Back Pain

[Sam]

Before I start, I don't want this turning into a spammy thread please

Well recently, more so since I've been in work full time I've been getting back pain around the lower back area. Apparently it is quite a common problem according to this article on the NHS website and not something you necessarily need to see your GP about.

Although I can't work out the cause, whether its my posture (i.e. how I'm sitting?), my office chair is comfy, etc etc, or if its when I'm stood up and walking around the office or going up/downstairs etc. My job doesn't involve lifting so its not to do with that.

Anyway, I invested in a memory mattress (one of those that you 'sink into' or so-to-speak) a couple of months back. It has helped tremendously and when I wake up in the morning, the pain has gone.

I'm alright until the evening when I get home and I'll be sat in the front room or on my computer and my back is aching (tonight it's particularly bad, hence why I'm posting :lol. I'm contemplating investing in one of these but don't know if they're any good?! Things like paracetomol etc, whilst these may help, they only relieve pain temporarily and don't necessarily cure it for good.

But the question is, what to do about it? Is there an effective cure or prevention? Or has anyone else ever experienced it and if so what did you do?

 

[jra3d]

Those back massagers did nothing but make mine worse!

I suffer throughout the year with lower back pain, usually comes of an evening but depending on the job I'm at is too how much it hurts.

So ok some of it was from rugby, and also my gymnastic days (go on laugh it up) I've tried many a remedy for it. Deep heat pads or cream work well when pains at its worse but apart from that not much else.

The last year I've tried doing sit ups of an evening too work on muscles an this has helped no end. If I had to put a percentage it's more than halved the pain.

But as the nhs says its common and it's just the cold weather enhancing the problem

 

[Karl]

I get the same Sam but dont know what it is sometime it feels as if a nerve has got rapped but i doubt its that. I feel its more the way i sit in the office as ive always kinda slumped under the desk.

 

[5GT172V6133]

If the problem is muscle related then try a Tens machine which can be purchased for a low cost these days.I had a spinal fusion operation a few years ago and my physio gave me one to use as part of my rehabilitaton.I since purchased one myself and they can help with muscle spasm etc.

 

[Daveyb133]

office jobs are crap for backs, you are sat down a lot of the time, not really moving much so your muscles suffer from muscle memory.

ive been out of action for months at a time with a bad back but that was from an injury playing football, was paralyzed for about 40 - 45 mins from it.

i had months of physio and osteotherapy and it helped no end.

there are a few things you can do yourself as well mate, swap between standing up and sitting down when your at work, make sure u sit square and your not slumped down in your chair. also check to see if your aligned properly in a mirror, check shoulder height, hip position, head position, and that u stand straight and not slightly one way (its amazing how many people arent in line) if any of those things are out, see an osteopath and get re-aligned, trust me, it will make the world of difference

 

[maggi200]

Mines been getting far worse recently. Gotta say I'm looking forward to new years so someone can sort it out again

I have a memory foam pillow which helped a lot, but recently had to sleep elsewhere when my uncle and aunt stayed over and that's when my neck and lower back started to get worse

I find the pain in my knees far worse though, can ask anyone who I've crouched next to the awful noise they make. Really quite painful in this weather

Things I've found that work are reminding myself of my posture at work, some session with a back person (I'm not going to try and spell it but it began with C :lol where she made lots of clicking and cracking noises with my back and made the pain vanish for quite a while and heat packs on the area

 

[singlespeed]

i know I'm falling appart, but it looks like you lot are catching up fast

I find the pain in my knees far worse though, can ask anyone who I've crouched next to the awful noise they make. Really quite painful in this weather

Glucosamine tablets realy help my knees, which have always cracked and crunched since doing a lot or x-country running when younger

10 minutes stretching helps my back

 

[maggi200]

i know I'm falling appart, but it looks like you lot are catching up fast

I find the pain in my knees far worse though, can ask anyone who I've crouched next to the awful noise they make. Really quite painful in this weather

Glucosamine tablets realy help my knees, which have always cracked and crunched since doing a lot or x-country running when younger

10 minutes stretching helps my back

I'll look at them. TBH I've been to consultations about my knees as it's an issue that's plagued me and my dad. I physically can not stretch my leg straight feels like there's not enough material behind it to stretch that far.

 

[Daveyb133]

i have something like that maggi, its to do with overtight hamstrings, give em a good stretch every day, should sort it out

 

[maggi200]

I'd love it to be that simple! Apparently whatever it is (it has a name) is related to my flatfoot etc and causes real problems and the only actual solution is an op which I'm not up for tbh as I don't ever try to stretch my legs that way and don't need to. PLus it won't actually ever stop me doing anything.

 

[maggi200]

In relation to the back pain after seeing a doctor about mine i was referred to a chiropractor who worked wonders btw sam. Depends on how bad it is tbh, only you can tell if it's worth seeing someone. Thankfully my private healthcare covered it

 

[stevenn133]

I'd love it to be that simple! Apparently whatever it is (it has a name) is related to my flatfoot etc and causes real problems and the only actual solution is an op which I'm not up for tbh as I don't ever try to stretch my legs that way and don't need to. PLus it won't actually ever stop me doing anything.

Maybe thats why I'm falling apart as well, i used to be very flat footed.
I get back pain, knee pain, foot pain and neck pain. I've come to the conclusion that i am actually 90 years old rather than 19. Grumpy old man really.
We have a hot tub though and whenever any of the pains are particularly bad then a half hour session in the massage bit of the hot tub sorts it out for a week or so

 

[maggi200]

Lucky git :lol:

Yes flat foot did cause me a lot of issues when I was younger. I'm probably meant to keep wearing insoles but they're impractical. I still stand like a penguin with my feet out to the sides.

 

[HigtonA]

My back has been bad for the past 2years, it was a mixture of Karate, Rugby and heavy lifting at work, which caused all my lower back muscles to seize up and not relax, and one night i woke up not being able to move out of my bed because i was in soo much pain, i had a panic attack, and i was screaming in so much pain i woke the whole house up at 2am.

I gave up Rugby which annoyed me because i really enjoyed playing it, and i took 8 weeks off Karate.

So this is when i started to try and get better, I went to a chiropractor, thinking they specialize in backs i thought it would help, i spent a small fortune on them, and finally gave up because i thought he was making my back worse.

Next I tried the local GP, they gave me extremely strong drugs, which knocked me out so i could sleep at night and so i didn't feel the pain, but when they wore off, i felt 10x worse!!

I just let my back be for a while, i just took it easy at karate and didn't do any fighting.

While at karate we started doing a form of meditation called chii work, its all about mind, body and soul, and how we can use energy in our body to heal different parts of your body and heal others. (sounds a whole load of ******** but you really need to believe in it for it to work)

I also went to an osteopath where i have spent over £400 on it and it has helped alot aswell releasing my muscles. But the main thing what is making my back feel 10x better is through my chii work i can use my mind to relax my muscles and go to the specific sore parts and it is actually amazing the work i can do now through using the power of chii.

But i would recommend either the osteopath or physio if you have some money to spare.

 

[MovingShadow]

go to a massage salon and pay extra for the 'happy ending', you'll forget about your back pain

 

[HigtonA]

Or meet someone who can give amazing massages as I have done lol

 

[maggi200]

go to a massage salon and pay extra for the 'happy ending', you'll forget about your back pain

A thread where me James or Gareth werent the first with the filth!

I agree with the above. Massages from a partner help in soooo many ways

 

[Sam]

go to a massage salon and pay extra for the 'happy ending', you'll forget about your back pain

A thread where me James or Gareth werent the first with the filth!

I agree with the above. Massages from a partner help in soooo many ways

Thanks for the top tips guys, certainly going to try some of it out and do a lot of walking over Christmas (as I'll be off work!) and try and get comfy again.

The thing is with my chair at work, it's comfy etc but when I lean back the chair tilts (its a swivel one) and I can't appear to find a lock that stops it from tilting. I do tend to be on my feet and at my desk as I'll have to walk over to the filing cabinets and downstairs to speak to someone in another department, or to go to the kitchen, so I'm not constantly sat in front of a computer! Or if I'm not then I'll be sat down filling out paperwork etc.

Hmm I like your idea MS, I don't have a gf at the moment though, so massage salon it might be haha. :lol:

 

[MovingShadow]

Btw, maybe you mentioned this already but how old are you exactly?

I guess you're about my age (I'm 24), maybe a few years younger but if you're alreday having back problems now that I'd recommend you do something about it because its not going to improve over the years.

If you want a hint of me. I used to have a little bit more pain in my back as well but about 10 months ago I started doing fitness and focusing alot on my back (shoulders & lower back) and it actually has improved a little.

I used to get a little bit of a sore back and I had to crack my spine every once and a while, now I've been getting that alot less.

Also maybe depends and what kind of matrass you sleep on. My previous gf had the worst matrass you could imagine (you could actually feel the springs) and I'd sometimes wake up like an old geezer that was in need of a cane..

 

[Sam]

Btw, maybe you mentioned this already but how old are you exactly?

I guess you're about my age (I'm 24), maybe a few years younger but if you're alreday having back problems now that I'd recommend you do something about it because its not going to improve over the years.

If you want a hint of me. I used to have a little bit more pain in my back as well but about 10 months ago I started doing fitness and focusing alot on my back (shoulders & lower back) and it actually has improved a little.

I used to get a little bit of a sore back and I had to crack my spine every once and a while, now I've been getting that alot less.

Also maybe depends and what kind of matrass you sleep on. My previous gf had the worst matrass you could imagine (you could actually feel the springs) and I'd sometimes wake up like an old geezer that was in need of a cane..

I'm 21, but I'm a lazy get, don't really do any fitness routine or anything, I should motivate myself to but I just don't have the time to get up and go the gym or do any fitness routine at home Cos I work full time when I finish work I just want to go home and eat, watch TV etc.

Also where I work is not easy to get to, so unfortunately its pointless cycling. If I worked in town it wouldn't be so bad.

I have a memory mattress (its foam padded inside it) which moulds to the position of your body, invested in it a couple of months ago and it has helped a lot!!