Back Pain - What do you do?

[Nick1994]

Just looking to see if anyone here has some helpful tips for back pain.

I'm 24 and have had bad back pain off and on for about 4 years now, and it's getting worse over time. The first time I had back pain was 7 years ago when I lifted a fish tank.
I had an MRI 2 years ago and it found a slipped disc, a bulged disc, degenerative disc disease, arthritis, and disc desiccation all at L3/L4 & L4/L5

My pain is all lower, usually on the right side. I also have pretty bad sciatic pain down my right leg into my shin. The other week it was flared up bad and I was shaped like the letter S. I couldn't stand up straight and could hardly walk. My back doctor gave me some steroids and a toradol injection and it seemed to calm it down decently and I'm feeling pretty good. I have muscle relaxers that I might take 1 every few weeks or a month. I've never taken pain pills, and won't. I don't really even take ibuprofen.

In the past I've done 2 rounds of physical therapy and have had epidural injections a few times. The injections did a great job but only last 4-5 months. One option is radio frequency ablation, which I hear isn't so great... I'd like to do as little as possible while I'm young as far as any procedures.

Just wondering what others recommend for what helps for back pain. I've got some weight to lose and have a list of exercises to do to stretch.

 

[PimTac]

I've had back issues since my teen years. Movement exercises keep both your back and your abdominal muscles fit. Both are important. Losing weight will really help as well. If you swim, swimming and/or water exercises are great.

If you aggravate things, Ice first then heat. Heat really helps for me. I've used electric pads for a long time. There are lots of topical pain relief products out there. I have found Theragesic to work the best. You can layer it depending on the severity of pain.

Best of luck to you.

 

[AZjeff]

Nick, I flared up sciatica shoveling the stupid 20" snow 2 weeks ago and I was careful not to over do. Was just at the doc for a followup today. Setting up some P/T but his main points were do things correctly lifting etc, do stretches and recommended exercises. New work duties have me lifting more and heavier that I should be and probably is the root cause, that's going to change. You're too young for this, the exercises, stretches, proper form , weight control has to be part of you lifestyle forever, not just until you feel better. Strong abdominals help the back.

 

[Blaze]

Personally I would give the ablation a second thought and look into it more. If the injections worked they have found the correct area or nerve roots to target. That is half the battle.

Back pain is almost entirely inflammation related and getting that under control can really help with pain and HEALING. I would take the ibuprofen. There is no reason to be in chronic pain. Actually untreated chronic pain for long periods is really bad for your health and can cause high blood pressure when your under stress.

 

[Lolvoguy]

What did I do?
I went to my chiropractor. I told him what I'm doing, and instead of cracking bones he gave me some core exercises to do.

Since then I've integrated them into my 6am exercises and I've been feeling great. My abe are literally tighter, leaner and have higher core strength than I did 10 years ago!
Aside from that it's just lots of water and a good diet.

 

[rubberchicken]

Is your current doctor a D.O. ? We all know what a MD is, a DO is like a combination of MD and chiropractor. Agreed with the exercises to strengthen your core- generally they are very helpful for back pain. Do you have active health insurance ? Try finding DO's that are in network, and make an appointment. Get your records transferred in advance.

 

[Burt]

Your circumstance sounds pretty serious, but with my back pain, simply hanging or dangling my legs for 30 second from this equipment that is called a chin-up and dip machine at the gym does wonders. My back just needs a brief time to vertically stretch out with no load to get ahead of things.

 

[DejaVue]

Originally Posted by Nick1994
I've got some weight to lose and have a list of exercises to do to stretch.

Hopefully you get more exercise in at some point than just stretching. Stretching is a good thing to do, but nobody gets strong bicep muscles from stretching. Same applies to back muscles.

Lots of people think squats are bad for the back, but they actually strengthen the back.
I'm not telling you to put a barbell on your shoulders and do deep squats, but there are variations and other back resistance exercises people can do that may be right for them.

Most people should probably just do some form of strength yoga. Get stretched and strong and sweat all at the same time, in a controlled manner with practically zero impact. Can always add some actual weightlifting and cardio to it later depending on the person's goals.

 

[pbm]

Originally Posted by Blaze
Personally I would give the ablation a second thought and look into it more. If the injections worked they have found the correct area or nerve roots to target. That is half the battle.

Back pain is almost entirely inflammation related and getting that under control can really help with pain and HEALING. I would take the ibuprofen. There is no reason to be in chronic pain. Actually untreated chronic pain for long periods is really bad for your health and can cause high blood pressure when your under stress.




I am a lot older than the OP and have suffered from back pain for years from work related injuries...I agree that lnflammation is a big part of it and I also try to avoid NSAIDs (aspirin, ibuprofen, naprosin etc...) due to their propensity for liver damage when overused. I started taking a supplement called TUMERIC and I feel it has definitely helped with the inflammation and pain and stiffness after waking up ( a good, firm mattress also helps)....give it a shot....you' may start to feel a difference after a few weeks like I did...

 

[Duffyjr]

I would suggest a chiropractor, it's kept me from having surgery for 22 years, MRI showed blown disc between L4/5. When I was 36 I started having lower back problems, like you lower right side muscle, I think they call it a stinger. What happens is when your back gets out of alignment your left side muscle starts doing most of the work which makes your right side muscle get weak so when you lifted the fish tank it was too much for the muscle on your right side. This is how it was explained to me. My hips also get twisted so it gives the appearance of one leg being longer than the other and makes me walk funny. After 22 years of chiropractic care I can tell when it's time for an adjustment, I start losing my range of motion.

I will say the best thing for me was walking a mile or so every morning before work. I did keep laying block/brick for five years after the MRI until I blew a disk up in the C7/8 area and that's was enough for me, went back to school and now I sit at a desk all day.

 

[Skippy722]

Same age as you... I tend to get muscle spasms in my back, but I haven't actually been checked out by a doctor for bad disks or anything like that. So far only twice has the pain been so bad that I wanted to go to the doctor. 1st time I did go to urgent care, they gave me flexeril and a work restriction for a week. 2nd time I ignored my wife's better judgement because I don't like how muscle relaxers make me feel and toughed it out.

First time, about 5 years ago, I picked up a 25lb piece of metal and it felt like someone shoved a white hot knife in my back, kind of where my kidneys are but on the right side. 2nd time was a few weeks ago, I shoveled snow and later that night it started locking up, next day I could barely move.

When I feel it starting to hurt I take 600-800mg of ibuprofen, which kills the pain and then I'm usually good. I also noticed that when I started working (was 280lbs) out it really started to help my back. Need to get back into that. My wife keeps saying to go see a chiropractor, she's usually right lol

 

[wemay]

Lidocaine patches, stretching, hanging from pull up bar and a couple ibuprofen.

 

[azjake]

Nick there is a Dr. Yeddu on Guadalupe Rd in Gilbert (480-838-1914) who the wife has went to for her back pain. His clinic is Desert Interventional Spine Consultants. He is an anesthesiologist who has done wonders for her. He gives injections in the nerves of the back/spine that have brought her relief lasting years. He's been a god send for her.

 

[Mr Nice]

Unfortunately back pain gets worse with age.

I agree that losing weight might help reduce pain. I know if I'm slightly overweight because my feet will feel tired. I lose 10 pounds and pain goes away.

 

[Chris142]

I started going to this guy!

http://www.danieltwogood.com/

His books talk about how some foods and food additives like msg can trigger pain. While you do have back damage certain things can make it worse.

I really recommend you get his books. I can pick them up and mail them or meet you with them. But I really recommend that you see him in person and get his talk.

Plus if you were in my area I could shake your hand.

 

[StevieC]

Having 3 blown discs, degenerative disc disease, osteoarthritis and spinal stenosis in my back on top of a back injury I can tell you back pain is no fun at any level but certainly not when this much is wrong.

I live with constant pain daily and I'm limited in what I can do but it is far better today than 5 years ago (at 32), thanks to regular chiropractor visits for manipulation, adjustment and spinal decompression therapy regularly.
I also go for registered massage a couple times a month. My benefits covers all this and it makes a difference for me. If I miss treatments because I'm out of town I certainly feel the difference.

I literally went from being on disability gobbling pain meds like candy and not being able to walk more than 30ft, back to working normally again with just limited pain and meds when I need them. My doctor said based on my MRI he wasn't sure how I was able to walk at all. His attitude was throw pills at it and go on disability. My chiropractor made the world of difference and I'm glad he's a "good one".

I do take a muscle relaxant at bedtime to keep the stiffening to a minimum overnight and limit tightness in muscles in the morning to prevent spasms. This works great.

 

[SteveSRT8]

Decades ago I cracked a vertebrae and damaged a disc when quite young. I ignored it for years until it got so bad I could not sit in a chair. One day at lunch I met a man who commented on my obvious discomfort. He was a Chiropractor with an office nearby. He used electrical stimulation, mineral supplements, manual adjustments, and prescribed exercises to me. In a few months I was pain free.

To this day my back is great, and X-rays reveal that a natural fusion took place. Amazing.

OP, my personal experience may not help you, but a good chiropractor these days has a lot of cool technology that might. No pills...

 

[ARCOgraphite]

A decade ago I was so bad I was shopping at Staples looking at computer parts and I crouched down to look at a lower shelf and I couldnt get up off the aisle floor! Time to address this problem. My wife gave me a book to read on back pain ( forget the title) but as long as you dont have numbness down the leg and can have bowel movements - its all in your HEAD and you can move the pain by having a discussion with the body and doing some stretching exercises. I was doubt full as i was "diagnosed" by a D.O. with degenerative spine disease, etc a few months earlier and give a "jar" of ibuprofen as a remedy

When I look back on these years, I think I was constantly worried about my back and spine and thus tensing up when I shouldnt be, which caused more pain and muscle swelling and lack of mobility.

Well I had that conversation with my mind and body and gently performed multiple stretching excercises - and low and behold the pain went away. Took about a month to get rid of terrible disabling pain I had for almost a year.

Stress in your life is a huge factor also.

Ill ask my wife when she get home about the name of the book about managing and curing back pain. One of the three best books ive read )

maybe this can work for you. I thought I was a gonner at one point.

 

[BJD78]

I am 58 and ever since I was mid 40's I tend to get to get a painful bout sciatia about every 2-3 years. I already have Chronic ileitis and naproxy or ibuprofen will just cause more stomach damage. My doc and MD and ND recommended that I take a dose of Naproxy every 12 hours for the first 48 hours and soak in Epsom salt bath with about 3 cups of Epsom salt in as hot a bath as you can stand.,At night before bed I take a packet of "Calms" a calcium magnesium supplement. So far that has cleared it up in about 3-4 days. There are several natural options that relax muscles like Valarian and Magnesium/calcium. Ginger pills and Devils claw also work fairly well as does Tumeric, but turmeric must be taken with some black pepper in order for it to work well according to my physician. My doc also prescribed a walking 2 miles a day 3-4 times a week and stretching and bodyweight exercise push ups, situps. Back muscles and abdominal muscles are opposite so keeping a balance in strength with both will go a long way in preventing sciatia in the future.

 

[Rand]

I dont agree on skipping ibuprofen.

Unlike Tylenol, ibuprofen will reduce inflammation.

I'm not saying you should eat 4 at a time 6x a day.. but even 1-2 taken before it flares up helps.

If I cant get comfortable I find a rolled up large bath towel under my spine, with laying flat on the floor sometimes will let the muscles relax and ease the pain.