Anyone else have lower back pain?

[bassnleo]

A brief explanation of my question......

Lately I've been having a bit of lower back pain. It's not uncommon for me to have it during fishing/tournament season when I'm on my feet for 8+ hours at a time. It's winter now and I haven't fished like that for months. For about the last 2 weeks I have been having trouble sleeping and that SUCKS because I'm working nights and sleep is absolutely necessary, especially in my line of work. I cannot afford to be tired at work.

The pain just kinda came on, no significant act (like lifting a heavy object) triggered it. Oddly, it seems that it's worse when I lie in bed.

Now, I thought maybe it could be a mattress issue but we have a good bed, a Tempur Pedic space foam one.

On my days off in the last 2 weeks I slept in my recliner, not much pain when I woke up, alot less than when I slept in bed.

My wife thinks I'm nuts.

Anyone have suggestions or experiences that may help?

I don't think I'm to the going to the doctor point yet. Tried that a few years ago and he couldn't find an issue and pain eventually went away. It just stinks while it's on......

Thanks

[Tokyo Tony]

You should probably see a chiropractor as soon as you can if the pain is bad enough to cause you to miss sleep.

One thing you can try for now is sleeping on your back with a pillow or two under your knees. If you sleep on your side, a pillow between the thighs might help.

[firefightn15]

Go online and look for bio-freeze. I use it frequently for the same thing. Sometimes you can find chiropractors that carry it, but I haven't seen it on shelves. I think it's made in Europe, it's the best I have found yet.

[daviscw]

I hurt mine playing baseball in High School. I pulled the left side back muscle, which connects to a muscle on the back of your leg. I tried to play through the pain but ended up with muscle spasms so bad I could barely walk.

I ended up doing 6 months worth of physical therapy. I went to a chiropractor several times, but I feel like she made it worse. (For me at least.) She would flip me over and pop my back in all these weird positions and yank my legs...it was weird.

To make it feel better I have to just lay low a couple of days and relax. If I sleep the wrong way one night, or work real hard one day it will hurt for a week straight.

The chiropractor used that Bio-freeze stuff when she massaged me and it helped. What helped the most though was that electromagnetic machine they hook up to you with the pads. (I forget what its called.)

[Catt]

Two ruptured disc along with torn ligaments; I can only stand, sit, lie down, or walk for 2-4 hours at a time.  

Have an MRI done that is the only way you can know for sure what the exact problem is, if it is minor a chiropractor may help but if it's like mine epidural injections help along with an inversion table but in some instances only surgery can help.

[drmnbig]

I herniated disc L5 several years ago and it still flairs up once in a while.  Use ice right on the spine.  If the pain goes away it's probably sciatica which means the disk is pinching on your sciatic nerve.  Not much you can do other than taking care of it.  A chiropractor works for me but may not work for the next person.  Like I said, just take care of it.  Believe me, you don't want it to go out on you.  Life sucks when that happens.

[frogtog]

You ever had a Kidney Stone? A Lot of times your back will start hurting a month before you realize you have one. And the number 1 problem for back pain is stress. No I'm not a Doctor but I did stay at a Holiday Inn Express.

[MALTESE FALCON]

If you've had the pain for two weeks, and it's keeping you from sleeping, it's time to see the doctor. Alot of people have had symptoms of one sort or another, but might not be the same problem you have.

I've had surgery on L4, L5, S1, due to disc herniation. I also tried to live with it, and only worsened the problem. I now have enough Titanium in my lumbar spine to build a car.

Tokyo Tony had a very good suggestion, with the pillows. My Neurosurgeon suggested that years ago and it does help.

As Catt said an MRI will be a good start in diagnosing your problem, instead of trying alot of home remedies. Everybody means well, but you only get one spine.

Good luck,

Falcon

[Fisher of Men]

X3 on the pillows.  I, too have been through these courses of treatment (physical therapy, chiropractor, injections and all provided only short-term relief) and finally needed surgery to my L5-S1 vertebrae region.  After my surgery the Doc said the pinched nerve was VERY severe.  

I walked around for months before seeking a Dr. and feel that if I had gone earlier, the less-severe treatments may have been more successful.  If you have decent insurance, it is worth seeing a Dr. and getting an MRI.  Along with sleeping differently, you just have to learn a new lifestyle that involves lifting differently, asking for help lifting (a tough one for me), etc.  

BTW- Does taking Ibuprofen or Aleve (Naproxen sodium) provide you any relief?  I could always get some relief from them, but they are a bit harsh on the stomach.

[ArcticCat500]

A response of mine in an earlier post stated that I too suffer from a lower back injury.  At 45 yrs old (this year) it can really suck.  You may find humor in my question but: Have you by any chance put on a couple extra pounds over the winter months due to lack of activity?  I find this can really kik my azz with lower back pain. I actually need to be very carful that I maintain a certin weight, I've added a few lbs over the past month or so and I can start to feel it, need to start my slimming down real soon or I too will be in the same situation.

[Catt]

Back problems are nothing to play around with, seek medical advice & have an MRI done!

Keep in mind physical therapy, chiropractors, epidural injections, inversion tables, pain medicines, & yes even surgery can all be temporary. You will still have a back that is not 100% & this will change your life style for ever. I'm not trying to scare you but I'm trying to get you to face the fact this can be extremely serious. Hopefully it is only minor but please be safe & find out far sure what the problem is.

[nick76]

I agree that you should seek to get some medical advice.  There are all kinds of docs to see.  I have had knee problems for years and this leads to my lower back hurting occassionally.  I have been to 5 different doctors, 6 bouts of physical therapy, and finally a chiropractor.  After 3 MRI's, they still could not find the problem.  My last PT told me that I was compensating and causing more damage to my body because of how I walked, he helped to correct it.  My Chiropractor adjusted my knee and now I am pain free.

I too have kidney stones and man can they hurt.  There are multiple reasons for back pain, you should definitely get it checked out.

[SkeeterRonnie]

sometimes this pain affects me as well. i find the bed does it to me mostly. Once it gets bad, I will take out 3" memory foam mattress and lay it in the floor and sleep on it a couple nights. it helps a lot!

the TENS machine is what a previous poster was trying to think of. its an electronic stimulator that pulses jolts of electricity through probes that are stuck to your back. makes the muscles contract and relax causing them to work themselves into a relaxed state.

[Bassn Blvd]

1. Put a pillow between your legs if you sleep on your side.

2. See a chiropractor.

3. Your gun belt is finally taking a toll on your ol' butt. Make sure NOTHING is behind you on the belt.

4. Put a lower back cushion in your patrol car or transfer off the road into plain clothes.

5. Stop getting lap dances.

6. I wake up with a stiff back and half to stretch. I was considering getting a foam mattress but I spent 1500 on this one about 2yrs ago.

[bassnleo]

Thanks for the responses. Feelin a little better the last 24 hours or so.

Like Bassn Blvd mentions, I really think that wearing a gun belt and body armor, plus riding around for 6-8 hours at a time with it on, is taking a toll.

For now, Advil helps, stretching helps, I have started to sleep with a pillow between my legs, I stopped getting lap dances, so we'll give this a whirl for awhile and if it does not get significantly better it will be time to see a Dr or chiropractor.  

[Sam]

Do what Catt says...get an MRI now.

Not tomorrow; not next week; not after New Years.  Now.  Pronto.  Fast.

Experiences

Wife

Undergoing acupuncture treatments after four back surgeries.  Had to have neck surgery to get ready for her back surgeries.

Doing much better but it is a difficult climb back to being as close to being without pain as possible.

Wife also went to chiropractor and he found a kidney stone our family physician did not catch.  She has had two procedures since we found the first one.  Kidney stones cause lower back pain.

Me

Standing in boat for 8 to 10 hours gives me lower back pain.

Doc says it is muscular so I am losing weight. Down from 216 to 195 and still going down.

Son

Has bulging disk. The pain stops him in his tracks.  Going to a chiropractor and is getting relief.

There are many causes of lower back pain so please get it checked out.

Your quality of life depends on it.

Good luck.  

[FD.]

Had a L2-L3 fusion in 1980.  One relaxation technique I learned in rehab is to lay flat on your back on the floor, legs up, knees bent over a kitchen chair.  Try to pull your abs down and flatten your  lower back.  This exercise completely relaxes your lower back muscles (a good thing) and strengthens your abs (another good thing).  Watch your favorite tv show this way every night and you will be amazed how much better you will feel.

[GLADES]

Once your back is feeling better, do abdominal exercises several times a week. If you keep your abs in shape, you will have less problems.

Dont overdue it in the beginning and keep at it.

[fishfordollars]

Fused at C4-5 5-6 6-7. Three plates and 12 screws. You might say I have had back and neck pain.

Total of six surgeries on my neck and back.

Have experimental Botox injections(Usually from 25-40 injections) every 90 days and I'm due for a set now.

does not keep me down though.