Back Problems - Weedsport,NY

Generally, any problems I have with my back are caused by my front. When I can drop a little weight and reduce my belly, my back problems disappear. It's not the same for everyone, but it helps me a lot. Walking a mile every day helps my muscle tone and circulation. Yoga and some stretching might help, but some back problems are really hard to pin down.

this may be a muscle spasm. i try to use natural remedies, but modern medicine shouldn't be ignored! Have you considered asking your doc for a muscle relaxant. It may do the trick, and quickly.

I have the same symptoms. Is see a Osteopath (DO). The DO can order an MRI, which I don't believe the Chiro can. My MRI said I had a bulged disk. My DO's first response to that was to get epidurals. I never had them, I had my babies natural, so I don't really want to have one. He has continued to treat me with manipulation (cracking) and traction. I have good days & bad days, but really the only pain I have left is when I rest. It is as if my adrenalin keeps me going. I also take muscle relaxers over night, but I didn't take one last night as a test, I wanted to see if I felt the same and I did. The doc says the relaxers will help relieve the swelling and get everything back in it's place. Stretching always makes me feel better, so every few hours I get up and stretch everything really good.

I hurt my back because my 4YO fell down the stairs and I caught her at the bottom. It didn't hurt right away and then once it did, I had forgotten that this happened. The doc agrees that is probably what did it.

I am sure winter will not make this any better for either one of us.

If it were me, I would want them to see an MRI to be sure that is all you are dealing with and keep stretching and exercising. Hopefully your body will heal itself as best possible.

Hi K.! Maybe you need to have some muscle work done. Like a massage and some stretching of your hamstrings and low back. You also might try a chiro that is going to do more than just "crack" you! Good luck! BTW I am a chiro and I would tell my patients the same thing!

See your doctor, and have some tests done. It could be a disc problem.

You don't say anything about seeing a doctor. That would be the first thing you should do. He will be able to do some tests to see if there is a problem then figure out what has to be done to fix it.

I had this experience. I have a habit of lifting things that are too heavy and think this is how it began. It started as a tightness and eventually became so painful I collapsed at work. A CT showed no broken bones. I was told I need an MRI because it was obvious to them it was soft tissue damage (muscle) or a bulging disc, or a pinched nerve. I lost my insurance shortly after that and have not been to get the MRI. However, I stopped working so I'm not on my feet all day and the pain is gone. It only gets bad now if I lift anything over 10 lbs or stand for too long. I will tell you that pain killers do NOT help and I almost developed an addiction to them. Stretching and yoga help quite a bit. The chiropractor did not. I went twice a week for 2 months and didn't improve. I also tried massage which also didn't help.

This may seem odd, but look at your shoes. If they are worn out or worn unevenly that may be a clue. Your chiro should be able to look at your alignment with shoes and barefoot if you think it could be contributing to the problems. And definitely wear comfortable shoes until you get the problem resolved.

When my lower back was bothering me from lifting my toddler too much my Chiro prescribed a mild muscle relaxant at night. That and heat and a stretch at bedtime helped me.

Has the Chiro tried STIM...the electrical current pads?
they also have cold laser therapy that can be applied to area.
And advice on epsom salts in bath is good. and heat pad 20 min is good!

Hi K.,

Sounds like you need some massage therapy! As a therapist and someone who struggles with (infrequent) low back pain, I suggest
frequent deep tissue massage. Sometimes we get this pain from overdoing something. For me (at 64) it's shovelling coal and snow
and carrying wood. Or overexercising. But it can be many things. As moms, we tend to overdo! You should know, too, STRETCHING is CRUCIAL! If you do yoga daily you will stay limber. Otherwise, just bending over a big exercise ball several times a day, backward and forward will help. And dropping your head below your knees and holding the pose for as long as you can...like five minutes...will help stretch those back muscles, too. Remember the calisthenics in gym class when you were a kid? I do. Situps, jumping jacks and all the rest. If you sit on the floor with your legs at a 90 degree angle and slowly reach your hands for your feet, first left, then center, then right foot, and hold for a minute or two in each pose, you will find that you've had a good stretch, and your back will thank you for it!

"Grams"
from the Pocono Mts. of PA

Sometimes when you get out of alignment, your muscles work to keep things in the wrong place and when you get adjusted, the bones may go back into place, but the muscles are still trained the wrong way and it can be really painful. Chiro and exercises are good, but hard to do when you're in discomfort or your muscles are in spasm.
They actually have mild muscle relaxers that you can take that don't drug you all up. You might try getting someone to massage where you have your pain.
I think you should talk to your doctor to see if it's the difference between spasm or inflamation, etc.
I agree with the poster who mentioned lower back problems as a result of weak addominals. Once you get some relief from the discomfort, exercises to strengthen your core will be really good for you.

I hope you feel better soon!

I understand your frustration..
I look at your situation from a Massage Therapist stand of point..take it or leave it..
There are many reasons for lower back pain and a therapist should hear the whole story from you (medical history? MRI? pain for how long? where is the pain? how frequent? sitting /bending alot? a lot of stress in your life? imbalance of strength of the core muscles etc)
Most people have weak spots in their bodies that holds most of our stress and tension and at times of emotional/mental stress it's going to be harder for these places to hold and adjust and so they will signal us that something is wrong...
You can do some self care before heading to a therapist... heat application for not more than 20 minutes...or a warm bath with Epsom salt and some slow and deep stretches afterward might relieve some tension..

Good Luck!!!