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[gennimom]

My fall over Thanksgiving aggravated the already annoying back issues I've been having. I was mostly free of the pain, but now it wakes me up again at night. Between that and the leg, I'm ready to scream. I can probably go get another back injection but I wonder if that would help your problem?

[goldenapple]

Seriously, born2late, have you been to a physical therapist? I went to my regular doctor, who referred me to physical therapy and to a sports medicine specialist (though my pain was not sports-related).

The physical therapists I saw had experience with a wide range of injuries and ailments. I had back pain as a result of weak muscles, a bad office set-up, and stress. Some of the other people there at the same time as I was had been in accidents, had sports injuries, or even some combination of problems (one guy's knee problems involved arthritis, tendonitis and shrapnel).

Anyway, physical therapists have an enormous amount of training and they can offer all kinds of therapies. I didn't look forward to the exercises I had to do in PT, but I did look forward to the heat wrap and the massage! And it helped immensely.

[born2late]

I've done the PT thing, had injections, massage therapy, all kinds of stuff. Several docs have told me I'll probably jsut have to put up with it.

[bread_pirate_naan]

weak muscles, a bad office set-up, and stress.

Add the seat of your car(especially if the commute is long), your pillow/mattress/sleep position and attitude and you'll have most bases covered.

Cranefly is wise.

[bacardiandlime]

I have had severe back problems (at one point unable to move for 36 hours), and I have found one of these to be very useful. The can be bought from the Back Shop in Palo Alto (who do mail order).
I use it on the office chair, the sofa, it's really made a difference.

[t_s_o_p]

I had a severely herniated lumbar disc exactly two years ago. I remember the day perfectly - it was December 6th - when my severe lower back pain turned into this unbelievable pain shooting down my left leg to the foot. I had severe sciatica for 10 weeks and couldn't walk or stand. I had to move in with a relative because I couldn't cook or do anything really.

The MRI showed a herniation compressing a sciatic nerve root. I lost a lot of muscle on the left side from the glutes to the calf. It took a year to get that side back to the same size it had been before the injury. I still get cramps in the left leg in wintertime and have some permanent numbness in my big toe.

Funny thing is, I haven't had *any* back problems since that injury (knock on wood). Not even run of the mill lower back pain. One factor that caused my injury was stress and a sedentary office job. I no longer spend all day stuck in front of a computer in a bad office chair and that has helped immensely. I lost the job that was causing all of the stress when I became injured and couldn't get myself to the train to go to work, let alone actually function normally at work while in severe pain. Losing that job was a blessing in disguise although the unemployment (and lack of health insurance) for six months after the injury took a heavy toll that I am still recovering from.

[t_s_o_p]

Oh, but on the theme of this thread I should add that before the acute injury two years ago I had many years of chronic lower back pain. I don't know why that went away after I blew out my disc completely... perhaps it had been causing milder pain for years because of tears in the cartilage and once it blew up it stabilized.

The best, best heating pad I've ever found is made of canvas with clay inside. I bought it from a massage therapist. You have to boil it in water for 20 minutes before using it, then wrap it in a bunch of towels before applying it to your back. It stays hot forever and gives off moist heat. Instant muscle relaxation.

The other thing that works pretty well is extra strength capsaicin cream. If you apply it daily to the same area it inactivates nerve cells by draining them of sodium or something like that. If you stop applying it the cells reawaken.

Also, Biofreeze is a good product for temporary relief of minor muscle pain.

[t_s_o_p]

Sorry to keep posting here so much, but OP have you tried one of those big pillows for the sleeping problem? I got a bunch of special pillows after my injury. A neck roll, a bolster to use with an office chair, and one of thos efull-length body pillows. That one is most useful. You lie on your side and use the pillow to keep your spine in alignment and knees parallel to hips. I found it indispensable for sleeping when I had severe pain.

[born2late]

Here's what I usually wind up doing. I usually take a flexiril about a hour before bedtime. I have developed some different positionings for my numerous pillows (sometimes face down, sometimes not). Sleeping on my side has caused shoulder problems at times.

[history_grrrl]

Reading this thread is making me yearn for my PT appointment tomorrow morning. I have my period; sorry if this is TMI but I always have worse back pain during it, so even though I was slacking off on my exercises (yes, goldenapple, I can relate), I've been doing them religiously for the last few days. What I love most about PT is the traction. Has anyone else had this? There are a few ways to do it, but in my case it involves the PT person sort of pulling on my leg in a way that completely takes the pressure off the lower spine. It feels great; such a relief to be painfree even for just a few minutes. I wish I could just like there all day having this done. Sigh.

[elsie]

I'm starting PT for lower back pain on Thursday. I had a cortisone shot in the sacro-illiac this morning, and it's already starting to help, thank goodness.

[bread_pirate_naan]

Reading this thread is making me yearn for my PT appointment tomorrow morning. I have my period; sorry if this is TMI but I always have worse back pain during it, so even though I was slacking off on my exercises (yes, goldenapple, I can relate), I've been doing them religiously for the last few days. What I love most about PT is the traction. Has anyone else had this? There are a few ways to do it, but in my case it involves the PT person sort of pulling on my leg in a way that completely takes the pressure off the lower spine. It feels great; such a relief to be painfree even for just a few minutes. I wish I could just like there all day having this done. Sigh.

Go to a door that has knobs, or your kitchen sink.  Grab hold (of both knobs) and bend at the waist/hips.  Stand with your feet the length of your torso and outstretched arms away from your grip.  Draw your sit bones (the base of your pelvis/tailbone) away from your hands. 

Instant DIY traction.  (for the whole spine)

Some gentle twisting might feel really good too.  Do what feels really good.

[history_grrrl]

Reading this thread is making me yearn for my PT appointment tomorrow morning. I have my period; sorry if this is TMI but I always have worse back pain during it, so even though I was slacking off on my exercises (yes, goldenapple, I can relate), I've been doing them religiously for the last few days. What I love most about PT is the traction. Has anyone else had this? There are a few ways to do it, but in my case it involves the PT person sort of pulling on my leg in a way that completely takes the pressure off the lower spine. It feels great; such a relief to be painfree even for just a few minutes. I wish I could just like there all day having this done. Sigh.

Go to a door that has knobs, or your kitchen sink.  Grab hold (of both knobs) and bend at the waist/hips.  Stand with your feet the length of your torso and outstretched arms away from your grip.  Draw your sit bones (the base of your pelvis/tailbone) away from your hands. 

Instant DIY traction.  (for the whole spine)

Some gentle twisting might feel really good too.  Do what feels really good.

Ahh. You must practice and/or teach yoga (which I also highly recommend for back pain, everybody). Thank you.

[bread_pirate_naan]

Yes, I am a longtime practitioner and experienced teacher.  I am also a qualified therapist with an emphasis on back pain and complementary approaches to health and 'wellness'([w]holistic and team-based solutions).

[infopri]

Hi, I just found this thread.  I've had chronic (constant 24/7) back pain my entire adult life, most of in the upper right quadrant (under the shoulderblade) because of thoracic scoliosis.  Because of the curve in the upper back, the muscles on the left side are always stretched and the muscles on the right are always shortened, leading to chronic cramping.  I just learned this week (coincidentally enough) that my shoulder blade is now starting to turn out of plane, just to add to the fun. 

I've been to doctors, chiropractors, and PT.  I've tried exercises, ergonomic furniture, massage, and drugs.  Utrasound (in PT) provided total relief, but only for two or three hours, so that wasn't very helpful.  Stretching exercises sometimes provide immediate help, but not usually.  Long-term exercise definitely helps.  (I never felt better than when, at 19 and 20, I had a job requiring hard physical labor, mostly lifting with a heavy shovel).  I rely heavily on narcotics, which don't eliminate the pain but do bring it down to a tolerable level, which enables the muscles to relax, which helps to break the cycle of pain.  For those immediate and unbearable times when the meds haven't kicked in (or aren't working), a Theracane sometimes helps.

I've just started PT for my back again.  I didn't expect much, because the only PT that's ever helped is the ultrasound.  But I've seen this particular therapist before for other problems, and she's terrific--and sure enough, even after ony two sessions, I can feel that at least (unlike prior PT) she's "reaching" the problem areas.  We'll see if there's any long-term relief.

By the way, I strongly recommend these two books:   

McKenzie, Robin.  Treat Your Own Back

McKenzie, Robin.  Treat Your Own Neck

The books are only $10 each.  Robin McKenzie is well-known for these exercises, which are recommended by every physical therapist I've ever been to as well as several of the doctors I've seen--and they do help.

BTW, My Better Half and my sister both have herniated disks (a "massive" one, in MBH's case), and they've both found some relief with epidural shots.  We're hoping that both can avoid surgery.