Oh the Pain, any suggestions?

I've had on and off back pain since I had my daughter nearly 7 years ago.


And yesterday evening I was gathering my clothes to take a shower when my back all of a sudden got a sharp pain in it and I was laid out on the bed, couldn't move with excrutiating pain.

But I got myself up and in the shower...could only wash where I didn't have to bend so I let the soap run down my legs..


Took some motrin and hoped for the best...but as we had a date planned I had to sit straight in the car and at Olive Garden (where we ate.)

Then the motrin kicked in but it still hurt.

Took more before bedtime


Now it is still hurting to move....


It's in my lower back on the left side...I just hope it doesn't start affecting the sciatic nerve cause then I'm toast.

But have you had back pain and if so, what worked best for you....

Your best bet would be to go to the doctor and get it properly diagnosed. any home treatment you try could actually make it worse.

I would go to the doctor, but in the meantime, keep moving despite the pain (with two young kids I doubt you've got much of a choice to rest anyway ). People who just lay down and avoid moving take much longer to heal than those that sit up and walk around as much as they can bear!

I hope you feel better.

Find a chiropractor that you can trust to actually help you, the only problem that I have found with them is that *some* of them just want to keep you coming back for more, instead of fixing you in a couple of trips. I have had back pain for the past 20 plus years and when I get in the condition that you have described, I just schedule an appointment and if I need additional treatments it usually isn't more than one or two more at the most. Hope this helps.

Winter Hawk

Hot water bottles and a vet visit - I mean doctor, of course.

Exercises to strengthen the muscles in your back. I have two deteriorated disks, and have a lot of back pain, including sciatica. The last time it was really bad, the orthopedic surgeon, who is also a chiropractor, sent me to a physical therapist 3x a week for several weeks. Since then, I've been doing the prescribed exercises, and it has really helped. They're mainly stretching. I'd say go to a doctor, and have him/her give you a thorough check-up and recommend some.

I pulled my lower back twice in the past year. I have no remedy...I had to wait it out. I bought a plug-in heat pad, though, that helped ease the pain a bit. And my mom's a nurse so I got some of the "nice" pain pills, lol. After a few days of it hurting, I started stretching it and I noticed it sped up the healing process.

Good luck...back pain is by far the worst pain you can have, in my opinion.

I found out this past year that I have arthritis in my lower back and two degenerating disks...so far, the only thing that takes away the pain is aleve.

Jcat, I guess I need to ask my doctor about stretching exercises, and I know I must lose the rest of the weight I have to lose. I can't fathom chronic back pain, so it's a motivator.

When I had that back pain, I finally broke down and bought Bayer back and Body. It seemed to work for me. (Of course I also turned the new bed around and that might have had something to do with it too since I haven't had any back pain since then)
I can't take Aleve because I had a prescription for Naproxen and since then, anything with Naproxen in it just has no effect on me.
I also use those Thermacare heatwraps and they seem to take the soreness out of my back.

According to the military, they couldn't explain the back issues aside from maybe a side effect of the epidural I had with my daughter.

I usually use a heating pad and motrin.

I had been given Celebrex for it and it helped tremendously. I can't afford to go to a doctor right now.

I was in a car accident about 4 yrs ago and still have back problems. What I do, and it sounds crazy is I lay on a flat hard surface and lift my legs to my stomach. I know it sounds ridiculous but it stretches out the muscles and the spine. It might hurt a little bit for a minute but i feel relief withen minutes

I used to get pain in my back and hips. What worked for me was stretching exercises from a friend who is a physical therapist. From what I understand, for most people the more they hurt, the less they move and stretch, and the discs get kind of dried out. The stretching exercises both stretch the muscles, and help keep the discs moist.

A good chiropractor is invaluable, too. But for now, just be certain you are stretching as much as you are able without increasing the pain. The couch and the bed are your enemy...laying still will guarentee the pain continues IMHO. I'm sure that won't be a problem with you since you just moved and have little kids! But try to keep the activities low impact. No heavy lifting!

Originally Posted by DixieDarlin256

I was in a car accident about 4 yrs ago and still have back problems. What I do, and it sounds crazy is I lay on a flat hard surface and lift my legs to my stomach. I know it sounds ridiculous but it stretches out the muscles and the spine. It might hurt a little bit for a minute but i feel relief withen minutes

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I think that was one of the exercises I used to do! When the pain was too bad, dh would slowly lift my legs for me.

BTW, I love your new siggy, Dixie!

Originally Posted by Beckiboo

I think that was one of the exercises I used to do! When the pain was too bad, dh would slowly lift my legs for me.

BTW, I love your new siggy, Dixie!

Click to expand...

Aww, TY!

Yeah thats something my therapist taught me after the accident... it hurts at first but once you stretch out, it's SOO much better!

It's feeling a bit better tonight, after a not so restful day. Kids were incredibly active. And of course someone mentioned no heavy lifting, I guess picking up my son would count as heavy lifting....but it is a must do.....

Motrin/Tylenol (though I'm not fan of Tylenol).

And trying not to sit still for too long or take sudden moves or bends.