Oops! Advice NOT needed from those with back issues..LOL..Update..

[C.Ann]

Tuesday morning I had more energy than I have had since I don't know when.. It felt sooooo good to be able to move and function normally, I went right downstairs and started sorting through all of the junk in my outer craft room - as well as rearranging and moving things around in my closed craft room.. I probably spent a good 8 hours down there - if not more.. Wednesday & Thursday I did more of the same - for about the same amount of time.. Yesterday I woke up with a stomach bug, so I spent the majority of the day sitting around copying over captions for the scrapbooks I'm going to be starting soon - as well as catching up on some letters I needed to answer..

Woke up this morning and good grief!! Stiff as a board (lower back).. I can feel that it's in the "'muscles" - not related to the discs or the tail bone at all.. Basically I can barely walk - let alone bend or do anything else..

So - is this some fluke thing - or was it caused by jumping into all of that hard work for 3 days straight - and then not being able to do anything for the past 2 days?



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Sure could have saved myself a lot of typing and explaining last night - so I just edited out the majority of my post because it turned out to be irrelevant.. Instead, I'm sitting here with "Stupid" stamped on my forehead - and were it not for my DGD's excellent memory, I would still be dealing with a back issue that was so easy to solve it's ridiculous..

Not sure if I ever mentioned this before, but about a year ago the doctors determined that in addition to my other back issues, my hips are out of alignment - especially when I'm walking (one is higher than the other) and that's one of the reasons that sitting in certain positions (or doing a decent amount of walking - like through a store) will cause a flare up of pain and stiffness in my lower back..

Well - the third day that I had been working downstairs, my heels were bothering me and I thought it was my new slippers.. So I got out some Dr. Scholl's gel heel cushions I had here (that I had never used before) and put them inside the slippers - thinking that would help.. I forgot all about it, but DGD saw me do it that day and when I was still somewhat stiff as soon as I got up today, she asked me if I still had them in there.. That's when it dawned on me that I can't be messing around with my shoes, boots, or slippers or odds are that I'll cause the alignment issues to flair up.. I took the cushions out and within a couple of hours, I had hardly any stiffness at all.. I spent most of the day working downstairs again (minus the gel cushions) and my back feels just fine.. Of course I'm sure I could still use a bit of yoga or some type of exercise to strenthen those lower muscles some (now that I'm using them more), but I can't believe I wasted 2 days over something as simple as putting cushions in my slippers that I shouldn't have.. Good thing for me my DGD remembered or I would have been seeing the doctor sooner than I need to for my follow-up appointment - and who knows how many other days I would have wasted not being able to continue on with my project!

So if I ever mention this again, just ask me if there's anything in my shoes or slippers..LOL..

 

[Simba's Mom]

Muscles, lower back-a frequent problem with me. I swear by icy-hot XL back patches. Also, it feels good to take a hot shower and let the water hit that portion of my back. And it seems to help to alternate heat and cold. I use a heating pad for 30 mins, ice for 30 mins, repeat as much as possible. No fun, I really sympathize with you.

 

[Lisa loves Pooh]

Well I Can't diagnose you.

But in "my" case--low back issues (muscular) point to a weakness in some other muscle group and the back is trying to "take over" and do the work meant for other body parts to support my frame and allow me to do tasks.

To take that burden off-- I am currently focusing on stretches for my legs and posterior and strengthening my glutes and ham strings.

However--I went in for a diagnosis that determined that to be the area of focus.

It seems a bunch of us on the board are having back issues lately.

As for what caused your ailment? Well, that really depends on what the physical source is in your body.

I had a baby. I don't think that is your problem.

 

[JessicaR]

What changes in medication. Eliminated one add another - what?

Muscles - Nerve - Bone - all different responses.

I had spine surgery in my lumbar area and have been through the gamut.

Hope you are feeling better!

 

[DMRick]

I guess jumping into all sorts of work that used muscles and your back, that they weren't used to, prob didn't help, but why not talk to you doc and ask about physical therapy (although they wanted an MRI..they wanted to know the damage specifically and xrays didn't show that)? When I was sidelined, once I got back up to speed, she (the PT) was the one to watch me walk and reach, etc, and decided what exercises wouldn't hurt, but would help and would strengthen the areas needed to be strengthened. There would be no way for anyone to suggest wii exercises, without knowing what would do more damage to your particular body over the internet and what would help. The PT actually watches you do stuff, and makes informed decisions, then sends you home with what will work for you. They (at least mine) are very familiar with wii, but mostly they have execises already for you to start up with and they work with your doctor. The wii can be pretty taxing and that came way down the road for me and my herniated disc.

 

[tinatark]

my dh has back issues.. he uses the icy hot patches, and I got him a back2life for Christmas. It's an "as seen on tv" item - a little pricey, $200 - I wouldn't have bought it, except his stepfather has one and says it has done wonders for his lower back pain.

 

[DizneeMommy]

One of the best things in the world is swimming. Being in the water takes the pressure off those discs, and swimming laps is wonderful exercise to build up your muscles. Between scoliosis, having two vertebrae crushed 12 years ago (and the discs now deteriorating), and sciatica, I've dealt with back "stuff" since I was 12. I usually walk for exercise because it simply fits into my schedule better since we don't have a pool. However, if I'm having more pain than usual, if I can get to a pool regularly for a while it always helps!

 

[quasar4legs]

My back and neck issues are much better now that I do Pilates with a physical therapist 3 times a week. I work on an individual program and follow up with daily exercises at home, it has been the perfect solution for me.

I have been doing Pilates for 3 years and my quality of life has greatly improved and I can sleep through the night with no pain, something I never thought I'd be able to do after years of misery.

Hope the pain lessens for you very soon.


Quasar