I dropped my toothbrush this morning, and on any normal day… that would be fine.
But I’ve done something to my back that makes me want to cry when I drop anything. I wanted to cry. Bending over to pick up ANYTHING has me making noises akin to giving birth. Getting dressed, shaving my legs, emptying the dishwasher, and unloading the washing machine are all tasks that make me grimace. SO MUCH PAIN.
It’s been almost two weeks now, and I know that people live like this every single day. I just can’t imagine it. I hate that I can’t do what I want to do. Simply picking up my kids and giving them hugs is excruciating.
I’ve always been big and strong. My body has always been able to do anything I need it to do, except play elastics. I tried that recently and that’s harder than it used to be. I’ve come to realise that I can’t throw my body around like I have been, and I definitely can’t twist and pick things up without really paying attention or looking after my body properly. You know when you’re mum used to say, “BEND WITH YOUR KNEES” and you ignored her? Don’t ignore her. USE YOUR KNEES FOR YOUR BACK’S SAKE.
Having a bad back has made my realise how grateful I need to be for good health, and how greateful I am for a husband that hasn’t complained too much about how much I’ve asked him to do.
Joking aside, the pain is starting to get me down. I hate taking any medication, so I’m resisting taking anything for the pain. I’m getting regular Osteo. I’m going to try acupuncture. And I’m going to stop pushing the limits.
I know that some of you guys might be pros at dealing with back pain stuff. So I come to you for advice. What do you do to survive it? {I’m losing weight, so that’s happening and helping, I’m sure… but it’s impossible to exercise when you can’t even put on shoes}.
In the meantime I’m just going to be over here feeling sorry for myself.
Try Bowen therapy that helps with my back pain.
I have Ankylosing Spondylitis and it’s awful. Gentle stretches help, but a good soak in a warm tub with a scoop of Epsom salts does wonders! Even better with a few drops of lavender oil big you have some. Seriously, try the Epsom bath. It heals the muscles and relieves pain. Gentle hugs to you!
I too have Ankylosing spondylitis (In its early stages) along with endometriosis – these are always the cause of my back pain. I find that keeping the area warm and sitting on a comfortable chair helps loads. I would also recommed a warm, relaxing bath like Tracy said…or an equivalent shower if (like me) you don’t have a bath tub!
Hey there – rather than bending with the knees, pivot from the hips while you keep a straight spine. All day we bend doing things and most people curve their spines rather than pivot from the hips. A physio once put a strip of masking tape down my spine and made me wear it for 24 hours so I could really see how often I was bending the spine as it would pull each time I did. It’s good to arch your back the opposite way (like cobra in yoga) throughout the day to make up for all the forward bending. I’m reading a book about posture correction at the moment and there are a lot of photos/examples of people living in Asian and African countries who spend all day working in fields and doing other labour intensive work and they don’t have rates of back pain like we do as they stand legs apart and pivot from the hips with a straight spine. They have lovely posture. Strong hamstrings as well I’d say. Even if it hurts to walk you should try to do a few laps around the yard every couple of hours or you’ll really stiffen up. Some exercises that really helped me strengthen my back are from a book called Foundation training by Dr Eric Goodman (he also has some things on youtube).
Hope it’s feeling better soon 🙂
I can’t even begin to say how helpful this is. I’ve been trying to figure out how to turn and do things, but that visual of the people in Asia working on the grounds – I can see and understand that.
And the masking tape is a good idea too. Not necessary right now, because I can feed when I do anything that I shouldn’t.
Thanks so much for taking the time to write all this. xx
I totally just sat up straight reading this!
I can’t urge you more strongly to see an actual doctor. I have a problem with my back – a physical problem with the spine that ignoring will not fix – and tried to work around it for months until I was practically crippled and actually falling over because of the pain in my legs. And you know when it was worst? Bending over. I got relief from massage and physio, a bit, and panadol. And my doctor said it was sciatica, the first time I saw her. The second time I insisted on an MRI (over her protestations that most people have somewhat bad backs and MRIs make them think they are more crippled than they actually are). Turns out it wasn’t just an inflammation. DO NOT IGNORE YOUR BODY. Two weeks you say is far too long for just a normal back strain. See a doctor. I’m working now on avoiding surgery, and while I hope your problem is not as serious, it’s dangerous to just see an osteopath (manipulation in my case might have left me permanently crippled) without being sure of the cause of your pain.
Thank you. Making an appointment now. x
I think if you have been seeing a few people about it they may have kept the inflammation up by massaging/tweaking it etc. I would try the anti inflammatories and see if you can get it to settle down with those and rest. Obviously we do not know how “serious” the pain is on the pain scale. But I think before submitting your body to a test that is expensive and not good for us try the simple route. Maybe ask the Dr for some prescription anti-inflams.
Big hugs – unfortuntely I don’t have any good advice.
Me either! Big hugs Chantelle, hope you get some sweet relief soon xx
Hi,
I live with chronic back pain. Lots of year of tears, frustration and depressing debilitation! Finally a new GP said “Enough – we must get to the bottom of this pain” and sent me off for a scan (Bless him!) and ta-da – an answer. I have pretty serious disk degeneration and eventually I will need surgery but because I’ve had the correct diagnosis, I am now able to get the correct treatment. I will never be completely back pain free (that’s the official prognosis of my condition!) but the treatment I get is very specific and I can now operate drug free and get back into life.
My suggestions to you are:
1) Get to the GP
2) TELL him/her you want a scan done of your back (specify where the pain is)
3) Research physiotherapists. Find one with facilities such as a clinical pilates studio (ie: with machines NOT just a class where you do your own pilates – only CLINICAL pilates), needling, acupuncture, access to aquatic physio etc. This physio WILL be a quality one and able to help you the best. You want to work on your CORE CORE CORE CORE but only after the current acute attack is over.
3) Once you’ve found a good physio, ask your GP for a referral to that physio (they have the special 5 visit treatment plan as it’s mostly covered by medicare).
You may have to take some anti-inflammatory medication to stop the acute flare up/pain but I hasten to add that this is only as per the advice from your doctor and physiotherapist.
I hope this is helpful. Back pain sucks eggs!!!! Best of luck with it.
I too have a back condition. I was diagnosed with scoliosis (curvature of the spine) at age 10 and had a spinal fusion (8 rods and 16 screws) at age 15 and I still suffer neck/back pain and headaches from it. I totally second everything Leanne has recommended. I hope you feel some relief soon. x
back pain IS serious, I have a bad back and think its dangerous to tinker with osteo’s etc, go see a doctor and probably a physio, they are the best, for diagnosis and serious pain that isnt going away by itself. I have also tried the tape method and like someone else said here – it serves to remind you not do do certain movements with your back and saves you pain and helps you heal. Sending you healing back vibes!
Back pain is a nightmare so can feel for you. Physio, osteo, all are good, but a heat pad is worth having to hand as well. ONce you are mobile again, gentle exercise, pilates or yoga will help!
My husband has chronic back pain due to prolapsed discs then two surgeries to correct it, one a discectomy and the last one a spinal fusion. He will suffer from pain for the rest of his life. My advice would be to get it looked at by a GP, get a scan done. Back pain is to risky to mess about with. When my husband first injured his back he went to a chiropractor, as he had done before, who did some adjustments and probably did more harm then good. I would then think maybe a physio would be the best. The physios we’ve had to help him have all been amazing and the one thing they all stress is having strong core muscles. They will be able to make a plan for modified exercises tailored to you. Good luck and good health.
I have shoulder pain. It is shit and chronic. But if it it something that has just come on try and get past your aversion to medication (I share that by the way) and take some Voltaran tablets. It may just take the inflamation out of the situation and let your back heal. My husband has had a lot of success with this over the weekend – his brother who is a physio does not want to hear about our backs until we have taken 3-4 days of anti inflams. He swears by them for his patients.
Oh no. I hope you feel better soon. No advice here, but just to know your limits (and push them just gently enough that you don’t seize up). I bruised my coccyx bone a couple of years ago. While I knew it was not the worst thing (people have it SO much worse) and wouldn’t likely hurt forever, I felt helpless and shitty and wanted to cry because I didn’t feel like a functioning human being (especially when I couldn’t pick up my then 18 month old). I didn’t expect it to knock me emotionally as much as it did! I hope you get some great advice that does the trick xo
I also suffer from lower back pain from my scoliosis. When it’s a muscular pain, I take a nurofen (pain relief and anti-inflammatory) as you wait for it to kick in put a hot water bottle over the painful part to warm it up. Then, while the painkiller is working and the heat is helping I do a couple of stretches from a “yoga for back pain” video on YouTube. Surprisingly, most of the yoga moves for back pain are about “opening the hips” (rather than curving your back) and this seems to really help!
I have a slipped disc in my back. When it plays up the only thing that fixes it is bed rest and time off work. I have to remember to hold my tummy tight most of the time and really think about how I move in fear of it slipping again. Its agony. Nothing worse than back pain. Hope it gets better soon. xx
Nothing much worse than constant back pain!! *pulls out stern voice* Hope you have had it checked out Look after yourself <3
Oh no! I feel your pain, well not literally, but I know what you’re going through. In December I suffered a bulging disc. I could only lie flat on my back or stand up. I actually looked at hiring a segueway because it was so painful getting into my car. FYI, I couldn’t 🙁
The following things helped me:
* complete rest – much easier for me as I had adult children, who had to behave like adults for 3 weeks instead of children. I also had my in-laws staying from interstate which was a coincidence but they helped a lot.
* deep water running – I did it in my pool for 1 hour everyday – boring, but pain easing
* Physio – and the important part is doing the exercises he told me to do – every 2 hours! He actually laughed at me once because I told him that i did all the exercises he told me to do. He said no-one ever does.
Take care of yourself and strengthen that core. xx
I also have chronic pain (4yrs) its called costochondritis, which is pretty much inflammation of the junctions where the upper ribs join the cartilage that holds them to the breastbone (sternum). Its one of those things that comes out of no where and could last weeks, months or years. I also have carpal-tunnel in both wrist and inflammation in my arms (7years) because of the 2 I also suffer from shoulder, neck and back pain plus suffer mirgrains – its all connected. After years of putting up with it (in tears most days) I finally got myself a good physio, who is god to me as she makes me feel so much better after seeeing her and I can see some small changes. I never could get my hands to interlock and then raise my arms to hold behind my head and now I can 🙂 I would suggest, seeing your doctor, taking some anti inflammatory pain meds and see a physio. You will feel better. I try my best not to take the pills but some days call for it. Hopefully your feeling better soon xx
You can do some yoga moves and you have to do abs : it saved my painfull back.
i would definitely recommend seeing the dr first and depending on what he or she says, incorporating yoga and essential oils could be very helpful as a preventative as well as recovery tool. hope you’re feeling better soon!
Find a chiropractor who doesn’t manipulate your spine. Google ‘network spinal analysis’ (NSA), there are a couple of chiropractors on the Gold Coast who practice it. They get your your body to recognise the cause of the pain & heal itself. I used to go in barely able to walk & come out standing straight & painless. Manipulation always makes me worse, NSA is the way to go – they barely touch you, your body does all the work itself. This has kept me off arthritis drugs & without pain for 8 years & counting.
Dr will treat the pain, not the cause.
All great advice….mine is arthritis so I use Arthritis Spray.
Also have a lavender heat pack which is good
and it’s hard when you want to walk and get moving but not easy if it’s painful…!!
Good to see dr and possible x ray or Ultra sound. Good luck
Go to the GP and get a scan asap! I did a very similar thing last year and went to all manner of people to massage and help me and when I finally had a scan because it would keep getting better then I’d hurt it again, I had a bulging disc!
All the stretches well meaning friends had told me to do were actually making it way worse so be careful when people tell you to bend in the middle, etc. my physio had me lunging with a straight back because bending over from the hips is the worst thing I can do for my problem, my personal trainer friend had me bending over to touch my toes and stretch. Worst idea ever!
2 weeks is too long to be in so much pain you need medication.
Go to a gp, get referred for a scan, then find a really good physio! Leanne Chester (commenter) had the best advice. Good luck!
Back pain sucks! I have a flare up today so am literally feeling your pain. I agree with many others here that you should make sure you know what you are dealing with first. For me the hydrotherapy pool and heat packs really help. Even just walking in warm water can give you that bit of exercise but with minimal stress on your body. I also use natural anti-inflammatory tablets containing theracumin. I hope its much better for you really soon .
My three suggestions:
Consider your mattress. Is it old/too firm? A good, supportive, expensive mattress can change your life.
Short-term relief, if you don’t mind Deep Heat, can come from applying liberally after a hot, hot shower.
And finally, forgive yourself all of the can’t do’s and too difficult’s. Forgive the mess, the inactivity.
I hope it improves really soon.
Telle following my car accident and spinal surgery I had chronic pain for about five years – lower back. I had a walking stick and tried everyting – osteo, acupuncture, you name it!!Here are some tips that worked for me
1. Take anti inflammatory medication – it works and there are no points for being a matyr
Go to physio as well – not the chiro
2. Activate your core muscles. They support your spine. Gently draw them in before making movements.
3.Be aware of the direction your toes are pointing before you walk somewhere – I know this sounds odd but moving in the direction from the toes first makes a big difference to pain. We tend to twist and pivot from the waist.
4. When you do the groceries place one of those 12 items or less baskets in the bottom and then another one on top. This way you are not bending down and using your back like a hinge. Those repetitive actions increase inflammation and pain.
5. Keep moving. I know how painful it is but you will have deconditioning and reduced range of movement on top of the injury which only makes things doubly worse.
If you have been in pain for 2 weeks and you rested initially and it has not reduced then it is time to go to the GP. If it is nerve pain, well that takes longer to heal but it could be a disc issue and you owe it to yourself and your kids to get a scan and get checked out.
I have had back pain most of my life due to gymnastics and 6 operations all before the age of 22! I still get a lot of back and neck pain and I have 2 treatments I recommend to people – rotai and acupuncture. A TCM can really really help. My beautiful acupuncturist fixed my neck within 1 session. My back took about 4 (3 a week) as it was really bad. Rotai is fantastic for getting to the root cause as often our bodies are so misaligned. You may have a short leg, a dropped bladder, rib torque etc and not even know that it’s causing all these issues. Sometimes my leg length is out and once they fix that my neck and back pain is gone, and they didn’t even touch my back lol. Rotai is popping up more places and becoming more heard of so you may be able to find someone in your area (luckily my mum and sister are both qualified and I know the master teacher ;)). Hope you get some relief soon, nothing worse hey. Take some voltaren tablets in the meantime (the good strength ones!!0 xx.
I haven’t had daily pain for awhile but I had a wee back injury there for awhile and was useless, It made me realise how much I take my good health for granted. My hubby has a proper back injury, eg permanent disability in it, and he hardly says his back is sore whereas I can’t help it. I do hope you get some relief soon. So hard not to use your pain like a crane because so easier than bending down to pick up, esp when you have dodge knees like me. Big love xx
Everyone has given you such great advice 🙂 I would say while you’re waiting for Appts to roll around grab some Radox for the bath or shower and grab some Voltaren tablets & gel for some instant relief. If the Voltaren works then it’s more than likely muscular rather than bone related. Fingers crossed it’s nothing serious & you can get back to your old self again xx
I had major back surgery 6 years ago so back pain? I get it. I’ve tried everything and have always found water therapy to help the best- gentle walking & stretches in the hydro pool is my go to. All the best with it, hope you find some relief soon