Living With Chronic Back Pain
January 14, 2004 51 | Comments (Closed)
Notice and Update (Feb. 6, 2003) - Thanks for everyone who has been inquiring to the health of my back, it’s much better. Positive thinking, light exercise and stretching have made all the difference.I want to note that the following post is a personal story of my issues with back pain. It is in no way indicative of all the different kinds of back pain or any kind of recommended treatment or diagnosis.
There are comments below that contain helpful advice and other stories of back pain. Please know that I’m not a doctor, and I can’t vouch for the validity of any advice in the comments.
I want to be very clear that if you are suffering pain of any kind you should consult your doctor before taking any action to help your pain. Back pain is common and can occur for many, many different reasons — each person has to diagnosis and treat it differently.
What works for me, or another may not only not work for you, but could make your pain worse. Please use common sense when taking any advice from the Web, especially when it comes to your heath.
It’s official. I’m dealing with what could only be described as chronic back pain. I’ve been hoping against hope that my back would some day get better, but unfortunately it’s just slowly getting worse and worse.
I’ve finally realized that I’m going to have to really work and make some lifestyle changes if it’s ever to get healthy again.
I’ve been living in pain, at least to some degree, just about every day for about 3 years now. I do my best to deal with it and until recently it’s been nothing more than a minor inconvenience. I’m really not sure how I originally hurt it, but I do know that inexplicably this past summer I gave myself a herniated disc.
I think now that it was sitting to long, working, in an uncomfortable, no-lower-back-support chair, but at the time I had no clue what I’d done to myself.
Luckily I was able to recover from that in remarkable (according to my doctor) time. But ever since I’ve been dealing with soreness and the occasional flaring up of more intense pain. It’s been manageable and I’d been pretty much able to live the same as always.
Until this weekend. I got hit. Hard. I don’t know why. I’ve done many strenuous things in the intervening months and nothing happened but this weekend something, I’ve got no clue what, triggered intense pain that has had me laid up for the better part of the last 3 days.
It’s not quite as bad as when I had the disc problem over the summer, but it’s damn close. What’s worse is the depression that has come with the realization that my back is really messed up.
I mean, if I knew what I had done, I might be better equipped to deal with it. But I really don’t have any idea at all. One day it hurts just a little, as per usual. The next it hurts like hell and I can’t even stand up straight, let alone function with some semblance of normalcy.
In any case — I always thought this would some how just go away. I mean, I’m young, healthy and active. I’ve never had a major injury and ever since my back first started hurting I’ve tried to take care of it as best I know how. I guess I’ve not been doing enough.
In talking with a few folks and doing a ton research I’ve come to realize that this is pretty common, especially among people who sit in a chair all day. I guess this makes sense seeing as how it always seem to flare up when I’m working or laying around the house. Never when I’m playing soccer or snow-boarding.
So, I’m starting to learn about chronic pain and ways to build (and keep) a healthy back. The doctor isn’t much help — it seems that back problems are hard to diagnose and treat. She can prescribe me medicine to kill the pain and reduce swelling, but not much more than that.
I’ve read about some stretches and exercises I can do and I’ve considered seeing a Chiropractor. I’ve also read about posture and ergonomics and all of that as well. There is just so much info, and much of it conflicting, it’s hard to make sense of it all. What I really want is some advice from people who’ve dealt with this personally. I just haven’t been able to find many, so I thought I’d throw this out to my readers.
Do any of you have lower back pain? If so - what works for you? How do you deal with it?
I’ll take any advice at this point.
Filed under: Life and Such
Comments
1. Andrei said:
At Adobe, we have some nice options. First, we have desks that are adjustable height wise. Many people, especially designer types, keep their desk at chest level, and they stand more often than they sit down while they work. When they do sit down, they have chairs that are more like free-standing stools, which makes it easy to switch from crouching/sit position to standing.
This seems to help a lot of people with back problems. If you can find a way to get your desk higher, it might help.
Another thing I did personally a while back when I had stomach and chest pains, as odd as it may sound, was acupuncture. I wouldn’t recommend it as a “cure.” I used it mostly as a means of meditation and relaxation. A point in time during the week to relax for an hour while someone put needles in spots that seemed to affect certain nerve endings. As a suppliment, it helped. It didn’t make everything magically better, but it did help in its own small way.
Sorry to hear about the pain. Recovery of that sort of thing is slow, so just take your time and try not to stress, as that compouinds the problem.
Posted on January 14, 2004 12:13 AM | #
2. Richard Evans Lee said:
I used to have terrible lower-back pain. It got where standing for more than fifteen minutes was torture.
What worked for me was free weight “squats” done with strict-sensible form and a moderate weight. They are sort of deep-knee bends with a weight on your back. I think I remember old-time muscle-man, movie star Steve Reeves starting lifting weights to help with back pain.
Best wishes in finding a solution that works for you.
Posted on January 14, 2004 04:54 AM | #
3. jcwinnie said:
I use some Windows free-form database called AskSam and have compiled aproximately 16 Mb in a file of information relative to diagnosis and treatment of my chronic back pain. Eventually I was diagnosed with and now treated for Ankylosing Spondylitis and Crohn’s Disease.
Posted on January 14, 2004 06:42 AM | #
4. Ethan said:
My father’s dealt with acute back pains for the better part of a decade; he’s tried various things over the years, with varying levels of success. At any rate, I saw this gushing review over at Boing Boing — maybe it’ll help:
http://boingboing.net/2004_01_01_archive.html#107304196201818815
Be well, Keith; hope you feel better.
Posted on January 14, 2004 07:04 AM | #
5. Dave S. said:
How are your feet? Those of us inflicted with flat feet deal with a few different problems, but one symptom is lower back pain. I’m not sure why a leads to b in this case, but I’ve heard it from my doctor, read it in countless places and I’ve experienced it myself.
The easiest way to combat this particular problem, if it’s something you suffer with, is to get fitted for some orthotics for your shoes. They’re not cheap, but chances are that if you go through the hospital your medical plan will cover at least a part of them (custom footwear stores and ‘clinics’ don’t seem to be covered, though you can get them there too). They’ve made a world of difference, and this reminds me I need to get re-fitted pretty soon myself.
Posted on January 14, 2004 07:15 AM | #
6. Jason Derifaj said:
I’m really sorry to hear about your problems. I think the chair is so important, that for years when people ask me what kind of computer they should buy and what to buy with it, I always tell people to spend the bulk of their budget on 2 things:
a chair
a good monitor
The rest of the stuff is throw away. We have to protect our back and our eyes. Now that you’ve recognized that you have a problem, you’ll be able to correct it. Strong abs will always aid in a weak back. Good luck man, I know we’re all feeling a little of your pain today.
Posted on January 14, 2004 07:25 AM | #
7. Scrivs said:
Not that I am a doctor or anything, but the majority of lower back pain is caused from weak abdominals. Don’t know how you stomach is Keith or if you even do situps, but those might help over the long term. Of course if you are in serious pain now, it might be impossible to even do one situp. Hope you find something that helps.
Posted on January 14, 2004 07:35 AM | #
8. Nollind Whachell said:
I don’t have chronic back pain but whenever I’ve had issues with my body in the past, I’ve resolved them with a combination of a chiropractor and stretching/exercise. It amazing how sometimes something as simple as stretching for 5 or 10 minutes can help out your body. You don’t need to go gonzo with a full fitness routine, just get out, be a little more active (i.e. walk to get some groceries, etc) and stretch a little bit each day.
As an example, one time I had this pain in my upper back that ached all the way around to my chest. Getting so frustrated, I tried a myriad of stretches. Finally, I arched backwards on the floor in an arched position (like a gymnast) and within two minutes the pain subsided. Later when visiting my chiropractor, he mentioned some stretches to do and funnily enough one of them was what I had done.
If you do go see a chiropractor, definitely check around. Chiropractors are no different then any other profession. There are good doctors, dentists, and chiropractors, and bad doctors, dentists, and chiropractors. My last chiropractor charged $35 for a 3 minutes adjustment that barely did anything. My chiropractor now does a combination of massage and adjustment for a full 30 minutes for $50. No way would I ever go back to the old way, even though it is cheaper, because there is no comparison in the results, not to mention I’m getting more bang for my buck now.
As for the monitor, chair, and any other ergonomic device, yes I would recommend these as well, yet I primarily see these as things to help reduce issues happening again. If you have back pain now, I don’t think these device will get rid of it. You need to do something to alleviate the back pain first, such as a chiropractor and stretching, then once you’ve done that, these ergonomic devices will help keep it away. I still think some basic stretching each day is the best preventative means though. Problem is most of us are lazy (I confess!) and can’t be bothered with doing it for 15 minutes, since we’d rather sit in front of the TV for 3 or 4 hours in the evening. :)
Posted on January 14, 2004 08:18 AM | #
9. Bruce said:
I, too, have suffered lower (and upper) back pain. As to how to heal it, I would suggest “The Bad Back Book” by Jerry Wayne(ISBN: 0918024250). It helped me get my back back (sic)! You might also consider getting a professional massage to reduce tension and loosen the muscles. As far as I’m concerned, one can always use a massage!
As far as keeping it in shape, I agree that you need a GOOD, supportive chair. You don’t need to spent a thousand dollars for an Aeon chair (although they are very good, and cheaper than a lawsuit, if you’re an employer), but you can get a chair with adjustable lumbar support, gas-assisted height adjustment, adjustable armrests, and adjustable recline, for $100-$150, especially if you check the clearance sales at Office Depot or OfficeMax. And get a new one, unless your budget doesn’t allow it. Also, remember what your mother said and “Don’t Slouch!”.
You should also start an exercise regimine to strengthen you abdominals as well as your back. I play competitive tennis, but it wasn’t enough to keep my back strong. The best thing I’ve found for my back (as well as my hamstrings, abdominals, and hips) has been yoga. I’ve been doing it for over a year now, and it has worked wonders for me. It has even allowed me to recuperate faster when I pulled my back again last year (and you WILL injure your back again!). The pain was less severe, and only lasted a day. The next day, because of my conditioning, I was OK!
Posted on January 14, 2004 08:28 AM | #
10. MJH said:
I’ll mention this cause no one else mentioned it, but I doubt it has anything to do with your situation.
I get lower pain in my back from my hamstrings.
I’ve pulled my hamstrings multiple times (from track) over the years, and its been taking a toll on my back for at least 2 years now. I find that doing some simple hamstring stretches (sit down, feet straight out, touch your toes) gives me some immmediate relief.
Your back is connected to your hamstrings, then the ligaments behind your knee, then your calves, and then your feet. Any or all of these could be tight and pulling on your back. Definitely look into the orthotics, and go to a sports doctor. They will know best, and they can teach you when to and the right way to stretch - for instance, you should focus on stretching more on the cool down than the warm up if your active…
Also, is this a muscle problem, or a spine problem?
Posted on January 14, 2004 08:54 AM | #
11. Doug said:
Since seeing your headline, I’ve read every word on this page with intense interest. I’ve always had *some* lower back pain for the last few years. But two weeks before the holidays this past year (recently) I did something to my back that had me laid out flat for four days straight. I was only bending over to pick up something light, certainly nothing strenuous. Followed by excuciating pain for several days. Straw that broke the camel’s back kind of thing.
It’s been a slow recovery over the past four weeks, filled with lots of pain. I don’t know if it will ever completely heal. Some days the pain flairs up much more than others, and I can barely stand up straight, let alone walk around in a normal manner or at a normal pace.
So I think I’m going to have to be just as careful as you Keith, as well as follow some of the advice in your comments. I sit way too long, I don’t stretch enough, and more stomach exercises as I get better sound like they’ll help.
Hope you start feeling better soon. Thanks for sharing and collecting the input/advice.
Posted on January 14, 2004 09:06 AM | #
12. Dave said:
I thought I was young, too, when at age 28 in 1999 I herniated a disc so badly that it fragmented. I thought, after seeing the MRI, that surgery was the only way to fix the fragment and accompanying back pain and debilitating sciatica. My doctor (and insurance company) prescribed 6-8 weeks of physical therapy, which consisted of stretching - mostly legs and hips, minor adjustments, trunk-strengthening exercises, and electro-stimulation.
I highly recommend this course of action, if it is available to you. PT had an immediate, specific, and permanent effect for me. IMHO, yoga and chiropractic do have their uses but cannot provide healing of the proper intensity and directness for serious disc injuries.
Re: MRI scans, if you need one - When they ask if you are claustrophobic, say “Yes.” Trust me. :)
Posted on January 14, 2004 09:16 AM | #
13. Keith said:
Thanks everyone for the well wishes and the great advice. This post has given me more to work with than hours of intranet searching.
(side note – I was very careful how I titled this page because I had such a hard time finding anything good on chronic back pain. My hope is that people searching will find this page and all the good advice folks have given)
For those who asked – I’m not sure how I originally hurt my back and I’m not exactly sure what the problem is at the moment. This summer I had a herniated disc, but this seems different. It’s just really sore and hurts when I move a certain way.
The only other symptom I have, besides pain and lack of full motion, is that I can’t stand fully straight. It’s like my torso leans a bit to the left and when I walk it kind of feels like one leg is longer than the other.
This, however, has almost resolved itself. A few days ago I was walking around like an old man.
The pain really responds to heat and if I take a hot shower, for example, my range of motion increases dramatically for a little while.
All of this leads me to believe that this is probably a muscle thing, but I could be wrong.
It has been getting better, slowly, and so far, this time I’ve not seen a doctor or specialists. Heck, I’ve barely left the house – good thing I can telecommute. I’m pretty confident that in a day or two I’ll be to a point where I can try some “self-help” solutions and see how those go.
In my last visit to the doctor she told me this would happen and that I should just rest and take Ibuprofen. She got me through the disc problem pretty well, so I’m following her advice.
Thanks again everyone!
Posted on January 14, 2004 09:49 AM | #
14. padawan said:
I have a herniated disc too and have dealt with chronic back pain for more than 10 years now. I trace it to a car injury and within a year it started to become a handicap. I’ve seen a bad chiropractor at $100 until I found an excellent one at about $8 (French standard hospital price) and kept with him. What stabilized the problem for me was wearing a solid plastic ring (specifically molded on my body) every day for about a month, then (re)learn about all the postures and gestures (how to properly sit, stand up, lie down, etc.) Now I still have problems on a regular basis, but that’s always linked to a bad movement that locks a vertebrae which crushes a nerve. The chiropractor has always unlocked those so far and meanwhile I eat pain killers when the pain is too high.
Recurring causes of trouble for me are:
- stress. Someone mentioned that already, if your muscles are contracted, it amplifies the problem
- lack of exercise (ironically, the guy who suspended me from sport for most of my childhood for medical reasons was the same bad chiropractor mentioned above)
- bad chairs. Now I just need to look at a bad chair to know it will trigger pain. I prefer to stand up if no good option is available
- bad desk ergonomics (chair/desk/screen)
- staying too long in the same position, notably sitting. I can be in any position, but not for too long (not more than an hour seems a good measure). The trouble is that you don’t feel the pain immediately, so it’s easy to forget about that when working at computer stuff! Sit, stand up, walk (I sorted out excruciating crisis just by walking for an hour), lie down.
I do hope your back problem will stabilize. And find a doctor you trust, this is way too important to leave your spine in the hands of an incompetent one.
Posted on January 14, 2004 10:16 AM | #
15. Tore said:
Hi Keith,
Being over two meters tall, I’ve dealt with back pains for almost as long as I can remember. I won’t go into details on the different kinds of treatment you can get and excercises you can do… there’s been plenty of great advice already.
I just have a little tip for you: Buy a knitted belt made of camels wool! You mention yourself that heat helps, and this thing is almost like wrapping a live camel around your waist.
Whenever I start getting back pains I put the belt on and wear it all day (and night) until the pain disappears again.
Don’t worry about looking like a dork - it will fit under your normal clothes. You’ll look slightly thicker but hey, it sure beats collapsing on the street as I sometimes tend to do.
Posted on January 14, 2004 10:46 AM | #
16. Gabe said:
I have chronic upper back pain, particularly around my left shoulder blade. It hasn’t gotten bad enough that it stopped me from going to work or anything like that, but it is annoying and so I’m making a big effort to improve my posture/ergonomics/excercise. In my case, I think it may have something to do with the physical activity I enjoy. I snowboard and play disc golf A LOT. Both of these activities tend to work the body unevenly. So I am learning to throw left-handed, and riding switch as much as possible. I’m not sure if it’s getting any better, but at least it’s not getting any worse.
Posted on January 14, 2004 01:20 PM | #
17. Drew McLellan said:
I have back problems from time to time. Last year I sat up in bed a little too quickly (!) and basically couldn’t move from the bed for about three days. I eventually got to see a chiropractor - and it was the best thing I could have done. She did two things that really helped. Firstly she identified what was causing the pain. For me, it was my hamstrings being too short - knowing this meant I could get the trainer at the gym to show me some good exercises for that. Secondly, she showed me how to sit properly. If your chair has adjustable tilt, tip the sit forward so that you sit more upright. It feels uncomfortable at first, but you very soon get used to it. If your chair doesn’t tilt - get one that does.
I’m 6’2”, so the other thing I did was when it came time to get a different car I simply got one with more room to sit comfortably. I don’t know if you drive a lot, but if you do it’s worth consideration when you next change your car. With the new car I no longer have to stretch to get everything back in place after I get out. Not as easy as getting a new chair, but hey.
Posted on January 14, 2004 01:32 PM | #
18. Eric TF Bat said:
Definitely go see a chiropractor - but beware. Chiropractic is considered a quack medicine by the “official” medical profession in most of the world, and that has one nasty side-effect: it means that the really good, responsible, intelligent chiropractors are competing in business against the useless, the incompetent and the flat-out violent; there’s no way to tell one from the other, as there would be if the medical profession would get off their arses and actually regulate things. So follow these steps:
1. Ask your friends and relatives for recommendations. Ignore the “don’t go there; they’re all quacks” arguments, because bigotry is no use to you.
2. Go in cold to a chiropractor, without giving anything away. If he/she starts doing physical manipulation without carefully explaining everything to you and putting you at your ease, excuse yourself and get out. My fiancee didn’t take this advice and ended up terrified of the same chiropractor I’ve been happily seeing for twenty years.
3. If you find a chiro who is gentle but competent, scientific and not airy-fairy-new-age-loony in outlook, and able to give good results, let as many people as possible know. Publish the name and address as widely as you can. Word of mouth is the only publicity that counts for these people.
4. If (god forbid) you find one who is violent, aggressive, ignorant and pushy, warn everyone you know to stay away, and feel free to pass his name on to the good chiropractors you meet. Similarly, if you find one who is airy-fairy, playing with auras and crystals and little wooden blocks and the other paraphenalia of the new age, treat them with the same contempt. In short, spread the word and encourage the good over the bad.
Oh… and good luck. Back pain sucks. I hope it works out for you.
Posted on January 14, 2004 02:31 PM | #
19. MikeyC said:
“always tell people to spend the bulk of their budget on 2 things: a chair [and] a good monitor”
Amen to that. For several months my eyes we’re really bothering me. I’d have to put a warm towel over my eyes at night because of the sharp stabbing pain. Finally, I realized how stupid I was being, slowly destroying my eyes in front of a CRT, and bought an LCD monitor. Then I complained at work until I got one there too ;) I’ve got a nice adjustable chair at work which helps with the back. Also, I find that twisting my upper torso to either side until you hear a “pop” and then “popping” my neck to either side helps. But what do I know? For all I know, I could be making it worse ;)
Posted on January 14, 2004 03:46 PM | #
20. David said:
You have explained my exact problem that I have been dealing with for the past 6 years. I have seen every type of physician from Chiropractors to doctors and have had every kind of test from scans to blood tests. I have got orthodics in shoes, splints for my teeth and cranial destortion, special chairs and tables, special diets and exercises. All of these have helped to a small and large degree with the burning sensations I get in my lower back and sacrum over the years. But the pain still exists. I have seen people to deal with this physically as I mentioned and also emotionally and spiritually. These have also helped. My next post will give you a few tips.
Posted on January 14, 2004 04:13 PM | #
21. David said:
1. Try to keep an open approach to all options that may be suggested. Your whole body is connected in case you hadn’t noticed and when someone suggests something like “if we make a corrrection with your teeth we can help your back”, don’t discount it without getting all the facts.
2. Try to be positive about the situation and refrain from explaining your problem to everyone who asks whats wrong as it keeps it in the fore front of your mind and does little to help the problem.
3. Some software that might help. I have used this product for the last 6 months and it has helped me tremendously. http://www.workrave.com/ It has helped control my back and my eyes. I take a micro pause every 15mins for 30 seconds and a break every 45 mins for 5 mins. The terminology I am using will become clearer when you visit this site. Oh and the product is free.
Anything else I can help with, let me know.
Posted on January 14, 2004 04:25 PM | #
22. Will Pate said:
Keith,
I had minor back pain for a while, so here’s what I tried, with much success:
Slowly and carefully building up the muscles in my lower back. Start with regular stretching and move up to more difficult exercises like back crunches.
Strengthening my stomach muscles with a wide variety of abdominal exercises. Keeping my abs flexed during as much of the day as I can to take the pressure off my back.
Sleeping flat on my back to reduce strain during the night.
Joint supplements like glucosamine sulfate and MSM to keep my spine well lubricated.
Regular back massages to keep the muscles from becoming sore and tight.
Trying to remind myself to keep good posture.
I’ve heard that sitting on a medicine ball for a few hours a day will strengthen your stabilizer muscles around the abdominals and lower back.
Best of luck on your road to recovery.
Posted on January 14, 2004 05:34 PM | #
23. Mike said:
If you want to go so far, I’ve heard certain foods can aggravate inflamations. Pasta, starch, fruit juices, honey. Foods friendly for inflamation include apples, pears, olive oil, nuts, probably fish. I don’t know enough to give you more examples, or even if back conditions fall into the category of what I’m talking about, but if the pain persists it might be a worthwhile subject to investigate.
Posted on January 14, 2004 06:40 PM | #
24. arb said:
8 years ago, a very good friend of mine suffered from chronic lower back pains. He was constantly taking pain killers and seeing chiropractors. It turned out that the cause of his pains was not his back but stomach ulcers. About three years ago I started to suffer similar pains to what my friend had described and after many visits to the doctor and countless tests, we discovered that I too had ulcers.
Not to say that your pains are ulcer-related, but it might be worth checking. Now that I am on the relevant medication for my type of ulcer I have not had any real problems with lower back pains.
Posted on January 14, 2004 09:54 PM | #
25. Shawn said:
My wife has a non-repairable fractured vertebrae. I had chronic lower back pain. A couple years ago I saw a thing called the Lumbar Extender (www.lumbarextender.com) in a golf magazine. Neither one of us has had much in the way of pain since.
Posted on January 15, 2004 10:01 AM | #
26. flowb33 said:
7 Steps to a Pain-Free Life: How to Rapidly Relieve Back and Neck Pain
by Robin A. McKenzie
This book changed my back situation entirely. It’s just simple, everyday back excercises. And doing them religiously for three months took my back from the worst shape its ever been in, to strong and solid.
I also got rid of my chair with armrests. I find I lean on them too often during the day, placing pressure in odd spots in my lower back.
Posted on January 15, 2004 05:42 PM | #
27. Dhar said:
Hi,
I have had back-ache for quite some time now. The doctor indicated it was due to me being overweight and due to my lousy sitting posture at work.
Over the years I have found the following things help:
1. Regular exercising. Just go to the gym for around half an hour daily. You will find your back feeling better.
2. Proper Posture: Dont SLOUCH. Sit erect
3. Sleep with your feet slightly raised. This can be done by placing a pillow under your knees.
4. Back Exercises: Lie on your stomach and slowly raise your legs and head so that your body is arched. Do this 10 times slowly. Consult a physiotherapist.
These activities have helped me. In case of severe pain, I use heat treatment to relax the muscles and then exercise.
All the best in your recovery.
Cheers,
Dhar
Posted on January 15, 2004 07:11 PM | #
28. MJH said:
Gabe - Your problem is completely different. It sounds like a rotator cuff problem, and that should definitely be taken care of ASAP. Find yourself a doctor/PT guy and ask about all the different stretches to strengthen you rotator cuff.
Posted on January 16, 2004 08:19 AM | #
29. Dunstan said:
I ruptured a disc a while back and spent three days lying on the floor (pretty much). I couldn’t bear anyone to come near me in case they touched me, so I ended up _screaming_ at people to get away from me.
At one point I got stuck, half in, half out of bed, and had to stay like that for almost three hours until my parents came home. My legs were on fire trying to hold the position, but there’s no way I could move. I was crying like a baby when they found me, and furious at everthing and everyone. It was quite mad.
Luckily, at the end of the three days my parents had a party and one of their guests was a Surgeon Captain in the navy, he was also an acupuncturist.
Out came the needles, and bingo, in 2 minutes I was up on my feet.
I lived in fear of the pain for weeks afterwards, never knowing when my back would go again and I’d collapse or freeze, but it was an amazingy ‘quick fix’.
(As I say) I had to be very careful for weeks afterwards, and the pain would come back on and off, but to go from “DON’T F*CKING TOUCH ME! ARRGH GET AWAY, MUM!!” to “Hey! I’m at a party, and I can walk!” in a few minutes, was incredible.
Posted on January 18, 2004 05:03 AM | #
30. Paula said:
Hi Keith,
I could relate to most of what you said, the frustration of not knowing what triggers episodes of pain annoys me most. I have had lots of differing diagnosis and nothing definitive but for pain relief and a few pain free months I use osteopathy and Bowen Therapy… if you have not heard of Bowen Therapy its worth investigating, there is quite a bit on the web about it and its been the most successful of all the therapies I have tried.
I also try to incorporate stretching and yoga (relaxing was something I never found easy lol) and I have removed as many artificial substances from my diet.
Good luck - its a bit of a journey sorting it out
Paula
Posted on January 18, 2004 04:13 PM | #
31. padawan said:
“Sleep with your feet slightly raised. This can be done by placing a pillow under your knees.”
I forgot that one. Under your knees if you sleep on your back, *between* them if you sleep on your side. It did wonders to me and now I cannot sleep without that pillow.
Posted on January 19, 2004 07:52 AM | #
32. Bill Hoffman said:
Learning about the symptoms, causes, and treatments of myofascial pain and muscle dysfunction has helped me enormously in dealing with my own chronic back pain.
Get this book. Read it, learn it, and use it.
http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/tg/detail/-/1572242507/qid=1074707789/sr=1-1/ref=sr_1_1/102-4984311-8828931?v=glance&s=books
Posted on January 21, 2004 10:00 AM | #
33. Kim Black said:
This in ref. to chronic back pain. My husband who is 39 years old and disabled due to a farming accident deals with this every day of his life. He had surgery , total fluke..spinal fusion..metal plate, screws..whole 9 yards. This was in 2000. He has been dealing with this for years. In 2002, they (his pain mgmt Doc) implanted a intrathecal morphine pump due to the severity of his pain. Basically, this is a hockey puck size container implanted into his side that continuously pumps morphine into his body to relieve his pain. This was a so called last resort due to the fact that no Doctor can figure out what the heck is going on. Now 2 yrs later….currently, he has been down for almost 4 weeks now. He has excruciating pain in his lower back going down both legs into his ankles. He cannot sleep no longer than 30 minutes at a time due to the pain waking him up. They have increased his oral meds to a point that is unbelieveable plus his morphine pump and he is still in this shape. The last 4 weeks have consisted of Dr. visits every day that usually take up the entire day, which increases his pain even more. He has had another MRI…a Mylogram and more X-rays, all of which show as the doctors say..nothing. But one Radioligist said he had high level of stenosis, but of course the doctor said the radiologist tends to exaggerate. So…in essence, we are looking for a miracle. As I mentioned before, my husband is only 39, we have 2 children aged 10 and 6 and this has really put him in a state of depression. Does anyone know of any GREAT Doctor, or anything else we should be doing…we are desperate and will try anything at this point.
Posted on January 24, 2004 08:40 AM | #
34. Critch said:
Hi there
I have had chronic pain for 5 years after coming off a bicycle and hitting the top of my head on the concreat. I prolapsed T9-T10 disc at first. After a couple of years with the pain they then said in the Army that i had Degenerative disc’s and i should have had problems as a child.NOT.
I have been to pain managment classes in Bath which was great, but there way of looking at it was doing the stuff as well as holding down a full time job. This in fact is stubied idea due to not having time after your full day to start on looking after yourself.
Now the Army is Medicaly discharging me and now it is hard to get a job with 24hrs back pain.
What i have found is that if you are worked up like working and trying to do small physical things then that does not work. If you have less stress you pain in more managerble.
Hope that all of you can get on and cope with your pain, i know for me it is hard but with a loving family around me anything can be dun.
Posted on February 4, 2004 05:38 AM | #
35. Richard Convery said:
Hi and thanks for putting together such a comprehensive site.
I’m interested to link with others in the back care industry. My name is Richard Convery and I’m the author of the bestselling book ‘Back For Life….How to dramatically reduce your back pain without pills, equipment or $money$’ and my new book ‘My Necks Book’. These books have helped tens of thousands of back and neck pain sufferers around the world.
If you are interested in a reciprocal link and affiliate arrangement, please go to http://www.backforlife.com/affiliate.htm
The industry is losing the battle against this massive problem and as we help equip people to help themselves (just like the testimonials on your site and on mine), we help people to escape the horror of back and neck pain and save them the physical, emotional and financial drain that the pain brings with it.
I Look forward to hearing from you and please keep up the great work.
Regards
Richard Convery
www.backforlife.com
Posted on February 4, 2004 05:43 PM | #
36. ossie said:
I hurt my back 3 years ago Ive got 4 disc protruion as well as spinal stenosis in all 4 disc but my doctors make seems like nothing what should I do.
Posted on February 6, 2004 12:55 AM | #
37. Paul Lewis said:
I read with interest I have suffered chronic back pain for at least twenty years yes twenty.My problems started when I was playing football at the age of 18 Im now 38 I was kicked in the base of my back and ever since I have had this problem,I have visited the doctor on many many occasions and the answer is always the same here you are anti inflamatorys and pain killers these have worked but not anymore Im now waiting to see another specialist again in two weeks.My chronic pain is situated always in the lumber region it moves from side to side or all the way across also with a intense stabbing pain, never in my legs or upper back,I have had blood tests physio I exercise in my own multi gym and consider I am reasonably fit I dont smoke I only drink small amounts of alcohol.This is now begining to rule my life it is consistant and Im really at my wits end with it any advice much appreiciated thanks Paul.
Posted on February 6, 2004 11:06 AM | #
38. SUE said:
HI, I AM 46 YEARS OLD. ABOUT 4 1/2 YEARS AGO I HURT MY BACK. I DID NOT THINK TO MUCH ABOUT IT TILL THE PAIN GOT WORSE. I WENT TO THE DR. HE SENT ME FOR TESTS. THAN ALOT OF SURIGES. I LIVE WITH PAIN EVERY DAY. SOME DAYS I FEEL LIKE GIVING UP. THAN THE PAIN WILL EASE UP A LITTLE. NO MORE SURGERS CAN HELP ME. I HAVE 4 CLOPPLES DICS IN MY LOWER BACK. I WAS HOPING FOR DISC REPLAMENTS BUT NOT FOR ME. MY BONES ARE TO WEAK. SO I LIVE ON PAIN KILLERS. THEY NEVER TAKE THE PAIN AWAY BUT WITH OUT THEM I WOULD BE IN BED ALL THE TIME. ARE IN THE HOSPITAL. I WOULD LIKE TO TALK TO SOMEONE LIKE ME. WELL I HAVE GOT TO GO FOR KNOW. E-MAIL ANYTIME.AT neilsnanny@aol.com
Posted on February 15, 2004 09:15 AM | #
39. Sherry said:
Hi my name is sherry .I have been having chronic back pain for about three years now. I have had x-rays and Mri .Haven’t got the resaults back yet.It is hard fffor me to stand,sit,walk,sleep. I am 53 years old and it makes me mad cause i can’t even work. I guess i will have to try to get on SSD. not sure if thay will give it to me or not. have you heard if you can get SSD for that reason. Chronic back pain. I don’t know what else to do. Thanks
Posted on February 19, 2004 05:58 AM | #
40. laura said:
I know how you feel, believe me. I’m glad to find this Web-site, it has addressed all my questions and issues. But i’m still a little lost.
My back pain started almost four years ago. Considering I turn 24 this month, I feel like an old woman when I complain about my back even though i’m still in my early twenties.
I don’t know how I hurt it, where it came from or why it happened. During May of 2000 I started waking up with serious back pain and it hasn’t went away since. Pain moved all over, any day of the week from my lower back, upper back, between the shoulder blades, base of the neck, the tail bone and my hips. Sometimes one area hurt, other times it was everywhere.
It got so bad sometimes that I couldn’t stand up without sharp shooting pains, resulting in me having to crawl to the bathroom in the morning and wait a couple hours for the pain to wear down.
It hasn’t stopped since. Sometimes I can’t sleep. I’ll wake up in the middle of the night with severe muscle cramps in the back and can’t get comfortable for a full night’s rest. I miss the days of pain-free sleep.
I’ve done acupuncture, massage therapy, had x-rays, taken pain pills, pretty much the whole gamut and nothing has worked. I recently started an exercise regime that I hope will help, but am beginning to wonder if it’s something serious.
Sometimes when I’m standing and turn a certain way it’s like the muscle’s go into failure and my knees will buckle out from under me. Not only does falling to the ground hurt, but trying to get back up afterwards is hell.
I don’t want to live with this for the rest of my life and am afraid that it will only get worse and i’ll end up in a wheelchair by the time i’m 40.
My question is, do MRI’s give any information about what could cause the pain?
I haven’t had one yet and hope to get one done.
I’m hoping to at least get a diagnosis instead of “Well just take some pain medication every day.”
I just want it to go away.
Thank you for the help!
Posted on February 23, 2004 08:00 PM | #
41. Carlos said:
Thank you for a very comprehensive site. The use of modern day technology enables us pain-ridden folk to hope and pray for a soon available cure for back pain as well as all pain in general. I have had chronic back pain for over 10 years. The daily drudgery of getting ready for work takes incredible planning much like the annual summers holiday trip. From taking a shower and drying off, to putting on your briefs and then to the lean against the wall to put on your pants and socks. Then we with care and ease find the shoes of the day. You the ones…Yes the slip-on one’s. We true obsessive pain hoarders us. Comb you hair and presto your ready to conquer the world…
The reality is that ten years ago I ruptured ,L 4,5 and now today at an ripe age of 42, I have be diagnosed with multiple disc ruptures. I need to have S1/L5,L4/l5 Fussed. I have had the various Vicodin, Valium and Halcion treatment. At one point during this deep dark night of pain I was taking 8-10 Vicadin (750) per day with an equal amount of valium. The Vicadin for the pain and the Valium to take the edge off that sharp pain. They did take off the edge off the pain. Yet, I was very disappointed that my sleep had eluded me. So then I began taking Halcion every night for most of the ten years. Finally, I did have a Lamedectomy. It was a temporary relief. However, after countless of professional consultations. I am at a point of having a triple fusion. Since the Lamedectomy was helpful, yet it resulted in more of a failure. Today 5 years past my surgery I am in dire straights…PAIN…I now take Oycontin…It seems to reduce the pain dramaticly. I’ve been taking it for the last 5 months twice a day.
Vicadin and Oxycontin are both depressants. THEY WILL DO GREAT HARM TO YOUR DIGESTIVE SYSTEM ! Ask youDr. What he recommends to elevate the side effects. I was you guinea pig… As narcotics go, we all know they are depressants.
SO;
Make sure you are mentally strong in addition to being a closed box about your problem.
If you do become depressed…seek medical attention ASAP, remind your Doctor HOW you feel. Don’t be ashamed…He’s heard it before and need to help make you well
ABSOLUTLY do not drink any alcohol
STOP Smoking
Loose weight
Exercise
Use a back brace
Sit up straight and erect
Pray and find that there is hope…Believe in yourself
Don’t SIT, STAND for extened period of time nor
Don’t bend nor stoop
Take your med’s when you’re asked to do so
Most of all have faith…That YES you will get better
This is temporary….
And if you can enjoy this beautiful thing we call life…We only have one
Thank you for letting me share my 10 yrs of @#$@^
Cheers,
R
Posted on February 23, 2004 09:39 PM | #
42. ossie rader said:
Im 40 years old with 4 disc protrucion spinal stenosis in all spina bifida in my l5-l4 im in so mush it’s been going now for 3 years but my doctor says it’s nothing what can i do
Posted on February 24, 2004 07:54 PM | #
43. Aaron P. said:
Hey,
Nice thread. First let me start off by saying that I’m 22, and I got in a work (construction) accident almost three years ago. It’s a long story but basically I was hit in the head with an object so hard it sent me flying back.
I had plastic surgery on my nose and visually I look 100%, but about a year after the accident I started getting “sessions” for lack of a better word, of back pain. My pain usually starts in the lower back joints, which leads to tense back muscles, which leads to joint pain all the way up my back and further tensing of the muscles.
I put off going to the doc for a while, cause I thought there was nothing they could do. I bought a lifting belt recently, for when I do have to lift a little on the job (I’m currently a project engineer for another construction firm, so I do a mix of computer work and on site work, with the occasional physical labour thrown in).
So far nothing I have done has worked well, everything seems to help though, and I’ve learned what works and what doesn’t. If I don’t catch the pain right away, it will snowball into a 3 to 7 day event that’s pretty debilitating. Actually I’m on day 5 of my current one!
1) As soon as I feel that knowing twinge in the lower back that something’s about to happen, I take a couple Robax platinum (with iboprofen instead of tylenol, to reduce swelling) and have a hot shower. Usually if I can relax the muscles completely I can nip it in the bud and that’s the end of it for another month or so.
2) If it’s already bad by the time I try step one, it won’t help, only delay the inevitable. If possible I get out to a sauna to try and heat the muscles as much as possible. I used to live in a building with a sauna and it could stop all but the worst pain for me.
3) As much as I hate to take time off work, your back is extremely important, and we all know how debilitating it is to have a sore back. If it’s a full blown episode sometimes it’s wise to take a day off to relax and have a hot shower, or to go out and have a professional massage.
Now that’s what I have been doing, just recently I got an episode so bad the pain was making me nautious, and I decided to call the doctor. He sent me to get x-rays done, but basically said there’s nothing they can do. He gave me a list of stretches and proper sitting/standing/lifting techniques but that was it…
Unfortunately it’s very depressing… I can still snowboard, and do most of the other things I like to do, but just knowing that this is going to be with me until I’m gonzo is a pain in itself! The doc told me that after the common cold, lower back pain was the most frequent thing he dealt with in 30 year old men. I think there’s got to be some ways of fixing this pain… maybe in the future medicine will advance enough to address these issues. There can’t be anything good about having your back crack when you take a deep breath in!!!
Anyway, thanks for your time everyone, it was good to read everyones post and realize I’m not the only one who is pissed off about feeling like Mr. Burns! =) Pardon the really long post.
Aaron
Posted on March 5, 2004 08:35 PM | #
44. Maggie said:
I recently fell on my back (slipped on ice.) I did a lot of damage to my sacroiliac joint and to my sciatic nerve. I have been told this will be a long ‘recovery’ and, most likely, I will have pain for the rest of my life. I am REALLY glad to find this site - I am going to try to incorporate some of the lifestyle suggestions as I am able (I am still on crutches). Thank you!
Posted on March 14, 2004 07:33 AM | #
45. Yoda said:
im a springboard diver at the highest level. ive had back pain for a few years now. NOTHING i have done has helped. ive even been seeing a chiropractor for the last 2 years on a very regular basis. because i am a diver my abs are very strong, and basically so is the rest of my body. my flexibility is phenomenal too. so you cant put it down to bad flexibility or strength. ive have many different scans and nothing has shown up there either.
so tell me experts… whats wrong?
Posted on March 20, 2004 05:56 AM | #
46. Robin said:
Sorry for everyones pain.I hurt my bck thus August will be two years.It has changed our whole life.Iv been to so many doctors Ive lost count .I did nursing and lifted a patient in the wrong way and ruptured a disc.I have had so many tests and so many Drs. and so many epidurals and injections until i said please do something or operate.the pain gets so out of control you cant stand it .Physical theraphy I went three differt times on three different prescriptions and it didnt help either.I want them to do something but they kep telling me to hold off.How long is a person suppose to wait and suffer.I would welcome anyone to let me knw what I can do to make this better not perfect I know but just bearable
Posted on March 24, 2004 07:36 PM | #
47. Angela said:
I too suffer from chronic back pain. I was in a boat accident 5 years ago. I brok L1 & fractured L2 in my lumbar section. I cannot begin to express my sympathy to anyone of you that are suffering from back pain. I at the time opted out of the surgery that was reccommended by my Neuro Surgeon and was told that if I did not get the correwctive surgery that just the calcium buildup and artritis would someday get to the point where its unbearable. Well guess what? I think I have reached that point. I have read some very good advice in here such as the Physical Therapy which also helped me a great deal. I have also found that when my back goes out which could be at a moments notice anymore that Ice & Heat work very well. It is a process it takes patience when you have back pain because as anyone of you know.. It sure takes its ol sweet time healing. But if you Ice it for 30 minutes wait 15 then Heat for 30 minutes and do this as often as you can while your back is hurt that this does work very well for me. My back can be fine one day to the point where I can run, jump dance, etc. and then sometimes I will go to bed at night and when I wake up…. I cant move (Literally) It is a very very scary thing but when I weigh the consequences of being paralized or living with back pain forever I would still chose the latter. While there is nothing that you can do for back problems you can rest.. Drink plenty of fluids and believe me the fluids help. They actually hydrate your muscles and your back is full of nothing but. I feel your pain believe me but just knowing that this too shall pass also helps me. I know that in a few days I will be back to normal again or at least feeling half way decent to the point where I do not feel helpless. Back pain really does Suck and I can vouge for that but there are things you can do as alot of these posts have good advice to at least make you comfortable until your back decides it wants to work again. Remember also that your body is much like a machine.. It has to be taken care of. you have to feed it well you have to nourish it, excercise it etc. If you constantly abuse your body it will end up breaking down and its not like a car where you can just order replacement parts or trade it in. Its the only one you have and if you work with it it will work for you! :)
Posted on March 26, 2004 08:33 AM | #
48. Anita said:
I can RELATE!!! I’ve suffered with chronic back pain for more than 2 years. I was diagnosed with 3 buldging discs, disc degeneration, spondolythesis and arthritis throughout my spine. I had a level 3 fusion over a year ago with virtually no impovement. The severe back pain began in December 2001, then my husband passed away about 3 weeks later in January 2002. So of course dealing with that compounded my back problems, as well as my chronic back pain delayed or antagonized the grieving process. It’s the never ending depression, pain, helplessness cycle. I’ve tried physical therapy, pain meds, anti-depressant meds, chiropractors, massage therapy, pool therapy, fusion surgery/discectomy & steroid injections. Some helped for a short time, but for sometimes no reason at all, the pain will return, sometimes more intense than before. I’m at the end of my rope right now & don’t know where to turn. I have been on disability since right after my back surgery and am so fearful of never being able to work again, which of course adds to my depression.(Because I am a widow & the responsibility to provide is soley on my shoulders) I have always been in administration support positions, which of course requrires a lot of sitting, which I can no longer tolerate. I’m only 39 years old, but in some ways I feel like my life is over. Good Luck, I hope you find some relief. If you find help, please let me know! God Bless, Anita
Posted on March 27, 2004 05:34 AM | #
49. dennes said:
sorry to hear about your pain… believe me i understand about 2 years ago i hit my back directly on my spine which hurt like hell…then i got pregnant and they gave me an epidural…that too hurt so bad and the dr performing the epidural said that it shouldnt hurt and he proceeded . now i cant get excited ,scared, upset or active without having unbearable spasms in my lower back ..also if i sit to long or lay to long it flares up.. i am 22 years old ( just a kid ,my mom says)i can’t chase my 18 month old son around , or hold him while i stand..it’s really cutting into my life… i havent found anything that works better than heat. oh yes it still hurts but it definately eases the pain for a while at least… hope you feel better and if anyone knows how i could relinquish the pain permanently or even semi- permanently please feel free to e- mail me @ geminigroove@aol.com
Posted on April 15, 2004 09:54 AM | #
50. Lisa Michaud said:
I’m sorry to hear of your chronic back pain. I too have suffered from back pain for over 2 years now. I have an herniated disc, and have gone for xrays, MRI’s, seen a Neurosurgeon and have gone to Physical therapy, some have helped and others have not. Last year I had two steroid injections from the pain management clinic–my back has bothered me on and off since then but it has been tolerable. As a matter of fact I am having another tomorrow.
If there are others who have had steroid injections for their chronic back pain, I’d like to know how you’re doing.
What’s worked for me: Learn to manage stress, exercise and learn you limitations, rest.
Good Luck to all.
Posted on April 19, 2004 03:36 PM | #
51. BONNIE said:
Sorry to hear that we all have sooo much back pain. I have had back problems most of my life. My father was eat up with Arthritis in his back, so I figured that’s what I had. Well, 2 yrs ago, I was told after many MRI’s and Cat Scans that I have Degenerative Disc. Started in my neck with buldging disc. I have had 9 shots in my neck and 6 in my back. Thank God that the 9th shot finally did some good for my neck. It has been 1 yr. since the last shot. Now, to deal with the back. Pure hell(excuse the expression). I have tried physical therapy, no help, am taking 2 kinds of med’s 24 hrs a day. I have a annular tear on one of my disc, which the Dr. wants to do a procedure that involves inserting a catheter with a plastic ring on the end and heat the plastic to try and weld the tear. That this may help ease some of the pain. Dr. wants to take out the bottom 2 disc I think they are L4-L-5, and L5-S1 root. But I have 2 children to take care of, my husband works alot, I can’t work due to my condition. I have filed for disability, but that is a hard long fight. I pray that it will be approved. I am really scared to have surgery because it seems like every one I hear has 1 goes back for 2 or 3 more. I also have osteoarthritis in my back. So that makes it double the pain. Today is a bad day for me, I can’t hardly walk this morning due to my hip and leg hurting, along with the back. I am 42 next month and I am seeing a counselor for depression. It helps to vent my problems to someone who is going through the same pain. My husband is not a very sympathic person. I think he is not realizing how serious this problem is. Any advise/ company would be appreciated. God bless you all! Bonnie :email,CRAZYFAYA@HOTMAIL.COM
Posted on April 28, 2004 07:24 AM | #
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