Over the weekend I hurt my lower back dont know how it just started to hurt and like a idiot I shoveled snow figuring to loosen it up duh! What a freakin mistake locked up just on the verge of crying.

Does anyone have remedies that actually help this is something I used to get before lyme.

Thanks.

Or is this like usuall wait it out or is there something new?
My vicodin dosent even dent it.

I have chronic back pain too. Mine has flaired up from scrubbing the floor.

I take a Glucosamine/Chondrotin supplement, wear a back support belt, take Vicodin, Zanaflex and generic advil for mine.

Also I massage the area often and soak in an epsom salt bath and curtail as much activity as I can until the inflammation subsides.

Mine is a S.I. joint problem and when it flares up I baby the heck out of that thing!!

Mine will lock up too and it sure is painful. Definitely cut back on activities until the inflammation subsides.

I hope this helps.
 

Its like having a humungus toothache lower back o the ground.

Thanks for tryin
 

I don't have a cure for you, but I:

Take hot baths with Dead Sea Magik Salt

Use hot water bottle overnight

See osteopath regularly during flareups, which helps the most.

And rest, giving things a chance to heal.

Then when better, ideally one should stregthen abdominals to strengthen back.

Hope it passes soon. Back pain is horrible. I have spent weeks on end not being able to sit down.

DLL
 

Have you ever tried thinking the backpain away?

Yes, you heard right...THINKING IT AWAY.

It'll work for some people with a certain type of back pain caused by something called TMS, Tension Myosotis Syndrome.

I've had back and neck pain since 1990. Been to doctor like 10 times to get turodol shots in my rear in emergency situations. Been taking Hydrocordone and Vioxx for years.

Since 1998, this is all history. Now I think the pain away. No kidding!

Get this book for a totally new look at the cause of a significant number on back pain cases:

John Sarno: "Healing back pain: The mind-body connection"

Briefly, the theory is that the subconscious mind prefers to deal with physical pain over emotional pain.

Thus, when emotional pain exists to a significant degree in your life (e.g., stress, disease, family problems, etc), the subconscious generates physical pain somewhere in your body to divert your attention.

The brain/subconscious creates pain by starving nerves for oxygen. It can do so whenever it chooses to.

The solution to ridding the physical pain is a two step [thinking] process:

1. You must believe Sarno's theory is true, and
2. You must be able to identify what is causing you emotional pain.

Doing these two things, you "simply" tell your alter-ego, "Listen buddy! I know what you're doing. It ain't gonna work. Cause I want to deal with emotional pain X right now and here!"

I don't expect you to believe me. You'll probably have to warm up to the concept slowly.

Regardless, though, the book is great reading and it's cheap, not too long and written in big letters [just for Lymies.. ].

Also some interesting theories in there why back pain has skyrocketed over the last 10-20 years and why the subconscious chooses the spine.

Especially interesting is the theory about stomach ulcers. It is widely accepted that this is caused by emotional stress, and thus the subconscious. But what happened to all those stomach ulcers? Where did they go? Get the book for the answer!

I'm not saying that this book has the answer for you. But it MIGHT.

Obviously, some back pain cases are physiological in nature.

All I can say is that I thought my back pain was physical in nature too. But it wasn't.

Btw, be cautious about herniated and bulging discs. Lots and lots of poeple have H&B discs, but have no back pain. This is widely known.

Therefore, if you do have back pain and they find a H or B disc on your MRI, doesn't mean that's the cause of your back pain.

I believe several other LymeNetters know of this book.

Michael
 

Are you clear of babs or did you have it?
Backpain is awful; been there, unable to move at all.
Lymelady

If you can, find small comfortable movements that use the muscle hurting and the muscles around it. If you can't move without pain, then just imagine the movement. Imagining movement activates the nerves around the muscles. Also, find comfortable movement that uses other muscles. That will help relax the sore muscles.

This might not obviously reduce pain, but it is likely to reduce the duration.

If you can get a pain patch, that might help relieve the pain. Besides that, I find heat the best - heating pad, bath or shower.
 

[This message has been edited by treepatrol (edited 24 January 2005).]
 

PT is very helpful for back pain. I haven't tried prolotherapy or Vax-D traction but have heard anecdotally that they can be helpful. Chiro and accu was helpful to me but the effects were transient. Be careful if you see an ortho or pain duck. They love oral and injection steroids and know little about how they effect Lymies.

Time can also be a friend when it comes to back pain. I know it can be hard to wait this misery out, especially when one is living in a haze on Vicodin or Perc.

quote:

---

Originally posted by Foggy:
PT is very helpful for back pain.

---

Couldn't agree more. I do stretch and abdominal/back muscle exercises several times per week. Swim, run or walk too.

Also try to keep a good posture when sitting down and walking. Be good to your spine.

And try not to clinch your jaws and teeth. Cause if you do, you're most likely also tensing up the muscles along your spine, which encourages pinched nerves.

Michael
 

I didn't read all of the responses so, forgive me if I repeat what someone else might have written.

Back pain or "Lyme Arthritis", as my PCP called it, is one of my most bothersome symptoms.

What helps me the most are 2 things: I use a very high quality magnetic wrap that takes the pain away. I also do stretching and yoga pretty much every day. I do not take pain killers, except for Advil Softgels if I really can't get any relief.

Hope this helps.

Bc
 

They have those heat patches that work 8-10 hours thats what I used. ...

good luck

daniella
 

I have been having back problems for the last 4 months now. Just 3 episodes or so, but my back really hurt. Just today I got my Bowen resuts in and I'm positive for babesia.

Wondering if anyone knows any more about this.

KH
 

I have nothing to add on taking care of it, I think the advise is great..

One thing ti keep in mind is if the pain just developed slowly, without pulling anything, you should also keep kidneys in mind.

You feel inflamation in them in your lower back, and the whole area can be sore.

Just to keep in mind..maybe a flush or something if that turns out to be it?
You can check that in bloodwork.

Otherwise, I am also wondering if KH or anyone has reference to the Babesia in spine theories..

I would really like to know more about that for my own case.

Mo
 

The vertigo and back pain started at the same time for me. It was crippling. I had vertigo and could barely walk with back pain. Also with Babs meds my back is hurting again, but in a herx way rather than the old unrelenting pain and spasms that caused to be immoblized for several weeks, screaming with pain every time I even turned over in bed.

Definite food for thought!!!
Lymelady

PS
I also had a very strange tickling in my abdomen for two years for which no doctor could find an answer. It drove me nuts, thought it was yeast but before lyme dx and on a strick yeast regimin, it never went away. It is better now and I think it was connected to the babs somehow, possibly coming from the spine.

[This message has been edited by lymelady (edited 25 January 2005).]
 

Still hurting 2/1/2005

[This message has been edited by treepatrol (edited 01 February 2005).]