Poorly back :(

[mudskipper]

Did you ever try a Tens machine Gentile (or anyone else for that matter)? The wife got one recently, I can't work out if it's real medicine or pseudoscience claptrap.

Tried one in labour with child #2. Found it annoying and ditched it. Pethidine much more effective!

[Sysman]

My only recommendation is Ibuprofen. Keep it with you, and take it as soon as you feel the first twinge of pain coming on. It'll stop a full-scale inflammation that'll be self-perpetuating developing. You can get supermarket brand Ibuprofen for much less than they cost in the chemist, and they do the same job.

You want to avoid taking Ibuprofen long term. A mate took it for too long after being knocked down by a car and ended up with kidney problems. He is still furious that nobody told him of the danger and that it is available as a non-prescription drug.

First hit in Google: Ibuprofen Long Term Effects

[mudskipper]

Paracetamol is a good anti-inflammatory and relatively harmless for long term use.

Had problems with my back for years. Has woken me up every night for at least two years. Recently have been taking Paracetamol at bedtime and keeping some next to the bed for when I do wake up in pain. Helps a lot.

[Sysman]

In terms of a back-friendly chair, I did work with a Dutch guy once briefly that brought what I can only describe as a space hopper on wheels in to use as his office chair. It had minimal back support, and so it forced you to sit up straight. It was very hard to balance, though, since you were basically sitting on a soft sphere. He was a very tall guy, and he reckoned it helped his back. It didn't make any difference to mine, though.

I had a bad back in my twenties. I thought it was brought on by a combination of crap car seats (I was doing 30K miles a year) and a crap bed (ancient thing I was given on moving into my first house).

It took me several years to shake off. The doc only offered pain killers, but I found a few pints did a better job. Ralgex gave some comfort but I got sick of its smell.

What cured me in the end was moving to Holland where in most bars we frequented we stood up for the whole evening. In the UK I had always headed for a comfy chair in an evening. So much standing for extended periods definitely strengthened my back and apart from the occasional twinge I have been mostly fine since.

With the last backache I had a year ago a colleague reckoned it was probably down to stress, and I think he had a good point. Looking back to my history of backaches they did coincide with high levels of stress. And yes, that move to Holland took me out of a very stressful situation.

[mudskipper]

My current problem stems back to going to a climbing wall. Was advised to 'use my legs'. Limbs stretched in an unnatural position, clinging to bits of plastic attached to fake rock, I did a mega push on my right leg, felt a crunch in my lower back, and haven't been right since. Doc no help, £££ spent at chiro haven't helped, so I've kinda 'given up'. But the thought of spending the next 40 years in discomfort is not good.

[d000hg]

You want to avoid taking Ibuprofen long term. A mate took it for too long after being knocked down by a car and ended up with kidney problems. He is still furious that nobody told him of the danger and that it is available as a non-prescription drug.

First hit in Google: Ibuprofen Long Term Effects

Paracetamol is a good anti-inflammatory and relatively harmless for long term use.

Had problems with my back for years. Has woken me up every night for at least two years. Recently have been taking Paracetamol at bedtime and keeping some next to the bed for when I do wake up in pain. Helps a lot.

Lol, wife was told the exact opposite - paracetamol can cause pain and other health problems and ibuprofen is preferable!

Which presumably means nobody really knows?

[Sysman]

Lol, wife was told the exact opposite - paracetamol can cause pain and other health problems and ibuprofen is preferable!

Which presumably means nobody really knows?

I think it's a good idea to treat both as temporary aids.

[MarillionFan]

Most back problems in IT people stem from poor posture related to bad use of computers. Gentile is a classic example from photos she's must up of herself working.

[Platypus]

Kneeling Chair with Wood Frame Colour: Charcoal: Amazon.co.uk: Kitchen & Home

I had one of those for years and recommend it highly. Unless you're very heavy.

[Lockhouse]

eBay is the best place to pick up a Herman Miller chair, I got a brand new Aeron for £325 a couple of years ago.