Please help...hurt my back.

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Replies

  • srob98
    srob98 Posts: 41 Member
    WebMD link: http://www.webmd.com/back-pain/tc/use-heat-or-ice-to-relieve-low-back-pain-topic-overview

    Oh...and I very well may be overdoing it with exercise. I do the weightlifting M,W, F....and on M/F I also do the spin class. T/TH I do the elliptical. It is a lot, but it makes me feel great (well, until now...)
  • JaceyMarieS
    JaceyMarieS Posts: 692 Member
    Absolutely everything written below! I've had two herniated ("ruptured") discs - just woke up one morning in extreme pain. Despite what webMD says, ice is a better option if there is inflammation. Increased swelling can result in nerve damage - heat FEELS better, but cold reduces swelling. An MRI is a really really good idea before seeing a chiropractor - a chiropractor cannot fix a herniated disc. For me, it took an MRI, a 3 week course of steroids followed by prescription strength NSAIDs, icing daily, and then a couple of rounds of PT (including exercises similar to the below stretches) and 2 years of waiting before the nerve damage (numbness, pain, burning, foot drop) was repaired.
    One day last October, I slipped getting into the shower and caught myself in a strange twisted position. Like you, I had to crawl around for days in agony. Here is what I've learned from my experience.

    1) Hurting your back is nothing to take lightly. I'd get an MRI and see a real doctor before letting chiro twist on it. Nothing against chiro's, but I went to one first and made mine worse. When the back is inflamed, you don't want to go jerking it around more. Chiro's are great for that nagging "catch" we sometimes get from sleeping wrong.. not so good when you've really hurt yourself IMHO.

    2) ICE! no heat! .... heat brings blood to the affected area and increases inflammation, which squeezes those tender nerves. Get a reusable ice pack from the store, and lay on it religiously for 15 min intervals. I had 3 docs tell me this and found they were right.

    3) Stretch slowly as much as possible. There are a handful of them I do every day now to keep the pain at bay.

    4) Aleve or Ibuprofen work ok, but they tore up my stomach. Doc gave me an RX for a coated naproxen tablet that I keep on me at all times. Like 3x the over the counter dosage, without the tummy trouble. It may take something stronger to reduce the inflammation which causes the pain.

    Here are some stretches to "try".....don't do anything that makes it worse.

    Knee sway -- Lie on the back, knees up and together. Slowly rock the knees from side to side. Only as far as you can go without pain. Keep back firm against the floor while you do this. It loosens up the hip and lower back.

    Pelvic tilt -- lie on back in same position as above. Knees up. Slowly rock your pelvis up and towards the rib cage while tightening your tummy. Do NOT raise up the butt. Hold and release down. Keep low back firm against floor. Do a few of these.

    Knee hug -- now that you are looser and still on your back with knees, slowly take one knee up and grab with your hands. Hug your knee gently towards your core, Hold and release. Do other knee. That stretches out lower back too.

    Those 3 with ice got me to standing upright again. After that physical therapy got me straight. With that said, you should avoid working out until you are healed.

    For me, I rushed it and jumped on the elliptical and put myself back at square one for another month. Even now, the elliptical is not my friend and will cause a flare up (I avoid it now). You never realize how precious your back is until you mess it up.

    Take care and see a doc sooner than later.
  • BrianSharpe
    BrianSharpe Posts: 9,248 Member

    I am really surprised that someone would be rude in here - a place where we are supposed to support each other....

    You're new here aren't you? :laugh: :laugh: :laugh: :laugh:

    Seriously, what passes for rude here is quite tame (unless you're proposing some VLCD or encouraging eating disordered behaviour), if you want to see rude go to scuba forum, tell them you just got Open Water certified and completed a 240ft deep dive on air. Sit back and watch the fireworks!

    I hope your back issue gets resolved quickly; even if you have to take some time off to recover don't get discouraged, adopting a healthier, fitter lifestyle is a marathon not a sprint.
  • srob98
    srob98 Posts: 41 Member
    Thanks!

    According to everything I am reading, either is fine. Not much definitive research on either when it comes to lower back injuries... Definitely worth researching!
  • srob98
    srob98 Posts: 41 Member
    Steve, that's my first line of defense...not going to get all worried and upset until Monday. It felt a tad better this morning than it did last night. Hoping it will feel a bit better tomorrow, too.

    Thanks!
  • srob98
    srob98 Posts: 41 Member
    Thanks Brian!

    I learned my lesson!
  • gypsyrose64
    gypsyrose64 Posts: 271 Member
    As for the ice vs. heat... do what works for you. I just know I did heat and it didn't help me. The ice pack did. When I went to physical therapy, they used ice packs. Chiro told me ice. Ortho said ice. From what I read, it numbs out the nerves that are pulsing to cause pain. It may not help it "heal" but it will ease the pain. In the end, what worked for me, might not work for you. Good luck.
  • bio01979
    bio01979 Posts: 313
    I had no back problems ....until one day I bent over to pick up a bucket of paint and something went terribly wrong. Like you. I had to crawl around. I was in bed for several days...crawling to the bathroom was agony! I finally got well enough to lay in a reclining chair. Took 2 weeks till I felt well enough to walk around and STILL the pain wasnt gone.

    BABY your back! To heck with the exercising right now. If you aggravate it, you may end up a LOT worse. When I had sciatica last year, I couldn't exercise for a month....I survived. You will too.

    ETA - I would suggest an MRI. DONT let anyone manipulate your back until you know what actually happened. If you ruptured a disc, you don't want to make it worse.

    this! been there too and if you did what I did, the chiro will not help with this

    get it checked out!
  • bio01979
    bio01979 Posts: 313
    As for the ice vs. heat... do what works for you. I just know I did heat and it didn't help me. The ice pack did. When I went to physical therapy, they used ice packs. Chiro told me ice. Ortho said ice. From what I read, it numbs out the nerves that are pulsing to cause pain. It may not help it "heal" but it will ease the pain. In the end, what worked for me, might not work for you. Good luck.

    yep try both, ice did not help me at all but heat does help my muscles to relax and stop the spasms
  • bio01979
    bio01979 Posts: 313
    Medically, everyone is blowing the oxy thing out of proportion. Dosages are available online to prevent accidental overdose, and so long as you use them only when in pain and only until seeing a doctor, you should be fine assuming it is for the short term. However, when you do see him/her, you should indicate that you have taken them, how much, and how often. It might be embarrassing, but any prescriber should know of past use of narcotics, opiates, and opioids when diagnosing a new injury.

    Legally, use of a prescription that does not belong to you is quite bad. Keep your ear to the ground and mind that you do not drive or operate heavy machinery as this is most often how people get caught doing such things if you feel that you can't make it until you see your doctor without the meds.

    Disclaimer: I am not a doctor, nor a registered nurse, nor a pharmacologist. The above does not constitute medical nor legal advice.

    Additionally, ice is suggested for the first 24 hours, as is compression and (in the case of extremities) elevation. After the first 24 hours, heat is suggested to increase blood flow and allow nutrients to reach the site to heal it.

    P.S. See a damn doctor, love.

    Be healthy, be safe, swift recovery.

    why on earth would it be embarrassing?

    I take oxycodone for my back for a few years now. My doc and I monitor my usage. He gives me 30 and usually I am not out of those for 6 months. I only take them if I have a flare up which is becoming less and less often :) usually once or twice a year now

    taking pain killers is not embarrassing :)
  • Schlackity
    Schlackity Posts: 268 Member
    Thank you so much for all of the advice!

    To relieve your mind about the Oxy....my brother is a urologist and my sister-in-law is a pediatrician - my dad spoke with them before he brought me the meds. They both said it would be fine until Monday - he only brought me 6.

    I am waiting until tomorrow to see how I feel. I can walk now with the meds....still hurts but not crazy bad. If it is still bad tomorrow, I am going to urgent care.

    As for doctor vs. chiropractor, I think I have to go to the doctor first to be covered by my insurance. Either way, I do believe in a good chiropractor. I used to think they were complete quacks, but I hurt my back moving, about 15 years ago, and went to a chiro after the doctor, and he did an adjustment that immediately relieved the pain. Gave me some exercises, etc., and sent me on my way. He did try to set up monthly appointments, but I declined. I have never had a back injury since. (until now)

    For the young lady who stated I had no idea what I was doing....first, you need to work on your manners. Second, I work out in a weight lifting class with trained leaders....they are very particular about technique. The place I did not use proper technique was while picking up the laundry. It happens. Settle down.

    Oh...and according to WebMD, heat is somewhat proven to help relieve lower back pain, while ice has shown no clinical significance...please be sure to research before you say "duh" to me....

    I am really surprised that someone would be rude in here - a place where we are supposed to support each other....

    Again, to everyone who was posting helpful information, thank you so very much...especially for the inspiration that I can keep going!

    Well said!
  • foleyshirley
    foleyshirley Posts: 1,043 Member
    Medically, everyone is blowing the oxy thing out of proportion. Dosages are available online to prevent accidental overdose, and so long as you use them only when in pain and only until seeing a doctor, you should be fine assuming it is for the short term. However, when you do see him/her, you should indicate that you have taken them, how much, and how often. It might be embarrassing, but any prescriber should know of past use of narcotics, opiates, and opioids when diagnosing a new injury.

    Legally, use of a prescription that does not belong to you is quite bad. Keep your ear to the ground and mind that you do not drive or operate heavy machinery as this is most often how people get caught doing such things if you feel that you can't make it until you see your doctor without the meds.

    Disclaimer: I am not a doctor, nor a registered nurse, nor a pharmacologist. The above does not constitute medical nor legal advice.

    Additionally, ice is suggested for the first 24 hours, as is compression and (in the case of extremities) elevation. After the first 24 hours, heat is suggested to increase blood flow and allow nutrients to reach the site to heal it.

    P.S. See a damn doctor, love.

    Be healthy, be safe, swift recovery.

    why on earth would it be embarrassing?

    I take oxycodone for my back for a few years now. My doc and I monitor my usage. He gives me 30 and usually I am not out of those for 6 months. I only take them if I have a flare up which is becoming less and less often :) usually once or twice a year now

    taking pain killers is not embarrassing :)

    I think this poster meant it might be embarrassing because it wasn't her prescription.
  • castelluzzo99
    castelluzzo99 Posts: 313 Member
    Taking painkillers (especially those not prescribed for you) may only be masking symptoms of a serious injury. Seek medical attention today.

    ^^This^^

    And the one about them being addicting. Kidney stones, I am told, are worse than labor, and I believe it (I've delivered 3 children without any painkillers at all).

    About the falling off the exercise bandwagon, think of it this way: 80% of weight loss is diet. So the exercise you are doing is only helping around 20% (probably less, because there are other factors). So you've only lost 20% of your weight loss. You can do a lot with diet (eat less, since you aren't exercising) until your back is better.
  • StarChanger
    StarChanger Posts: 605 Member
    If I was in your shoes I would have already been to the emergency department (and I would be seeing a real dr, not a chiro).

    Taking painkillers (especially those not prescribed for you) may only be masking symptoms of a serious injury. Seek medical attention today.

    This. DO NOT GO TO A CHIROPRACTOR before having imaging done. You are describing a disc herniation or severely pinched nerve. Ibuprofen around-the-clock (at recommended bottle doses) will help reduce the swelling, as well and alternating hot / cold packs on your back (hot relaxes muscle tightness on the nerve/disc, cold reduces swelling).

    Go see a REAL doctor asap
  • tanyarodriques
    tanyarodriques Posts: 1
    Be gentle with yourself. Remember this entire journey is about you being healthy and feeling great. Give yourself time to heal...don't force a semi complete recovery killing yourself over an ideal image of being skinny. The truth is you may have pushed yourself too far too fast and there is no quick fix....healing takes time, rest.......followed later (about 3 weeks later) with gentle easy stretching.
  • peace_pigeon
    peace_pigeon Posts: 120 Member
    I'm sorry that happened to you! Like others I had a very similar thing happen- my dad had to basically carry me to the er (and I was 30 at the time!), It turned out that I tore a ligament. No fun at all!

    My only advice is get to a Dr, and in the meantime do nothing at all except lay down and use whatever means possible (within reason, and state and federal laws, lol) to feel better.
  • conniemaxwell5
    conniemaxwell5 Posts: 943 Member
    DO NOT take any more Oxycodone until you've seen a doctor! Taking someone else's prescription is extremely dangerous and I believe may be illegal. Go to the Emergency Room and get treatment.
  • castelluzzo99
    castelluzzo99 Posts: 313 Member
    I'm sure the doctor will figure out what is best (chiro or not). But it reminds me of what my husband did a few weeks ago (but on a much bigger scale). He was extracting something our 4-year-old had decided to flush down the toilet (a shell, I think--it wasn't going down but it was impeding other things from flushing), and when he stood up, his neck popped and he couldn't turn his head for a couple of days. This was on a Friday night. Sunday he went out and did yard work. He felt better by the end of the day and could turn his head some, but he suffered from stiff neck for a while and he still isn't over it yet. He finally saw a chiropractor the other day and that helped so much!

    Now I know your issue is way worse than his, and I'm not suggesting that yard work would make it better (the neck supports a lot less than the lower back does), but it does sound similar in the sense that it was from bending.

    I hope you get better soon! Good luck with everything!
  • Mrsallypants
    Mrsallypants Posts: 887 Member
    You've been lifting the laundry basket all your life probably the same way, so there is a high chance that it could be an injury from weight lifting.
  • srob98
    srob98 Posts: 41 Member
    No, Actually, I have never lifted the laundry basket the way I lifted it when I hurt my back.

    There were 2 baskets next to each other, in a small hallway, along with my son's football workouts bag. I was trying to quickly put the basket up on top of the closed washer...then put the other one on the dryer...and close the door. I had company coming over in a bit and I wanted to get it hidden -ha!

    So, I was lifting it at a very weird angle...halfway turned...and was lifting upward toward the washer. Definitely not the way to do it! Plus, I lifted it without bending my knees at all, because I had to kind of twist to reach it. On top of that, it was overly full. (I really hate laundry - it gets cleaned, but I just hate taking it upstairs!)

    Anyway, it WAS from lifting it so oddly. No doubt in my mind. Do I think my muscles were overworked? Quite possibly. But, the weightlifting classes are 3 days a week, every other day - I think it was those classes added to the spin classes, and the other exercising I was doing. I went from couch potato to working out 1-2 hours, 6 days a week. Too much too soon, especially when you are 45 and really out of shape.

    Heading to urgent care today - after talking to my brother, Urgent Care is a better bet than the ER for this type of thing. He also suggested a good chiropractor. He knows a few that are trustworthy....he's a well respected urologist, so I know I can trust his reference. Too bad he doesn't specialize in something I can use...but I am glad I don't need his services! =)

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