Lower back pains , any suggestions ??

[CaptainCalf]

Re: Lower back pains , any suggestions ??

I don't have anything wrong with my back that I know of, but I do have lower back spasms whenever my hamstrings get tight. The only thing that seems to help after they start up is ibupropheon, but as a preventative measure I stretch every morning right outta the shower and that almost always keeps me limber enough to avoid the spasms flaring up. I always figured I knew how to stretch from playing sports growing up, but I really learned to stretch in martial arts classes...

 

[zombeez4brekfast]

Re: Lower back pains , any suggestions ??

Well, ruptured L5 which is pressing against the S1 and S2 nerve roots. That is causing all the pain in my right leg and occasional numbness. I am going in for surgery on the 28th of Feb. Thank god for short term disability. I hope all goes well

 

[Scrawnjohn]

Pain RX works you can get it at your healthfood store

 

[theinvisibleheart]

- decrease intake of processed food and replace it with more fresh fruit/vegetable(decrease inflammation)
- lose weight(if you follow the prior recommendation, you will anyway)
- go for whole grain/brown rice instead of enriched/refined flour, rice, etc.
- water exercise: swimming with paddle, walking in water
- YMCA Healthy Back program
- Dr. Stuart McGill healthy back exercise: bird dog, plank, side plank, etc.

 

[theinvisibleheart]

would recommend PRP and/or PT instead, albeit belatedly.

There are several studies which looked at long term outcome of folks who had surgery and who didn't, and long term outcome was virtually indistinguishable.

E.g., http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/19363455

 

[Markp]

This thread is an interesting read, but as someone correctly noted, self-diagnosis and treatment is fraught with peril. I had many years of pain, and I should have sought additional medical treatment sooner. I tried Chiropractic, Massage, Yoga, Acupuncture, etc with varying degrees of success and none of these are wrong, but finally the pain was too severe to press on. I finally broke down and saw a pain management specialist at Walter Reed AMC who was fantastic. I ended up electing to get a set of lower back injections (risky) to see if the offending discs would respond to steroid injections. The difference was amazing, however, this is most certainly not the answer for most people. What I have learned along the way though applies to everyone. BTW, my back problems were so severe that when my back would go out, it would look like upper body was stacked off-center from my lower body.

1. Lose weight, even a modest 10 lb weight loss will help your back... without fail. Less stress = less pain.
2. Do not allow your back to atrophy, in general I found that pull-ups were very helpful. If you can exercise without pain, do so, pain means stop.
3. Stretching and range of motion exercises are important, especially in the legs and hips. Flexibility is good, work without inducing pain.
4. Find a mattress that is good for you. I have to use an extraordinarily hard mattress in my case, but let your body choose.
5. Protect your back while it heals, don't lift in a way that will aggravate the injury. Don't continue to traumatize it.
6. Get imagining done, be able to see and understand what is or is not damaged.
7. Work on correct posture every day.
8. See a specialist (doesn't matter which type).
9. Be your own advocate, make sure you are getting results, get a new specialist if it's not working.
10. LOSE WEIGHT (This is that important!)

Mark

 

[theinvisibleheart]

The effects of acupuncture/chiropractic treatment tends to be temporary.

Medical science as of yet, don't clearly understand why most folks with what looks like anatomical spine injury tends to be asymptomatic, that is free of pain, while some folks are not.

While this is anecdotal, I've seen folks in wheelchair, folks with severe slipped disk, herniation, etc. walk again and gain mobility after medical doctors have given up on them.

The key seems to be strengthening of the core, not flexibility.

By the way, here is a link to an interesting study in Europe where they got paralyzed rats(severe spinal chord injury) to run again:

New Rehabilitation Method for Paralyzed Rats Restores Ability to Walk in the AAAS' journal Science.

Scientists have developed a rehabilitation method that enables paralyzed rats with severed spinal cords to walk again. The findings raise the possibility that a similar method might someday be effective in humans with severe spinal cord injuries.

Neuronal damage to a severed spinal cord is generally considered too great for repair, even though the nervous system does have a remarkable capacity to forge new connections around an injury.

In research that challenges this view, Rubia van den Brand of the University of Zurich and the Swiss Federal Institute of Technology and colleagues studied rats with spinal cord injuries similar to those causing lower-body paralysis in humans. The results appear in the 1 June issue of Science.

This thread is an interesting read, but as someone correctly noted, self-diagnosis and treatment is fraught with peril. I had many years of pain, and I should have sought additional medical treatment sooner. I tried Chiropractic, Massage, Yoga, Acupuncture, etc with varying degrees of success and none of these are wrong, but finally the pain was too severe to press on. I finally broke down and saw a pain management specialist at Walter Reed AMC who was fantastic. I ended up electing to get a set of lower back injections (risky) to see if the offending discs would respond to steroid injections. The difference was amazing, however, this is most certainly not the answer for most people. What I have learned along the way though applies to everyone. BTW, my back problems were so severe that when my back would go out, it would look like upper body was stacked off-center from my lower body.

1. Lose weight, even a modest 10 lb weight loss will help your back... without fail. Less stress = less pain.
2. Do not allow your back to atrophy, in general I found that pull-ups were very helpful. If you can exercise without pain, do so, pain means stop.
3. Stretching and range of motion exercises are important, especially in the legs and hips. Flexibility is good, work without inducing pain.
4. Find a mattress that is good for you. I have to use an extraordinarily hard mattress in my case, but let your body choose.
5. Protect your back while it heals, don't lift in a way that will aggravate the injury. Don't continue to traumatize it.
6. Get imagining done, be able to see and understand what is or is not damaged.
7. Work on correct posture every day.
8. See a specialist (doesn't matter which type).
9. Be your own advocate, make sure you are getting results, get a new specialist if it's not working.
10. LOSE WEIGHT (This is that important!)

Mark

 

[shooter65]

Can't go wrong with this.


DDPYOGA - The Most Complete Fitness System on the Planet!

 

[RanchhandTCR]

I went a did physicall therapy for six months and it helped me alot, and also just keeping up with the streteches and excersise's and been doing me good but I think I need to also start going to the chiropracter because I feel like my back just keeps crushing down and thats what hurts for me.

 

[zombeez4brekfast]

Had a laminotomy and bone window for my s1 nerve root Feb 28th on my L5 . I had immediate nerve relief and although expensive, the surgery was totally worth it. Doc says i can get back in the gym now and should be back to heavy weights within 6 weeks.

 

[dentout]

The weekend athlete's way to a pain-free Monday An Easy to do Stretching Program: Hyman Jampol: 9780874770797: Amazon.com: Books

This book saved my job. I healed and eventually got away from the stretching. I had several copies but they were loaned out never to return. Out of print now but still available. Good Luck

 

[Longshotbill:)]

I used to get lower back pain but as I started working out core more it went away. A strong core might help with some of the pain.

^^^ This helped me tremondously! I blew a disk a few times and had surgery finally, laminectomy on my L5. Physical therapy focused on core strength. Every time I go to lift/pull(do something stupid) I remind myself. KEEP YOUR CORE TIGHT!!!

For muscle spasm/ lower back pain I personally have found that making myself go for a 1/2-1 mile walk really helps. What works for me is forcing myself to march. Proper position of the skeleton helps me out.
I have literally left the house looking like and walking like the hunchback of notre dame. takes a 1/4 mile sometimes to fully erect myself and it hurts but the end results are worth it. ymmv.

Best of luck to you, We all feel your pain... And it sucks!!!