Back Pain -- PLEASE READ!!!

Chiropractors are a scam for the most part. Most studies show you will heal just as fast doing nothing as going to a chiro. Go see a spine specialist, in other words a REAL DOCTOR (MD, Neuro, etc...). More than likely they will not be able to properly diagnose you until you have an MRI.

Have you ever had an MRI? Do you know for sure it is muscle pain and not nerve pain from a herniated disc?

Hi, i've slipped a disc 3 times and since had two children so, trust me, I know what back pain is!! Mine tends to kick off when I go to bed which most people find strange. I now have co-codamol prescribed by the doctors which help keep the pain at bay while I sleep. I was getting very little sleep before this. Having tried physio with no success I went to a chiropractor. I put it off for ages as i'd heard horror stories about them clicking your back into place etc but she didn't. It was more like a massage and she just applied a bit of pressure and pushed it quite hard right at the end of the session but it didn't hurt. After i'd had my first child I only needed one session and my back was 99% until I had my 2nd child! I've needed more sessions this time but, at £30 a session, it's worth every penny!! Hope that helps. :-)

Walk. Increase the time length as you go. While walking, breathe deeply. Some people get fit by walking and eating well, nothing else.

I seriously injured my back once, then read a book called "Healing Back Pain" by Dr. Sarno. The next day I seriously was going for a run and I was fine. Sore, but otherwise okay.

Dr. Sarno's perspective is that back pain is really all about stress. Long story short, the stress results in less oxygen in certain areas, causing pain. Hence the deep breathing, to relax.

Hope it works for you as well as it did for me. I recently injured my back again and have been getting back into relaxation mode. Walks, yoga, things like that.

Good luck!

I have a compressed disk at L5, so I literally feel your pain. When my back is acting up I can swim, so that's what I do. The chiropractor can help alot, just make sure you find one who isn't a quack trying to pass off his supplements as cure alls. The ideal one should use moist heat on your back before adjusting it. Things that also help me are keeping one foot elevated when I sit, and when I lay down I use a couple of pillows under my knees - adjusting them so that my heels hit in the same spot (they won't if your back is out). Once I've laid there for awhile I can usually twist my shoulders slightly and get it to pop if needed.

I have family members and friends that found just the opposite of the poster who slammed chiropractors... chiropractors helped when traditional medicine said, "Just learn to live with it." Traditional MD's seem to think that unless something warrants surgery, there's not much they can offer... except maybe cortisone injections, which are risky and can make you feel worse if they hit a nerve.

I also agree with massage, but make sure you get someone who's been certified so that they know anatomy.

Edited to add... you might also consider acupuncture, had another friend who had good results with that.

First I would see a doctor, preferably a sports doctor. I would ask them to recommend a good physical therapist who specializes with people who exercise. Exercise and stretching are a great way to heal if you are doing the proper regimen to protect and build the area of and around your injury.

Been there, done that, and it works!

Chiropractors are a scam for the most part. Most studies show you will heal just as fast doing nothing as going to a chiro. Go see a spine specialist, in other words a REAL DOCTOR (MD, Neuro, etc...). More than likely they will not be able to properly diagnose you until you have an MRI.

I very much have to agree with this! My back hurt for close to 3 months until I saw a chiropractor. He adjusted me (without any initial x-rays) for about 3 months. I was making ZERO progress and the pain was getting worse. He FINALLY said I need to see my primary doctor. Come to find out, I have 2 bulging discs in my lumbar spine, and should never have been touched by a chiropractor.

If you are still having issues after this long, I would see your primary care doctor.

Chiropractors are a scam for the most part. Most studies show you will heal just as fast doing nothing as going to a chiro. Go see a spine specialist, in other words a REAL DOCTOR (MD, Neuro, etc...). More than likely they will not be able to properly diagnose you until you have an MRI.

I disagree...I have seen a chiropractor for years...and it helps

when I went to see my MD he just wants to give me pain meds and muscle relaxers...with the chiropractic care, I do need the pain meds

I injured my back messing around with my dog the first time...took about a month to be back to 90%...then re-injured it walking the dog (got pulled at an angle)...went back to the chiro and was better after just a few weeks...I now see my chiropractor once a month for preventative adjustments and have not had any issues in over 4 years

last week...I spent 2 days laying laminate flooring and then a 2 hour car ride Sat, all day sitting Sunday watching my daughter play volleyball and 2 hour car ride back home Sunday...3-4 years ago...all that would have put me flat on my back for 2 days...but I am fine...going to run for 30 minutes later tonight

Just my personal experience!

My lower back usually gives me issues if its not being strengthened regularly. I see a chiro on a semi-regular basis to keep me aligned and facilitate "peak flow". But if I'm not strengthening my low back muscles (cycling should work well, of course there are other ways) they will weaken and WHAM - I'm hurting.

This happens most to me during the school year, when I'm teaching - sitting in my chair or sitting at a desk and I run out of time for working out. Massage is great, but if you're not strengthening it probably wont last long (ditto if you see a chiro).

If you've previously injured your back it may be wise to see a doc and make sure you've not torn something up again. Also, a lot of time if you're having pain lower it could be something up higher affecting it - just a thought. Good luck!

Chiropractors are a scam for the most part. Most studies show you will heal just as fast doing nothing as going to a chiro. Go see a spine specialist, in other words a REAL DOCTOR (MD, Neuro, etc...). More than likely they will not be able to properly diagnose you until you have an MRI.

Actually, the chiropractor I saw after I injured my back at the end of 2005 did me more harm than good. Admittedly, my first two sessions really helped but after that, he hindered, rather than helped. When he began working on my neck (I was in a car accident in the early '90s), I was in agony for days, and couldn't turn my head! When I told him at my next session, he just said "That shouldn't have happened". No *kitten*! I stopped going after that!

By far the best and most lasting treatment I've had has been reflexology. I've been under a physio at the hospital too, and while it was OK, it wasn't great. Reflexology however, was brilliant. I should warn any one going for treatment - you may well feel nauseous for half an hour after your first session. And your legs may be wobbly. But these are a small price to pay!

One other thing - I've found that jogging has really helped my back. It seems counter-intuitive to me because walking for long distances/long amounts of time, hurts by back a lot; however, jogging seems to have the opposite effect!

But of course, what works/doesn't work for me, may not be the same for you. If I were in your shoes, I would get checked out by a professional before embarking on any course of treatment. I hope you get it sorted out soon. Back pain is such a misery (which of course, you know).