bad back pain

[worfman]

whats good for bad back pain? last saturday i picked up a ligthish bag of rubbish for my wife, and my back :went: took some pain killers, sat down all weekend,pain mostly went. whent to work on monday and the first thing i tried to pick up it :went: again. spent two and a half days on my backside, today it went again server back pain, any good over the counter pain killers...
cheers

[Richie1976]

I've slipped a disc in my back twice, the second time I was in agony and desperate to try anything. Anyway I try acupuncture and ever after the first session I came out feeling like I could do cartwheels. Which is really strange because I never felt like I could do cartwheels before I slipped a disc in my back!

[worfman]

cheers richie, whats the pain like with a slipped disk? is it constonte or when you walk lift things?
cheers worfman

[Richie1976]

It's bearable when you are still, but any sudden movement cause pain. I always remember thinking that I didn't realise how many times I drop things until it's a struggle to pick them up again. Always the second time it happened to me it caused sciatica (not sure how you spell it), which affects your legs, kind of like having intense pins and needles in your legs.

[legend758duo]

get a whaet bag
you put it in the microwave and appply to the painful area to give it the heat.
helps so im told.

[Hellyon]

I had a problem with my back a couple of weeks ago, resulting in my being unable to get out of bed for over a week. Basically my problem was inflamed discs which also cause the muscles to spasm to protect your spine. It was excruitiating, I literally could not move.
However with back pain you shoulsd put ice pack on for as long as you can bear to reduce the inflammation + ibubrofen (sp) which is an anti inflammatory, then apply heat - either a heat pad or a hot water bottle - to let the warmth relax the muscle spasm.
I would also recommend a visit to a physio or a osteopath, they use a combination of gentle manipulation and massage to set you right - if it is a disc that requiress a consultant they will recommend that too.
(One word of 'warning' after a visit to osteo/physio you will often feel slightly worse as the bones/muscles have to readjust, this is perfectly normal and you'll feel better the following day for sure)

[worfman]

cheers richie and legend, the pains so bad i think the wife will make me go to the gp, first time in 15 years...bit of a phobia i think..cheers again

[worfman]

thanks hellyon sounds like its going to be a bundle of fun

[leylander]

the curse of modern man is a bad back , I too suffer and have recently bought an infra-red heat lamp I,ve only used ir four times and although slow I am feeling the benefit

[cazzz1975]

I done my back in at the weekend, I am taking extra strength ibuprofen and ignoring it, it hurts more if I sit around a lot, so I have been playing golf and going to the range to keep me busy...

they always say you should do light exercise if you have back pain

[LoftyLottie]

cazzz is right, it is bad to stop moving about because of back pain (don't know about golf though!). Ice packs (or frozen peas) on the area for ten minutes, ibuprufen for the inflammation and paracetamol for the pain (you can combine ibuprufen and paracetamol safely.)

After the ice pack try a few 'gentle' stretching exercises. Worse thing is to sit or lie down for a long period of time without moving.

See your GP if no improvement.

[worfman]

cheers cazzz and loftylottie i've got the frozen pea's on now. been for a walk, for a bottle, what are the strong pain killers your on , couldn't you lend me some???

[alijangra]

Hi worfman I suffer from ankylosing spondylitis and get terrible flare ups which are very painful. I try to avoid painkillers but when I do need any I take diclofenac and tramadol. These are prescription only so you will need to visit your GP, which I would advise anyway as you have sustained an acute injury to your back. It could be muscular or could be a disc problem so you need to be checked over. Physiotherapy may help also and your GP can refer you for that.

[worfman]

cheer's for that alijangra, i've got an appointment for tomorrow, hopefully they will sort me out.... good to hear from you
cheer's again worfman

[hussy]

just typed a really long email w~man and just as i was sending it~ gone! canceled! disappeared! i am vexed!!!!! not the first time this has happened to me today but please let it be the last!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!