Any advice on a bad back?

Puzzledbubbles

Hi All,

I have posted a mammout thread on the Benefits board, but was advised that you lovely people may be able to help.

Hope the link works

http://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/showthread.html?p=27219749&posted=1#post27219749

Any advice on how to cope with the pain, improve things or just what to do next would be greatly appreciated

Thanks

Puzzled

belfastgirl23

I don't have any great advice for you unfortunately except to say that my brother also suffers with back problems after a car crash and he swears by swimming as a way of strengthening his core and preventing back pain. He also sees a sports masseur who understands the basis of his problems and gives him advice on specialist exercises to help strengthen muscles. he doesn't suffer nearly as much now.

Hope you get it sorted out.

kitekat

Two things,when i had back pain i taped a magnet to the painful part and it helped,also qvc have an item called a back massager which is basically reinforced plastic shaped like an arch which you lie on,people who have bought it rave about it and you can read the reviews about it at https://www.qvcuk.com not sure of the item number.

kitekat

Just checked its item no 431833

Puzzledbubbles

thanks Kite, will have a look when work lets up a bit

I love swimming belfast girl so am going to be looking for agym that gives me both options

Puzzled x

Pigget

Puzzledbubbles - My mum has ongoing problems with her back and her physio recommended a TENS machine.

Perhaps you could ask if one would be suitable for you.

goanmad

Puzzledbubbles wrote: »

Hi All,

I have posted a mammout thread on the Benefits board, but was advised that you lovely people may be able to help.

Hope the link works

http://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/showthread.html?p=27219749&posted=1#post27219749

Any advice on how to cope with the pain, improve things or just what to do next would be greatly appreciated

Thanks

Puzzled

I'm a fellow sufferer (I have Arthritis and had a joint replacement op before my 40th birthday) and can fully sympathise. I also spent four years working for a Chiropractor so know a few helpful tips.

Exercises I find beneficial are Pilates and Dru Yoga - both work on your core strength and posture, improving the way you move and helping keep the spine supple. I also attend a community Hydrotherapy class (run by my local council). Swimming can be great but NEVER swim using breast stroke as it puts too much strain on your lumbar spine and can make your problems worse. Get up at 20 minute intervals for a walk during the day. However much pain you feel it's good to keep moving, causing fluid to move around the spinal column and improving your flexibility.

Don't sit cross-legged or with your knees higher than your hips. Soft furnishings are a nightmare for bad backs. Pull the seating pad from your sofa and lie on the floor with the pad supporting your neck with your knees bent or use a dining chair to sit on.
Sleep on your back or to one side. Put a pillow between your knees if you are uncomfortable lying on your side.

Using an ice pack (wrapped in a clean teatowel or pillowcase) for 15 minutes at a time, 15mins on and 15 off for an hour a day. It's much more helpful than heat which feels nice but causes the spaces between the spine to swell making it stiffer.

Hope this helps you.
XxXx

Ruby_Moon

Swimming works wonders for bad backs and also keeping an ideal weight is beneficial, for obvious reasons.

sparklymessygirl

Get a Swiss ball and sit on it at your desk or when watching tv - great for your core and quite comfortable and energising!

Sparkly

jenniewb

I think it depends on how your back got bad in the first place.

I get back pains because I either get stressed and my posture falls, then I hold alot of pressure in my upper body (as a result of feeling stressed) and cause myself pulled muscles and resulting in back pain.

I also have a heavy bag I carry alot and this can cause back pain.

Then there are bone problems like osteoporosis (brittle bones) which can cause back pain, then arthritis, joint problems, badly formed bones, the results of operations on other body parts on your torso...the list goes on.

I find that alot of yoga and stretching helps me. I build up muscles in my back with exercise, and I stretch out any pains with a mixture of yoga, swiss ball exercises and stretching- the best one being simply standing up straight and touching my toes with my legs kept straight but not 'locked' (I do this so much I can get both palms of my hands onto the floor now!) I stand like that for up wards of 2 minutes to help release any pressure every day. Really helps. (Just make sure you come up v.slowly!)

The is also something else you can try- a massage roller. They are like long cylinders which you roll your back (or leg or arm or wherever the tension is) over the roller. The roller goes onto the floor, you lie over the roller and try to put your weight onto the roller as you roll it on the floor.
You then concentrate on where exactly the most painful part is, then lean it into the roller, hold for a minute or so, then roll it out. Keep doing this wherever you feel a 'knot'. Done every day can really make a difference.

Omega 3+6 capsules make a difference- they do to me anyway. I notice I get back pain if I don't take them. At first I thought it just just a coincidence and stopped taking them, but whenever I did, the back pain would come back. I learnt that after several times of doing this, that taking them did make a positive difference! You do have to be careful with the ones you take though- the cheaper brands are just not the same quality. I found that only a few brands have the desired result. The Eye-Q ones are great. Need to take them for 2 weeks every day to notice a difference though. When you stop them, you get a 2 week window before they stop working and your pain kicks up again.

I think though, that if the pain is caused by something other them muscle strain, its maybe not such a good idea to get into exercise or massage without seeing a doctor or physio first for advice- bone problems and inflammation problems are not the same as muscle issues and wont be resolved in the same way.

Sam_26

Visit a Chiropractor. They work miracles, I can vouch for them personally and can recommend a one based in Preston if anyone is interested.

Being a pharmacist, I would normally recommend drug treatment, but to get to the root cause is far better and avoids paying for long-term tablets.

An average appointment seems to cost around £20-£30 for a 15 min consultation.