@#$%ing back pain!

[Tom_ZeCat]

Despite a chiropractic treatment, ice, and staying home from work today, my back is still killing me. I've had three chiropractic treatments over the past week. Sometimes I feel better, sometimes I don't. I can't afford to stay home from work too much. Tomorrow if I can get through the work day, I'll be paid double time because of the holiday.

Damn it, I had hoped to be feeling a lot better. I want to so that I can do yoga exercises that are supposed to rehab my back, but I don't feel up to it. @#$% it, I'm about ready to beg my doctor for a cortisone shot, something I've never done.

[Beachbnny]

Where is the pain? Do you have any radiating pain, tingling, or numb sensations into your arms or legs? Have you recently had x-rays? An MRI? Have you seen a physical therapist?

I'm sorry you hurt. And I hope you get find some help soon. I had debilitating back pain due to a bulging disc which caused some nerve damage. It was awful. I'm fully recovered and doing much better than my Dr. thought I'd be.

[Veggily]

I hope you feel better soon. JMO, and I've never gotten one, but I think those shots are scary. One of my relatives went regularly to get them for severe back pain, and it really messed him up because he needed surgery. Once he got the surgery, there was a long recovery period, but now he's off running a marathon, so it worked out pretty good in the end! But he stuck with those shots for months. It helped the pain for a while, and then it would be back, full blast, and he'd have to go get another shot. Of course, your case might be a whole different thing, so maybe it would work for you. But if you keep having to go back for them, maybe get checked by a specialist and see if you need something more than pain blocking? (Disregard my post if you're talking about something that's not serious.)

Also, maybe try the yoga anyway even though you feel bad? You don't have to do the full pose if you can't. The instructor should be able to show you how to get some benefit without straining yourself. Maybe it will help? Good luck.

[sleepydvdr]

I have had back problems in the past. Just about a month ago, I could not even walk. I had to crawl on the floor. I am going to a Pro Adjuster. Have you heard about this? A pro adjuster can fix curvatures in the spine. Sometimes, that's what causes the pain.

From what I can tell there are 3 kinds of chiropractic doctors. The first is the old school who "crack your back". Then there are the ones who do the inversion table. The last (and probably best) are the pro adjusters.

Believe me, I know how you feel. I hope you feel better soon.

[Lsurvis]

I am sorry to welcome to the club of people with soft tissue injuries. I have an L5/S1 disc issue dating from a slip and fall in 1996. Once you get your MRI, you too can talk about your situation in terms of what level of disc in your back is the ostensible problem. I initially slogged through months of pain and three months out of work before it finally let up enough on its own to allow me to get back to work. I have had 3 major "flare-ups" (months of pain so bad it kept me from work) since and was lucky enough to go to a 5 week rehabilitation program (Miami Beach) in 2000 that taught me 8 very important things about managing a disc issue:

1. Keep moving, but move properly so as not to aggravate (i.e. no bending).
2. Avoid laying around in bed (it leads to depression and doesn't help "heal").
3. Know that you CAN manage your situation to be pain free.
4. Use ice for pain (to reduce inflammation and numb nerves), never heat.
5. Use only asprin for pain (it is the best studied drug and safest).
6. Do stretching (work through the pain) to keep your range of motion.
7. Walk everyday, even if it is just down the block and back.
8. Avoid sitting for long periods of time (muscles tighten, can cause pain).


Oh, and stay away from surgery (it can do far more damage). I know it may feel as though you are a prisoner to your pain right now, but know that it will eventually reduce and your life will go on pretty much as it was. The more tense you are, the more the nerve rich muscles clench up which will intensify the pain. So when I say relax, I mean truly try to not clench your muscles in an effort to "brace yourself" against the pain. Accept that you will experience some pain and keep moving.

I opted not to have surgery but did several rounds of cortizone injections when I was in flare-up periods and only found them mildly helpful for limited periods of time. The last round actually left me in more pain. This was before the 5 week rehab that changed my thinking and my approach to my back pain. Since the rehab, I changed many things about how I move, how long I sit at my desk, shortening my commute, changing to a less stressful field, etc. I walk everyday and do a short routine to keep me limber. In some ways, I am thankful for my injury because it forced me to be more enlightened about ergonomics, good posture and health in general.

[Treehugger267]

Without knowing what kind of pain, it's hard to offer advice, sympathy I can certainly give you. I've had back pain for years and it's awful! Mine is bulging discs in the lower. I learned a trick from the chiropractor and taught it to my husband. I lay on the floor and he pulls my leg pretty hard on the opposite side that hurts. It often will put things back into place. Muscle relaxers will help too if the above doesn't, they make me feel terrible though so I try to avoid them. You may just have to stay off your feet until the swelling and pain go away. The best would be to see your doc for some real advice on your particular problem.

I'm sorry you are hurting:(

[LetoTheTyrant]

Like others have said it really depends on what kind of back pain you are having. I have compression type pain on a fairly regular basis and have solved that with an inversion table. But inversion could be bad for your back depending on the issue.

A friend of mine who had some back problems looked into a detox place north of san francisco that was supposed to specialize in some sort of fasting, and another friend told me I should suggest to him green juices might help.

[1815alan]

I suffered from bulging discs for years, saw lots of chiropractors, physiotherapists it cost me a fortune and though they provided some amelioration the problem was always there like a time bomb waiting to go off. After one particlarly bad flare up which saw me spend Christmas in hospital, I opted for surgery. That was in 2000, I retuned to work 3 months later. I have not lost a day of work since, and have been pain free now for nine years. I am not saying it will help your problem but it worked for me. Goodluck and whatever course you take with regard to treatment, I hope you find relief from your pain