Chronic back pain

**theelms66** · 12th May 2019, 10:02 AM

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

**sashadidi** · 12th May 2019, 10:41 AM

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

**trout1105** · 12th May 2019, 10:59 AM

Originally Posted by sashadidi

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** · 12th May 2019, 11:09 AM

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** · 12th May 2019, 11:37 AM

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

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** · 12th May 2019, 12:33 PM

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

**aussearcher** · 12th May 2019, 01:40 PM

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** · 12th May 2019, 05:14 PM

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** · 12th May 2019, 06:30 PM

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** · 12th May 2019, 07:56 PM

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.

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