Suggestions for back pain?

elphie754
elphie754 Posts: 7,574 Member
in Health and Weight Loss
I keep getting lower, burning back pain when standing for more than 10 minutes and if I’m walking. I know it’s because of my weight and how my weight rapidly increased these past few weeks. Any suggestions on how to deal with it while I’m at a weight that it still hurts?

Replies

  • StevefromMichigan
    StevefromMichigan Posts: 462 Member
    Try to rest when you can, and if it gets really bad, maybe take some ibuprofen if you are able to.
  • AnnPT77
    AnnPT77 Posts: 34,204 Member
    Especially if it's spasm-y, heat may help ease it. The OTC stick-on heat pads you can wear under clothes might be worth trying. Liniment helps ease pain for some, and there are unscented ones now.

    Professional massage therapy may help, if you can afford it, or self-massage techniques. A (reputable, university-affiliated) osteopath who does manipulation has also helped me.

    Hope you can find a way to ease it!
  • kshama2001
    kshama2001 Posts: 28,052 Member
    My go to suggestion for back pain for decades has been a regular routine that includes gentle yoga stretches, but I have recently found foam rolling to be amazing.

    This one is less than $15 at Walmart and comes with a chart of exercises you can do. If you arrow down on the pictures you'll see two with a guy with the roller under his back. It's a simple as rolling it under your back. I get relief right away.

    https://www.walmart.com/ip/Gold-s-Gym-18-Foam-Roller/21811910

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  • Seffell
    Seffell Posts: 2,244 Member
    It might not improve with losing weight. I thought the same and lost from 165 to 135lbs with no change.
    My advise is go see your doc and see if they refer you to physio.
    Mine just started one day and never left me. It's been 4 years. Everyday medication and pain...
  • JRSINAZ
    JRSINAZ Posts: 158 Member
    I had the same thing like waiting to check out at Costco line. If I got moving and walking I was ok. Now that I've lost weight it has subsided tremendously and everything hurts less. Keep moving!
  • positivepowers
    positivepowers Posts: 902 Member
    Burning pain usually means neural (nerve) pain. Alternating ice and heat (alternate every 15 mins. as long as you can during the day) may help. Rest is imperative and really slow, careful exercise (like gentle stretching.) Try not to stand, sit or walk for an extended period because that may aggravate the problem (I know! I know! This is almost impossible!) Also, if you want to stay away from systemic medications, some topical medications exist over the counter. Some have lidocaine which is a topical anesthetic which may help for a short time and some have topical NSAIDs which may also give some relief.
  • AnnPT77
    AnnPT77 Posts: 34,204 Member
    It's a good point, stated or implied by others, that strengthening the core muscles and improving body mechanics/posture can be a big help in the long run. That was certainly true for me, even while still obese. (I stayed obese for 12+ years after getting more active and stronger.)

    Physical therapy can help with the acute pain, and give you an on-ramp to longer-term improvement via useful stretching/strengthening exercises.

    What I wrote up-thread was more about the acute phase.
  • 1houndgal
    1houndgal Posts: 558 Member
    elphie754 wrote: »
    I keep getting lower, burning back pain when standing for more than 10 minutes and if I’m walking. I know it’s because of my weight and how my weight rapidly increased these past few weeks. Any suggestions on how to deal with it while I’m at a weight that it still hurts?

    Go to a spine specialist and get a spine MRI. It could be sacroilliac joint dysfunction. You need a diagnosis and treatment plan.
  • 1houndgal
    1houndgal Posts: 558 Member
    gebeziseva wrote: »
    It might not improve with losing weight. I thought the same and lost from 165 to 135lbs with no change.
    My advise is go see your doc and see if they refer you to physio.
    Mine just started one day and never left me. It's been 4 years. Everyday medication and pain...

    I have it also. I can now manage it with water excercise, but on land I still get that pain after 10 mins. Classic symptoms of sacroiliac joint dysfunction. PT, swimming/water therapy, or recumbant cardio equipment. My DO gave me some excercise and manipulations that help. I find a good hot Jacuzzi can help, and a large cold pack helps on the back. I use ointments like biofreeze also.
  • concordancia
    concordancia Posts: 5,320 Member
    1houndgal wrote: »
    elphie754 wrote: »
    I keep getting lower, burning back pain when standing for more than 10 minutes and if I’m walking. I know it’s because of my weight and how my weight rapidly increased these past few weeks. Any suggestions on how to deal with it while I’m at a weight that it still hurts?

    Go to a spine specialist and get a spine MRI. It could be sacroilliac joint dysfunction. You need a diagnosis and treatment plan.

    This! Different spinal issues will require different treatments. Even if stretches are the right answer, it is helpful to have a physical therapist teach you to do them properly.
  • Leannep2201
    Leannep2201 Posts: 441 Member
    edited March 2018
    Definitely go see your Dr. I’ve had a slipped disc in the past and it’s not nice. Had years of issues, standing still was the worse (sitting still for long periods almost as bad).
    You may not have anything serious, but your back is important- get it seen to!

    *edited to correct spelling errors!
  • ronjsteele1
    ronjsteele1 Posts: 1,064 Member
    A heating pad if heat feels hood on it. Ice if ice feels good on it. Gentle stretching.
  • koda0071
    koda0071 Posts: 40 Member
    I have found even with a large weight loss my back hurts just as much some days due to aggravating the torn and arthritic disks (diagnosed by spine clinic doctor) a day or two after a hard workout. Heat and cold packs do help with inflammation. I have found it may hurt at the beginning of a walk or slow jog, but by the end it actually feels much better once the blood starts flowing to the area and it heats up the tissue. I can have several hours of relief in this manner, but it didn't happen over night. In addition to losing weight, I think I have felt the most improvement in my lower back pain by working on my flexibility and core strength (exercises recommended by PT based on MRI findings). I also try not to sit at work for extended periods anymore. I get up and walk to water fountain, bathroom etc once an hour to get a break from sitting. I also talked with my PCP about medication to manage my pain and ibuprofen really helps me. Good luck with your back pain. It's going to hurt, but eventually if you keep losing weight and strengthening the muscles that support your spine you should find it starts to improve.
  • bikecheryl
    bikecheryl Posts: 1,432 Member
    edited March 2018
    I had the same issue. Although I have really bad arthritic knees I couldn't walk or even stand because of lower back pain.

    Here's what I did:

    I set my calorie goal to loose 1.5 calories per week. It was super tuff at first but I stuck to it.

    I got myself a DeskCycle which I use at work. Pedaled away without anyone noticing. It is awesome and I would recommend it to anyone who has a desk job.

    I also used a recumbent bike at home.

    Half an hour or so a day can really add up.

    Add some back stretches and strengthening exercises..... there's tons you can find on line.

    It took awhile but within three months the back pain was gone.

    And so was 25 lbs. :)

    Now when I walk I try to concentrate on engaging my core.... works for me.
  • lois1231
    lois1231 Posts: 330 Member
    I agree go to dr. I just had radio frequency waves done on my back. They have a lot of methods that can help. No reason to suffer.
  • Goober1142
    Goober1142 Posts: 219 Member
    Yoga for me. Easy yoga..ipad app called "Simply Yoga". 20 minutes, fixed me right up after years of back pain due to injury.
  • Owlie45
    Owlie45 Posts: 806 Member
    I'd go into the doctor and have it checked. The weight may only be part of your problem.
    My boyfriend has been complaining and complaining about back pain for months and months. He finally went in and had x-rays. He has scoliosis caused by generative disc disease.
    Go in and get checked. If it's nothing but weight he may be able to direct you to something that will help like PT.

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