My Back

[and1grad]

I'm constantly having lower back pain and I'm not all that sure why. Does anybody suffer from the same or know any remedies for this?

[GetMeOuttaDC]

I'm constantly having lower back pain and I'm not all that sure why. Does anybody suffer from the same or know any remedies for this?

do you know if you have arthritis?

I would suggest cat-camel stretches (get on all fours, arch your back up and hold it, and then arch your back down and hold it) , glucosamine sulfate (expensive but worth it) going to see a chiropractor, put a pillow behind the small of your back when you sit, and make sure that when you sit and type, your elbows are bent at a 90 degree angle.

[and1grad]

Pretty sure I dont have arthritis but I really do want to see a chiropracter, someday. But arent those adjustments, more of a temporary fix? Glucosamine/Chondroitin are more for your joints. I have muscle soreness and spasms. You're right about that pillow thing. I need to do that more often. I feel like I'm ALWAYS stretching and it NEVER helps. I think all those years of slouching in high school are coming back to haunt me. :frustrate

[biodork]

How long have you had the lower back pain? And where is it? If it's lower back to the sides, it could be the sign of a kidney infection.

And going to see a chiropractor is just a quick fix, you have to get exercises to do to strengthen other areas of your body that are causing you to overcompensate by using your lower back, if it just pain. I would suggest seeing a physical therapist, they can give you better advice than a chiropractor and will definitely give you exercises to do on your own. Problem is just being consistent with them. I always had that trouble, which is why I'm still having back problems now (not to mention the extra weight on the front :0 )

[GetMeOuttaDC]

I really do want to see a chiropracter, someday. But arent those adjustments, more of a temporary fix?

to some degree, but they become a lot less of a temporary fix and more a permanent one when you actually do the stretches they show you at home. which I'm not always the best at.

[wordsmith]

I have this, too, and in my case, it's mostly posture. My workspace also isn't very conducive to good posture, and as you know, I spent 12-16 hours at a time there often. They won't spring for a better chair that can be adjusted, properly, or desk/computer of appropriate height, though. :(

[k.monster]

Some chiropractors have corrective care programs and will have you come in multiple times a week until your problem is almost non-existint. The ones that just crack your back and let you leave are fine too, but with chronic pain it is better to just go through a program and get your back fixed. Like GMODC said, following up at home with stretches/traction are key and most people don't follow up on that stuff.
(I work for a chiro and see this stuff all the time)

[biodork]

Oh and one other piece of advice-DO NOT go to the homeopathic/holistic chiropractors-they will get you to spend thousands of dollars on vitamins and herbal things that they say will help, but honestly I don't think they do. Maybe just because I'm skeptic about some holistic things, but the one I went to for awhile did atlas adjustments and believed that your back would stay in the right postion as long as your atlas was in. And he also believed you needed to make sure all the vitamins were correct in your body to make your atlas stay in as well. Let me just say I went for a 3 week trip and he told me I had to bring my vitamins, but didn't and went back and my atlas was still in! And he was like "oh good you took your vitamins" and I didn't say it but i was like uh no....

Not to mention he thought that he could put your hand on these little vials of other vitamins and minerals that have to do with dif areas of the body and felt that by putting your hand on the vials he could tell what your parts of your body needed what from that selection of vials, by saying my body "responded" better when I put my hand over the set. Yeah bunch of crap. I feel bad my dad totally bought into it and spent way too much money on the vitamins.

[k.monster]

Oh and one other piece of advice-DO NOT go to the homeopathic/holistic chiropractors-they will get you to spend thousands of dollars on vitamins and herbal things that they say will help, but honestly I don't think they do.

Agreed! Vitamins are good for overall health, but not really back specific. Just go to a regular chiropractor - if you need help finding one let me know!

[and1grad]

(not to mention the extra weight on the front :0 )
..and anal sex. Cant forget the... :evil:

Its definitely right in the middle of my back and i'm sure its a muscle thing. Would a chiropracter help with that? Physical therapy only gave me a bunch of ab exercises to do but my abs have never been weak and the exercises did nothing. Even stretching only helps SOMETIMES. Its frustrating.

[biodork]

..and anal sex. Cant forget the... :evil:


Nope. :rolleyes:

Maybe you should just look into a new mattress? I mean the chiropractor will get expensive so if you don't think just getting adjustments will help or exercises then I would just suggest spending your money on that. Because sleeping on a bad mattress can really add to your pain (and I am an expert on sleeping on bad mattresses-mine is 10 yrs old and I feel the springs digging into me every night) I totally believe once I get a new mattress I will feel a ton better in the morning and throughout the day, even though it won't completely solve my problem, I know it will alleviate it.

As much as I'd LOVE a tempur-pedic I'm going to look into a sleep number. They are around the same as a regular mattress, and you can adjust the firmness of it.

[k.monster]

My back hurt all the time before I got a new mattress. I LOVE my new bed!! It totally sucks that they are so expensive

[Morgan81]

I wouldn't fool around with this at all, get it checked out ASAP. I have seen something a little strange with doctors however; they don't like to send you to chiropractors. I asked my old doctor and my current one, about 5 times in total, most recently after my accident, stating that they don't do anything good; they just want to take your money etc. Now I know they work (to different levels on different people) because one really helped my sister and father, but I just don't get it. A guy I worked with said the same thing and he had to basically order his doctor to give him a referral. I am close to the same thing since my neck and back haven't felt 100% since the accident.

[MetFanL]

You know what I'm going to say -- Pilates is EXCELLENT for back problems. What ab exercises did they give you? From what you've said here, I'm assuming that you're in good shape, so maybe your upper body is too big for your lower back to support? My brother has this problem... His shoulders and chest are v/ strong and wide from lifting and he has back problems as a result... his back/abs just aren't strong enough to hold up all that muscle. I gave him some Pilates work to do and he says that's helped a little...

[and1grad]

I am in a good shape that I like to call "round." I'll try that Pilates. Physical therapy gave me pretty much every ab exercise imaginable and had me buy a ball (like the one in your office). They've done LITTLE for my back....and by little, I mean nothing.

[Kristyn]

You know what I'm going to say -- Pilates is EXCELLENT for back problems.

Beat me to it! Pilates is great for sore muscles. Be careful and slow with the exercises though, and make sure that your instructor helps you do them correctly, or you could make the pain worse by straining the muscle instead of stretching it.

[tina1979]

Yeah I agree on the pilates thing too. I have always had lower back pain. I sometimes couldn't lay on my back or stomach at night because my back hurt so bad. I started doing pilates though and the pain started to go awway. Then I stopped doing the pilates and the pain is slowly coming back. So guess what I have on the agenda for this fitness challenge thing.......Pilates. :)

[NoWomanNoCry]

Have you ever been screened for scoliosis? It's not to uncommon. I have it and it used to casue me all sorts of pain. Mine isn't that severe - I went to PT and they taught me some simple exercises that helped a lot.

[dreamraven]

Going to the Chiro didn't help me either, but it did some family lol.

Have you tried laying flat on you back with your feet flat on the floor (knees bent) raise your butt off the floor bringing your body to a straight angle and holding it for a count of ten. Repeat this ten (10) times. As you do this go up on the count you hold it and the number of times you repeat it.
I have alot of trouble with my lower back and this is one of the exercises they gave me in PT.
Also lay in the floor start out in the same position, flat on your back knees bent, put a small, plastic or soft type ball between your knees and squeeze it.
Count to 10 and release, repeat 10 times. As you do this go up on the length of time you hold the ball and number of times you repeat the do the exercise.
And 1 more :) start out on the floor or bed in the same starting position. Flat on your back knees bent. Slowly twist the lower half of your body (waist down) keeping you back flat, to the left. Hold this to the count of 10. Slowly go back to your starting position. Now slowly repeat this twisting to your right hold to the count of 20. Repeat 10 times. Increase number you count to & the number of times you repeat as you do the exercise.
I still do the 1st and last one, they actually helped me. Hope they do you also.

Dreamraven/Peggy

[and1grad]

That is some of what the PT gave me. The problem is, those are, for the most part, way too easy for me. They are good stretches but as soon as I start playing, back comes the pain like I didnt do any of those stretches at all anyway.

[LakeJay]

Do you have issues with your knees, legs, feet, etc., basically your lower body? I am wondering if that is throwing other parts of your body, in this case your back, out of whack? Maybe you need orthotics. I have flat feet and I got custom-made orthotics which have been pretty helpful. I know that it has helped my feet and legs but I think it has helped my posture as well. The way I see it the slightest "defect' can throw your body's alignment off. Obviously I am no expert but it's something to think about.

[and1grad]

Ya, i do have that issue as well. The orthotics havent helped much yet but i've only had em for a month now. I dont even know what to say about these "wheels" anymore...I just hope I'm still walking at 40. :neutral:

[LakeJay]

Ya, i do have that issue as well. The orthotics havent helped much yet but i've only had em for a month now. I dont even know what to say about these "wheels" anymore...I just hope I'm still walking at 40. :neutral:

Give them some time. Mine have been helpful. And yes I am a bit worried whether I'll be able to get around as I get older.

[MetFanL]

Seriously, dude, please try Pilates. The intent was not only to build strength and flexibility. It's also to help your body become more symmetrical -- which helps to prevent further injury. Joseph Pilates was AMAZING and it was all created during WW1 (I think) to help rehab soldiers.

My teacher is an ex-dancer who had a severe back injury. She says that, while the pain never fully goes away, she has less of it and less problems b/c of regular Pilates.

[LakeJay]

Seriously, dude, please try Pilates. The intent was not only to build strength and flexibility. It's also to help your body become more symmetrical -- which helps to prevent further injury. Joseph Pilates was AMAZING and it was all created during WW1 (I think) to help rehab soldiers.

My teacher is an ex-dancer who had a severe back injury. She says that, while the pain never fully goes away, she has less of it and less problems b/c of regular Pilates.

Met - Know of any of good Pilates DVDs to pick up? I was thinking of picking up the Pilates for Dummies DVD but if you know of any other good ones, I am willing to check them out.

[and1grad]

I got that Pilates for Dummies DVD. Its pretty good. I'm just a stinkin bum and never do it.

[MetFanL]

My friend uses the Winsor Pilates videos and she really likes them. I quizzed her and she seemed to be hurting in all the right places, so there must be a good description of how to do it on there... I haven't actually used the video myself, though.

My school is affiliated w/ Power Pilates and I think they have videos. Those are probably good, too.

http://www.powerpilates.com/index.html

[biodork]

I actually also have the Winsor Pilates dvd, and it is pretty good. The one I'm doing now uses a band with the exercises, but I also have the ones without the band. Both are good.