Acute debilitating lower back pain. Any advice?

[jmdkodiak]

So, this has happened to me a couple times in my life. Out of nowhere, I get extreme low back pain. To the point where I can't sleep well, I can't stand up straight, and I constantly fidget in an attempt to ease the pain.

I am literally shuffling around hunched over like a grandpa. The last time this happened I went to a chiropractor, we deduced that this was a result of a new CAR I started driving, and I ended up selling it and getting a different car and all was well. Well, I got another cheapo car to drive for a little while, and how, a few weeks later, same problem. Getting rid of the car is not an option. What can I do to ease the pain??

last time, I went to a chiropractor and after about a month I got better. This time, I am debating between the Chiro or acupuncture. Has anyone ever tried this?

Or anything else you can suggest???? I've tried all of the common household remedies, but this is not a household run of the mill back pain. This is torture..

[Premium Parrots]

man that sucks.

If you really think its the car seat you may want to look at the angle of the seat bottom. If its too level [not angled back enough] you use different muscels to hold yourself in place while stopping or turning. This can easily cause a back problem. You might want to loosen the bolts that hold the front of the seat up and stick some sort of wedge under the front and tighten them again. Try that for a while to see if it helps. You also might want to change out the seat. I had the same problem as you did when I bought a new van. It was so dam painfull I was ready to chuck the van and I actually checked into new seats. I ended up putting a 1 1/2" shim under the front bolts to raise the front of the seat bottom up a tad and it was perfect. Ok that should fix the car for you.

Now to deal with the pain. Try laying flat on your back on the floor with your arms at your side. Try to relax and let the vertebre settle back into place. I do that and sometimes I have someone sit on my back to help align it. If you see a chiropractor be sure to ask a lot of questions to find out what you can do yourself to help keep it aligned. Good luck

[Xobeloot]

Sigh. I just typed a book and got one of those lovely snuson error messages and lost the whole thing... SO here goes round 2.

Address the car. As PP said, shimming the two front bolts of the seat may help a bit. I would also suggest getting yourself either a lumbar pad or a seat cover with adjustable lumbar support from your local auto-zone or napa.

Cheap Lumbar Support

As for the pain. Get yourself either motrin or naproxen from the pharmacy. If Motrin, take 800mg 3x per day by mouth with food and plenty of water. If Naproxen, take 500mg 2x per day by mouth with food or milk (try to stay regimented w/ this one... ie. 6am and 6pm.) These are the prescription -strength anti-inflammatory doses. Both meds are slow-acting NSAIDS, so dont expect immediate results. Drink a ton of water with these, and don't take both. Pick one or the other and roll with it (i have better success with naproxen). These meds typically take about 3 days of consistent doses to reach full effectiveness, so stick with it. Also, don't exceed the doses I mentioned above... Adding more will NOT make them take effect any quicker. I also need to tell you to avoid alcohol while taking these (my ass is covered. You do what you feel you need to do).

Next: Heat. Get a heating pad and moisten the insert that typically comes with them. lay down and apply moderate moist heat a few times a day. If you dont have a heating pad w/ moist heat insert, take a wash cloth, wet it, pop it in the microwave for a few seconds then slap it on your lower back while you or someone else shoots it with a hair dryer. (i know, thats pretty ghetto, but you work with what you have!)

Once you've applied heat for a good 10-15 mins, immediately try to stretch. Here is a great one for the exact area that is plaguing you:

The Single-Leg Over

Stick with the med regiment, the heat, and the stretching for at least 5-7 days. If no improvement after a week, go see a doc and ask for a toradol shot. Toradol is also an NSAID like motrin/naproxen, but the injection works within 10-20 min and you won't feel a damn thing all day. Use that time to stretch the shit out of that muscle group.

That's about all I've got for you man. Hope it helps.

[LincolnSnuff]

I think medicinal cannabis would do the trick, since so many here swear by it. Or maybe a strong narcotic, like oxy, morphine, or heroin. You aren't supposed to operate heavy machinery on any of those so that also takes care of the car problem.

Oh, and make sure to chain snus the whole time.

[Ansel]

Lay on your back with your knees in the air when resting to flatten your spinal chord.

[Monkey]

When I bought an old Jeep Wrangler eight years ago I had some terrible back pain from the ride it gave.

I used a heated vibrating back pad with lumbar support that plugged into the lighter. A few weeks later I was used to the ride and all was cool.

I never saw a doctor and do not give this suggestion as medical advice.....more of an anecdotal story.

[GoVegan]

For real relief, go here!

http://www.snuson.com/forum/showthre...361#post422361

[Jwalker]

Um maybe stick a pillow in the seat that should help a little and it's easy to do.

[Crow]

I think medicinal cannabis would do the trick, since so many here swear by it.

For real relief, go here!

http://www.snuson.com/forum/showthre...361#post422361

Not everyone is open to medical cannabis.

But if you are, I would recommend a cannabis topical (cream, lotion, oil, etc.) applied directly to the affected area. For dried flowers, I would recommend a medium to high strength indica (or indica-dominate) strain.

If you're open to the idea of medical cannabis, I encourage you to make a post in the Cannabis Thread and I'll be more than happy to assist you in finding relief (the natural way).

Here is a list of states where cannabis is legal for medicinal purposes:



Whichever path you take, I hope you find relief. I know what it's like to go through debilitating pain.

[simplesmoke]

You workout?

Best thing I have found for keeping the muscles in your torso (I have no idea about what muscles do what down there) working nice is the Elliptical.

I had lower back issues for over a year until I introduced at least 20-30 minutes of elliptical time during my workouts.

I tried situps and numerous other exercises for months (at chiropractor recommendation)

Everyone is a little different, you can find what makes your back pain better by experimenting.

This is also helpful for many:

http://www.amazon.com/Trigger-Point-...0438216&sr=8-1

If you don't normally work out, start! Even if it is just doing the Eliptical for 30 minutes a day.

It will save you more pain down the road, lower back pain if you have had a few times that really hurts, it probably won't just disappear forever unless you find what makes it better.

If you have any pain in your leg that accompanies this lower back pain it is probably because your sciatic nerve is being pinched also in there.

Good luck, lower back pain can be like a bad toothache that can make dealing with everything tougher.

[EricHill78]

I think medicinal cannabis would do the trick, since so many here swear by it. Or maybe a strong narcotic, like oxy, morphine, or heroin. You aren't supposed to operate heavy machinery on any of those so that also takes care of the car problem.

Oh, and make sure to chain snus the whole time.

+1 Odelay vicodin!!

All seriousness I have a hernaited disk and my lower back and leg act up do to it. Nothing over the counter helps the pain so I wish the best for you.

[devilock76]

You workout?

Best thing I have found for keeping the muscles in your torso (I have no idea about what muscles do what down there) working nice is the Elliptical.

I had lower back issues for over a year until I introduced at least 20-30 minutes of elliptical time during my workouts.

I tried situps and numerous other exercises for months (at chiropractor recommendation)

Everyone is a little different, you can find what makes your back pain better by experimenting.

This is also helpful for many:

http://www.amazon.com/Trigger-Point-...0438216&sr=8-1

If you don't normally work out, start! Even if it is just doing the Eliptical for 30 minutes a day.

It will save you more pain down the road, lower back pain if you have had a few times that really hurts, it probably won't just disappear forever unless you find what makes it better.

If you have any pain in your leg that accompanies this lower back pain it is probably because your sciatic nerve is being pinched also in there.

Good luck, lower back pain can be like a bad toothache that can make dealing with everything tougher.

I think any exercise that works the core muscles and decreases overall body weight should help. Eliptical is a good calorie burn without the "impact" (as in physical impact feet to the ground) of running. On my strength training days I do sit ups, bench rows, and "supermans". Also lat pull downs or just hitting the pull up bar are good as well. I know since I got back in the work out kick my back has never felt better.

Ken

[sgreger1]

Yoga, or any kind of stretching routine. Stretching is so vitally important especially for back pain. For real though, go check out yoga or something with stretching, learn the routines and then do it in your house in the morning and evenings. Stretching yourself out will fix a lot of your aches and pains and is generally healthy for you as well.

[EricHill78]

Yoga, or any kind of stretching routine. Stretching is so vitally important especially for back pain. For real though, go check out yoga or something with stretching, learn the routines and then do it in your house in the morning and evenings. Stretching yourself out will fix a lot of your aches and pains and is generally healthy for you as well.

I say smoke a doobie!!

[GoVegan]