Acute debilitating lower back pain. Any advice?

[sgreger1]

I say smoke a doobie!!

But taking medication just masks the effects of the pain and does not resolve the underlying issue. Smoking/ingesting marijuana is like taking a pill, only more natural, but it is still treatment of the symptoms and not the cause. Stretching will increase the blood flow to the muscles in question and will help strengthen them so that they can once again carry their weight without causing pain.


Ok wait, just saw the video. Yah definitely those chicks are high as shit.

[Maher]

+1 Odelay vicodin!!

All seriousness I have a hernaited disk and my lower back and leg act up do to it. Nothing over the counter helps the pain so I wish the best for you.

I have the same thing and take prescription strength T3, they damage the liver but the pain is unbearable. Acupuncture helps as well but if you stop the sessions the pain will hit, just like the pain killers. Loosing weight and exercise is the best advise.

[RobsanX]

I've had lower back pain off and on my entire adult life. Usually it goes away on its own, but about a year ago I had a pain that lasted more than a month. I went to my general practitioner, who also specializes in sports medicine. He recommended the "Superman" exercise just like what's shown in this video:

You can also do this standing up by just arching your back, and stretching as far as you can. It helps that disc go back where it belongs, instead of bumping into your spinal cord. It worked like a charm for me!

[jmdkodiak]

Well, I live in Florida so no medical marijuana for me. haha.

I've always been curious, in states that allow it, can employers still drug test for it?


Anyway, last night I took some Soma, drank a beer, and curled up in the fetal position against the wall with an ice pack on to try to reduce the obvious swelling back there.

To the guy who said if I have leg pain, I DO have leg pain as well. I know what pinched nerves feel like and I can tell that is an issue as well. Have an appointment at the Chiro tonight. So hopefully I will be all better soon.

I do work out, I weigh 155lbs, 6' tall. I'm pretty lean. But I run, play tennis, bike, etc. Well, not NOW obviously, but normally I stay pretty active so having a hurt back is even more depressing.

I am a believer in medical marijuana. I don't know why all states don't do it. Personally I don't like the way weed makes me feel in my head, so I don't smoke. Tried it when I was younger, though. But I could see the medical benefits of it for sure.

Hopefully the chiropractor can straighten me out a little tonight..

[simplesmoke]

Well, I live in Florida so no medical marijuana for me. haha.

I've always been curious, in states that allow it, can employers still drug test for it?


Anyway, last night I took some Soma, drank a beer, and curled up in the fetal position against the wall with an ice pack on to try to reduce the obvious swelling back there.

To the guy who said if I have leg pain, I DO have leg pain as well. I know what pinched nerves feel like and I can tell that is an issue as well. Have an appointment at the Chiro tonight. So hopefully I will be all better soon.

I do work out, I weigh 155lbs, 6' tall. I'm pretty lean. But I run, play tennis, bike, etc. Well, not NOW obviously, but normally I stay pretty active so having a hurt back is even more depressing.

I am a believer in medical marijuana. I don't know why all states don't do it. Personally I don't like the way weed makes me feel in my head, so I don't smoke. Tried it when I was younger, though. But I could see the medical benefits of it for sure.

Hopefully the chiropractor can straighten me out a little tonight..

Have you ever had an MRI before of your spine?

I bet you have some form of degenerative disc disease on a disc in your lower spine. Which is bulging and pressing against your sciatic nerve.

You are on the lean side its sounds like, the only other thing I could think of if it is just not just genetics is there might be an in-balance in your muscle systems. Back when I was trying to find some relief from lower back pain I had read some book (and I can't for the life of me remember the name) that the author believed many men that have lower back pain (especially if they were very active) had an imbalance. That they were working certain muscles much more then others which would cause slight variation in posture which over months messes with your back.

I knew a guy who loved the rowing machines, he used to have major back issues that would lay him up for a day every so often until he told me a doctor told him he had some muscle that was disproportionate to the others and it was causing his posture to suffer which caused some nerve pinching after months. He told me he had no re-occurrence after he changed his ratio of that to other exercises.

Everyone is different though, so good luck. It took me almost 1.5 years to find my fix. And only turn to surgery as a last resort I would probably get 5 opinions before I would EVER consider getting back surgery.

Good luck

[lxskllr]

My back is fuxxored. It always hurts, and when it really goes out I'm screwed. When that happens, and I drop something on the floor, it might as well fall to New Jersey,for all the chance I have to recover it :^D I don't do anything about it, and I've never seen a doctor. All they can give is narcotics, and surgery, and I'm not interested in those. I think I may have a blown disk, but I don't know. A heating pad works, but otherwise time helps. It gets better on it's own.

In your case, since you know it gets worse with the car seat, fix the seat. Try pillows and stuff. If you're a fan of old cars, get an old pickup with a firm bench seat. Bench seats are the best, but as with all American culture, form has won out over function....

[truthwolf1]

I have a sciatic nerve that acts up now and then. The first thing anybody about back pain will tell you is to stop carrying your wallet in your back pocket if you do. There are a lot of cushions for your ass you could also try.

Been thinking myself about purchasing one of those tables that flips you backwords and in a old sense re-aligns everything but also opens your discs to get some blood flow into the middles.

Magnessium, Vitamin D, Glucosamine and other joint supplements might also help.

[jmdkodiak]

My back is fuxxored. It always hurts, and when it really goes out I'm screwed. When that happens, and I drop something on the floor, it might as well fall to New Jersey,for all the chance I have to recover it :^D I don't do anything about it, and I've never seen a doctor. All they can give is narcotics, and surgery, and I'm not interested in those. I think I may have a blown disk, but I don't know. A heating pad works, but otherwise time helps. It gets better on it's own.

In your case, since you know it gets worse with the car seat, fix the seat. Try pillows and stuff. If you're a fan of old cars, get an old pickup with a firm bench seat. Bench seats are the best, but as with all American culture, form has won out over function....

I'll have to work on the car seat issue. I am borrowing this car for the mean time. I drive a 1977 Toyota Land Cruiser FJ40 and don't get any back issues with it. But I broke a rod in the bottom end. So now I'm borrowing this Subaru I am driving, of course, it flares up and causes back pain. I'll work on a few things. The seat, and fixing my FJ

[lxskllr]

Those old Land Cruisers are sweet! How's the cancer on it? Those old Toyotas rotted out way before their time was over :^(

[jmdkodiak]

Those old Land Cruisers are sweet! How's the cancer on it? Those old Toyotas rotted out way before their time was over :^(

Well, while no Land Cruiser is rust free, mine is in pretty decent shape. Nothing that can't be fixed. The bottom of the ambulance doors are the worst. But it can be easily fixed by someone who knows what they are doing. haha. Been a daily driver for a year and a half now. Guess the engine decided she was done. I want to re-build it but cost may force me to merely replace the bearings / work on the bottom end only.

Thought of selling it but I love her so much. I've done a lot of work on her since I took ownership. The previous owner had her for 15 years in New Mexico. Hence the minimal rust.






^^^^ Towing her home since I broke a rod/bearing

[lxskllr]

Looks great. I'd love to have one of those :^)

[ChaoticGemini]

...slap it on your lower back while you or someone else shoots it with a hair dryer.

This gave me all kinds of mixed images, but I have to admit that it sounds like a good motel room solution in a pinch.

I have gotten to the point that I always have a back ache and just live with it. When it does act up, nothing beats moist heat (heating pad or shower) and slow stretches while the muscles are warm. I actually like doing the stretches in the HOT shower. Strangely, I've never had a problem with car seats, but my husband has gotten tired of me buying furniture and saying I can't use it a week later. In fact, when the furniture becomes too uncomfortable, I'll actually go sit in my truck with the heat pad to let the muscles relax. I keep telling my dad I want him to mount me a seat like my truck so I can have it in my house, but since mom buys the birthday presents, he's never been motivated to get it done for me.

Growing up, I had a close family friend that was a chiropractor and he saw me regularly from about the age of 15 to 22. Although he could relieve sudden horrible pain, the regular visits did nothing for me. Sometimes I would feel things snap back out before we were even done with a cup of coffee. I've known for many years that surgery is the only route for me to get rid of the problem, but I'm just not ready to go through that drastic step yet.

[Bigblue1]

get some salonpas and slap it on where it hurts. The pads are rather smal so you may need help to get it right were you need it. I swear these things are from the gods. They contain Camphor, Menthol, and methyl salycitate which is naturally found in wintergreen. Totally natural and totally legal in all 50 states, Try these and you won't have to post inthe Cannabis thread. I'm sure they are a lot cheaper too. I bought some 2 years ago and they worked so well I've yet to use any since, after like a week regimen. Seriously salonpas still have some in the medicine cabinet for an emergency but like I said I have yet to need them again.........

http://www.google.com/products/catal...wBA#ps-sellers