpet while watching the late news. No crunches! :thumbsup:

 

[MossRoad]

Does anyone out there have some suggestions on ways to relieve pain.

Oh yeah, one more thing... the doc in the E.R. gave me nubain...

(that's the stuff they gave to my wife during child birth).

I still had back pain, but it was way over there :confused2::confused2::confused2:
(points to right side about 10').
I slept well. :laughing:

 

[JB4310]

I'm going to get killed on this one, but speaking from experience as a player and coach, keep your kids away from contact sports. A lifetime of pain and discomfort is not worth a few years of glory and ego stroking. I'm flinching as I click submit reply.

I think you'll find more that agree with you on this matter here on TBN. Not alot of fanatical sports people here, that I've heard of anyway.
My mother for sure, she claims that when she had her first kids at that age that the pediatrician was adamant about keeping kids away from contact sports.

Oh yeah, one more thing... the doc in the E.R. gave me nubain...

(that's the stuff they gave to my wife during child birth).

I still had back pain, but it was way over there :confused2::confused2::confused2:
(points to right side about 10').
I slept well. :laughing:

And how did the labor /contractions go? : :laughing:



JB.

 

[Gizmo2]

The hot tub and a beer works for me

X2:thumbsup: