Bad backs

On no, poor you. I've suffered too and, after a particularly bad spell finally got really annoyed with myself about not doing the exercises. It only takes a few minutes every day and yet did I do it? NO!

Now I write 'exercise and stretch' in my diary every day. If it's in my diary it gets done. I've done it religiously for months now and thank heavens I've had no further pain. I hope I don't jinx it by writing this.

Yes, I do. Recently, I simply stood up and my back went out. Unfortunately, this happened in a cafe and I had the embarrassment of having to try to stretch it out so that I could get moving again. I managed to drive home but was incapacitated for weeks. Exercising is the answer but it is not possible until the pain goes away. I get these episodes about once a year but this was by far the worst. I regularly do yoga and pilates and have exercises from the physio but if I could just work out why it happens then that would be the key. You have my sympathy.

I did the stretches (couldn’t get out of bed without them) and the exercises which helped my back when I had a bad back for several months. I even kept a pain diary for how good or how bad a night I had. Then I bought a massage back wedge off Amazon for about £14 and used it when I was sat down. It worked! Now if my back aches from standing peeling vegetables too long I head for my chair and the wedge and instantly the pain eases. I also do lots of walks to keep fit.

Avalon Can you give more info about your massage back wedge, please? I want one. Mr P's car has a massage function for the front seats and I must say that does help.

I think Amazon is where I must head pronto!

There are several on Amazon. They are called back stretcher/massager. Look at Winnsell at £10.99 which looks exactly like mine. I use it as a cushion but there are other stretches you can do with it. It’s worked for me and I was very sceptical but frankly at that price it’s worth a punt.

In my 30s I started to suffer with a pain in my back. All manner of investigations proved fruitless. The final doctor implied I was putting it on and said "Go see a physiotherapist if you must".

The pain got worse. One night I was dosed to the max with over-the-counter pills and decided I had had enough. The next day I made an appointment with a private physiotherapist. She saved my life. One look and she diagnosed Scoliosis. I had never heard of it. Apparently some 80% of people suffer from it but most never even know.

She gave me various treatments weekly for several weeks along with exercises to strengthen the back muscles and gradually it improved. I did those exercises religiously as instructed - even at work I found a toilet with room to throw myself on the floor, legs either side of the loo, and did them. At home my two small daughters used to sit on my back to make the exercises better.

Since then, whenever I have needed to (less and less as each year passed) I have repeated those exercises and usually just one session does the job.

Face down on the floor, arms bent at elbows, hands level with shoulders and push up your head and chest, leaving hips and legs as flat as possible. Arch the back. Hold for a few seconds and lower yourself down. Do ten of those three times a day.

Job done!

I hope it works for you.

Suffered from those back problems for years. The ones, where - for no reason at all, you suddenly feel it go.......and know that you are in for several days \(at least of severe pain). Used to put mine down to my gymnastic coaching, which involved lifting, etc the gymnasts.

No good reason what caused it 'to go'. Once, just as leaned down to pick up a crisp packed on the floor, another time when I sneezed, a third, particularly bad one, when I was sitting outside painting the shed. (That time, I could not move and waited until my teenage son came out into the garden to as about tea, and he helped me into the house and onto the sofa.)

The only thing (in addition to painkillers) that I found helped on those times were an electric heated pad. Few years ago, I did actually have a spinal fracture after a fall, undiagnosed for several weeks), and that pad was an absolute life-saver.

Bad back here since teens. My back was damaged in a road accident then by falling from a bolting horse.

It comes and goes.

I use heat pad, massage and stretching when it’s really bad. I’m going to look at the stretchy thing mentioned above!

I used to see a chiropractor for my back. Until I couldn't get an emergency appointment. (By then I had moved to Eire) I phoned a physiotherapy clinic, desperate. Within an hour the receptionist called me back asking me to come asap as they had had a cancellation at the last minute.

The woman who saw me was an Australian lass who almost pulled me apart with her deep massage. I cried on the table but boy did I feel better afterwards. I had a few sessions, which was tailored down to once a month.

When I moved back to the UK, I found a massage therapist who I saw once a month to every 6 weeks. She asked the pressure I wanted and I always asked for a good heavy/panel beating massage. Those types of massages always got me going again and sorted my back out.

I have moved to another country and haven't had a good massage for a while. Now I have sciatica and low back pain so am looking for someone who can help me. Unfortunately this chap (who seems very good) can only see me in a month's time!

I've had bad back pain for several years, and last year made a real effort to have it taken seriously at the doctor's. They had been telling me that it was just osteoarthritis, but I thought differently. So, finally, I had x-rays and scans which showed that I had had broken and cracked vertebrae and collapsing discs and a degree of scoliosis. I take co-codamol. I'm supposed to take 8 per day but try to limit it to no more than 5.
My problem is that I don't know if any other treatments would help. it seems to me that there can't be any remedy for damaged vertebrae. So I have not tried osteopaths, massage, etc. Does anyone know any different? Would anything help?
I do know that sitting down all day is not a good idea. I'm still able to walk for 20 minutes or so before the pain becomes unbearable, so I do try to walk almost every day, after taking 2 co-codamol.

Ah sneezing can be dangerous Franbern- as well I know!
I’ve got two main back weaknesses ( scoliosis at chest level and spondolesthesis in the lower back) so sneezing or just leaning or reaching can set one or other off! I use a wedge seat cushion in the car which seems to help my lower back but the upper back is a constant nuisance!

I'm sorry for all here who suffer from back pain. I have been doing so for the last 30 years. I have found a very good sports based physio wgho uses acupuncture which really helps. I recommend it.
He also did the knot in my tricep yesterday which he diagnosed after my GP said it was my shoulder (wear and tear). Cured - £90 thank you but worth it.

Basic Alexander Technique has given me my life back after being crippled w chronic back pain for years - if you can, try and find a local teacher or browse internet for some self help. The Semi-supine position is practically magic in its incremental positive effects.
I really feel for you - I have to be sensible/careful, but if the worst happens, I know I’ll recover much faster than I used to. And I’m no longer shy about standing up and moving around in meetings etc - sitting for too long isn’t helpful and minimising pain is my priority, not caring if others think I’m weird!

I feel for you. Wet weather does not help either

Franbern

Suffered from those back problems for years. The ones, where - for no reason at all, you suddenly feel it go.......and know that you are in for several days \(at least of severe pain). Used to put mine down to my gymnastic coaching, which involved lifting, etc the gymnasts.

No good reason what caused it 'to go'. Once, just as leaned down to pick up a crisp packed on the floor, another time when I sneezed, a third, particularly bad one, when I was sitting outside painting the shed. (That time, I could not move and waited until my teenage son came out into the garden to as about tea, and he helped me into the house and onto the sofa.)

The only thing (in addition to painkillers) that I found helped on those times were an electric heated pad. Few years ago, I did actually have a spinal fracture after a fall, undiagnosed for several weeks), and that pad was an absolute life-saver.

Do you mean chest push ups?
I have had a scoliosis all my life apparently and should have had an operation as a child apparently, but never knew until my 40s. Had an operation in my 70s which went pear shaped. I live on Sulphadeine and morphine both liquid and capsules and am still in pain 24/7. I exercise every morning for 30 minutes and do Tai-Chi once a week and Seated dancing once a week. Still nothing works. I cannot hoover, walk without poles, carry anything heavy or stand for more than a couple of minutes. It is getting harder and harder I have a very active life and only the medication keeps me going. I will try your exercises and hope it at least will give me some relief.

DD’s MIL was lying on the sofa. She complained her back had gone again. GD about 8 years old looked over and said “ No, it’s still there Grandma “
I am always careful how I complain about sciatica. I have found a good osteopath