posted on January 4, 2006 10:11:43 AM new
Okay, I know I work where I can enjoy free massotherapy and acupuncture. However, work is closed until Friday and I'm in terrible need of some pain relief now. My lower back is causing me so much pain I can barely walk and laying down is equally as painful. Of course, my heating pad has come up missing. Any suggestions out there that don't require massive doses of self medication? Even Tylenol PM didn't help me sleep last night! I have tons of things to do between now and Friday and don't know how I'm going to do them!
BTW, I don't know what I did to cause this pain. I do have lower back pain from time to time, but never this bad.
Cheryl
"Our lives begin to end the day we become silent about things that matter." - Martin Luther King, Jr.
posted on January 4, 2006 10:24:32 AM new
Cheryl, you are going to have to take it slow. If you mask the pain and try to do all your chores and running around you can injure yourself more. Driving is the worst when you have back pain especially siatica which can slow your reflexes down.
Do you have any MSM lotion, MSM capsules, glucosamine capsules?
Try a non-steroid anti-inflammatory like aleve, naproxin sodim (generic for aleve) or ibuprofin. Take two every 3 to 4 hours for at least 48 hours. Be sure and take these with food as they can be hard on the stomach.
posted on January 4, 2006 10:33:14 AM new
What used to work for me was to lay down on the bed, on my stomach, and have my husband sit on my rear - him on his knees - not his full weight on me. Then massage my lower back, with differing degrees of pressure, while using some type of body lotion. Always did the trick for me...as it was usually stress that was causing mine.
posted on January 4, 2006 10:34:25 AM new
Thanks, chimpchamp. Now, all I have to do is go to the store. Ugh! You are right about the driving. I drove last night and it wasn't pleasant. I may just call my BF and have him bring some Aleve home from the store. All we have here is Excederin for headaches.
Cheryl
"Our lives begin to end the day we become silent about things that matter." - Martin Luther King, Jr.
posted on January 4, 2006 10:45:21 AM new
you probably don't have a feed store nearby, but if you did, DMSO, which comes in a roll on, works great in a "pinch". Powerful topical anti inflammatory...I use it on lame horses. It's what MSM is made from and is stronger. Just don't nurse any babies for 30 days after...
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Habla siempre que debas y calla siempre que puedas....
posted on January 4, 2006 10:59:58 AM new
Cheryl, the best thing for back pain is Ibuprofen. Take 800 mg. Also, try laying on your back on the kitchen floor or any surface that isn't carpeted. Raise your knees up to your chest and hold them with your hands. Depending on where your back hurts, adjust your legs to either a closed position or spread - your hands still holding your knees - tight knees for lower back, more open knees for upper back, and in between for in between. Now take your knees and roll from side to side - the closer you hold your knees to your chest, the better it is. Keep doing that for about one minute then relax flat out on your back. Roll over on your stomach, then get up and see how you feel. If it doesn't work, do it again.
Prof, forget the DMSO, just give her a shot of Bute.
posted on January 4, 2006 11:12:13 AM new
forgot the bute, that'll make the dead walk
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Habla siempre que debas y calla siempre que puedas....
You're a genius!! The pain isn't totally gone, but it's reduced about 80%! Never mind that I probably looked silly rolling around on the kitchen floor! Good thing there is no one home right now. They would have thought I was having some kind of attack and would have called for the ambulance.
Prof
Believe it or not, we do have a feed store not too awful far from here. It's in N. Ridgeville, which is about 1/2 hour away. Around here you go from city to country to city. . . I may call my aunt who has a horse ranch outside of Toledo. I probably can get her to send me a supply.
Edited to add: I do have MSM, but didn't think of taking it.
Cheryl
"Our lives begin to end the day we become silent about things that matter." - Martin Luther King, Jr.
[ edited by cblev65252 on Jan 4, 2006 11:13 AM ]
posted on January 4, 2006 11:21:48 AM new
That's great, Cheryl! It works for me every time. Just keep doing it until you feel 100%. I know you don't like taking pills, but ibuprofen is the best for backs. (It's also the only thing that'll work on a toothache.) Just do this whenever you feel your back "going".
I know it looks stupid when you're doing it. Like you're having a baby or something.
posted on January 4, 2006 01:38:16 PM new
My wife has had 3 back surgeries. She swears that if her leg is hurting that sitting onedge of bed and slowly stretching back of legs by reaching for her toes is a life saver. BUT first do it this way only not reaching for toes of both legs at one time.
Sit on edge of bed one leg off bent sitting position foot on floor the other leg out straight on bed. Lock knee straight ( bed leg) and slowly reach for toes of leg on bed. Hold for 5 seconds and straighten up. Repeat about 10 times. note{{Reach as far as you can without forcing it too far, gradually you may be able to reach toes (after several weeks)}}. THEN shift around on bed and put leg/foot up that was on floor and dangle other leg into sitting position and stretch that leg.
My wife swears this is only thing that stops pain that is going down her leg especially when they start cramping.
That roll on floor is other one she does. If she skips these exercises for over a week she hurts so bad she wants to scream.
There is a small pamphlet "Care of the Back" by William K. Ishmael and Howard B Shorbe. It can be purchased from Barnes and Nobles for $1.99 in the out of print section. There are a series of excecises of which kraftdinner's excercise is #3. About ten years ago I had herniated discs L4 and L5. I was almost totally out of commission for 4 months. There are also some warm up excercises before you get into the real excercises. The idea with these excercises is to strengthen the muscles of the back which in turn realigns the vertebrae.
One of the warmups is to lie flat on the floor, inhale deeply and tighten all the muscles of your body. Bring your arms tightly to your sides, and bring your legs and feet tight together. Tighten your fists and your buttocks. Then exhale and relax all these muscles as fully as possible. Close your eyes and relax your jaw. Repeat this ten times.
You can also call the Texas Back Institute and they will send you free literature including some excercises. 1.800.247.BACK (2225) Hope this helps.
posted on January 4, 2006 01:45:01 PM new
I'm glad you are getting some relief Cheryl. It sounds like you have a pinched nerve since you garnered some relief from the roly poly exercise. I do it too and it works.
The MSM capsules won't help you now but they will help you over the long haul if you take them daily. The DSMO liniment or MSM lotion will give you some immediate relief.
I take MSM myself and also give it to my mutts daily. One is 13 years old with arthritis and hip dysplasia the other is 18 months old but her breed is prone to hip dysplasia.
Any suggestions out there that don't require massive doses of self medication? Even Tylenol PM didn't help me sleep last night! I have tons of things to do between now and Friday and don't know how I'm going to do them!
