Back Pain

[DavidSauls]

I am surprised only one person has mentioned stretches. I tweak my back occasionally, and stretching definitely helps, especially what I call the donkey kick, where you get on your hands and knees and slowly extend you leg and then bring your knee up to your chest, about 10x with each leg. You can find lots of good back stretches on the interwebs.

My orthopedist told me that lower back pain is often the result of tight hamstrings, and relieved by stretching. I'd definitely recommend stretching, on the grounds that it's very unlikely to make the situation worse, and is something you should probably do, anyway.

 

[DavidSauls]

Speaking as an Old Guy, back pain can come and go. So the starting point is to ask, how severe is the pain, and how long has it been going on? Rest and stretching may be all that's needed. Anti-inflammatories as needed, but not as a regular thing. My experience with chiropractors has been ineffective, but enough people swear by them that I wouldn't dismiss the idea if the condition persists. Heck, my physician even told me to continue seeing the chiro if it helped (it didn't).

I'm usually first on the go-see-a-doctor bandwagon, but with back pain, unless it's pretty severe and persistent, I might hold off.

 

[markmcc]

As another old guy: I jacked my back up last fall fixing up our house, and ended up with back pain and numbness in one leg. Scary stuff.

I went to my doctor who didn't really offer much, but he referred me to a Physical Therapist and that was the answer. A combination of anti-inflammatories and PT got me going again in about 3 weeks. The Physical Therapy involved heat, electrical stimulation, some very specific massage, and follow-up exercises. During the first massage the therapist and I could feel a lump in a particular spot, and at each appointment (3 per week) we could feel the lump getting smaller. On the last scheduled treatment the lump was gone and I was much, much better.

I still get back pain now and then, and I immediately start the back exercises that I was taught during PT. So I am a huge fan of Physical Therapy.

 

[Emoney]

Best way to keep back pain in check is exercise daily and stretch every day. Its a constant battle against the war on back pain. Comming from a guy with multiple herniations and buldging discs. Even when ur back feels pretty good dont forget to stretch and exercise.

Bottom line, stretch and exercise likes it your religion.




P.s. stretch and exercise

 

[juju]

Best advice is to go see a doctor.

That being said, how exactly did you injure yourself? What motion were you doing at the time? You mentioned that certain flexive and rotational moverments exacerbate the pain - in what capacity, and to what degree? Can you be more descriptive of the specific movements that increase your pain level, and what movements do you find relieve pain?

I personally wouldn't advocate the efficacy of chiropracting, however - some people swear by them. I think its a matter of opinion... If you believe that they give you a more positive mindset on pain management - then by all means take advantage of their practice.

I'm probably going to wait about a week with stretching, RICE, and some anti-inflamatories when needed, and then see if the the pain subsides. It isn't really too bad, just that I've never experienced any sustained back pain in my life before. I'm not sure how I injured it, but it is probably a combination of a lot of things. I bought a house recently and have been doing a few projects, also haven't had as much time for normal stretching and exercise lately. Just got a new mattress a few weeks ago and it may be causing some of the discomfort, although I've been sleeping really well on it. Lastly, I was on vacation for a week and playing lots of golf (a lot more than I am used to these days) and was also camping on an air mattress, but that hasn't given me any issues in the past.

Anyways, I've just been a little stiff in the morning and when twisting to turn off the alarm this morning, really noticed a sharp pain. With some stretching and hot shower, it subsided but it still feels a little tender.

Going to really focus on stretching and getting my core back in shape over the next few weeks. I'll put off disc golf for now until I feel I'm able to play again. Not that big of a deal for me, I can go months without playing and don't miss it a bit.

 

[juju]

BTW, thanks everybody for the replies. Lots of good info here.

 

[Colt]

Not sure I want to see a chiropractor since they're not a real doctor. Any advice? Anti-inflamatories, RICE (Rest, Ice, Compression and Elevation), etc?

First off, you sound like an idiot, chiropractors are primary care physicians.

Second, chiropractors spend much more time treating neuromuscular conditions then your family doc.

Third, There are good and bad doctors in all professions, use your gray matter, what little appears to be there, and search out a highly recommended physician for lbp in your area, be it MD, DC or DO.

 

[88weeks]

Nothing 800mg wont fix.

 

[Stankyjahnke]

do the hanging-upside-down thing. totally works

I've been meaning to try this because I drive a forklift for 8 to 10 hours and my back kills all the time.

 

[Giantjerk]

Chiropractors have gained acceptance in the medical community. Definitely see at least your PCP. I'm a nurse on a neurosurgery unit and many of the neurosurgeons that I work with refer their patients to chiropractors. They can really help you out.

 

[juju]

First off, you sound like an idiot, chiropractors are primary care physicians.

I stopped reading after this. You sir, sound like an idiot.

 

[juju]

Chiropractors have gained acceptance in the medical community. Definitely see at least your PCP. I'm a nurse on a neurosurgery unit and many of the neurosurgeons that I work with refer their patients to chiropractors. They can really help you out.

I have quite a few MD's in my family and all of them agree that chiropractors are generally hacks. I've heard horror stories of people who used a chiro as their primary care physician.

 

[JAKE master]

tight hamstrings can pull on the lower back. fwiw

 

[Discette]

I had lower back pain and went to a chiropractor. They did manipulation and massage and got me back on my feet, but didn't really address the cause of the problem. On my next flare up, my insurance had changed and the new company didn't cover the chiro care. So, I begrudgingly went to the HMO doctor. That doctor really wasn't that great, and mostly wanted to give me (expensive) pain medicines. However, he did refer me to Physical Therapy which was the BEST THING EVER!! I started doing the PT core strengthening and within three weeks I was pain free. That was in July, 2011. I still do all the stretches and exercises every day and have never had any kind of recurrence.

Chiropractors just make you feel good enough to get by. They don't "cure" you because they want you to keep coming back for more "treatments". I will agree that the massages and manipulations felt great, but the relief was only temporary.

 

[Emoney]

Chiros worked for me, but they dont fix the issue, a doctor wont fix it either. Back pain is like a disease that cant be fully cured. Only you can treat and prevent. If you dont maintain your core and stretch and lift properly, u will have back pain again sooner than later.

A chiro will help lossen up the tight muscles ,so u can stretch and exercise without unbearable pain. The whole key to when u hurt your back is to alieviAte the pain so u can use physical therapy to strengthen ur muscles around the problem area. Ur muscles will support your weight and movements and stabilize ur spine.

Its really a simple concept but its hard as hell to do and maintain. U cant just take a pill and fix it, it will come back.

 

[swed]

Juju you have been lucky to not have back pain issues. I have had back issues for a decade now. I only see a chiro, when I absolutely need to. He addresses the issue and helps readjust my spine, it works to relieve the tightening of the muscles. The muscles tighten to protect the spine. I only trust one chiropractor and have had bad experiences when I have gone to others. I also only go for a couple treatments and am fixed for a while.

 

[saaber]

chiropractors can be great

Obviously some people have had bad results with chiropractors, but having had a few back injuries, I have seen miracles worked by a few chiros. One time I could barely walk in to the office due to near-debilitating back pain, only to walk out with absolutely zero pain or discomfort. Talk about results! My family care physician had, after numerous x-rays and MRIs, suggested pain pills or surgery.
Instead of getting doped up or undergoing invasive surgery, a 1-hr appointment at the chiropractor fixed me up, with no recurring issues. I never could have gotten that from a "real doctor".

I don't think you should write off chiropractors, especially on the sometimes misguided advice of medical doctors who have a vested interest in keeping people away from chiropractors. They don't want to lose their customers!

But... I've also been to a few that made matters worse, so I think this is an area where some people are quacks and others know what they are doing.

 

[megamerican]

I have quite a few MD's in my family and all of them agree that chiropractors are generally hacks. I've heard horror stories of people who used a chiro as their primary care physician.

That's not surprising that the MD's you know are incredibly biased since the AMA has been found guilty in federal court of violating the Sherman Anti-trust Act in its effort to conspire against chiropractors in restraint of trade.

Of course there are going to be horror stories from going to chiropractors. Not all of them are going to be great at what they do.

In 2009, there were more drug related deaths (most of them being taken as prescribed) than there were motor vehicle deaths.

That is just the tip of the iceberg for easily preventable deaths that the "real" doctors cause each year.

There are a ton of good chiropractors out there. They are very upfront about what treatments they can do, what to expect from them and the cost.

 

[BigGAC1]

I'm probably going to wait about a week with stretching, RICE, and some anti-inflamatories when needed, and then see if the the pain subsides. It isn't really too bad, just that I've never experienced any sustained back pain in my life before. I'm not sure how I injured it, but it is probably a combination of a lot of things. I bought a house recently and have been doing a few projects, also haven't had as much time for normal stretching and exercise lately. Just got a new mattress a few weeks ago and it may be causing some of the discomfort, although I've been sleeping really well on it. Lastly, I was on vacation for a week and playing lots of golf (a lot more than I am used to these days) and was also camping on an air mattress, but that hasn't given me any issues in the past.

Anyways, I've just been a little stiff in the morning and when twisting to turn off the alarm this morning, really noticed a sharp pain. With some stretching and hot shower, it subsided but it still feels a little tender.

Going to really focus on stretching and getting my core back in shape over the next few weeks. I'll put off disc golf for now until I feel I'm able to play again. Not that big of a deal for me, I can go months without playing and don't miss it a bit.

Sounds like a solid plan. Keep a close eye on it and see if it progresses at all. Hopefully taking it easy will allow pain to subside. If it is a mechanical stressor at the root of the issue than some NSAIDs and refraining from impact should serve you well.

Things to watch out for are if you feel pain advancing anywhere, or a radiating feeling (especially down the legs). There are various exercises & maneuvers you can perform to reduce pressure on nerve roots (theoretically) along the spine.

I believe someone mentioned how tight hamstrings can cause pain in the low back & legs (called nerve traction). This is true, however it is primarily present in the inferior lumbar region. I recall you pinpointing your pain to a more superior region of the spine (maybe even the thoracic?) So, while muscle tightness could be the source, I wouldn't lay money on it. Although any sort of stretching before exercise is helpful - even if it isn't the source of pain.

It sounds like you had a series of small non-traumatic events build up to chronic pain over time. Taking it easy for a little while sounds like your best bet - maybe in combination with some NSAIDs, and (low-impact, minimal weight-bearing) exercise. IMHO.

 

[juju]

That's not surprising that the MD's you know are incredibly biased since the AMA has been found guilty in federal court of violating the Sherman Anti-trust Act in its effort to conspire against chiropractors in restraint of trade.

These aren't big wigs looking at their bottom line, neither are they othro's or other MD's that compete directly with chiros. They are OBGYN's, ER docs, and family docs that are concerned about the well-being of their patients and the public in general. They have seen their patients misdiagnosed, mistreated, and have to deal with the repercussions.

Obviously there are some really good chiros out there, but it doesn't change the fact that they are temporary relief specialists.