My Poor Lower Back!!

[sensei8]

OUCH!!

2 weeks ago, I must've slept wrong. I don't know how one can sleep wrong, but I did something to my lower back.

At first, I couldn't get up out of bed or up from the couch without shooting sharp pains that would literally drop me.

Getting out of bed is still the worse. The sharp pain is from the center of my lower back and then radiates to my right side. So sharp, that it throws me literally back onto the bed. To get out of bed, I have to roll out and onto the floor onto my knees. That alone is debilitating, and I'm very slow to get up fully.

At times, the pains so much so that I've wet myself because I just couldn't make it to the restroom on time. EMBARASSING to say the least. I'm 56 years old and I wet myself! Aaarrrggghhhh!!

Teaching is to a practical dead crawl.

Being intimate with my wife was a mistake. Afterward, I felt like I was back on square one in getting better.

Now, my doctor prescribed to me Ibuprofen 800mg to take for pain, but no more than 4 per 24 hour period. Also, I do the heat/ice STILL every 2 hours. R.I.C.E., Rest, Ice, Compression, Elevate, as much as I can. I'm staying home for the next 2 days!! I still don't know how I can elevate my lower back. I tried inversion treatments but man, that wasn't fun at all.

I've thought about visiting a Chiropractor, but I just don't know.

Any thoughts??

I'm miserable!!

[AdamKralic]

Any odd sitting? By that I mean: In the winter I bring my computer up from the basement and put it on the coffee table in living room. There is a little square foot rest that I sit on too often when on computer. This develops into a stiff back if I stay sitting on it because it's a bad angle on my back when i lean in to use keyboard.

So any odd sitting for you?

If it makes you feel any better I've had to employ the roll out method in bed before due to very stiff/painful neck and or back and I am 42.

[hammer]

What was the diagnosis from the Dr? Any possibility of something other than an NSAID or a different NSAID?

Also if you are taking that much Ibuprofen you may want to consider some kind of acid blocker or reducer to protect your GI tract.

Just a few basics from my experiences with these meds, I'm not a Dr. and I slept at home last night.

Hope you feel better soon.

[sensei8]

Any odd sitting? By that I mean: In the winter I bring my computer up from the basement and put it on the coffee table in living room. There is a little square foot rest that I sit on too often when on computer. This develops into a stiff back if I stay sitting on it because it's a bad angle on my back when i lean in to use keyboard.

So any odd sitting for you?

If it makes you feel any better I've had to employ the roll out method in bed before due to very stiff/painful neck and or back and I am 42.

I don't believe that I sit oddly, but I might without me knowing. I usually place my laptop on my...well...lap, as it is right now, but my back is all the way back to the upright cushion of the couch.

I'll ask my wife if I sit odd! She'd know, I suppose. Boy do I see a chance for my wife to make fun of me.

Thanks for the advice, and I will be more attentive to the way I sit.

[sensei8]

What was the diagnosis from the Dr? Any possibility of something other than an NSAID or a different NSAID?

Also if you are taking that much Ibuprofen you may want to consider some kind of acid blocker or reducer to protect your GI tract.

Just a few basics from my experiences with these meds, I'm not a Dr. and I slept at home last night.

Hope you feel better soon.

Doctor said that I might've strained my lower back muscles, but doubts that I pinched a nerve because my pain doesn't radiate; it's in one local area. How can I have strained my back sleeping? Isn't sleeping the most relaxed state of the day/night?

What's NSAID? What are the effects of that much Ibuprofen?

Thank you for the advice!!

[Nidan Melbourne]

I have a slight issue with chiropractors, as much as they might be good with cracking your joints and you will feel better afterwards. But there is a significant risk of damage to joints and neural pathways.

Best thing it do is go see an osteopath, exercise physiologist, physiotherapist. Any of those should help because of their training in rehabilitation of muscular and skeletal injuries.

[sensei8]

I have a slight issue with chiropractors, as much as they might be good with cracking your joints and you will feel better afterwards. But there is a significant risk of damage to joints and neural pathways.

Best thing it do is go see an osteopath, exercise physiologist, physiotherapist. Any of those should help because of their training in rehabilitation of muscular and skeletal injuries.

I'm not wanting the chiropractic approach because, imho, I believe that that type of treatment is short-term. I'm looking at physical therapy because its treatment targets long-term results.

I do like what you've suggested and I will look into it. Right now, I'm almost willing to try anything....almost!!

Thank you for your advice!!

[Nidan Melbourne]

I have a slight issue with chiropractors, as much as they might be good with cracking your joints and you will feel better afterwards. But there is a significant risk of damage to joints and neural pathways.

Best thing it do is go see an osteopath, exercise physiologist, physiotherapist. Any of those should help because of their training in rehabilitation of muscular and skeletal injuries.

I'm not wanting the chiropractic approach because, imho, I believe that that type of treatment is short-term. I'm looking at physical therapy because its treatment targets long-term results.

I do like what you've suggested and I will look into it. Right now, I'm almost willing to try anything....almost!!

Thank you for your advice!!

It is indeed short term as they don't give you anything that you can't do yourself for long term treatment (except for going back to seeing them, and spending more $$$)

The types of people you should see do focus on long term treatment and you can do the exercises on a regular basis.

One of my current exercises that i do (that was given to me from my physio) not only helps my back and legs but helps relax my psoas major (a muscle in the anterior portion of the leg, that also attaches to the lumbar spine) which because it becomes tight (and sore) with martial artists.

[sensei8]

I have a slight issue with chiropractors, as much as they might be good with cracking your joints and you will feel better afterwards. But there is a significant risk of damage to joints and neural pathways.

Best thing it do is go see an osteopath, exercise physiologist, physiotherapist. Any of those should help because of their training in rehabilitation of muscular and skeletal injuries.

I'm not wanting the chiropractic approach because, imho, I believe that that type of treatment is short-term. I'm looking at physical therapy because its treatment targets long-term results.

I do like what you've suggested and I will look into it. Right now, I'm almost willing to try anything....almost!!

Thank you for your advice!!

It is indeed short term as they don't give you anything that you can't do yourself for long term treatment (except for going back to seeing them, and spending more $$$)

The types of people you should see do focus on long term treatment and you can do the exercises on a regular basis.

One of my current exercises that i do (that was given to me from my physio) not only helps my back and legs but helps relax my psoas major (a muscle in the anterior portion of the leg, that also attaches to the lumbar spine) which because it becomes tight (and sore) with martial artists.

I like what you're saying here. I stretched today for 15 minutes this morning, and it went fine. Meaning that I was able to get down, and move around, and then get up with nominal pain.

Still, I don't think I'm quite ready to resume my teaching schedule full time as of yet.

Thank you so very much!!

[Nidan Melbourne]

I have a slight issue with chiropractors, as much as they might be good with cracking your joints and you will feel better afterwards. But there is a significant risk of damage to joints and neural pathways.

Best thing it do is go see an osteopath, exercise physiologist, physiotherapist. Any of those should help because of their training in rehabilitation of muscular and skeletal injuries.

I'm not wanting the chiropractic approach because, imho, I believe that that type of treatment is short-term. I'm looking at physical therapy because its treatment targets long-term results.

I do like what you've suggested and I will look into it. Right now, I'm almost willing to try anything....almost!!

Thank you for your advice!!

It is indeed short term as they don't give you anything that you can't do yourself for long term treatment (except for going back to seeing them, and spending more $$$)

The types of people you should see do focus on long term treatment and you can do the exercises on a regular basis.

One of my current exercises that i do (that was given to me from my physio) not only helps my back and legs but helps relax my psoas major (a muscle in the anterior portion of the leg, that also attaches to the lumbar spine) which because it becomes tight (and sore) with martial artists.

I like what you're saying here. I stretched today for 15 minutes this morning, and it went fine. Meaning that I was able to get down, and move around, and then get up with nominal pain.

Still, I don't think I'm quite ready to resume my teaching schedule full time as of yet.

Thank you so very much!!

I can't blame you for not feeling 100% ready to return to teaching full time just yet.

It is a wise decision