constant lower back pain, help!

I don't think this is the same thing I had. When I first started hiking this year my lower back just killed me. I sometime would have to rest about every 1/2 mile. However as soon as I sat down the pain would ease considerably. At times it felt swollen. I was miserable. Eventually it disappeared. I think the reason is I worked my torso at the gym. Mainly setups and also some assorted other exercises. Now I hike 5.5 mile with no pain and no rest. It took months to work through this. At times, like you, I was holding my abs in and restricting my breathing.

Try setups and modified push-ups.

Im no stranger to back pain. I've lived with it all my life. IF its tight muscles I have gotten an enormous amount of relief from something a friend of mine told me about a couple years ago. And have given it as presents to everyone I know that is miserable too. It is called The Miracle Ball. I found it at Barnes & Noble. Im not sure where else its available. Im sure you could look it up online. The kit comes with two soft 8" balls and a book written by Elaine Petrone. Costs less than $20. My husband recent tried them and couldn't believe how well it worked. All you do is lay on the floor with them, put the balls under the area where the tight muscle is and relax letting your body weight do the work.

I've also had some orthotics made by a professional. That has also helped.

Good luck. I hope you find out the cause soon. I know its not fun living with pain everyday.

Personally I'd go back to the chiro. It sounds like your muscles have go into a spasm as a result of imbalance. The chiro will be able to massage them out and show you stretches.

*******It is called The Miracle Ball. I found it at Barnes & Noble. Im not sure where else its available. Im sure you could look it up online. The kit comes with two soft 8" balls and a book written by Elaine Petrone. Costs less than $20.*****
My mom was in an accident and messed up her back. When I saw the balls I got those for her. She does them every night and it has helped her tremendously. They are very good at stretching those muscles. Excellent idea. Also doing some yoga is a very good idea as well. I do the light yoga msyelf. I am not so sure on the cobra as that might agravate the spot.
I found out that how far your pain radiates can be an indicator of what type of pain you have. I was diagnosed with osteoarthritus in my 30's. Seems the pain for that goes from your back to above your knee. If the pain should go below your knee and wrap around your ankle that means you could be looking at a disc issue. I have both. From what you are saying it is mainly in what you believe is a muscle.
I also have a leg that is shorter and wear an insert to balance it out. I found a really great place online that sells them and all kinds of foot and back related products. The site is www.footsmart.com. They have a couple of diagrams on their site of different types of foot/back problems and what you can put in your shoes to alieviate the situation. And they go into female versus male walking issues ei-how are bodies are built and how the way we walk, stand, can effect our backs. They also sell these totally slammin running shoes that have metal springs inside. I went through shoes every 3 months till I got a pair of these. But anyway, I would totally suggest the site. They may have a diagram of where you are experiencing the pain, what it is, and what you can do to help it not happen.
Hope this helps you out.
jac

I have also heard that if your hamstrings are tight, it does not allow your lower back to release. A buddy of mine competes in strongman comps and he had lower back pain and found it was due to tight hamstrings. Try stretching out your hamstrings every chance you get throughout the day. Doesn't take much, just bend over and touch (or try) your toes. Hold it for ten seconds or so. You could also kick a leg up on a chair and lean forward leading with your chest.

Good luck!

I'm sorry I guess I should have clarified that it does not feel that it is my spine, it is the actual muscles, and especially my left hip area as well as lower back muscles. Thanks again for info.

Do setups. If you are holding your abs in then that tells the story. When reflecting on myself, I had a desk job and then I spent too much time on the computer at home. Those things weaken your back muscles.

I don't quite understand it but the abs have quite a bit to do with back support. Another thing I do is lateral pull-downs. They seem to stretch the back. You can also use the pulley machine to exercise the back. Use light weights, put your arms straight out. Keep the arms straight and raise the weights by turning you torso, do sets on each side.

This stuff takes time and you should do it slowly. Oh I use to take aspirin. Not that I am recommending that.

My fiance, Dan, has a bulged disc in his lower back that is killing him constantly. He used to go to the chiropractor, but that became too expensive after a while and was only a temporary fix. Is there anything else he can do to eliminate the pain?

Shannon
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I wrote about the Miracle Balls earlier which is great for the muscles. I also have an inversion table that is very good for his type of problem. I love mine just takes alittle getting used to. Have him do alittle research on it.

I used to have chronic back pain. Turned out weak core muscles were to blame and the back began to hurt when those muscles got tired. The problem gradually disappeared when I began to do ab and lower back exercises.

I've been trying to get him to do some basic yoga poses to strength and stretch the area, but he's been fighting me... obviously because it hurts. Thanks, will give all of these suggestions a try.

Shannon