Chronic back pain

[trout1105]

6 days ago I woke up and struggled to get out of bed because I had a mind numbing pain in my lower back.
I went to the chiropractor that day and have been back 2 more times for treatment But the pain still persists.
I have never had any problems with my back over the last 60 odd years and I didn't do any heavy lifting to create this problem But the chiropractor said that one of my discs is out of place and that it will take 2 weeks or more to heal up.
Has anyone here had this problem that can give me some advice on how to best deal with it?

[Saitch]

I sympathise with you, Trout.
From the experience of my ongoing 30 year back issues, my No# 1 advice is "Go and see a fair dinkum "Doctor". Don't let a chiro touch your back!


Also, have a look at different exercises for the back and stomach muscles. Don't muck around with it, as it may get to the stage where you can't get out of bed and the idea of visiting a medical person is unrealistic.
If lying on your back, try pulling your knees back so thighs are vertical and calves horizontal and put something underneath them. I use a chair, on it's side.

Time, patience and learning how to move.
All the best.

[350RRC]

6 days ago I woke up and struggled to get out of bed because I had a mind numbing pain in my lower back.
I went to the chiropractor that day and have been back 2 more times for treatment But the pain still persists.
I have never had any problems with my back over the last 60 odd years and I didn't do any heavy lifting to create this problem But the chiropractor said that one of my discs is out of place and that it will take 2 weeks or more to heal up.
Has anyone here had this problem that can give me some advice on how to best deal with it?

DON"T GO TO A CHIRO!

I can't go surfing anymore after a couple of visits to one.

Was properly diagnosed later by a sports physio, but the damage had been done. Go and see one of them. It will get better with the right treatment.

DL

[Homestar]

As mentioned, go see a Doctor and not a quack, without a proper diagnosis from x rays or other tests, it could easily be made a lot worse and you could end up with a permanent injury, many have.

[Fatso]

X 3 keep away from the Chiro :censored:, these things just dont heal up unless it is muscular . If it persists go see the Doc and get it investigated .

[4bee]

So sorry to hear this trouty old chap. It can be a proper bastard of a pain.
I recall sitting in the gutter outside the Specialist's rooms crying my eyes out & wishing I had a pistol for my nut while 'er indoors fetched the car from a block away.

In my case & fwiw, it was a nerve jammed where it entered the spinal column & no amount of physio etc would have fixed it but a 1" incision to clear it certainly did. It occurred (it was believed) when I was shoveling rubble & twisting back in the opposite direction to dump it in the wheelbarrow. Anyway was fine immediately after said Op & have not had a problem there for aprox 40 years touch wood.

As above, have a real Doc have a shufti & don't let anyone touch it until it has been X-rayed so they can see what they are doing. Your future quality of life depends on it.

Good luck.


Btw, the Chiro could be making it worse each time. Seemed to with me.

[Slunnie]

I think a lot of people get this. Bulging disk in the spine and when it touches a nerves then everything gets stuffed up and then your lower back muscles lock up with a lot of pain. See a physio, but all they can do is unlock your muscles which will lock up again if the nerve pinches again.

[Chops]

By several now,, see a doctor and get xrays and stuff.
I have CBC due to just wear and tear so to speak, and just have to learn to live with it with the right exercises and "do's and don't's", general pain management. Things like waking up in the middle of the night in pain takes it's toll on you and your health,, and everybody else's around you too from being tired and cranky [bigwhistle].
A good muscle massage can help for a bit, but if its tendon or nerve related, a doctor is the only way to find out.

[trout1105]

Thanks for the advice people I will book in to see my doctor on Monday.[thumbsupbig]
The bloke that i went to see is a physiotherapist (I call them all chiroprators) and he gave me some useful exercises and stretches that Do help to reduce the pain and allow me to walk around.
If i am up on my feet the pain isnt too bad but after sitting or lying down it hurts like buggery to get up and do the stretches and exercises before i can get mobile again.
He did explain that one of my discs has come adrift and he said that with the exercises and stretches plus some walking it should repair itself, I will ask my doctor about this just to make sure I am not doing anything stupid that will cause my permanent harm.

[Fatso]

Strangly enough sitting/lounging is bad for lower back problems , try and use a straight back chair and stay uprite as much as you can , stick a door under your matress if it is sinky type one , a hard bed that keeps your back straight is good , untill you can see Doc . Discs sort of dont come adrift but can bulge and rupture etc .

[theelms66]

Been there . Got that . Ask for an MRI only way to see exactly whats going on.

[sashadidi]

After healing do core exercises regularly to build muscles that hold your spine in place, plenty on the internet

[trout1105]

After healing do core exercises regularly to build muscles that hold your spine in place, plenty on the internet

That's my plan, There goes my retirement dream of sitting around doing bugger all when I am not away fishing and camping.
At least if I look after my back after this scare I will still be able to go away fishing/camping, At the moment there is no way known I would handle being out at sea.

[Don 130]

Walking is one of the easiest, cheapest and best exercises for the back. That and physio. My back got so bad I couldn't stand still long enough to pee standing, shower, clean my teeth or stand in a queue at post office or shop. The physio fixed it with exercises and walking. It's still a rotten back but I can work with it. Arthritis.
Don.

[rick130]

I've spent tens of thousands of $ on treatment twenty years ago.
Herniated discs, torn muscles, the x-ray were pretty good!! [emoji23]

Been really good for a very long time now, and been able to help a few people along the way too after studying some stuff.
I'll detail some things a bit later

[cripesamighty]

Sorry to hear about your back Trout. Around 10 years ago I pulled a muscle in my lower back lifting an old wooden cabinet TV. After getting it sorted I was recommended this article as I was spending a lot of time behind a desk for work. I can’t find the direct PDF link, but I found a free online link. The article is called “You’re sitting on a timebomb”. It certainly helped me by getting me to change some bad habits. Good luck!


Men's Health - Google Books (https://books.google.com.au/books?id=E8gDAAAAMBAJ&pg=PA125&lpg=PA125&dq=you%27re+sitting+on+a+timebomb+mcgill&source=bl&ots=tqUFM0oDtj&sig=ACfU3U086gooQBwM1qrHUVvUJbCTFLljJg&hl=en&sa=X&ved=2ahUKEwjC0_yVhZXiAhUhg-YKHZ8rB24Q6AEwAXoECAgQAQ#v=onepage&q=you're%20sitting%20on%20a%20timebomb%20mcgill&f=false)

[aussearcher]

I had a ruptured disc between Lumbar 4 and Lumbar 5 - apparently most issues are with L4 & 5. Absolutely excruciating pain in both legs as the disc was nudging the main nerves to the legs. They tried the standard injection of cortisone into the spine under X Ray but that didn't fix the problem. Surgery did. I realized I was a wooz when I was in the ward beforehand and one of the other guys in the same room (a truck mechanic who'd popped his back pulling the engine out of a Mack) had to have a general anaesthetic before a scan as he couldn't stay still whilst conscious...

The surgeon that did my operation is only interested in seven vertebrae in the lower spine - that is all he touches and I think he can be called a specialist! On the downside, I suspect that if you have anything more than a pulled muscle you are going to need to go to Perth. The upside is that if you need surgery it will fix you. Mine was ~12 years ago and I've not had so much as a twinge since.

Good luck with it. I empathise with what you are going through and truly hope it is muscular and readily treatable.

[Arapiles]

A parent at my son's school ended up paraplegic after having his lower spine "manipulated" by a chiropractor.

See a doctor and then work with a physio and I highly recommend Pilates.

[ramblingboy42]

Consider clinical pilates.

I did after a back injury...smashed L!.... and I am mostly better , since september.

Note I said clinical pilates...not those dance classes and groups which are bloody expensive.

Just learning to use the core properly and breathing properly is amazing.

The right instructor will help you all the way and teach you to feel the little things happening.

There is no pain or stretching or muscle manipulation or massage , you do it all your self.

And you can continue core strengthening and breathing every night or morning in your bed.

[rick130]

Further to my earlier post, Chiro didn't work for me, my back kept going into spasm and cramping with the associated sciatica as soon as I walked out of the clinic.
The problem was my core was shockingly weak.
I had a really good sports physio who instigated a raft of exercises (although only ever three at a time) and we combined it with acupuncture in this instance to relax the muscles, otherwise they kept going into spasm.
Cycling was included as I became more mobile too.
It took eighteen months of hard workouts to get back to work with people saying "your back willl be ****ed forever"

To maintain my strength about two years later I took up yoga.
Yoga with the right instructor is very effective, with Japanese style yoga being at the top of that list as it's very core focused.
The combination of breathing, movement and correct form can really strengthen the small intervertebral muscles as well as the large QL muscles along the spine, plus the internal and external obliques and transverse abdominus.
The rectus abdominus, the good old six pack actually isn't that critical for core stability, it just looks good!
Ok, that's a major over simplification, but the other muscles I've listed wrap right around our core and really give it stability, the rectus abdominus is what the gym junkies focus on though as its obvious.

With lots of lower back pain the main culprit is often shortening of psoas muscles.
These attache to the T12-L5 and wraps over the front of the pelvis and attaches on the top of the femur..
Shortening of this muscle often creates issues for most people.
I'd have to demonstrate the stretches for this, but a good yoga instructor should be able to help.
Another problem area is the sacroiliac joint.
This is the plate that connects the sacrum to the pelvis.
It has miniscule movement, but when it locks it creates silly pain just off either one or the other side of the the pelvis where the spine attaches.
Lunges are really effective at getting some movement back here, and core work such as bridge pose and it's variations are really effective.

Bottom line is you need to be assessed and the correct regime to correct the issue instigated.
IMO GP's have scant orthopaedic knowledge, a really good sports physio or osteopath, or a yoga instructor preferably with yoga therapy training would be good.
Yoga classes in gyms are often aimed at the gym bunnies and yummy mummies and wouldn't be so great for an older bloke trying to get his back going again, although you may like the view. [emoji85]

[NavyDiver]

That's my plan, There goes my retirement dream of sitting around doing bugger all when I am not away fishing and camping.
At least if I look after my back after this scare I will still be able to go away fishing/camping, At the moment there is no way known I would handle being out at sea.

I did it via my son who says no to everything! I brought him a skateboard in QLD ( we drove from VIC). His little brother had left his prior skateboard under my Disco - not a happy outcome of course

My Son was very greatful for the new skateboard and said the horible words. "Dad, Do you want a go?" my brain screamed NOOOOOO but to set an example of trying things which he had been very bad at I hoped on the bloody skateboard.

Short of it it felt like a red hot poker being shove up from my knee to my neck for the next 6 months! Getting into my Disco had me with tears in my eyes and in a sweat of pain each time I got in or out of the Disco with the short drive back to VIC[bigwhistle]

Keep moving. Those that do not end up hurting themselves in so many ways. Take the advice of Doctors and Physio- never see a quack who call them selves Doctors[thumbsupbig] Try to avoid the meds. the pain goes a lot quicker and opiods are really addictive and open a whole other can of worms best left alone in my non medical view.

Post the Doc and physio the tip on planking and core excercise is very much on the money. Best of luck. It HURTS thinking about your pain mate.

PS I am going deep sea fishing in two weeks. Never say Never

[trout1105]

Some good news[bigrolf]
When I woke up this morning it wasn't sheer agony getting out of bed, It hurt like hell but it wasn't as bad as it has been for the last week[thumbsupbig]
I spent yesterday doing stretches at least once an hour and I also did a few lots of 10-15min walks as has been suggested here and it actually feels like I am making some progress at last.
I have another physio session this morning and I will make an appointment to see my GP and get her opinion as well.

[edddo]

There are many different reasons for lbp.
You have to know exactly the source of yours before you can know how to proceed.
Or you might end up chasing your tail for months or doing damage.
Im in the the get an mri camp....then talk with a good physio and GP and go from there. Correct diagnosis is everything.

[Saitch]

Further to my earlier post, Chiro didn't work for me, my back kept going into spasm and cramping with the associated sciatica as soon as I walked out of the clinic.
The problem was my core was shockingly weak.
I had a really good sports physio who instigated a raft of exercises (although only ever three at a time) and we combined it with acupuncture in this instance to relax the muscles, otherwise they kept going into spasm.
Cycling was included as I became more mobile too.
It took eighteen months of hard workouts to get back to work with people saying "your back willl be ****ed forever"

To maintain my strength about two years later I took up yoga.
Yoga with the right instructor is very effective, with Japanese style yoga being at the top of that list as it's very core focused.
The combination of breathing, movement and correct form can really strengthen the small intervertebral muscles as well as the large QL muscles along the spine, plus the internal and external obliques and transverse abdominus.
The rectus abdominus, the good old six pack actually isn't that critical for core stability, it just looks good!
Ok, that's a major over simplification, but the other muscles I've listed wrap right around our core and really give it stability, the rectus abdominus is what the gym junkies focus on though as its obvious.

With lots of lower back pain the main culprit is often shortening of psoas muscles.
These attache to the T12-L5 and wraps over the front of the pelvis and attaches on the top of the femur..
Shortening of this muscle often creates issues for most people.
I'd have to demonstrate the stretches for this, but a good yoga instructor should be able to help.
Another problem area is the sacroiliac joint.
This is the plate that connects the sacrum to the pelvis.
It has miniscule movement, but when it locks it creates silly pain just off either one or the other side of the the pelvis where the spine attaches.
Lunges are really effective at getting some movement back here, and core work such as bridge pose and it's variations are really effective.

Bottom line is you need to be assessed and the correct regime to correct the issue instigated.
IMO GP's have scant orthopaedic knowledge, a really good sports physio or osteopath, or a yoga instructor preferably with yoga therapy training would be good.
Yoga classes in gyms are often aimed at the gym bunnies and yummy mummies and wouldn't be so great for an older bloke trying to get his back going again, although you may like the view. [emoji85]

Bloody Hell, Rick. You had me planning to do all that you said, until I read your last line!
Now, where's my nearest gym?

[rick130]

Bloody Hell, Rick. You had me planning to do all that you said, until I read your last line!
Now, where's my nearest gym?Steve, a number of years teaching yoga (seven classes a week) gave me a unique insight into this situation.
I will warn you that you may not survive a gym bunnies class, or at least not survive with your dignity intact! [emoji15][emoji23]

[sashadidi]

Also get a sports dr or physio to meausre your leg lenght/alignment as this can be a problem, see it a lot in medicla practice where I work

Leg Length Discrepancy Linked to Lower Back Pain (https://www.spinemd.com/news-philanthropy/leg-length-discrepancy-linked-to-lower-back-pain)

[sashadidi]

Also get a sports dr or physio to measure your leg length/ hip alignment as this can be a problem, see it a lot in medical practice where I work

Leg Length Discrepancy Linked to Lower Back Pain (https://www.spinemd.com/news-philanthropy/leg-length-discrepancy-linked-to-lower-back-pain)

[laney]

If you see a physio find a sport physio they are worth there weight in gold best of luck.

[DiscoMick]

Really feel your pain. Lots of good advice here. Get a real doctor.