Hurt Back

[Huckle]

This morning I followed someones advice on lifting my washing machine in a jerking twisting motion with your lower back and not your legs when the correct advice should have been DO NOT lift with your back in a jerking twisting motion but with your legs resulting in what I can only guess is a sprain which feels like it's on fire.

I refuse to burden the nhs by calling an ambulance and will wait the dr's out on monday.

I have heat and ice packs. Which should I use first, heat then ice or ice then heat? I've already taken paraceuticals to dampen the pain so can function though I can't lift anything heavy.

[ummmm]

I don't think it really matters.

[-Talbot-]

Someone told you to lift a washing machine in a jerking twisting motion with your lower back and not your legs?

Really?

[Huckle]

Thanks ummm. I think I'll try the ice first to cool it off and then maybe the heat as I go to sleep which makes sense from a pain perspective.

[Huckle]

Talbot no, I read the text and didn't see the Don't lift with a ....and so on. I'm to blame really.

[Tilly2]

Try a hot bath, Huckle. Can you lift your legs?

[Prudie]

oh dear, the perils of not attending MHE training. back pain is awful.

[Huckle]

I haven't tried yet tilly but seems a little risky in case it's too tricky to get back out. I've tried the stairs which were painful but manageable but I mainly used the bannister and unfortunately I don't have a bannister type device above the bath.

[Huckle]

I just remember I have vicks vapor rub and tiger balm which I could use on my lower back. I'm going to hazard a guess that this isn't dangerous or painful in any way?

[Tilly2]

Hot shower, then?

[Huckle]

That would still mean me making a risky manouvre to get into the bath tilly2.

[Tilly2]

Vicks is not for sprains..........and be careful where the Tiger Balm goes!

[Huckle]

Maybe a hot flannel steeped in hot water,vicks and tiger balm draped across my lower back if I can reach it.

[Prudie]

Have you got a hot water bottle?

[Mosaic]

You'll manage with a sponge-down for a day or two. I'm sure Sqad will be along shortly but having lifted a cast resin shower base yesterday I'll give you my recommendation: 400mg ibuprofen now, and 500 mg paracetamol at bedtime, lots of fluid to take the tablets down.
Rest on back on the floor with knees bent up to ceiling, same when you retire to bed.(as at 4.50 on the video below). You'll probably shift position when you nod off but this is a good position for bad backs.
See how you go in the morning, keep the cold compresses going.
Try gentle back stretches as you go along, do nothing that hurts.
http://www.nhs.uk/video/Pages/sciatica-herniated-disc.aspx

[Huckle]

I was thinking of vicks's mechanism of action with the heat first then the relief later . So tiger balm is a nono for lower backs then?

[Tilly2]

Ditch the Vicks!

[Huckle]

Prudie a hot water bottle? I'd be embarrassed at my age to have one of those.

Mosaic sleeping on the floor is completely out of the question unless you mean put my duvet and pillows on the floor?

My ipad can't play that vid which doesn't surprise me at all.

[Mosaic]

No, not sleeping on the floor - just reclining to watch the telly, instead of slouching on the settee lie on the floor.

[Huckle]

Okay tilly2 so now I'm left with hot water,flannel and heat and ice pads. Ice first heat later was agreed on with the first poster. Good advice or not?

[Huckle]

Could I still use the ipad moasaic?