The misery of lower back pain
Discussion
I had this come on a couple of weeks ago and I’m struggling to shift it. I’m almost 56 and everything seems to take a lot longer to recover from injury these days, so I’m not particularly worried about that.
I think it started after a weekend of furniture assembly, disassembly and general carting about. I’m praying it’s muscular rather than I’ve done my back itself. I think the gradual way it came on and the quite broad area it covers indicate it is. I’m having to take Ibuprofen to knock the pain back, which it does reasonably well. Yesterday I got some Deep Heat heat pads which I’m using on the affected area. Other than waiting (hoping) for nature to take its course, I’m doing some gentle stretching exercises a few times a day.
Does anyone with more experience of this have any comments or tips for me?
I think it started after a weekend of furniture assembly, disassembly and general carting about. I’m praying it’s muscular rather than I’ve done my back itself. I think the gradual way it came on and the quite broad area it covers indicate it is. I’m having to take Ibuprofen to knock the pain back, which it does reasonably well. Yesterday I got some Deep Heat heat pads which I’m using on the affected area. Other than waiting (hoping) for nature to take its course, I’m doing some gentle stretching exercises a few times a day.
Does anyone with more experience of this have any comments or tips for me?
otolith said:
Based on recent experience of getting this for the first time at 48; Ibuprofen is good if your stomach tolerates it. Otherwise paracetamol. Over the counter paracetamol and codeine if they don’t touch the sides. Try to keep active, don’t sit still for too long, and some yoga type stretches really help relieve it for a while.
I don’t have any problems with the Ibuprofen and it does almost eliminate the pain. As you say, I find if I’m stood, sat upright or moving around, it’s fine, it’s just extended periods of lounging about, say watching TV with my feet up, or being in bed that causes me to “seize up”.I don’t really want to be taking any painkillers, no matter how mild, on a regular basis, so I’ll give it another week and if things haven’t improved seek out a chiropractor I think.
LunarOne said:
When we talk about lower back pain, are we all talking about the same thing? Are we talking about a continuous pain, pain when bending or standing, or pain associated with spasms?
About 3 months ago I started feeling twinges and spasms in my lower right back, but only when I'm trying to get up from a chair or get out of bed. When I'm walking, I get the odd spasm if I mis-step, for example when there's a bit of a hole on the golf course or if I walk over a kerb without seeing it's there. Some of these spasms are so painful that I literally can't get out of bed or out of my chair, but 99% of the time I don't feel any pain at all. Is this the same back pain you're talking about? I'm 46 and quite overweight.
This is EXACTLY what I’m experiencing, right down to the misstep thing. If I cough too “deeply” or sneeze, that can set it off too. As I said, I’m 55 and probably a little overweight if I’m being honest.About 3 months ago I started feeling twinges and spasms in my lower right back, but only when I'm trying to get up from a chair or get out of bed. When I'm walking, I get the odd spasm if I mis-step, for example when there's a bit of a hole on the golf course or if I walk over a kerb without seeing it's there. Some of these spasms are so painful that I literally can't get out of bed or out of my chair, but 99% of the time I don't feel any pain at all. Is this the same back pain you're talking about? I'm 46 and quite overweight.
A fair lot of comments to unpack here, guys. Thanks to everyone who has taken the time - it’s really appreciated.
I think the right exercises is the way forward here. Whether they come from a chiropractor, physiotherapist, book or YouTube, we’ll see. A couple of years ago I slipped down the stairs and did my piriformis - that was a whole different level of pain when it kicked off. I went to see a sports physiotherapist in the next village over and she sorted me out with an exercise regime that fixed it - I’ll perhaps see if she fancies a crack at this.
I think the right exercises is the way forward here. Whether they come from a chiropractor, physiotherapist, book or YouTube, we’ll see. A couple of years ago I slipped down the stairs and did my piriformis - that was a whole different level of pain when it kicked off. I went to see a sports physiotherapist in the next village over and she sorted me out with an exercise regime that fixed it - I’ll perhaps see if she fancies a crack at this.
Far Cough said:
Suffered for years with lower back pain which then occasionally gave sciatica down the front of the legs. Had an MRi scan and had a prolapsed disc due to the jelly coating all but disappearing. Learnt to live with it BUT since Sept 2 years ago when I joined a gym and as part of the package I get PILATES classes for free. What a difference it has made. Not a single problem since. Increased core strength which in turn shores up the affected area. No drugs, no pain and a little bit fitter and lighter. Win win.
Thanks for that. My problem is finding time to go to these places so I’ve just found an online pilates class for chronic lower back pain on the NHS website. I’ve just worked through the first 30 minute lesson and it’s released a lot of the tension that has built up in my back because I’m favouring it all the time to avoid the pain.I went through the 30 min online pilates thing twice yesterday. I was stiffer than ever when I woke up this morning. I’ve just done it again and it’s remarkable how much it loosens things up. Obviously it will take a while for it to fix whatever the underlying cause is, if it is going to, so I’ll stick with it for a couple of weeks and see what happens.
Douglas Quaid said:
gweaver said:
I had very persistent mid back issues until I started doing deadlifts (properly). Technique is important, the weight isn't.
That was what I was going to suggest but for some reason it got ignored by the op. If you don’t have a strong core then your back will hurt. That’s life. Not too tough to strengthen it though. Well, I don’t want to be counting any chickens here, but things have improved massively overnight.
For the past couple of weeks I’ve had to be careful when shifting position in bed as it was causing spasms of pain. Last night was fine. Similarly I’ve been getting up hardly able to move and having to have a couple of ibuprofen to knock the pain back. This morning I have some stiffness/tightness in my back, but I’ve not felt the need for any tablets yet.
I’m planning to stick with the pilates stuff, I even bought a proper mat to do it on yesterday. I’ve been thinking and I reckon this all comes back to when I was trying to shift a stubborn wheel nut a couple of years ago. I felt a pop in my lower back and was in agony for a couple of days. I wonder if that has ever really healed and now any excessive lifting can bring it back. I’m hoping the pilates will help me to keep on top of it.
For the past couple of weeks I’ve had to be careful when shifting position in bed as it was causing spasms of pain. Last night was fine. Similarly I’ve been getting up hardly able to move and having to have a couple of ibuprofen to knock the pain back. This morning I have some stiffness/tightness in my back, but I’ve not felt the need for any tablets yet.
I’m planning to stick with the pilates stuff, I even bought a proper mat to do it on yesterday. I’ve been thinking and I reckon this all comes back to when I was trying to shift a stubborn wheel nut a couple of years ago. I felt a pop in my lower back and was in agony for a couple of days. I wonder if that has ever really healed and now any excessive lifting can bring it back. I’m hoping the pilates will help me to keep on top of it.
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