Lower Back Pain

[bhatmasterson]

I have had chronic lower back pain for years. I thing I hurt my back at the gym doing leg presses with weights. I had an MRI last year but the doctor said he didn't see anything serious enough to require an operation. I take an anti inflammatory and a muscle relaxer together and the pain is reduced by 70% in less than an hour. However, when I wake up the pain is back. I hate taking medicine on a regular basis.

I've tried acupuncture, which worked for a little while and a chiropractor years ago. Massage helps a bit but not enough. It's getting to the point where I've got to do something to stop the pain. It's starting to go down the back of my thigh.

Has anyone had any success treating his type of injury?

[uptheos]

OP - I am intrigued by this sentence;

"I had an MRI last year but the doctor said he didn't see anything serious enough to require an operation".

So, my question is, what DID he see?

He must have seen 'something' it's just that what he saw he didn't think was serious enough to warrant an operation (your words).

Thus ends your story regarding the doctor, who I presume was a specialist that you sought out, who ordered an ordinary x-ray first, before concluding you needed an MRI to clarify what he thinks he saw on the first x-ray. You don't say what treatment he then recommended i.e. physiotherapy, medication or perhaps even a cortisone injection.....rather, all his investigative work halts abruptly and you do the rounds of acu, chiro, self meds and massage......ending up on TV for advice.

Edited November 21, 2011 by uptheos

[JRA]

walking is a great core builder and the back really likes and I would suggest doing this said walking in a large pool and see how you feel a couple months later, assuming you were to do this 3-4 times a week. Few good pools for this around CM, may as well give it a shot.

At nearing 46 with back pain in my first disk walking makes me much happier and my back feels like I'm 30 and not 46, just my 2 cents...and I dropped 30 kgs so my mission is nearly complrte why I moved here in February...H2O cheers

[hellodolly]

If the pain is that bad I would have thought he would have recomended some thing.

Physio Therapy comes to mind.

I would also get a second opinion at another hospital.

[Femme]

walking is a great core builder and the back really likes and I would suggest doing this said walking in a large pool and see how you feel a couple months later, assuming you were to do this 3-4 times a week. Few good pools for this around CM, may as well give it a shot.

At nearing 46 with back pain in my first disk walking makes me much happier and my back feels like I'm 30 and not 46, just my 2 cents...and I dropped 30 kgs so my mission is nearly complrte why I moved here in February...H2O cheers

Jees... you lost 30 kg since Feb this year?

Wow... congrats...

-still in awe-

OP, I am trying to figure out what kind of pain you have. Are your back muscles tight and short and do you have less pain when you stretch them? Or were the leg presses too heavy that it injured your back...? What kind of pain is it? Like an electrical shock or ...OK, it's hard to explain, I know. An operation is serious business with no guarantee, I would be very hesitant about this.

A close friend had similar pain but from the butt to leg. The Physical therapist helped her for a little while, but for the long term she needed to make more different movements to make the muscles longer and flexible.

Have you tried deep tissue massage in CM? Pilates?

My guess is that any therapist could help you for a moment but it's not a long term solution. For this I think you need to find out which exercises are helpful, and exercise daily (even if it is only to manage pain)

Sometimes I'm lazy but after a few days I feel my back...

Btw, when I need instant relief from pain in general, I go to the acupuncturist so I can function normally.

Hope one day you no longer need pills. Good luck.

[sappersrest]

For many years I have suffered from severe back pain that comes and goes, I have had this for about 20 years until I had a massage at the Cabbages and Condoms resort on the way to Chiang Rai about three years ago .This was really my last chance as all the medicos said like the op that it was bad, but not bad enough for anything drastic such as surgery.

I have only have slight twinges since and I have not altered my lifestyle and I still work as a pool engineer.

Great place and a good Charity.

[Dellboy218]

I had severe leg pain after a minutes walking along with a twinge in the lower back when lying flat. I also had an MRI taken with three doctors not noticing anything seriously wrong. I showed them to Dr. Suthee, whose name appears regularly in this forum and within 5 minutes he told me I had a broken vertebrae. He also operated and told me that I had broken it 40 years ago with the symptoms only appearing shortly before my operation which I am glad to say was successful. The worst thing I ever did was to see a chiropractor who also did not see anything amiss in the MRI's. Keep trying, it maybe that the right person has not seen your scans yet!

[bhatmasterson]

OP - I am intrigued by this sentence;

"I had an MRI last year but the doctor said he didn't see anything serious enough to require an operation".

So, my question is, what DID he see?

He must have seen 'something' it's just that what he saw he didn't think was serious enough to warrant an operation (your words).

Thus ends your story regarding the doctor, who I presume was a specialist that you sought out, who ordered an ordinary x-ray first, before concluding you needed an MRI to clarify what he thinks he saw on the first x-ray. You don't say what treatment he then recommended i.e. physiotherapy, medication or perhaps even a cortisone injection.....rather, all his investigative work halts abruptly and you do the rounds of acu, chiro, self meds and massage......ending up on TV for advice.

uptheos, I would have thought that you were a proctologist, not a back specialist. The tone of your response sounds as if you think I have no right to ask for help on a public forum. I don't believe you really feel this way, just comes off that way. This may be your normal style but I found it a bit on the rough side.

I apologize for not giving you enough details to begin with. However, I know that lower back pain is very common and was simply seeking to find out what others have done to find some relief. Thank you to everyone who offered some suggestions.

"So, my question is, what DID he see?"

It's been a little over a year but I am pretty sure the specialist at Suandok Hospital said to me what I wrote in my original post.

"Who ordered an ordinary x-ray first, before concluding you needed an MRI to clarify what he thinks he saw on the first x-ray."

The doctor ordered an ordinary x-ray first, couldn't see anything so he ordered the MRI.

"You don't say what treatment he then recommended i.e. physiotherapy, medication or perhaps even a cortisone injection."

He ordered traction 2 or 3 times a week, medication and that I wear a back brace that looks like a corset everyday for the rest of my life, or until the pain stops, whichever come first. The traction helped a bit but I can't go so often because of my work. For the benefits I was receiving from it was not worth missing or leaving work early so often.

I did acupuncture, chiropractor and massage before seeing a specialist.

"Rather, all his investigative work halts abruptly and you do the rounds of acu, chiro, self meds and massage......ending up on TV for advice."

I have been able to find a wealth of useful information on Thaivisa and other forums like it. And I believe the responses that I've read thus far prove this point.

[butterisbetter]

I had some really bad bouts of lower back pain. I went to see a massage guy named Sing Chai. He was recommended by an American who comes every year to study with him, He gets lots of farang practitioners who come to study with him. Worked for 35 years at Suan Dok hospital. I will PM you contact info.

OP - I am intrigued by this sentence;

"I had an MRI last year but the doctor said he didn't see anything serious enough to require an operation".

So, my question is, what DID he see?

He must have seen 'something' it's just that what he saw he didn't think was serious enough to warrant an operation (your words).

Thus ends your story regarding the doctor, who I presume was a specialist that you sought out, who ordered an ordinary x-ray first, before concluding you needed an MRI to clarify what he thinks he saw on the first x-ray. You don't say what treatment he then recommended i.e. physiotherapy, medication or perhaps even a cortisone injection.....rather, all his investigative work halts abruptly and you do the rounds of acu, chiro, self meds and massage......ending up on TV for advice.

uptheos, I would have thought that you were a proctologist, not a back specialist. The tone of your response sounds as if you think I have no right to ask for help on a public forum. I don't believe you really feel this way, just comes off that way. This may be your normal style but I found it a bit on the rough side.

I apologize for not giving you enough details to begin with. However, I know that lower back pain is very common and was simply seeking to find out what others have done to find some relief. Thank you to everyone who offered some suggestions.

"So, my question is, what DID he see?"

It's been a little over a year but I am pretty sure the specialist at Suandok Hospital said to me what I wrote in my original post.

"Who ordered an ordinary x-ray first, before concluding you needed an MRI to clarify what he thinks he saw on the first x-ray."

The doctor ordered an ordinary x-ray first, couldn't see anything so he ordered the MRI.

"You don't say what treatment he then recommended i.e. physiotherapy, medication or perhaps even a cortisone injection."

He ordered traction 2 or 3 times a week, medication and that I wear a back brace that looks like a corset everyday for the rest of my life, or until the pain stops, whichever come first. The traction helped a bit but I can't go so often because of my work. For the benefits I was receiving from it was not worth missing or leaving work early so often.

I did acupuncture, chiropractor and massage before seeing a specialist.

"Rather, all his investigative work halts abruptly and you do the rounds of acu, chiro, self meds and massage......ending up on TV for advice."

I have been able to find a wealth of useful information on Thaivisa and other forums like it. And I believe the responses that I've read thus far prove this point.

[Fishenough]

I agree with those that mentioned exercise, keeping the back strong regularly helps in some cases, and it's something you have to everyday. If you find those simple lower back exercises and core strengthening exercises work, it gets to be a habit. You will find which ones help you specifically, like myself I send only a little less then 10 minutes every day and it keeps me from reaching for the drugs.

If I wake with any lower back pain I know I haven't been active or have missed the back exercises.

Back surgeries, metal plates screwed to my spine, years of drugs, and permanent nerve damage; but with daily exercise I'm starting to feel good enough to hit the weights for the first time in five years.

We ain't doctors, and of course if it hurts stop it. In time you will find the exercises that help. With a herniated lumbar disk I can't not do extensions pictured regularly or it'll hurt.

[OneZero]

Agree. The extension exercise was what is especially helpful for me (but not everybody). A must for me to do every morning after awakening (along with some pushups .

Ease into slowly at first to test pain level (it will subside). Google "McKenzie Exercises" to get more information.

http://www.google.co.th/#hl=en&cp=10&gs_id=w&xhr=t&q=McKenzie+Exercises&pf=p&sclient=psy-ab&biw=1215&bih=750&source=hp&pbx=1&oq=McKenzie+E&aq=0&aqi=g4&aql=&gs_sm=&gs_upl=&bav=on.2,or.r_gc.r_pw.,cf.osb&fp=ecf10fd658c98fd5

I agree with those that mentioned exercise, keeping the back strong regularly helps in some cases, and it's something you have to everyday. If you find those simple lower back exercises and core strengthening exercises work, it gets to be a habit. You will find which ones help you specifically, like myself I send only a little less then 10 minutes every day and it keeps me from reaching for the drugs.

If I wake with any lower back pain I know I haven't been active or have missed the back exercises.

Back surgeries, metal plates screwed to my spine, years of drugs, and permanent nerve damage; but with daily exercise I'm starting to feel good enough to hit the weights for the first time in five years.

We ain't doctors, and of course if it hurts stop it. In time you will find the exercises that help. With a herniated lumbar disk I can't not do extensions pictured regularly or it'll hurt.

[funcat]

For many years I have suffered from severe back pain that comes and goes, I have had this for about 20 years until I had a massage at the Cabbages and Condoms resort on the way to Chiang Rai about three years ago .This was really my last chance as all the medicos said like the op that it was bad, but not bad enough for anything drastic such as surgery.

I have only have slight twinges since and I have not altered my lifestyle and I still work as a pool engineer.

Great place and a good Charity.

What was so special about this massage?

[hellodolly]

I had some really bad bouts of lower back pain. I went to see a massage guy named Sing Chai. He was recommended by an American who comes every year to study with him, He gets lots of farang practitioners who come to study with him. Worked for 35 years at Suan Dok hospital. I will PM you contact info.

OP - I am intrigued by this sentence;

"I had an MRI last year but the doctor said he didn't see anything serious enough to require an operation".

So, my question is, what DID he see?

He must have seen 'something' it's just that what he saw he didn't think was serious enough to warrant an operation (your words).

Thus ends your story regarding the doctor, who I presume was a specialist that you sought out, who ordered an ordinary x-ray first, before concluding you needed an MRI to clarify what he thinks he saw on the first x-ray. You don't say what treatment he then recommended i.e. physiotherapy, medication or perhaps even a cortisone injection.....rather, all his investigative work halts abruptly and you do the rounds of acu, chiro, self meds and massage......ending up on TV for advice.

uptheos, I would have thought that you were a proctologist, not a back specialist. The tone of your response sounds as if you think I have no right to ask for help on a public forum. I don't believe you really feel this way, just comes off that way. This may be your normal style but I found it a bit on the rough side.

I apologize for not giving you enough details to begin with. However, I know that lower back pain is very common and was simply seeking to find out what others have done to find some relief. Thank you to everyone who offered some suggestions.

"So, my question is, what DID he see?"

It's been a little over a year but I am pretty sure the specialist at Suandok Hospital said to me what I wrote in my original post.

"Who ordered an ordinary x-ray first, before concluding you needed an MRI to clarify what he thinks he saw on the first x-ray."

The doctor ordered an ordinary x-ray first, couldn't see anything so he ordered the MRI.

"You don't say what treatment he then recommended i.e. physiotherapy, medication or perhaps even a cortisone injection."

He ordered traction 2 or 3 times a week, medication and that I wear a back brace that looks like a corset everyday for the rest of my life, or until the pain stops, whichever come first. The traction helped a bit but I can't go so often because of my work. For the benefits I was receiving from it was not worth missing or leaving work early so often.

I did acupuncture, chiropractor and massage before seeing a specialist.

"Rather, all his investigative work halts abruptly and you do the rounds of acu, chiro, self meds and massage......ending up on TV for advice."

I have been able to find a wealth of useful information on Thaivisa and other forums like it. And I believe the responses that I've read thus far prove this point.

Any particular reason you can not share beneficial news with all of us.

[Hooters]

Exercising the ABS helps your back. Makes sense if your front takes more of the load then the back has less to do.

[vacationman]

Hey I know how you feel.

Over 20 years of back pain before coming to Thailand.

Had the Nerve Pain running down the leg for many years.

Removed the billfold from the back pocket helped this.

Then about 5 years before arriving in Thailand had

bulging disks in the lower part of the back.

Getting steroid Shots and all kinds of crap at the hospitals.

Many days could not walk. Gettting in and out of the car was very painful with

an electric shock in the back and falling down.

After one of my Steriod treatments I normally was able to get around for

a few weeks.

Came to Thailand, got a Thai Massage and made my back start hurting again very badly.

Sooo switched to a nice SOFT Relaxing Oil massage for 2 hours every day

and now for almost 5 years no or very slight back pain ever.

Got rid of 20 years of very bad pain.

With some searching you can find Oil Massage ladies that will come to your home.

I got a 4 hand massage every night for almost a year. 100 baht per hour per lady.

Two hours a night right before falling asleep.

Not sure if it will work for you... put worst case is you get to enjoy a great massage

everyday.

Good Luck,.

[funcat]

...weight,diet,physical fitness,regular exercises,yoga,meditation....in general-Healthy Lifestyle !!

[JimSiam]

For many years I have suffered from severe back pain that comes and goes, I have had this for about 20 years until I had a massage at the Cabbages and Condoms resort on the way to Chiang Rai about three years ago .This was really my last chance as all the medicos said like the op that it was bad, but not bad enough for anything drastic such as surgery.

I have only have slight twinges since and I have not altered my lifestyle and I still work as a pool engineer.

Great place and a good Charity.

What was so special about this massage?

After seeing Chiro, Osteo, Physio and just about anyone else they could think of I saw a masseur who had been doing it for 30 years, immense amounts of pain during the 3 visits I ditched the pain killers I had been on for two years and was pain free. She knew exactly where to press to make the most amount of pain, after each massage you could hardly move for an hour, I haven't been able to find anyone like this anywhere else, this was in Melbourne, Australia and she was Thai and had trained at Wat Po in Bangkok.

[tijnebijn]

Well I also got some experience on this .

Mostly though back and neck pains come from stress , you gotta learn how to relax , I read one poster saying he had a massage every day and his pain almost vanished completely , I had lower back pains for years and I have a minor multiple sclerosis ....

What I did was having a tattoo , I know might be odd and might be out of the question for some , but because of the injection into my lower back muscles my back pain totally vanished , never felt any pain since , did it 10 years ago , and I trustworthy speak the truth , I am no tattoo person but got this advise from a Indonesian Guru on Bali at the time , it really works , up to you OP give it a try , if nothing works why not , it did help me incredibly .

Edited November 22, 2011 by tijnebijn

[moe666]

The majority of back pain (injury free) is caused by tight hamstring and buttock muscles. Get these out of tension and your back will be pain free. Check out lawrence Gold, Somatic Therapy. God luck on your back pain

[bhatmasterson]

I had some really bad bouts of lower back pain. I went to see a massage guy named Sing Chai. He was recommended by an American who comes every year to study with him, He gets lots of farang practitioners who come to study with him. Worked for 35 years at Suan Dok hospital. I will PM you contact info.[quote

I made an appointment for this Friday.

Thanks for this info.

[bhatmasterson]

I agree with those that mentioned exercise, keeping the back strong regularly helps in some cases, and it's something you have to everyday. If you find those simple lower back exercises and core strengthening exercises work, it gets to be a habit. You will find which ones help you specifically, like myself I send only a little less then 10 minutes every day and it keeps me from reaching for the drugs.

If I wake with any lower back pain I know I haven't been active or have missed the back exercises.

Back surgeries, metal plates screwed to my spine, years of drugs, and permanent nerve damage; but with daily exercise I'm starting to feel good enough to hit the weights for the first time in five years.

We ain't doctors, and of course if it hurts stop it. In time you will find the exercises that help. With a herniated lumbar disk I can't not do extensions pictured regularly or it'll hurt.

Thank you for your reply and this chart.

Strangely enough, for my age (55) I'm in pretty good shape. Not overweight. If you were to see me on the street you'd assume that I spend time in the gym and you'd be right. I'm in the gym 3 to 4 times a week. I spend an hour on the treadmill some days walking on an incline and other days running for the full hour. I do upper body work and back exercises on one of the machines. This causes the expected tension in my lower back but not the lingering pain that comes with simple actions like bending over from the waist. I don't even need to be lifting anything heavy. Simply repeated bending like dipping a paint brush and standing up to paint is enough to bring pain that will last for the rest of the day.

[uptheos]

uptheos, I would have thought that you were a proctologist, not a back specialist. The tone of your response sounds as if you think I have no right to ask for help on a public forum. I don't believe you really feel this way, just comes off that way. This may be your normal style but I found it a bit on the rough side.

Lol I think you might actually be the hundredth person to say that .....but you're a million miles away.

I apologise for my tone, but I get pissed off with doctors that put people through expensive procedures and then either do nothing or just 'guess' at something. I also think that once a person has got to the level of needing an MRI it deserves a second opinion. I was simply implying, that if he said it didn't warrant surgery, then there is an automatic inference that he's seen something or the radiologist report says something. I was (and now) just curious what he had seen that didn't warrant surgery, but warranted drastic action such as traction and wearing a corset for life? Maybe if another doctor saw your MRI, you might get a more definite diagnosis and a better treatment plan.

TV is indeed a great place for help, often better than going to the doctors.....but we can't read MRI's.

Edited November 22, 2011 by uptheos

[hellodolly]

<br />

<br />uptheos, I would have thought that you were a proctologist, not a back specialist. The tone of your response sounds as if you think I have no right to ask for help on a public forum. I don't believe you really feel this way, just comes off that way. This may be your normal style but I found it a bit on the rough side. <br /><b><font size="2"> </font></b>

<br />Lol I think you might actually be the hundredth person to say that <img src="http://static.thaivisa.com/forum/public/style_emoticons/default/biggrin.gif" />.....but you're a million miles away.<br /><br />I apologise for my tone, but I get pissed off with doctors that put people through expensive procedures and then either do nothing or just 'guess' at something. I also think that once a person has got to the level of needing an MRI it deserves a second opinion. I was simply implying, that if he said it didn't warrant surgery, then there is an automatic inference that he's seen something or the radiologist report says something. I was (and now) just curious what he had seen that didn't warrant surgery, but warranted drastic action such as traction and wearing a corset for life? Maybe if another doctor saw your MRI, you might get a more definite diagnosis and a better treatment plan.<br /><br />TV is indeed a great place for help, often better than going to the doctors.....but we can't read MRI's.<br />

I am with you on that up.

As I said earlier I would be getting a second opinion at a different hospital.

I used to see a Chiropractor back home he helped me a lot.

One visit he told me to do pelvic tilts I said how many (I was thinking three) He didn't give it a second thought he said 50. It did help me.

[uptheos]

I used to see a Chiropractor back home he helped me a lot.

One visit he told me to do pelvic tilts I said how many (I was thinking three) He didn't give it a second thought he said 50. It did help me.

Some people swear by chiropractors and I know many who have got relief, I'm happy that you were helped.

Personally, they scare the hell out of me, particularly when they start cracking the cervical spine.

Believe me I empathize greatly with anyone suffering lower, middle, upper or cervical spine problems. I am currently undergoing back physiotherapy at Rajavej and I feel that my physio (Khun Took) is caring, knowledgeable and most of all careful...... I'm starting to get some relief.

Edited November 22, 2011 by uptheos

[funcat]

For many years I have suffered from severe back pain that comes and goes, I have had this for about 20 years until I had a massage at the Cabbages and Condoms resort on the way to Chiang Rai about three years ago .This was really my last chance as all the medicos said like the op that it was bad, but not bad enough for anything drastic such as surgery.

I have only have slight twinges since and I have not altered my lifestyle and I still work as a pool engineer.

Great place and a good Charity.

What was so special about this massage?

After seeing Chiro, Osteo, Physio and just about anyone else they could think of I saw a masseur who had been doing it for 30 years, immense amounts of pain during the 3 visits I ditched the pain killers I had been on for two years and was pain free. She knew exactly where to press to make the most amount of pain, after each massage you could hardly move for an hour, I haven't been able to find anyone like this anywhere else, this was in Melbourne, Australia and she was Thai and had trained at Wat Po in Bangkok.

I've had a similar experience some 10 years ago,when the old masseuse gave me a massage.She did this with her feet,since she did not have enough strength in her hands.It was very painful experience,but since I had my ticket out the next day,the treatment could not finish.She said 5-7 treatments and I will be fine ...well,next time when I came back,she has already died...I'm looking for somebody like that since...

[Fishenough]

Thank you for your reply and this chart.

Strangely enough, for my age (55) I'm in pretty good shape. Not overweight. If you were to see me on the street you'd assume that I spend time in the gym and you'd be right. I'm in the gym 3 to 4 times a week. I spend an hour on the treadmill some days walking on an incline and other days running for the full hour. I do upper body work and back exercises on one of the machines. This causes the expected tension in my lower back but not the lingering pain that comes with simple actions like bending over from the waist. I don't even need to be lifting anything heavy. Simply repeated bending like dipping a paint brush and standing up to paint is enough to bring pain that will last for the rest of the day.

If your familiar with exercise routines your familiar with those muscle groups that get ignored. As simple as the guy that goes crazy on his biceps but only slightly trains his triceps, or the common rotator cuff problems that develop with someone who trains hard. Like the rotator cuff group, all those complex muscles of the lumbar region get ignored. Even with learning all those complex back muscles, ligaments, tendons, fascia, processes, etc; it's crazy that this great system can get out of balance and keep its self..crooked, tight and sore.

It's a real pain in the neck

[funcat]

Thank you for your reply and this chart.

Strangely enough, for my age (55) I'm in pretty good shape. Not overweight. If you were to see me on the street you'd assume that I spend time in the gym and you'd be right. I'm in the gym 3 to 4 times a week. I spend an hour on the treadmill some days walking on an incline and other days running for the full hour. I do upper body work and back exercises on one of the machines. This causes the expected tension in my lower back but not the lingering pain that comes with simple actions like bending over from the waist. I don't even need to be lifting anything heavy. Simply repeated bending like dipping a paint brush and standing up to paint is enough to bring pain that will last for the rest of the day.

If your familiar with exercise routines your familiar with those muscle groups that get ignored. As simple as the guy that goes crazy on his biceps but only slightly trains his triceps, or the common rotator cuff problems that develop with someone who trains hard. Like the rotator cuff group, all those complex muscles of the lumbar region get ignored. Even with learning all those complex back muscles, ligaments, tendons, fascia, processes, etc; it's crazy that this great system can get out of balance and keep its self..crooked, tight and sore.

It's a real pain in the neck

...or a pain in the back......you are absolutely right,the balance is the key...I was in my peak in my 40-ties,now is a time to slow down......well,a little...

[flying]

It's getting to the point where I've got to do something to stop the pain. It's starting to go down the back of my thigh.

Has anyone had any success treating his type of injury?

Wait till it gets downs to your ankle The pain you feel in your leg

is because the pinching in the lower back due to a tilted disk is pinching a nerve.

Probably sciatic

Not fun & as you say it is worst in the mornings after sleeping.

I have had many lower back problems due to being a contractor.

For me what works for temp relief is accu/chiro/massage as you have done.Sooner after the problem starts the better

Also ice instead of heat for relief is better.

But what helps most of all is a support belt used during the weeks that it takes to repair itself.

When damaged it can take 6-8 weeks to repair itself depending on severity. Which is why accu/chiro etc will

only be temp relief. It takes time period....

It is the wide elastic lifting type belts that have Velcro closure.

Mueller brand works best costs about 20-25 bucks.

In fact if you can get use to sleeping with it during times of damage you will wake ok without the pain caused by sleeping. Wear it under your shirt all the time except when showering of course & you will

not only feel less discomfort but you will heal much faster.

I know some recommend surgery but I have never seen a good result from those who went. In fact I have only seen things get worse with those who went for surgery (here in the USA). Personally I would not risk a back surgery unless it was a last resort for someone.

But that is just my opinion.

Good Luck

Edited November 22, 2011 by flying

[smiling mantis]

Some really good responses. I would only add my own personal observation, which is that you need to be conscious of anything you might be doing to aggravate the condition.

For me, I have found that the type of mattress is important, not so much for when I'm laying on it, but for when I get in and out of bed. Those few moments where you transition from lying down to sitting up and then standing up and perhaps the most stressful your back will experience during the day. If the mattress gives at the wrong moment, it can strain muscles in the back that don't get used often.

The worst mattress in this regard is a water bed. I would only recommend these types of beds for the most physically fit. Best is a toss-up between a hard, firm mattress, and an air mattress that isn't inflated all of the way (because then when you get on your hands and knees they reach through to the bottom and provide good support). Hammocks can be excellent too, provided they are at the right height.

Barring some sort of spinal injury, I think most back pain will resolve itself over time, but we end repeating the same motions that cause it in the first place so it never goes away. A good thing to do if you can is to mentally preflight your activities around the house. Going out isn't so much of a problem since you're usually either walking or sitting upright in proper chairs, like at a restaurant. It's at home when we're reaching for things on the top shelf, or navigating the bathtub, or vacuuming or hanging the laundry or even cooking in the kitchen where issues can arise because there are many opportunities to move in unusual ways.

[bhatmasterson]

Some really good responses. I would only add my own personal observation, which is that you need to be conscious of anything you might be doing to aggravate the condition.

For me, I have found that the type of mattress is important, not so much for when I'm laying on it, but for when I get in and out of bed. Those few moments where you transition from lying down to sitting up and then standing up and perhaps the most stressful your back will experience during the day. If the mattress gives at the wrong moment, it can strain muscles in the back that don't get used often.

The worst mattress in this regard is a water bed. I would only recommend these types of beds for the most physically fit. Best is a toss-up between a hard, firm mattress, and an air mattress that isn't inflated all of the way (because then when you get on your hands and knees they reach through to the bottom and provide good support). Hammocks can be excellent too, provided they are at the right height.

Barring some sort of spinal injury, I think most back pain will resolve itself over time, but we end repeating the same motions that cause it in the first place so it never goes away. A good thing to do if you can is to mentally preflight your activities around the house. Going out isn't so much of a problem since you're usually either walking or sitting upright in proper chairs, like at a restaurant. It's at home when we're reaching for things on the top shelf, or navigating the bathtub, or vacuuming or hanging the laundry or even cooking in the kitchen where issues can arise because there are many opportunities to move in unusual ways.

This is helpful info.

Thank you