Stupid back tricks

[ampersat]

More like stupid trick back. :shocked: :depressed: :shocked:

I'm in agony here. I was just reaching down to grab some socks from the drawer when it hit. Halfway down the back on both sides. Muscle spasms!!! I was blind and clutching the foot board on the bed. My wife helped me into bed and gave me a couple of Momentum back pills, a pile of pillows and towels and the heating pad. The left side let go pretty quick but the right side is just hanging on. It's a good thing I didn't go into work today because they would've called 911 and rolled me out on a gurney.

Anyway, aside from heating pads and OTC meds, anybody got any good advice to help deal with the pain?

[ 01-06-2004, 12:02 PM: Message edited by: ampersat ]

[Pete]

Brain spike sounds like an option ... I know that pain! Normal move, then SEARING PAIN, FALL ON FLOOR, SCREAM .. spend next 1/2 hour moving to crawling position ... after an hour, finally in bed ... need to use bathroom, raid the medicine cabinet ... crawl back to bed ... try to say comatose for 3 or 4 days ... wonder what will help ... never find a solution ... time passes and it starts to fade.

[I Fred]

Amp, so sorry for your pain. I have the same problem. Short term, with assistance, carefully get into the shower and crank up the hot water onto the small of your back just as hot as you can stand it. I lean forward against the opposite wall and and let it flow til it starts to cool. Get back into bed with a hot pad on the painful area and take any o.t.c. analgesic. First chance you get, get a hold of your doctor and get a prescription for percodan. The stuff works wonders. Others will disagree, but I have not had much luck with chiro's. Good Luck..B.M.

[ 01-06-2004, 04:03 PM: Message edited by: bouyant minnow ]

[Jooky]

Those heavy winter socks will do that to an old man like yourself :grin: .
Better just use cotton socks from now on, stay away from that heavy wool stuff

Seriously though, get well. You cant haul in all those fish with a bum back.

[Joe Schwab]

Hot water will help immediate pain but as soon as you cool off it comes back. Make a large ice pack and lay on it flat on your back. Freeze your back until it is numb.

Been fighting back pain for twenty years and this works. Chiropractors are OK if you have plenty of money.

Motrin works!

[pathetic novice]

Professional medical intervention is probably necessary, but the docs probably played hooky today too. Until you can see a doctor, I recommend the "3 H.T." cure for all pains real or imagined: Hot Tub, Hot Toddies, Huge Tatas...

[chummer]

I used to refer to chiropractors as quacks, my sister-in-law works for one, they claim to cure so many ills. That was until I injured my back and it would not heal. My S-I-L finally convinced me to see a chiroprator in Pendleton who her boss suggested (we lived in hermiston at the time) He checked my range of motion and strength in arms & legs prior. He then adjusted me and then we re-evauated the range of motion and strength tests again. I was quite surprised at my improvement. While I was not completely pain free, I had much improved movement and believe it definitely improved my recuperation.

[ampersat]

I'm vertical again but who knows for how long. Right now I've got an ice pack strapped to my back with an Ace bandage. It's quite humorous looking in fact. My wife took pics. I've been napping as best I can on a heating pad hoping the overall relaxation would help ease the pain. I'm a little better but still in quite a lot of pain.

This all started late last week when I was hefting a 19" monitor onto my PC at work, tipping just slightly forward at the hips. Zap Zap right in the middle of the back, same place as now but not like this. It was tender for a day or two and I'd pretty much forgotten about it by today. I was getting cotton socks out of the drawer at the time; I'm glad they weren't woolies or I'd still be on the ground where I dropped. :grin: (Sense of humor coming back too)

The odd thing about this one is that the source of pain is on the right side of my back and the most comfortable position I can find is to hang in a door jamb from my right hand. If it were just a muscle spasm, wouldn't that make it worse, not better? I tried calling the doctor's office (which is conveniently located at the end of my street) but alas they didn't make it to work either. I'm going to have to go see them first thing in the morning.

I've done the chiro thing in the past and they have their place in back care. But I think this situation is different. I spent a good five months with my chiro last year after tweaking my lower back working on the drifter project. He helped a little but something different happened with that one too and I don't feel like the main source of the problem was addressed. I'm hoping to get an MRI of the spine in the coming weeks so we can see exactly what is going on. Right now I'm wishing I had prescription pain relief and muscle relaxers, but settling for beer and ibuprofen. Yeah, I know mixing the two ain't good for your liver but desperate times call for desperate measures.

[WheresMyBobber]

If you're thinking of going as far as an MRI, I'll tell you the rest of my story. I had a standing position x-ray done when I got tired of constant spasms/problems, and it showed that my pelvis was tilted to the right. Further examination showed that my right leg is about 1/4" shorter than my left, which causes the tilting of my pelvis. Since my spasms are always on the right side, I thought this may be contributing to and/or causing the problem. (1/4" isn't a lot, but with time and age it can have an effect) Because of this finding, I started putting a shoe lift under the insole of my right shoe, and combined with exercise and stretching I don't have near the problems I used to have. Just something else to check out. Having one leg shorter than the other is probably fairly common.

Also (and this is just my opinion), if you're looking for a long term solution I'd recommend a few visits with a Physical Therapist.

[ampersat]

Yep, the chiro did standing xrays and found my tilted pelvis and S-curved spine. I've got a 1cm lift in the right shoe of just about every one of my pairs of shoes. Didn't do much to help my situation. In fact, that seems to be when the other problems with my back started. I still wear them though because I can see why it would help. After thirty some-odd years of tilted pelvis, there's gotta be some pain for the gain of getting your spine back into alignment. Still want to get an MRI because spasms are pretty rare for me. This is like the second or third spasm situation I've had, ever. I've got other back problems too that seem to me to warrant an MRI. My doctor will be the final judge of it though.

[nerta]

I've had back problems for years and will tell what helps me. As soon as you have gotten better from this latest onset of spasms. Start doing excersise that strengthens your stomach muscles. Get back the six pack of muscles in the stomach and the back problems will go away. Always lay in bed prior to getting up and stretch your back and legs. This will help the early morning tightness of back muscles. I'm not heavy or over weight but I found, at 53, my belly was pulling my back out of shape. IMHO stay away from chiropractors if possible. They couldn't make it through medical school, or they would be doctors. The older we get the more we need to keep in shape. :smile:

[Drachir]

I agree w/ Nerta. I have had many years of back problems, and in the fall of 2000, I had to have back surgery for a ruptured disc, in the L-4/L-5 region. It was the most painful and long recovery I could have imagined. I would not recommend surgery to anyone. The only way I can keep the continued pain to a tolerable level is through excercise and stretching. I got do pool excercises at least once a week, and do stretching every day. I have lost 30# in the last several months, and feel a whole lot better. One thing I do have to do is remember what all the physical therapists told me about posture, nuetral spine when standing, suck in the gut, do pelvic floor and abdominal excercises religously. Keeping care of a bad back is not easy, and will have to become a change in lifestyle, period!!

[Pitch Pocket]

A chiropractor is not a med school drop out.

[WheresMyBobber]

Lay on your back with 3-4 pillows under your knees. This takes most of the stress off of your back and helps those muscles to relax. I've had on and off back spasms for several years, and this really helps. Hot baths are also good.

Stretching your back on a regular basis, and strengthening your abdominal and oblique muscles will help keep them at bay in the future.

[ 01-06-2004, 12:20 PM: Message edited by: WheresMyBobber ]

[foxer]

I would try 4 advil every 4 hours but make sure its on a full stomach w/ plenty of water. Then some light stretching. Know anybody w/a hot tub?

[Pitch Pocket]

Get to a chiropractor as soon as possible and have him adjust your lower back. Saves weeks of pain and suffering.

I did the same thing before a golf trip to Arizona. Pulling on my socks and something happened to my lower back and it was intensely painful. Called my buddy the chiropractor and he had me walking immediately. Played 4 rounds of golf in the next 5 days.

:grin: 2 percodan and a beer :grin:

:depressed: I would recomend you see a chiropractor :depressed:

[Dipnet]

Keta, are you trying to put him out of his pain or out of his misery :shocked: ??

Dipnet :grin:

[Silver Hilton]

Doesn't Oregon have a medical pot law?

Brain Spike or Fish Wacker? Take your choice :grin: BBBEEEEEUUUUUHHHHAAAAAAAAAA :grin:

[metalhead madness]

Try a massage. I,ve had back problems since 89. I hurt it while pulling green chain @ a lumber mill. it cleared up after alot of therapy, then again about 5 years ago @ diamond lake it happened again. I was tring to unstick the snowmobile tracks, that had frozen to the trailer deck, with a aggresive jerking motion [img]graemlins/dork.gif[/img] when I found myself on one knee. I went through the pain for about 3 weeks. My father in law set me up with his therapist and after the fisrt two sessions I felt better than I have in years. I still see her about 1 a month and have had no reinjuries. I preferr 1.5 hr session works out the back and then some fluff to finish. I don't like the name bone crackers. Good kuck and feel better

[lost_sailor]

Actually ICE is better right after you hurt yourself. Not nearly as comfortable, I know ...

Need to strengthen those abdominal muscles! (Do your sit-ups/crunches) But, for now, just lay on the floor and wait. Been there. No doubt I'll be there again.

[Birdnest]

Amp,

Sounds like when you lifted the monitor that you herniated a vertebral disk. The bad news is that it hurts like...well you already know. The good news is that with rest(off your feet) and hydration you can go along way in helping yourself. The disk are like onions, and unless you actually have torn a piece of that onion off, rest will help. Hydration is the most OVERLOOKED component.

You have to be careful with chiropractors. They have a wonderful way of making a bad situation worse. Before you let anyone start "adjusting" you, get an MRI and make sure you know what is going on inside. Good luck.

Joe

[TonTo]

I could send Myrtle over to scratch on your back. :grin:
Myrtle

[ 01-07-2004, 07:54 AM: Message edited by: TonTo ]

[Popeye]

I've had lower back problems for 28 years. What I found to be the best therapy is to apply very hot towels on your back, and let them cool. Repeat this three or four times. My Ortho surgeon said that the combination of moist heat, and the slow cooling, lets your muscle spasms relieve.
Been doin' it for many, many years, and it always works.
He also said that dry heat doesn't do the same thing, and I agree.
Get well bro!

[Mello-Yello]

This sounds like the typical sprain/strain syndrome. One muscle goes into spasm and that pulls the others in with it. Push the ibuprofen and take it easy for a few days and it'll calm down.

Excersize and stretching are the best preventative medicine for back problems.

Chiropractics may be able to help, maybe not. An orthopedic will likely tell you to take an anti-inflammatant and take it easy.

I've been down this road too. It's usually very frustrating. Chiropractics guarantee they can make you better, Orthopedics are hesitant to do anything. I went to a Chiro for 6 years. He constantly warned me against 'butcher' orthopedic surgeons. After 6 years of suffering, I went to an orthopedic. A bone scan showed severe cartilage damage, something the chiro could never have treated. One fusion later and I was much better.

[id. painter]

I have a back problem,(neck).
I also went to school with several people who were to become chiro,s.
To get into Chiropratic school all you need is 60 college credits. I had to have 128 to teach.I now have 196.
The persons I kenw who were in school for that profession were not very bright. I didnt meet one that I thought was brighter than myself. and that was scary.,One told me that his training in Chiro school was all about how to run the business and interact with patients . Not science. This has colored my opinion about the practice. I would never trust my spine to one.
My father went to them for years ,at least 6-8 different ones, his back didnt start to get better until he stopped going.My uncle was crippled by one. My .02 cents worth.
id. painter

[hookumhi]

hey man I feel your pain,I have had 2 major back surgeries and constantly am having trouble.What works for me is plenty of water and calcet tabs along with any muscle relaxers you can get your hands on. If you talk to a doctor that really knows his stuff he wiil tell you its a vitamin and water deficiency in the muscles.Anyway it works for me and keeps me out of the doctors office.Oh yeah I noticed I would have muscle spasms especially after long binges of drinkin,the alcohol depletes water from the body.GOOD LUCK!!!

[Sturgeon Tom]

As one who has gone through this go for the ICE first not the heat. The ice is what the doctors will tell you to use. Heat causes more swelling and the nervs will keep spasming. Dr. Cook the Trailblaser dr for many years told me to use ice and if you have to heat for 10 min max, but back on the ice.
I am glad you are upright again. It can be quite painfull. I hope you stay that way.
st

[fishbait]

There is a little known medical speciality called Rolfing. This consists of moving and/or modifying the soft tissue to help align the bones. They can literally help straighten out someones body. Commonly used for repetative motion injuries or where trama has had an impact. IE: broken leg and walking cast will affect how the spine sits on the pelvis. My youngest at 4 years had one foot that turned out when she ran. This was due to a shorter tendon in that anckle, After 3 sessions with a Rolfer her foot was straight when she ran and has remained that way. these sessions were 20 min long over a 2 day period. We could see the change almost immediately. I have seen some before and after pictures that were amazing. You might want to investigate this for help in correcting how your spine sits on your pelvis. If you are interested and can't locate a practising Rolfer in your area I might be able to get you a contact for a referral.

[FallRiverGuy]

While doing physical therapy to recover from a ruptured L5-S1 disc I was fortunate enough to be able to use a MEDX Lumbar Extension machine. The machine isolated the small muscles of your lower back. It does wonders for relieving back pain due to a weak back. Here is a little about MEDX and here is the MEDX home page. I had constant back pain for about 7 years prior to rupturing my disc. The strengthening of my back with the MEDX made my back feel better than it had for the previous 7 years.

[nitroduk]

advill, advil, advil.
i first broke my back when 14, then again in a car wreck when i was 19, the only way i can keep the pain from coming back is to keep doing sit-ups/crunches and excercising. besides it helps more than your back, i'm almost 30 and not getting any younger!!

[corkyking]

Ampersat - I hope that you reported your work related injury. If it's muscles you're lucky, If it is vertebrae you're in for the long haul with a lot of company.

I've gone through three years so far. We'll be looking at surgery this year. I'm not whining too loud since every time I go to the doc there are several with whom I wouldn't trade places.

I guess what I'm trying to say take your time and heal correctly.

[bllelk]

For all you Guys with back problems....
Your wallet is too thick!!!
Empty it at the nearest sporting goods store. It will really help.
Joking aside, most of us drive and sit all day on our wallets. Tilt!

[Waterfish]

Be careful with those heating pads! Last October as I was loading 5-gallon water containers into the back of my truck in our deer camp, I pulled a muscle in my upper back near my shoulder blade. When I got home the pain was worse, so I went to the doctor, who told me to first use heat, followed by ice, and he gave me some powerful pain pills. That evening I went to bed early, laying on an electric heating pad. My wife told me I better not go to sleep on the heating pad, but in the fog of the pain pill I didn't listen. About two hours later she came to bed and saw that I was still sleeping on the heating pad. She woke me up, and we found out the heating pad had burnt a 2" diameter patch of skin off my back. After two days my back was back to normal, but we had to put dressings on the burn twice a day for over a week. That was in October, and I still have a pretty good red scar from the burn! If there is a possibility that you may fall asleep on a heating pad, it would be best to use a hot-water bottle or a gel pack that won't stay hot.