Does anyone here suffer from lower back pain?

[OverVolt]

Got really drunk one time

 

[OverVolt]

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.

Muscle relaxants gave you the 7 months, eh? You know whats a great muscle relaxant?

 

[RandomWords]

You know whats a great muscle relaxant?

Papa Woody? Who pitches a tent and hides it deep in the forest?

 

[highland145]

Pain is just weakness leaving the body...

And what rhymes with pain and did he leave our body?

 

[chitwood]

Muscle relaxants gave you the 7 months, eh? You know whats a great muscle relaxant?

not the muscle relaxer. The steroids. Methylprednisolone. Very powerful stuff.

 

[Jimzz]

not the muscle relaxer. The steroids. Methylprednisolone. Very powerful stuff.

I think he's telling you to smoke weed. That and eat a lot of brownies.

 

[Muse]

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.

Thanks for posting your story, very interesting read! :thumbsup:

My history of back pain also started with a specific injury. After my folks bought the house they lived in for around 50 years they put in a pool, 20 x 40 feet. Diving board. I already knew how to swim but no one taught me how to dive. My much younger sister and her friends used to dive in from the side and the diving board. I used to ask myself, why can't I do that? One day when about 19 when no one else was around I got up on the diving board and decided to go in head first, the way they do. I over rotated and something snapped. The next several days I couldn't get in my car without physically lifting my left leg with my arm. I'm not sure I ever got over that, because I still often have pain in the lower left back and down that leg.

The lesson? Some things are better learned with lessons!

I saw doctors, had PT, muscle relaxers, still do the stretches given me in PT, and think they are still a good idea. In fact, AFAIK I still do all the stretches and exercises given me over the years for a variety of conditions: the back, recovery from arthoscopic shoulder surgery, foot surgery (neuromas).

Time is likely going to really help with dealing with your back issues. Never give up the stretching they assign you. Go as gentle as you need to, but don't give it up unless your body can't tolerate it at whatever time.

I have done a fair amount of yoga, pilates, but more consistent that those things is the stretches and core exercises I do consistently. I'm sure my back pain issues are less than the great majority of people my age as a result.

BTW, you said your injury happened doing dead lifts. I have never done them consistently. One day about 20 years ago when visiting a gym in a city 400 miles away I did some. I was in pretty good shape at the time, but I wasn't used to doing dead lifts. I don't remember feeling anything at the time but a few days later I came down with shingles. Nothing remarkable about my case. But it was a bitch, to be expected. I stopped doing dead lifts! I've started doing some light ones recently, nothing serious. Lots of reps. Lots of reps is pretty much my mantra in the weight room. I don't go heavy, I have nothing to prove. I've injured myself before going heavy, have had off and on issues with my joints and don't want to tempt fate.

 

[NikolaeVarius]

Squats and deadlifts. So freaking amazing for your body if you do it right.

Terrible for you if you do it wrong.

 

[Instan00dles]

Surgery helped me or at least it helped with the debilitating nerve pain. Right now stretching and exercise helps the most, if I sit around and do nothing the pain comes back.

 

[Muse]

I have back pain. Sometimes I get such bad back pain I can barely walk. It might be sciatica because I feel the pain from lower back down one of my legs. Luckily it doesn't happen very often.

About 2 instances ago, I went to the doctor. They found arthritis in my lower back. It also doesn't help that I am very overweight.

They gave me some muscle relaxers and pain meds and it helped, but not 100%.

I really need a new mattress/bed too but can't afford one now.

If I walk or stand for too long, it makes it hurt also, but not like the intense, can't walk type of pain.

I bought a used bed. Nice enough but the mattress was cheapo and before too long, obvious sag. I went shopping. At a local emporium they had a loft with a variety of mattresses and I tried out some from a famous line of back friendly mattresses. The sales person told me that the most expensive ones had the same spring setup as the one I decided to buy. Saved $$$ getting that, and they delivered. Look for a deal, but get one that's well made. I still have mine. It might have a tiny sag but it's barely perceptible looking at it.

Rotate your mattress occasionally: I took a sharpie and made 4 marks on it where my head would lie in all 4 possible positions, 1, 2, 3 and 4. Each time I rotate the mattress (i.e. turn it over), I go to the next number under my head (1, 2, 3, 4, 1, 2...)!

Applying a heating pad is about the worst thing you could do. Inflamation is the enemy. Heat promotes inflamation.

Buy sturdy walking shoes and starting walking.

The PT I went to when I first injured my back gave me stretches but really emphasized the importance of consciously maintaining good posture when standing/walking. In addition, I believe that a well considered and executed plan to maintain strength and flexibility makes maintaining good standing posture much easier!

 

[Muse]

I use heat on all my aches and pains, including my back. Heat promotes blood circulation and keeps me mobile.

I have heard that the mantra is cold first (to treat a new injury, reduce that initial inflammation), and a few days later apply heat to promote circulation.

When they said "use it our loose it" they weren't kidding.

Yeah, I figure this is really true. If you were in a space station/capsule, your bones would weaken, not to mention your musculature! I'm sure that astronauts have a well thought out exercise regimen to help maintain the body they'll need when they get back to one G.

 

[OutHouse]

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.

yup last year I fucked my lower back up something awful. moving or walking was the worst pain i have ever had in my life. could not go to work for a week and it took 3 months for it to totally heal. the x-rays of my spine looked like i had scoliosis in the lumbar.

 

[Muse]

The people that are telling you to apply heat are misinformed. Heat can loosen up muscles and promote blood flow but if it is just solely inflammation in the area it is the worst thing you can do for it. Inflammation responds best to cold. Alternating heat and cold can be very beneficial too, but never just heat on inflammation and always end with cold.

Stretching could be good or bad - it depends on what is causing the pain. In some cases it can make the issue worse.

Things you can and should do:
Align your hips.

Massage your glutes, abdominals (especially Psoas), neck, and low back really well (low back being the least important of those). Sometimes the Soleus can also cause issues.

Look into which postures are causing low back pain, some culprits: any twisted or unbalanced position (some people sit twisted at computer desks); slouching; shoulders hunched with back rounded and head hanging forward (a lot of people sit like this and some recliners cause you to sit like this); accidents/falls; picking up something too heavy or carrying heavy weight while walking; sitting too much - especially on hard surfaces; sitting with your knees up; climbing or unaccustomed gym exercise; swimming with the flutter kick; weight bearing on one side (always carrying a child on the same hip); standing on one leg (putting your weight on one leg while standing); sitting on a wallet; emotional stress... anything that resembles any of the above.

Make sure you have a good mattress that isn't 20 years old or something. Research your mattress and get a good one.

Depending on your pain you might want to check out your spine for herniated or bulging disks as those require different treatment than tight muscles.

After you try all that for three or four weeks - add in stretching and strengthening. For that you have to know which muscles you need to strengthen and which to stretch - a good physical therapist or personal trainer could help you. Make sure you get a good one - with a lot of happy customers.

Super great post, and I dig your sig!

 

[OutHouse]

Squats and deadlifts. So freaking amazing for your body if you do it right.

Terrible for you if you do it wrong.

the thought of doing a squat or deadlift after my lower back episode is frightening. i never want to go through that again and avoid anything that may re-injure my back.

 

[Muse]

Surgery helped me or at least it helped with the debilitating nerve pain. Right now stretching and exercise helps the most, if I sit around and do nothing the pain comes back.

I say be wary of back surgery. It's said that the majority of back surgeries to relieve pain are not successful.

 

[chitwood]

the thought of doing a squat or deadlift after my lower back episode is frightening. i never want to go through that again and avoid anything that may re-injure my back.

100% agree

 

[Thebobo]

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.

Its all in your mind.

 

[mnewsham]

I think he's telling you to smoke weed.

It's working for my broken collarbone.