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[C.Ann]

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[Christine]

Acording to my chiropracter, you should use ice to relieve the inflammation. After you do that for a while, you can alternate between ice and heat. I don't believe the Icy Hot will work as good as a regular old ice pack. So give that a try. Then sit on the floor and do some very gentle stretching. I find that a yoga "child's pose" is good--basically you lay forward with your knees tucked under your torso, lengthen your torso, and put your arms way forward. This is usually fairly soothing. Oh, and LOTS of ibuprofen.

 

[C.Ann]

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[minkydog]

I wonder if you herniated a disc or something? Try icing your back for about 20min and take aleve for pain. If it doesn't get better by tomorrow or if the pain is going down your leg then get to your doctor. I hernated 2 discs last fall and it took 8wks of PT to get is to calm down.

 

[jackskellingtonsgirl]

I'm sorry your back is hurting! I don't have any advice, but I can sympathize! I hurt mine last Tuesday. I have been taking 800 mg. of ibuprofen several times a day and muscle relaxers at night. I have Loritabs but they make me nauseous. I'm going to the orthopedic back specialist on Wednesday. I like the heating pad even though it probably doesn't help. I would be very careful trying to stretch - it might make things worse.

Take care! I hope your back feels better soon!

 

[elizke]

I agree! No heat! It always feels so nice and soothing, but it will make it much worse. Ice for 20 minutes every hour or two.

I have had so much trouble with neck and back muscles and it can be so painful! I can certainly sympathize with you.

E.

 

[mtdevine615]

My advice is to after it heals a little and I think you're doing all the right things now Aleve and ice is to go to a Physical Therapist to learn some stretching exercises. It worked for me and I've been pain free ever since. I do my stretching and some Tai Chi every morning. Take care of yourself I know how much pain you are in.

 

[C.Ann]

..

 

[Christine]

C. Ann,

Here is a link that shows the Child's Pose. However, I always put my arms out in front of me (rather than at my sides like the picture shows). It seems to give the back a better, gentle stretch.

http://www.abc-of-yoga.com/yogapractice/childpose.asp

 

[Cantw8]

drop a frozen turkey on your foot...you'll forget all about your back

 

[DisDaydreamer]

I wonder if you herniated a disc or something? Try icing your back for about 20min and take aleve for pain. If it doesn't get better by tomorrow or if the pain is going down your leg then get to your doctor. I hernated 2 discs last fall and it took 8wks of PT to get is to calm down.

Agreed. If this is not in your butt or leg then it is likely muscular and most easily treated with Ibuprofen and a long hot bath. If it is going down your butt and/or leg then you have either a bulging or herniated disc causing (sciatica). This can be extremely painful and sometimes difficult to overcome. Keep in mind that when you bend over forward your spine is bending and squeezing down on the front part of the disc causing it to bulge or rupture out the back of the disc where the sciatic nerve is located, and it is pinching the nerve. Basic pain relievers do little for this pain. My doctors have told that 800 mg of Ibuprophen will act as a minimal anti-inflammitory. Keep you spine straight or ever arch your back to decompress the front side which will sometimes pull the bulge or rupture back in. If the pain is severe don't hesitate to go to the doctor and if necessary talk to him/her about Prednizone. This is a steroid that will almost immedidately cause the symptoms to disappear, but you still will have to address the problem. Good Luck. I feel your pain... at least I have many times.

 

[DisDaydreamer]

C. Ann,

Here is a link that shows the Child's Pose. However, I always put my arms out in front of me (rather than at my sides like the picture shows). It seems to give the back a better, gentle stretch.

http://www.abc-of-yoga.com/yogapractice/childpose.asp

Oh, my gosh, be sure you don't have sciatica first... this would make it much worse if it is. Maybe you should surf to WebMD or something and chat there for more assistance.

 

[minkydog]

drop a frozen turkey on your foot...you'll forget all about your back

Oh yeah. I forgot all about this treatment

 

[momof2inPA]

Short term, just rest and tylenol.

I have had back problems since the summer and am trying to keep up a good exercise routine, but it took awhile to get to the point where I could exercise at all.

Hope you feel better, soon. I know how much it hurts.

 

[Tuffcookie]

C Ann, That happens to me every now and then. I use to suffer it thru. Not anymore. I learned that this is exactly the time chiropractors can help! It really speeds up the time I can walk normal again!

TC

 

[It's A Happy Day]

You have my sympathy!!! Back pain is one of the worst pains I have had the opportunity to experience and when it is out you can't get anything done. After having this happen twice in the last year when it happened a 3rd time I finally had pictures taken. After an MRI I found out I had a ruptured disc. Luckily I have been able to treat with Physical Therapy and Chiropractice instead of surgery but it has taken me almost 4 months to get back to normal and now I know I have a weakness bound to repeat if I do certain things.

If you have had this kind of back pain before then I would definitely recommend you get diagnosed with strain vs. a rupture/herniated disc. If it is a disc issue certain excersises can make the problem worse and also cause more/possibly permanent nerve damage. If you are pretty certain it is a sprain/muscle pull there are stretching excersises - my PT recommended Kensington stretch exercises - that definitely helped. One I was taught to start off with was:
http://www.abc-of-yoga.com/yogapractice/thecobra.asp
this exercise helped stretch my back but I could control how much I stretched against how much pain I was in.

Also Ice your back not heat. Ice will help reduce any swelling and take whatever type of anti inflammatory med you can...tylenol, ibu, etc. depending on allergies/tolerance.

Good luck and hope you feel better.

 

[4nana]

C.Ann, I so feel you pain as I have been there many times . I agree, heat first 24 hrs not advisable as it can induce swelling - just ice and anti inflammatory, then alt heat/ice @20 min. If anyway possible the stretching may alleviate if muscle spasm. I am like you and try not to lay around as w/o movement seems to freeze up causing more pain. Unfortunately in my earlier yrs there have been times when I had no choice as I was bedridden.

Having suffered with multi back problems (degererative and herniated disc, and spurs) for yrs now and been to many specialists, tried lots of meds, most types of therapy, I must admit, for me chiropractic ranks first! Thankfully, maybe 15 yrs ago I discovered DTS treatments and then a few yrs back wonderful 'twin brother' chiros moved into our area (on my ins plan ++ who are up on latest treatments. Praise God, they've kept me out of surgery and pain free with DTS Spinal Decompression (traction), manipulaton, hydromassage and asst of other therapies. I also have my owns tens unit for emergencies. Seems once your back is injured, it is a constant maintance, but after seeing my brother, sonIL and many friends not pleased with their surgeries, I'll go conservative long as I can and stay on top with adjustments and exercises.

I know you've recently been there with your DD and know the drill. I wish you well, give it a several days of TLC and if not better I agree w/'It's a Happy Day', if you're not sure what exactally is causing pain and haven't had an MRI one may be in order to see what you're dealing with. Take care!

 

[HOGFAN]

what a coincidence. I thru mine out yesterday. Terrible muscle spasms. Went to chiropractor today and got an adjustment. It does feel a little better. He says to use ice for an injury. 10 minutes on, 20 off.

 

[DMRick]

I guess it really depends on your doc. When my bulging disc's decide they would like to leak in August, and slam down on a nerve going down my arm..he said whichever makes me feel better, ice or heat..but neither for longer than 20 minutes. I found heat worked best for me. Since you can't take Ibroprofen, that really stinks..but aleve was his next choice if that didn't help. I was taking the lortabs every 8 hrs with the IB in between..when I switched to aleve, it was like I was taking nada, so back to the IB. I have PT for the neck and pain down my arm, crunches (yeah, like I'm going to do them LOL) for the lower back pain. I was actually feeling pretty good, after resting from vacation, til I went back today and he manipulated..back to PT tomorrow, and I have to pick up some stupid over the door type traction. He said no more neck collar, because it makes my muscles weak..but it sure was good to use when we were doing all the driving and the long plane rides while on vacation. I'm finally off the lortabs..and to tell you the truth, I have no idea why they deal them on street corners. I don't think they are anything great.
Hope you start feeling better..and if not you should have someone come and get you, so you can visit your doctor. Self diagnoses is not always a good thing.

 

[C.Ann]

I guess it really depends on your doc. When my bulging disc's decide they would like to leak in August, and slam down on a nerve going down my arm..he said whichever makes me feel better, ice or heat..but neither for longer than 20 minutes. I found heat worked best for me. Since you can't take Ibroprofen, that really stinks..but aleve was his next choice if that didn't help. I was taking the lortabs every 8 hrs with the IB in between..when I switched to aleve, it was like I was taking nada, so back to the IB. I have PT for the neck and pain down my arm, crunches (yeah, like I'm going to do them LOL) for the lower back pain. I was actually feeling pretty good, after resting from vacation, til I went back today and he manipulated..back to PT tomorrow, and I have to pick up some stupid over the door type traction. He said no more neck collar, because it makes my muscles weak..but it sure was good to use when we were doing all the driving and the long plane rides while on vacation. I'm finally off the lortabs..and to tell you the truth, I have no idea why they deal them on street corners. I don't think they are anything great.
Hope you start feeling better..and if not you should have someone come and get you, so you can visit your doctor. Self diagnoses is not always a good thing.

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irrelevant/old news/old info