Back pain, back issues

Chris_Hamilton

Trying to be the best me, I can be
Just wondering if any of you guys suffer from back pain, and other back issues? ANd if so what are you doing about it or have done about it. I've had issues for years going back to when I was a distance runner back in high school and one year in College. Most of the time my back will go out with no warning and often times just bending my back a few degrees.

Happened yesterday to me. Leaned across my work table reaching for something and straightening back up...wham. Dropped me to the ground and took almost 30 minutes to get up and out of the garage. I made it to my bed and after a few hours I couldn't get up out of the bed. Very scary. I thought I had no choice but to go to the Emergency Room. Tried to hold off, because if I called the Rescue Squad it would cost me $800 for them to get me. After 13 hours of laying there, this morning about 5AM, I forced myself to get up. Started moving and gradually was able to walk and sit down. Still in terrible pain but am at least able to move around.

Anyone else go through something like this and what can be done to help it? Very scary to go from feeling fine to being on the floor in agony just from straightening up your back.
 
There are two different pills I find at Walmart, Magnilife Leg and Back Pain relief, and IRP Sciatica Therapy. Both small pills that dissolve under your tongue. Both designed for nerve pain, which is what it sounds like you have from the description. I am sure they probably sell them elsewhere, just saw the Magnilife at Walgreens for 26.00 where it was about 15 at Walmart, plus you get free shipping at 35.

Other than that Magnesium seems to be the best help. I have stomach problems too so am far from normal regarding the bowel movements, and magnesium loosens "it" worse. There are the vitalife magnesium gummies out there that seem less potent and at least are not horse sized pills.

I have never heard of anyone not having long term issues from surgery, other than probably not being able to do anything for 6 months after surgery.
 
I am very familiar with back problems. You should see a spinal neuro specialist and identify exactly what the problem is.
I had to resort to surgery about 7 years ago due to a degenerated disc and the arthritis it caused which gave me sciatic pain. Fortunately the surgery worked well for me. My back isn't great but as long as I don't over do it I'm fine.
Stay away from the chiropractor. Good surgeons won't recommend an operation unless you absolutely need it.
 
I have never heard of anyone not having long term issues from surgery, other than probably not being able to do anything for 6 months after surgery.
You heard of one now. 7 years plus, it's still good and it didn't take 6 months to recover, more like 2 months. I was bent over like I was 100 years old and in constant pain. Every case is different that is why the problem needs to be identified correctly and the treatments will vary depending on what the problem is.
 
Sorry to hear about your back pain.
I agree with metalman on seeing a doctor. I have a good friend who fell while framing a roof. His neck started bothering him a few days later and he went to a chiropractor. Fortunately this guy did an x-ray before making any adjustments as it turned out my friend had broken his neck.
 
Once in a while I get pretty much crippled in a similar fashion. Once I screwed up my back just getting off the toilet. Took a while to live that one down. The only thing that helps me is to keep moving as much as possible, and to get some Flexeril from my doc to get through the worst of it. On the worst days, I probably could use a walker...
 
Years ago my wife worked for an f-500 company and a 35-year-old guy could hardly walk, he said had a major back operation in the works and would be out about 30 days.
About 3 months later she ran into him on the next floor up and said wow you walking great so the operation went well!
He said no I bought an inversion table a cheap one and threw it away and bought a good one.

So the wife has always had a bad back and she ordered the one in the picture and had it delivered to the plant to assemble on a Monday.
It's heavy so asked steve to put it together when he had time and we would load it in my truck Friday.
Friday come and I had no idea he been using 10 minutes twice a day all week and said my back is 90% better, for years the VA wanted to operate.
So I ordered one that day for the plant from Walmart where the wife ordered hers as they don't stock.
My wife, steve, and john all got fixed and not used in years.
One at the the the the the plant has been visited by numerous townspeople from 25 to 80 years of age
Took the 80-year-old about 20 times not seen him in a year now.
 

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i am fortunate enough to not have back issues, knock on wood. i just have to deal with the migraines every other day. my good buddy however does really struggle with his back. he has seen a few doctors. one thing that did help him was they figure out which nerve is getting pinched or causing the pain then they are able to actually, with a needle, kill the nerve somehow. its not permanent and dont quote me but it last maybe a year then has to do it again. apparently its not a big deal to do an no surgery.
 
I wonder if you and I have something similar. Every so often I will do something my back does not like and it can be agony, but I've never had it as bad as you described. Anyway I would have constant pain, but the worst was if I moved a certain way (not always the same way) I would get such sharp pain it would take my breath away. I spoke to my doctor and he said it sounded like spasms and prescribed Tizanidine. Made a huge difference, but beware they will knock your a** out! I only take at bedtime.
 
i am fortunate enough to not have back issues, knock on wood. i just have to deal with the migraines every other day. my good buddy however does really struggle with his back. he has seen a few doctors. one thing that did help him was they figure out which nerve is getting pinched or causing the pain then they are able to actually, with a needle, kill the nerve somehow. its not permanent and dont quote me but it last maybe a year then has to do it again. apparently its not a big deal to do an no surgery.
Sounds like a pain management clinic type of deal...temporary fix
 
Just wondering if any of you guys suffer from back pain, and other back issues? ANd if so what are you doing about it or have done about it. I've had issues for years going back to when I was a distance runner back in high school and one year in College. Most of the time my back will go out with no warning and often times just bending my back a few degrees.

Happened yesterday to me. Leaned across my work table reaching for something and straightening back up...wham. Dropped me to the ground and took almost 30 minutes to get up and out of the garage. I made it to my bed and after a few hours I couldn't get up out of the bed. Very scary. I thought I had no choice but to go to the Emergency Room. Tried to hold off, because if I called the Rescue Squad it would cost me $800 for them to get me. After 13 hours of laying there, this morning about 5AM, I forced myself to get up. Started moving and gradually was able to walk and sit down. Still in terrible pain but am at least able to move around.

Anyone else go through something like this and what can be done to help it? Very scary to go from feeling fine to being on the floor in agony just from straightening up your back.
Im no stranger to back pain. I pull my back atleast once a year. Seems like once you pull it good, its never right after that. The most recent time I was getting out the shower and lifted one leg to put my shorts and thats all it took. I was on the floor my wife thought I was joking. I literally couldn't get up to stand. Eventually 30 mins later I made it to the bed. And she dug her elbow in my back where I told her. More like my upper butt/lower back. It felt great. I woke up that night at 2am. Worse. Couldn't walk to the restroom. I told her I wasn't sure id be able to go to work. At 7pm not going to work never crossed my mind but at 2am the idea was very real. Woke up at 7am and she took me to a stand alone ER. They did xrays which I know are useless because I've been an xray tech for 20yrs. Gave me a muscle relaxer and sent me home. What I've learn dealing with this is. Stretching. Search on YouTube different way to stretch your back for low back pain relief. You will be spread out all over the floor like a gymnast but it does work. It took about 6 weeks for the pain to go away i would stretch my back every chance I got at work on the exam tables. Usually when I pull it its ok in a couple days. But that last time really did me in. I've never been to the ER for anything and I went to a chiropractor once...for a consult he took some xrays and I was immediately discouraged because he was doing the exams incorrectly. I didn't tell him of my profession. I just never went back. . Everyone is different but back surgery is the last thing I would want. Stay mobile. Move around. Stretch. Even simple things like walking will help. Doesn't help that in probably 25lbs over weight and im 6'3. Hope this helps!
 
Well, the back pain I describe as I cannot put my socks on, or I cannot wipe my own ass.

Thats what it boils down to.

Ordered a table. thanks for the suggestions, hope I dont throw my back out putting it together.... The wife has seen a chiropractor for a couple years now, my daughter is doing kick boxing excercise programs in a gym and is starting to go. Maybe the table wont help me but it could help them.
 
I feel for you, Chris. Had similar issues starting when I was 26. Fought it off and on for about 10 years. Went to a chiropractor several times a week for a year, got pain free for a year, then hurt it again getting a hair dryer out of a lower bathroom cabinet. Hit the floor and couldn't get up. Started back to the chiropractor for another 6 months, then another 3 months of physical therapy, basically stretching and building the muscles in my legs and stomach. What worked for me was maintaining the stretching, and being very careful how I lifted things. Twisting to pick something up was usually what aggravated it. Ice on 20 minutes, off 20 minutes at night after work helped a lot. Heating pad always made it worse, but hot showers helped. I also took Aleve, and after a few days in your system, it provided some relief. There are definitely good and bad chiropractors. The first one I went to was a lady my wife worked for, and she about killed me. The man I eventually went to was very good, and did a lot of therapy besides just doing adjustments. He had a roller bed that I would have killed to have at my house. It would relax you no matter how much pain you were in. My back probems were caused from scoliosis, and being young and dumb lifting things I shouldn't (like an upright piano into the bed of a pickup)
 
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Praying for you Chris, Hopefully you get some real relief soon.
Thanks JC. :)

Good info TK. Soon as I can I'm going to start back exercise and stretching. This has motivated me to lose the 20 pounds or so that I need to lose. Right now just trying to keep moving. Taking Alleve as well. That's the only thing that works for me. Tylenol, Ibuprofen do nothing for me.

@Jim C
I feel for you having migraines every other day. That's horrible. I get them occasionally, but they come in clusters and I can go months without having them. Are you able to work when you have them? You must be Superman if you do.
 
I have them sometimes every day, sometimes every other day. Will be like that for 2-3 weeks then i get a week without then they start again. The trick is keeping them under control and you need to take something the second you even feel like there is a chance you might be getting one. If you do that then they never amount to anything or even bother me. I do see a migraine specialist a few times a year. I only get a couple a year where i get stuck without med and it spirals out of control. In those cases your def not working. Your just non stop puking for hours. It sux
 
I feel for you guys, getting older sucks! You be amazed at how well losing 10 to 20 pounds will make your body feel, especially your lower back.

All the best to you and yours.
Mike,
 
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