What does everyone else do about back ache?

My back and shoulders have been killing me these last few days, bad posture and the incorrect chair at work are to blame I think, along with a small bed (biggest that will fit in the room) and lack of sleep...

I usually lay on the floor for a bit, but it's not helping methis time...

I like to swim always seems to help mine.

Yeah, swimming is wonderful for back pain.
I got a Pilates ball to use instead of the office chair, and that's been great. I can use that all day, but you might want to start off with switching between ball and chair every 30 mins. or so. Just helps keep your back mobile, rather than hunching up in one position and putting strain on yourself.

A heat pack/hot water bottle can be good for back pain.

Anywho, under good old health and safety law (Display Screen Equipment legislation) your employer has a legal duty to supply you with a safe working environment. Even if you are a contractor IIRC.
That means a workstation that is set up correctly for the user. Have you told anyone that the chair is not suitable?

I went into hospital with back pain this week - turned out to be kidney stones. Quite possibly the most pain I have ever been in (yes, more painful than breaking bones - done that a few times now), but the treatment was paracetamol, some pills to relax my tubes and the occasional tramadol for when it gets really bad.

Saying that, when I've had a bad back from straining it - lifting something incorrectly - a bath usually helps, as does a walk in the park. Back pain from bad posture can also be walked off in most cases, but your employer should give you a workstation assessment and in some cases offer a more suitable chair...or you could possibly sue them if you end up with long-term problems.

Ouchie, hope you get better soon!

Back pain usually goes away for me with a good 'ol crack. Feet forwards, twist round until it cracks. Or for lower back, pushing on the back of the hip and twisting the other way usually does it. Helps to be lying on your side to do that one. Or get someone to stand back to back with you and pull you over their own back whilst you relax.

Obviously doesn't work for everyone, but i've had this problem since I can remember and it's the only thing that works for me. Muscle strain is a bit different, but I don't really remember straining my back muscles.

My back is effectively stuffed :\ Too much slouching, being 6ft 5in I tended to slouch as a kid, now I'm paying for it....great....

Slouching is the best, I'm doing it now...feels marvellous.

I don't suffer from back pain, but my dad does.

We have a chiropractic college a couple of miles down the road, and every six to twelve months he goes down there. It's nice and cheap, cos they're all trainees but he swears by it.

From what he says, they just twist/poke/stretch/bend you in certain ways, get lots of (sometimes painful) clicks and clunks then send you on your way.

Apparently it works wonders.

It is how I make my living. CK has a degree in muscular skeletal medicine. I work for her only having studied it for about two years (have been in private practice for 10). The causes are multiple and the diagnosis can be tricky. Treatments vary and different approaches suit different people.

General advice would be

If you know your chair is poor, replace it.

If know your bed causes you problems, change it.

If you are not getting enough sleep, change your schedule so that you can get more.


IF your self diagnosis of the cause is correct then you will get better. Better to treat cause rather than symptom.

Having said that, it is amazing how many people suffer because of lack of exercise, poor hydration, too much alcohol, and stress. If you are ever in my neck of the woods, give us a call.

CC

I damaged my back in a car accident, when I was 20 - Volvo rear-ended me at 50mph while I was stationary in a traffic jam!

A couple of vertebrae are fused and a nerve is trapped, so I have had constant pain for the last 20 odd years.

Generally, I ignore it, it makes you sweat a bit as you fight through the pain, but you learn to live with a relatively high level of pain. When it gets bad (standing around for long periods of time (standing talking at parties, standing at concerts, slowly walking around museums etc.) or running, I take Ibuprofen - normally 800mg, double the recommended dose, 400mg or less doesn't touch it, or I go to the doctor and get some "real" pain killers.

I do get a pulling across the muscles level with my lungs, again, I tend to ignore it until it is unbearable or affects my breathing, then I'll lay on the ground and curl my back (hand behind the head and a curl (not sit-up). The generally stretches the muscles out and (in my case), the joints "pop" (make a popping or cracking sound), I can then generally breathe more easily again.

A hot batch, followed by a couple of slow curls, whilst still in the bath, are also very good.

I'm not laughing at you big_D cos what happened to you isn't funny, but the silliness of that scenario amused me

There are your main suspects tbh.

Keeping on top of these really helped my injured spinal cord back to full fitness.

So that's what was wrong with my back....

Interestingly, since I broke the old neck my backpain has completely disappeared When I go to bed though, as I relax my back cracks - just like your knuckles do. After that I can relax and go to sleep...

Al

Yep, freaked my girlfriend out at first, especially when my neck goes!