Reply to: Cure for back pain

[snaw]

Yoga - worked for me, had chronic back pain for years, to the point I'd wake up most nights in pain and have to swallow some neurofens. Figure it was down to tight hamstrings due to lot's of sports.

A major episode that saw me shacked up for a week plus a friend of mine who does it finally reluctanly persuaded me to give it a go for a month to see what happens. After two weeks it was gone - been doing it for four years now and not had a single nights sleep interrupted and no incidents since.

There are a tonne of side benefits as well, my flexibility is incredible compared to four years ago, I no longer have hammy strains every few months and I can pull tricks on a snowboard I've not been able to do for years. Plus the burds are well fit.

If yga is a bit too new age (And it doesn't have to be, I hate all that sh!te too) then maybe pilates will float yer boat.

[BlasterBates]

The most common cause of back pain is when the disc bulges, not a prolapsed disc which actually bursts. Anybody who walks to the surgery hasn't got a prolapsed disc, the patients with prolapsed discs are generally on the floor at home unable to move.

[vetran]

I found

Keep moving.

Ibuprofen.

See Physio.

Swim.

Jacuzzi.

Back exercises as perscribed by physio.

Gentle weight lifting when it is better.

don't push it.
If it hurts stop and try something else.

[DirtyOldMan]

Farewell Angelina
The bells of the crown
Are being stolen by bandits
I must follow the sound
The triangle tingles
And the trumpet play slow
Farewell Angelina
The sky is on fire
And I must go.

There's no need for anger
There's no need for blame
There's nothing to prove
Ev'rything's still the same
Just a table standing empty
By the edge of the sea
Farewell Angelina
The sky is trembling
And I must leave.

The jacks and queens
Have forsaked the courtyard
Fifty-two gypsies
Now file past the guards
In the space where the deuce
And the ace once ran wild
Farewell Angelina
The sky is folding
I'll see you in a while.

See the cross-eyed pirates sitting
Perched in the sun
Shooting tin cans
With a sawed-off shotgun
And the neighbors they clap
And they cheer with each blast
Farewell Angelina
The sky's changing color
And I must leave fast.

King Kong, little elves
On the rooftoops they dance
Valentino-type tangos
While the make-up man's hands
Shut the eyes of the dead
Not to embarrass anyone
Farewell Angelina
The sky is embarrassed
And I must be gone.

The machine guns are roaring
The puppets heave rocks
The fiends nail time bombs
To the hands of the clocks
Call me any name you like
I will never deny it
Farewell Angelina
The sky is erupting
I must go where it's quiet

[Mordac]

I think it's way too long since you were last banned, sonny boy.

[angelina]

Nothing wrong with your back, you just need to **** more.

[spongebob]

In the majority of cases, what happens is that all the little muscles around your original tweak go into spasm and twist your spine about a bit. That's what hurts. Fundamentally there's little wrong with your back. It just needs rest.

After a day or two them muscles start relaxing, and might feel a bit sore for a few days after that.

Unless it's something serious of course.

[Alf W]

You can take paracetomol (analgeasic) and ibruprofen (anti-inflammatory) at the same time. Just make sure you aren't using one of those 'Ultra' or 'Plus' variants as one of them as they usually have both in anyway.

Prescription Codeine pills are the best. You can take those and throw yourself down the stairs and you won't feel a thing.

[Phoenix]

It's no wonder that back pain causes most Sick days in this country.........Pain killers can hide a real problem with your back..like a prolapsed disk, and can cause more damage....get specialist help at a Chiropractors or an osteopaths...Doctors today make me sick!!

[hattra]

You have my sympathies - I've got two prolapsed disks down at the base of the spine (did them in about twenty years ago). I manage to put it out about once a year

Lots of good advice above.

For the first week or so, until you can move around relatively easily -

Ibuprofen and/ or paracetamol (I was told by a doctor in the States that you can take both of them at the same time if needed) - you might want to check that with your own doctor, though. Last time the doctor gave me some prescription opiates - very effective but bits of me (some rather important) stayed numb for weeks afterwards)

Ibuprofen or diclofenac gel

Heat packs/ ice packs (whichever works best for you)

Lying on the floor (make sure the back is as flat as possible, so that its supported by the floor) can help reduce muscle spasms, but keep your back warm.

Gentle massage

Whatever helps you sleep (hot toddy, herbal, melatonin etc)

After it gets a bit better- do the exercise, physio & chiropracter stuff, but keep it gentle to begin with.

Also - learn proper lifting technique, and if necessary, buy a back brace - I have one like a weight-lifters belt - it doesn't provide that much support, but it stops you bending in the middle when you lift.

[xoggoth]

That TENS is utter crap! Got a Boots TENS machine for my little finger which has been giving me gyp since some bastard who did not appreciate my total uselessness as a goalie about 15 years ago blasted a football straight at it and crunched it into about 50% of its natural length. Did sweet FA!

VODKA cures all ills I find. Especially if cheap!

[Joe Black]

Well this must be one of the most help-minded threads I've seen here for a while. So to continue the theme I'll throw in my 2 (rapidly depreciating) euro cents.

Besides the other generally good suggestions of physio, exercise etc, you might also consider one of these:

http://www.backstretcher.com/

Yep, I know it's a Dutch site, but sure you can Google a UK source (I hope so since it was originally designed by this guy)

[threaded]

Take up cycling and go for very long rides.

[xodia]

Ambulances and A&E departments are for As and Es, not people with back pain, no matter how painful it is.

Not true when I felt something going wrong with my back I went to A & E and got treated

I felt there was something bad about to happen with my back having suffered before.

I however did not call an ambulance, I wanted to drive there myself, but alas I only managed to get as far as down the stairs and to my car before I got stuck and could not move. Instead I called my mum to give me a lift to A&E who gave me an injection after finding I could not move my right leg.

There is a big difference however in being a bit stiff and literally not being able to move because of pain, however Lucifer Box is right ambulances are for emergencies and hospitals aren’t out of hours doctors surgery’s.

[Andy Bernard]

Just go to spearmint rhino with ATW on a Friday evening and **** a stripper. That will help the back ache. Just remember to keep one hand on the bum and get ATW to take pics on his mobile.