Lower Back Pain: Remedies?

Hello,

I am currently off work for a few days due to excrutiating lower back pain. I am pretty sure I may have pinched a nerve, although I will have to find out in a few days once I get x-rays done. I can't sit in a chair, as the pain is too great, and I cannot stand in the same spot for too long. If I am mobile (walking,etc.), the pain subsides, but when I come to a stop it flares up again.
The only relief I get is when I am lying down. My question is has anyone had this type ofpain, and what did you do to get better? I am thinking of swimming today, since swimming is great for your back. Has anyone had surgery done to their back, and did anything you tried for the pain work (without meds)?

Perhaps a little premature to be talking surgery. Got to tough it out until you get x rays, etc. Keep on the pain relievers, just watch dosage.

Never really have much back problem, but I was amazed at how much massage therapy helped with my shoulder. (rotator cuff)

Massage therapy is wonderful, I recently hurt my shoulder and massage worked wonders. Go see your doc and get him/her to write a note for massage therapy.

toban71 my wife just got rear ended last month and is suffering from "Whip Lash" right now and the Dr. is just about to take her off work because it is just getting worse as he said it would right after the accident...

None the less she is seeing Dr. Sohrab Canteenwla who is a chiropractor that practices not only chiropractic medicine but other "All Natural Medicines" and he is great because I saw him a few years ago etc...and...

And he is over at 1456-C Pembina Hwy & at 474-2007...GGF

The first thing you should do is see your own doctor (if you haven't already) and follow his/her advice. And if it means meds to relieve the pain, so be it. Ask if there are non-pharmaceutical remedies that would do the same thing as the prescription drugs.
I agree with the massage therapy but you might also want to look into physio therapy to strengthen the back muscles (if it is a muscular issue) as this could also be a huge help to alleviate back pain. Personally I don't recommend Chiropractic because I have had a couple of really bad experiences with Chiropractors but that is another avenue to look at if your doctor recommends it.

I herniated 2 discs in my lower back last May and I still have a moderate amount of pain. I have tried every opiate under the sun for pain as well as countless other drugs before I gave up on the drug route. I have also tried a full course of physio therapy with little to no results. I was told most disc herniation's heal in 6 weeks! LOL

My next step is nerve blocks and spinal nerve epidurals. I`m not to keen on getting needles in my spine, so I`m holding off until I see how it feels while I`m back at work. Physical activity like walking is good for it anyway. Also Freeman is right it`s way to early for you to be talking surgery. It is usually a last resort procedure.

My only advice is to keep walking if that helps and go swimming. Every doctor I saw told me to swim but I hate pools so I didn`t do it.

Accupuncture? (sic).....I have some friends who swear by it.

I've done accupuncture before, although they stuck the pins in my ear. I may try accupuncture for it if it does not get better soon......ugh!

toban71 wrote:Hello,

I am currently off work for a few days due to excrutiating lower back pain. I am pretty sure I may have pinched a nerve, although I will have to find out in a few days once I get x-rays done. I can't sit in a chair, as the pain is too great, and I cannot stand in the same spot for too long. If I am mobile (walking,etc.), the pain subsides, but when I come to a stop it flares up again.
The only relief I get is when I am lying down. My question is has anyone had this type ofpain, and what did you do to get better? I am thinking of swimming today, since swimming is great for your back. Has anyone had surgery done to their back, and did anything you tried for the pain work (without meds)?

you need to talk to rosencrentz

Are you overweight?

Deank wrote:
you need to talk to rosencrentz

Is Rosencrentz a doctor?

BTW, I guess Freeman is correct. I should not consider surgery for quite awile. .

toban71 wrote:I've done accupuncture before, although they stuck the pins in my ear. I may try accupuncture for it if it does not get better soon......ugh!

I SAID YOU NEED TO TALK TO ROSENCRENTZ!!

sputnik wrote:Are you overweight?

technically, yes. I am about 10-15 pounds overweight for my height.

I have had chronic back pain for decades with the occasional acute flare up that gets me immobilized. In general, you want to keep inflammation down, so a NSAID such as naproxen and ice packs are good remedies. Rest is not necesarily a good thing, so I usually try to be as mobile as possible, even if it's just a few steps at a time. If it's not getting better after 3 to 5 days go to a doctor for examination and X-Ray, though it may take many months to get you going again.

I have also tried physiotherapy and chiropractors with mixed results, it really depends on finding the right person. What is very beneficial are stretches and core strengthening exercises, but these are more effective if you have a proper diagnosis so you can target the affected muscles or joints. There are some websites that may help, but I don't have my bookmarks here, so try google.

Surgery is a last resort if nothing helps and the pain gets worse after months, there may be more risks than benefits to it. Just give it time.

Deank wrote:

toban71 wrote:I've done accupuncture before, although they stuck the pins in my ear. I may try accupuncture for it if it does not get better soon......ugh!

I SAID YOU NEED TO TALK TO ROSENCRENTZ!!

lol...

PS...it was the outside of my ear.

toban71 wrote:I've done accupuncture before, although they stuck the pins in my ear. I may try accupuncture for it if it does not get better soon......ugh!

As long as they don't stick em' in your arse? Sorry, could not resist. I would suggest yoga or Tai chi (another friend who had some horrific pain and pinched nerve issues found the latter to be beneficial) but I do not know the extent of your pain and mobility issues.

10-15 lbs? is NOT overweight.

And what happened to grams?

You can do much of the evaluation yourself...
does your back hurt to touch it? (no? then it's probably not muscles)
does it hurt in one position and not another? (could possibly be a pinched nerve)
do you have limitations on how far you can bend in any direction before the pain becomes unbearable?

With the weather changes so extreme lately, it could be arthritis in your hips.

Have you tried taking anything? Tylenol? Robaxcet?
Have they helped?

You said walking, the pain reduces?
What about just moving your legs? raising them up? swinging them?

This goes back to the healthcare debate...if you can diagnose yourself and figure out what it's NOT, then you don't have to overburden the healthcare system with ridiculous tests and appointments.

holly golightly...I was also a strong non believer in chiropractors until I saw Dr.Sonny as he likes being referred to a few years ago...and...

And boy this guy is good and he sure changed my beliefs on the subject matter of "chiropractors"...and...

And Barton for the record this Dr. doesn't use needles but has a neat little gadget he uses instead that is really cool and does exactly the same as needles "without needles" and which I cannot explain what it is at the moment but I do know he used it on me a few years ago and "It's all good" cause your are not the only one that hates needles there Barton...GGF

yeah robaxecet or robaxacil both work great ( one has i acetaminophen the other in ASA ) .

Then again so does getting really drunk and playing football.

I like robax platinum, it has Ibuprofen.

Spoiler:

I am on gabapentin for the pain, but I have spinal stenosis, which is pain emanating from pinched nerves, and the pain is down my front legs.
Pain in the back- I believe you should be resting for a few days to see if it gets better. If the pain subsides then it would be muscular (I am no Doctor, but I am of a certain faith, and should have been a Doctor to keep my Parents proud,lol)
I don't think an X ray will show anything, if you have damaged your spine, but if the pain is still there after 2-3 days rest, you better get into see your family Doctor, who can refer you to a specialist.
A chiropractor possibly after your Doctor, not before!

rosencrentz wrote:

Spoiler:

and the pain is down my front legs.

So your back legs are ok?

Bartron you said:

So your back legs are ok?

Yeah Doc Rosie shaves them and smooth as silk as he always says...GGF

AGEsAces wrote:

This goes back to the healthcare debate...if you can diagnose yourself and figure out what it's NOT, then you don't have to overburden the healthcare system with ridiculous tests and appointments.

Good point. From experience, and having bad lower back problems in my late teens, I know there is not much the doctors can do. I am hoping to see what has worked with others who are/have been in the same predicament.

GGF, there is absolutely nothing that would make me see a chiropractor ever again. The damage that was caused to my joints by two different chiropractors, two different decades, two different styles, was enough to push my medical condition further along than if I had done absolutely nothing and suffered with the pain. I do see a chinese doctor who practices eastern medicine and he does Gua Sha on my joints but it is far removed from chiropractic. I have also had accupunture done.
Because I suffer from arthritis (rhematiod) I take pilates classes to help with alignment of the body and the core. It has helped tremendously but is quite costly over a year (but for me well worth it). And I see a physio therapist on occasion (as well as massage) just to have some pulse/heat treatment done to relax the muscles without having to use prescrition drugs. I am also a strong believer in naturalpathic and homeopathic remedies and go to the Centre for Natural Medicine in River Heights.