Does anyone here suffer from lower back pain?

[Mai72]

How do you deal with the pain? I've been getting intense pain in my lower back when I wake up in the morning. Just started using a heating pad.

Thanks.

 

[Grooveriding]

Stretching exercises for your back are a big help. If you sit a lot, get up every hour and walk for five minutes. Check your posture and make an effort to sit up straight if you don't. When you need to bend over or lift something go down squatting through your knees and don't bend at the waist. Big help, but not for everyone, start doing weight training focusing on squats, deadlifts and similar exercises that strengthen your core. Strong abdominals=less work distributed to your back.

Back pain is the singular most common complaint of adults though and can't be completely eliminated, just improved. It's a part of your body aging.

 

[Mai72]

Stretching exercises for your back are a big help. If you sit a lot, get up every hour and walk for five minutes. Check your posture and make an effort to sit up straight if you don't. When you need to bend over or lift something go down squatting through your knees and don't bend at the waist. Big help, but not for everyone, start doing weight training focusing on squats, deadlifts and similar exercises that strengthen your core. Strong abdominals=less work distributed to your back.

Back pain is the singular most common complaint of adults though and can't be completely eliminated, just improved. It's a part of your body aging.

I know moving and exercise are key.

Also, my stomach has been expanding a bit. Need to step away from junk food, friend chicken and LEO beer.

 

[DAGTA]

can't be completely eliminated, just improved. It's a part of your body aging.

I don't agree with that statement.

I found a good chiropractor and have been doing much better for ten years.

* cue ATOT rants *

 

[Grooveriding]

I don't agree with that statement.

I found a good chiropractor and have been doing much better for ten years.

* cue ATOT rants *

Improved can mean alleviated to the point you don't have pain, but that doesn't mean when you reach old age it won't return. Like a lot of things good choices can delay the onset. Also not to say no one ever lives a full life without any back pain.

Aches and pains are a part of life though and something that even in best case scenarios will be a fact of life.

 

[Mai72]

I don't agree with that statement.

I found a good chiropractor and have been doing much better for ten years.

* cue ATOT rants *

I had acute neck pain a few years ago. I went to a Chine acupuncture and she put a hot rock on the side of my neck. When it was over the pain was still there and I had a nasty burn as well.

The best thing I got were muscle relaxers. Made the problem bearable until my body healed itself.

 

[DAGTA]

Improved can mean alleviated to the point you don't have pain, but that doesn't mean when you reach old age it won't return. Like a lot of things good choices can delay the onset. Also not to say no one ever lives a full life without any back pain.

Aches and pains are a part of life though and something that even in best case scenarios will be a fact of life.

Agreed.

I was diagnosed with bulging disks and told they were degenerative and 'could not heal'. ten years later: I do not have any bulging disks and the degenerative disks have improved.

Getting aches and pains as you get older may be part of life, but I call bs when I hear that back pain can't be improved or reversed.

 

[Grooveriding]

Back pain is so common because of how much use the spine and lower back muscles see over time. Spinal issues particularly can be difficult because once damaged they do not heal along with all the referred pain you experience if your discs are impacting the nerves.

 

[Miramonti]

I cringe when I hear of people suffering from difficult back pain. Since mine went out a couple years ago and I couldn't get up from the floor for an hour, and reluctantly at that, I have a new greater respect for how bad it can be. And I know others have had it much worse. Fortunately for me, that was a one time event so far, but I'll never forget the feeling of tearing flesh whenever I moved even the slightest.

 

[Zodiark1593]

Had a couple instances, particularly, one nasty one due to doing squats with a crappy form, and took no small will to keep it secret. As of now though (in my experience), nothing compares to a calf cramp, that feeling you get that you're leg is being sliced by an especially dull cleaver had more of those as a child than I care to remember.

 

[It's Not Lupus]

maybe go see a chiropractor.

 

[BoomerD]

I have 3 herniated disks, several bulging disks, degenerative disk disease, and several other things fucked up in my spine...I live with the pain by simply telling myself it doesn't control me...and it doesn't matter.

That rarely works though...

 

[highland145]

I know moving and exercise are key.

Well get on it.

Ice, no heat.
Stretching.
Core strength.
New mattress.

 

[stargazr]

I had a herniated disc get worse over a long period of time. Finally had surgery to relieve a nerve that was pinched. Was quite a bit better but not fixed. Over the next several years, what was left of the disc flattened out to almost nothing. Had a fusion surgery. Better, more stable but I still have chronic lower back pain. The more I over-do it, I start to get nerve pain down into my legs.

I can only work four days a week. I quit pain pills a year ago. Sometimes I wonder why the fuck I did that 🙁

 

[Kneedragger]

My lower back has been bothering me for years. It would mostly when I wake me up in the middle of the night and cause me to get out of bed early. In the mornings it would be really sore and stiff. New bed didn't help and doctors didn't see anything wrong which sucked but I felt was good since they didn't find any major internal problems. What I did find out on my own was stretching my hamstrings, glut muscles and lower back would help a lot.

I also used a pillow behind my lower back on the couch which I thought was good but recently cutting that out has actually given me even more relief with my back..

A electric Tens massager helps loosen me up also. So I would say start with the stretches and make sure your doctors don't see anything abnormal.

 

[Scarpozzi]

My dad and sister both have had issues. Personally, mine really got bad at the age of 22....herniated disc that resulted in sciatica. My left leg stopped working correctly and I couldn't take a step forward.... I did steroid treatments and Physical Therapy for a month and finally got back to normal with that injury. (lifted a 19" Trinitron Monitor at a bad angle over a desk and hiked the same weekend to agitate it.)

Ever since then, I get flare ups a few times a year. My latest one started last night. 🙁 Advil and aspirin.... Keeping your weight down helps.... Doing back stretching exercises helps to keep the muscles loose. When the inflamation causes the muscles to tighten up, they can't rest....which starts a bad cycle of muscular and nerve pain.

I don't take pain medication for it because it doesn't treat the cause and I don't like muscle relaxers because of how I feel when I'm on them. I believe both of those types of drugs are abused by doctors and patients too often.

PT, steroids, and NSAIDS are the way to go. Chiropractors may be able to help, but PT can help you too with ultrasound massage. It promotes oxygen to the injured area and speeds recovery.

 

[stargazr]

Try not to make it any worse, Become aware of your posture and body mechanics. Learn to lift properly, keeping your spine straight. Use furniture that allows you to sit straight. Do stretching as suggested, along with exercise. Walking is great.

If you find yourself in a situation where you have to lift something you probably shouldn't, don't do it. Avoid leaning forward or doing work bending over. These things are incredibly difficult in real life.

Try not to think about it too much, and just get on with your life. I've found when I start thinking about the future, in relation to my pain, I get really upset. Take it one day at a time.

Try to get by with OTC drugs.

 

[Jimzz]

What kind of bed do you have? I got a very firm mattress recently and have woken up with no back pain anymore over my older plush one.

 

[iwajabitw]

Sciatic nerve pain quite a bit these days. A dull ache in lower back, like a bruise and tingling or loss of feeling in one leg. Sometimes both. Dr said that I have at one time or another stressed the disk in some way. When it heals the scar tissue is denser and therefore doesn't flex as much. Doesn't bother for months, then out of blue I'll do something, usually a twist the wrong way, and its back for a few weeks. I do a lot of heavy lifting at work and with weights and have never caused an episode. Its always something simple like setting a cooler in the back of the truck or yard work that causes flare ups.

 

[Scarpozzi]

What kind of bed do you have? I got a very firm mattress recently and have woken up with no back pain anymore over my older plush one.

We replaced our mattress of 8 years with a new firm one. Then my wife ordered a new one with a gel top a month later because she didn't like it. I sink down in it and have worse back pain now...I just don't have the heart to tell her she blew $1500 on that mattress yet. When I finish my construction projects and get our 4th bedroom setup, I'm moving the other mattress set up there and plan on sleeping on it....or on the couch.

I'm actually considering checking out a Sleep Number bed.

 

[Muse]

Oh man, the first time I applied for health ins. (Kaiser P), I filled out a questionnaire and came to a question "have you ever experienced back pain." I said Yes. I'd encountered information to the effect that everyone in their lifetime experiences back pain at one time or another. I figured I'd be an idiot to make myself out a liar to get coverage.

They denied me! 🙁 Sometime later I reapplied explaining my reason for so answering the question and was accepted. I'd gone on to say that with my current exercise regimen those problems were in the past, basically true.

 

[chitwood]

welcome to the last 2 years of my life. I'm 35.

Hit the gym hard, for 3 months. Deadlifts were a part of my routine.
One day, did too many with too much weight (and probably wrong form)
lower back = death.
stop going to gym.
2 months later, still not great.
Doc says take steroids.
Steroids do nothing.
Doc says try PT.
PT does nothing.
We drive down to FL for vacation (9 hr drive)
Back gets worse after long trip.
Friend suggests Chiropractor.
Chiropractor actually makes it worse, now I have pain in my left leg.
Chiropractor suggests MRI.
Stop going to Chiropractor.
MRI says bulging disc, DDD, and some arthritis.
2 months later... back dies. Cannot sit, sleep, stand without immense pain.
Emergency room.
2 shots, scrip for muscle relaxers, NSAIDs, more steroids, and a neurosurgeon visit.
one week later, much improved.
Go see Neurosurgeon again, he suggests one more week of steroids.
Pain free for 7 months.
Randomly one night, pain comes back. slowly, but becomes really bad after 3 days.
Go see new family doc, try steroids again.
Steroids do nothing.
Go back to doc. Doc suggests another MRI, more agressive PT.
Its scheduled for the 21st. And here I sit with my Aleve every few days (which helps.)


Only thing I can tell you is that everyone's situation is different. What works for one person may do nothing for you. Also pay attention to your body position when you sleep. I started sleeping ramrod straight. Don't pull your knees up at all. Try as best you can to stay that way throughout the night. That more than anything seems to dictate my 'good' days vs 'bad' days.

 

[Jimzz]

We replaced our mattress of 8 years with a new firm one. Then my wife ordered a new one with a gel top a month later because she didn't like it. I sink down in it and have worse back pain now...I just don't have the heart to tell her she blew $1500 on that mattress yet. When I finish my construction projects and get our 4th bedroom setup, I'm moving the other mattress set up there and plan on sleeping on it....or on the couch.

I'm actually considering checking out a Sleep Number bed.

Luckily for me my wife was also having back pains on our plush mattress. The new one, a simmons firm, has helped both of us and feels good to sleep on after breaking in.
So now we sleep well and wake up well. Best $700, sale, I have ever spent.
http://www.us-mattress.com/simmons-wc-phillipsburg-firm-queen.html

 

[Humpy]

welcome to the last 2 years of my life. I'm 35.

Hit the gym hard, for 3 months. Deadlifts were a part of my routine.
One day, did too many with too much weight (and probably wrong form)
lower back = death...


Only thing I can tell you is that everyone's situation is different. ...

I'm a few years older and started a couple of years ago. For me, squats and deadlifts are magical and have eliminated back pain, sleeplessness, crankiness, etc.

 

[ScoobMaster]

I can attest that a hot tub works wonders. 30 minute soak before bed (and sometimes an early morning soak on weekends) make me feel like a new man.