[font size="1" color="#FF0000"]LAST EDITED ON Sep-30-02 AT 09:54AM (Est)[/font][p]A chiropractor may help, but I find it helpful to rest & stetch. I have chronic back pain due to spinal stenosis (a narrowing of the spinal column) and a compressed disk with normal age degeneration. Here are some exercises given to me this summer while I was in physical therapy.
DO NOT DO ANY OF THIS IF YOU FEEL MORE PAIN!!!! SEEK THE ADVICE OF A MEDICAL PROFESSIONAL. Lay on the floor with your knees drawn up & feet flat (as though you were going to do a crunch). Do a pelvic tilt for 10 seconds, let it go & repeat. Also, in the same position, put your hands behind your head (again like you were going to crunch), drop your knees to one side for 10 seconds & then go to the other side for 10. Again in the same position, pull one knee to your chest, count to 10, do the other side. Finally draw up both knees for 10 sec., repeat 10 times. Do all of these (in no particular order), twice a day.
AGAIN LET ME STRESS DO NOT DO THESE STRETCHES IF YOU FEEL MORE DISCOMFORT OF PAIN FROM DOING THEM. I used to have pain everyday, but I have now been pain free for 2 months because I take 5 minutes twice a day & do this.
One more thing...a heating pad 20 minutes a couple times a day does wonders.
Just to add to my disclaimer -- it may not work for everyone. Hope you feel better soon.
Deborah