low Back pain- need suggestions

K

KaraNV

Active Member
Hi,

I hope some of you may have some suggestions for my lower back pain that started on Feb. 3. I had done the usual stuff, treadmill workout and upper body weight work on Saturday Feb. 2 nothing out of the ordinary. On Sunday I woke up to low back pain that was BAD. I just laid low for the whole week and each day it seemed to get a little better. So after not doing much for the week I started out slow doing treadmill walking and yesterday I did spin.I did upper body weights but no lower body weight work as I was scared to put a barbell on my shoulders. Did some stretching each day on the stability ball. Well anyway today it hurts again.x(

I didn't go to the DR., but I guess that is what I will be doing next. I just have not had this happen before.

If anyone has any suggetions I am game to try to get these spasms to go away.

Thanks,

Kara
 
Hi Kara,

I also suffer from similar sounding lower back pain. You should definitely go to the doctor to rule out anything serious, but here is what worked for me. I went to the doctor who just told me to take some time off exercising, and when I did that, the pain came back when I went back to exercising.

I became pretty frustrated, and so I started seeing a chiropractor who I now see once a week. He does some adjustments and also recommended that I stretch the lower back, hamstrings and hip flexors every day several times throughout the day. It took about 3 weeks of seeing him and stretching until my pain subsided, but I never stopped working out throughout (he didn't tell me that I should take more time off). Now I'm usually pain free, and if I feel it starting to hurt again, stretching really helps.

Hope that helps :)

Doreen
 
Hey Kara,

Me too...started a few months ago and I took some down time and felt better but when I started working out again it came back. I am also one of those people that love to sleep on their stomach and even this would iritate my back. Stretching more does seem to help relieve some of the hurt "pressure".

Therese
 
Thanks Doreen and Therese!

Sorry to hear you go through this too.

I just got frustrated when it was starting to come back. I will go to the Dr. to rule out anything serious like Doreen suggested. Hopefully the Dr. will refer me to a chiro or something.

Glad to here you have found relief.

I will keep on stretching!

Thanks again for your replies, it really helps!!



:)

Kara
 
Kara...I second the Chiropractor recommendation. I have had good luck going to mine when my low back was painful. I also recommend a book called "Pain Free" by Pete Egoscue. It has been recommended here a few times and I got it for some hip pain. It has info for pain about all places of the body including the back. My hip pain is slowly going away after doing some of the exercises from the "Pain Free" book...:)
 
Welcome to the club. I think Doreen hit on it: stretching, stretching and more stretching. I don't take the time to stretch as much as I should, and just take painkiller drugs instead. But I know that when I take the time to really stretch my hamstrings, I feel better. I'm glad you reminded me though: with a 3-day weekend ahead, I should have plenty of time for stretching.

Hope you feel better soon!
 
I also suffer from low back pain (when I was young I fell in gymnas.) and then over last summer, my back went out, tore my disc, and pulled the ligaments and muscles. OUCH!!

It definatley took time to heal. I would recommend going to the doctor as a precaution. You could have pulled a muscle.

As noted earlier, slow and easy stretches. Esp., hamstrings and easy back stretches (like cat and cobra).
I'd recommend a physical therapist over a chiropractor. Esp. if its muscular. Which your doctor will give you a prescription for the PT.
Also, no sleeping on the stomach, if you sleep on your side, put a pillow between your legs. I use a lumbar pillow for my desk chair at work and in the car. Be very aware of your movements, stop when it feel any discomfort.

Treadmill running hurt my back in the beginning, but so did biking. So I just slowly worked way back into it. I iced before and after my workouts and took ibruprofin (under doc. advise).

Hope you heal quickly! Back pain is hard...it effects everything.



:) :) :) :) :)
 
oh forgot....my back specialist also told me no back rows or dead lifts. It took me a few months to start those exc. again.

Alicia
 
I agree with the chiropractor recommendation. He has done wonders for my lower back pain. Mine was definitely muscular and his treatments cured it and also helped me stretch more.
Ellen
 
Thanks so much to all of you! All of your help makes me feels much better!!!

I will get the book "Pain Free" tonight. :)

I really appreciate all the suggestions. I hesitated in posting because I didn't want to be whining. But I feel alot more positive now. I will just have to be more patient and continue working back slowly and STRETCH.

Thank you all!


Kara:)
 
I fourth the chiro recommendation. In addition to the adjustments, applying heat nightly helped when my problem was most severe. I never stopped working out, but I did have to be careful with or avoid certain exercises. I still can't use an ab wheel yet.

I also agree with the statement that when your back isn't good, it affects everything!

[font face="heather" font color=black size=+2]~Cathy[/font]

http://s228.photobucket.com/albums/ee296/runninteach/exercise/th_skj.gif

http://img17.glitterfy.com/18/glitterfy183635T533D31.gif

Misery has enough company. Dare to be happy. ~ VW ad
 
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