Back trouble

EE-BO · #1 10-17-2007, 11:14 AM

Man oh man,

Any of you guys ever have severe back trouble? I am about 4 days into it and the ibuprofen and muscle relaxers are almost as annoying as the pain they are eliminating (well, partially eliminating.)

Growing up I remember my parents or the occasional relative complaining of back trouble and thinking "big deal."

Well, karma's a bitch

Thank goodness for swimming pools though. Right now that is the best hour of each day of my life- and one hour in the pool buys me about 4 hours of completely painless mobility before I have to take shifts standing and laying down again.

Today is the first day it is a lot better and I am hoping for free movement by the weekend. Fingers crossed...

summer_gphib · #2 10-17-2007, 11:35 AM

Ewwww... I've been there. I had walking pneumonia once, really bad and coughed so much I actually tore a muscle in my back. I couldn't move. I physically could not move.

I do not envy you! Good luck and I hope you are feeling better soon. I hated the muscle relaxers, but if I could just use them to fall asleep, usually the rest would help a lot.

honeychile · #3 10-17-2007, 11:36 AM

I hear you! A few years ago, I just had to prove that I had the fastest & most accurate speed kick at a soccer game, and felt my back pop. It hasn't been the same since. Although, I did have a 59 mph kick with 100% accuracy - it's just the cost that wasn't worth it!

SWTXBelle · #4 10-17-2007, 01:11 PM

I love, love those self - heating heat wraps for the back! They really helped me.

nittanyalum · #5 10-17-2007, 01:22 PM

Ok, well, I'm going to dime myself out about my propensity to watch infomercials late, late, late at night when I can't fall asleep (I warned hubby about having a tv in the room, he passes right out, I'll tend to find "something" to watch until the wee hours, it's bad...

) -- I saw one for this product and actually thought to myself that if I ever develop back problems, I'm getting one! (yes, it's a problem, I know, I'm going to work on it...). Anyway, here's a link to the site for it: http://www.trueback.com/

Hope you feel better!

bejazd · #6 10-17-2007, 02:40 PM

I love my physical therapist.

AlethiaSi · #7 10-17-2007, 02:48 PM

i absolutely love my chiropracter... i've been going since i was in high school due to compacted hips, and have had various problems since then, mostly due to my sedetary job and then going to waitress right after.

I do better with a chiro that is more tough than others, really working out the knots. Moist heat is best for the back, according to my chiro now, i've heard conflicting things. even if you take a dish towel, wet it, pop in in the micro for like 30 seconds and wrap it in another towel. I use ice packs on my neck though.

I hope you feel better!

LeslieAGD · #8 10-17-2007, 03:04 PM

I have a large chest, so I have had back problems since high school. My chiropracter is awesome but unfortunately he is a half hour away from my home, so I don't go see him as often as I'd like. Now that I am pregnant, I am a little nervous about going to the chiropracter so instead I am going to start having prenatal massages.

AlphaFrog · #9 10-17-2007, 03:14 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by LeslieAGD

Now that I am pregnant, I am a little nervous about going to the chiropracter so instead I am going to start having prenatal massages.

I had sciatic nerve problems with my second pregnancy, and my chiro fixed me right up. He had to position me a little different, but it wasn't painful or anything, just a little awkward.

Tom Earp · #10 10-17-2007, 03:50 PM

Back pain is not good! Arrg.

Med Docs bad mouth Chiros and same as osteopaths but cannot perscribe drugs but do the same thing and chaege more!

God find a good bone cruncher, been there and done it so I feel like a Pro!

BigRedBeta · #11 10-17-2007, 04:40 PM

MD's bad mouth chiropractic care when they sell their services as something they're not. There is scientific research backing up the chiropractors when they say they can alleviate back pain - Chiros have worked closely with both DO's and MD's in this regard and been published, even in very prestigious journals like Spine. But when they start getting into things like saying they can solve heart disease, diabetes, or prevent infections, a line has to be drawn.

EE-BO - if you start having any numbness, tingling or shooting pain down your legs, get yourself to a doctor. Those are all signs of more serious problems.

EE-BO · #12 10-17-2007, 05:23 PM

Thanks for the well wishes. Much better this afternoon thankfully. Spent a long time in the pool and have been pretty mobile the rest of the day.

My Dad is an MD, so I was "programmed" from an early age to not trust chiros or physical therapists- but I have used the latter many times since they can be quite effective before things get serious enough to see an MD. And like you say Tom- finding a good orthopedic surgeon is not easy. I do know a couple here in town, but this weekend it was so bad I went to a good outpatient clinic and the MD there got me fixed up just fine.

BigRedBeta- luckily none of the serious stuff is happening yet. But yes, that is the one symptom they told me to really watch for.

I have learned one interesting thing in all this though. Sunday night after a long painful weekend, I decided to sit back and watch a movie and I made myself a nice tall Bacardi and OJ (the equivalent of about a "double" in a bar.)

I have never had muscle relaxers before, and for a bit there I was afraid I was going to just float up and sail out of the room (that was right before I dropped into a dead sleep for about 10 hours.)

sageofages · #13 10-17-2007, 05:30 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by EE-BO

I have learned one interesting thing in all this though. Sunday night after a long painful weekend, I decided to sit back and watch a movie and I made myself a nice tall Bacardi and OJ (the equivalent of about a "double" in a bar.)

I have never had muscle relaxers before, and for a bit there I was afraid I was going to just float up and sail out of the room (that was right before I dropped into a dead sleep for about 10 hours.)

EEeek!

Medication and Alcohol...NOT a smart combination.

The more "seasoned" of us around here remember Karen Ann Quinlan (think Terri Schiavo of the 1970s).

Only takes one mistake to never wake up.

Buttonz · #14 10-17-2007, 08:05 PM

I had back surgery last October so I know all about back pain.

If you EVER get to the point where you are waking up in pain or are having problems sitting for long periods of time because of the pain PLEASE get yourself to a doctor right away. As well as numbness, tingling and shooting pains. My problems went misdiagnosed for months and it kills me that it did.

Thermacare heat wraps are amazing. It's the only way I got through Spring 2006 in school I wore one nearly every day, and the same that summer in Australia and New Zealand.

As for pain killers.....try to take the least possible, you don't want to wind up like me where nothing besides morphine has any effect on you. Never mix with alcohol.

Any questions, ask

PM_Mama00 · #15 10-17-2007, 08:29 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by AlphaFrog

I had sciatic nerve problems with my second pregnancy, and my chiro fixed me right up. He had to position me a little different, but it wasn't painful or anything, just a little awkward.

I never knew they could help with sciatic problems. My mom has them and I am starting to get them. They are so annoying.