It has been a good while since my back went out. I used to have epiderals every year around November but this last year I did not have to.
I figured its a good sign..
When it gets bad .. it is bad.. I can not walk. I am locked up completely.
So Yesterday.. it locked up.. No big event (usually is not one).. This time I woke up that way. Like when you wake up with a kinked neck.
Its every painful..
I took a bath.. and that helped. I also did Ice on and off yesterday. I then did tens on it with my rife machine that has sticky pads. I even did LED on it too..
So. I can now walk better and not as Stiff and Stuck..
I though was wondering.. what help you all the most. I would love to hear ideas so i can pull myself out of this as fast as possible.
Sometimes on the board there are ideas exchanged that helps others and myself so much.. I have not read much about this topic...so.. I hope you have some ideas ....
Thanks Much
Posted by cactus (Member # 7347) on :
This has not happened to me in a long time...
but I used to have episodes of upper back/shoulder/neck pain that were extremely intense - could not move my head or back at all, had to stay perfectly upright at all times.
Nothing helped as much as time and staying still, but here are a few of the comfort things I remember doing, which helped to a degree -
- Flexeril or Valium
- Advil
- heating pad
- Thermacare pads
- Biofreeze (like Icy Hot)
- gentle, deep massage
Hope you find relief soon.
Posted by Carol in PA (Member # 5338) on :
If it is muscle spasms, the LED should help. Magnesium, too.
A couple years before I knew about LED therapy, I bought a farinfrared pad, the Thermotex.
That did wonders for my back pain.
Carol
Posted by springshowers (Member # 19863) on :
thanks. I just read online that you should not do heat.. Not at first right away. Not for a couple days.
I am doing ice and it is helping..
I had a great year last year for my back. Its been a good long while since this has happened to me.
I barely can make it to the toilet. I am just hoping this is not gong to last and will heal and recover quickly..
I know I have problems with few disks and they wanted to do operations a few times. i said no.. I have done the epiderals though in the past ..
They worked wonders for me..
I was told caster oil packs. I have not done caster oil before. Do not have any so if I try it it will be after I am good enough to get up and drive somewhere to get it ...
Any other ideas.
I do have extra lortab and soma luckily... I have no choice.. I have to take those..it is really painful.. like really bad.
It radiates down my front and back legs all the way to my feet and around my hips and up my ribs.
This is not good.....not good at all.
Thanks for your responses...
Posted by Robin123 (Member # 9197) on :
A good chiropractor plus some massage?
Posted by Carol in PA (Member # 5338) on :
For an injury such as contusion or sprain, use ice for the first day or so, and then heat.
For muscles in spasm, heat will increase the bloodflow and relax the spasm.
Having said that, if the ice makes you feel better, then I guess you should use it!
Carol
Posted by massman (Member # 18116) on :
"A good chiropractor plus some massage?"
Robin that is waaaaay too radical for this board !
And how about finding one who is a DC and LMT ?
Oooooops that is me Posted by Lauralyme (Member # 15021) on :
Tiger Balm
Hope you feel better soon
Posted by Robin123 (Member # 9197) on :
Massman, can you travel? Spring is somewhere in the USA...!
Posted by sapphire101 (Member # 6638) on :
Massman, I wish you were close to me. I would definitely pay you a visit. I love my chiro but he isn't a LMT. Did I mention he's cute, too?
Sapphire
Posted by Shosty (Member # 12232) on :
For muscle spasms I go with heat. Inflammation responds to ice. You can use both. Heat, then massage or stretching or whatever, then ice.
I use Ben Gay and Baclofen, another muscle relaxer. Chiropractor is my first choice. Can't afford both chiro and massage, so have to choose.
Is weather a factor for you?
Hope you feel better!
Posted by springshowers (Member # 19863) on :
I have found only one Chiro that helped with my back. He used only flex distraction method and for some reason.. nobody else ever helped me and most made me worse.
Esp in the acute phase... I have found I can not tolerate what chiros do..no no .way.
So.. well. am doing.. heat now... and caster oil packs. The things like tiger balm or topical stuff is not helping at this point.
I am really in bad pain. I have had ruptured disks before and have healed them over time. Then another disk goes..
Not how I wanted to start the new year.!
Massman..come on over.......
Since my relapse with Lyme I have not been able to exercise and keep my back strong.. So i am thinking i know why this happened.. Again : (
its like the domino affect....
Thanks for the ideas..
I have done chiro stuff for many years.. and the biggest help was when i kept up on exercising and stretching and keeping the muscles in my back strong and fit...
So.. thats that..
For now. i was hoping to hear some home remedies.. that i might not know of...
Thanks all.
Posted by massman (Member # 18116) on :
Not too much bending with flexion-distraction. If that is what works that is what should be done.
There is an adjusting technique developed by Dr. Vern Pierce that has no twisting + turning that IME works well. A related technique by Dr. Piscattano is also helpful.
Best exercises I have used personally are from a book called "Be a Loser." Search www.amazon for that.
Posted by springshowers (Member # 19863) on :
Thanks massman..
Posted by springshowers (Member # 19863) on :
Whats neat
Is I pulled out the sticky pads on that came with my rife and ran a pain relief program and it was like having a tens unit as the frequencies worked my back directly..
I also used the LED attachment from my rife to my back too for extra healing help..
I think those both helped some and will shorten my recovery time.. is what i am hoping most for..
Posted by imagine2 (Member # 3136) on :
Hi Spring, Two months ago, my low back went out and I couldn't move. My Chiro really, really helped me through this whole thing.
He said I had sprained my SI joint. (I had not been injured or lifted anything heavy) It just happened for now apparent reason. Still a puzzle for me.
He gave me an adjustable, fabric brace to wear around my hips until I felt better.Took tremendous pressure off my back.
Also, be sure to engage your abdomenals whenever you move, getting up or down or bending in any direction.
Ice was recommended for at least 3 weeks and he told me to stay away from sitting in soft chairs, couches,beds,etc.
After about 2 weeks, he recommended massage which also really helped.
Hope you feel better....awful pain.
Anyway,
Posted by springshowers (Member # 19863) on :
Thanks Imagine...
Ice for 3 weeks huh? I have heard to stay way from heat but I have been doing heat too and ice...
I wondered about that SI joint.
I am going to go to my spine doctor here asap as soon as Monday comes i will call and try to get in immediately.
Been on my back for 3 days.. Somewhat better meaning I can stand up straight at least. And though getting on foot in front of the other is rough.. I have one of those back braces from a long time ago.. I will pull it out. Thanks for that reminder..
Things get so rough we forget what we should or can do at times..
The pain is very very bad.. And reminds me to be grateful for the times I did not have this in addition to all the other pain and disease issues..
Its amazing how much it can hurt...
Luckily I have stashed Meds and Muscle relaxers.
I hord meds instead of use them up. I have a fear of not having them or a doctor giving them to me when i need them. SO when i can I keep leftovers from other times for times like this.
New years Eve.. The only place to go would have been the ER> No thanks.
I am not ready for massage or even Chiro.. yet.... But I will get there..
Ya know whats sad too.. Insurance does not cover chiropractic care? Why is that? Its bull.!
Posted by massman (Member # 18116) on :
"Insurance does not cover chiropractic care? Why is that? Its bull.! "
Political bull.
Posted by springshowers (Member # 19863) on :
Ok I hear about not using any steriods all the time.
Yet. i have had disk epiderals and have not noticed any difference in my symptoms either way regarding the Lyme and co infections I have..
Can someone give any feedback if maybe the epideral is maybe an exception for some reason?
I did not know about this issues when I did them in the past. Thinking about doing another one but this is after now I have heard about the steriod issue.
Anyone got any more details or links to share?
THANKS Very Much
[ 01-04-2010, 11:22 AM: Message edited by: springshowers ]
Posted by springshowers (Member # 19863) on :
Here is one article that describes some benefits too in steriod use if you are also on antibiotics for some conditions and some issues around Lyme Disease.
So it is confusing
Posted by sapphire101 (Member # 6638) on :
Hope you are feeling better soon Spring. My back goes out accasionally and it definitely is no fun.
By the way, my insurance pays for my chiro visits. I have BCBS, I just assumed all ins. co. paid for them.
Sapphire
Posted by 5dana8 (Member # 7935) on :
moist heating pad works the best for me. sometimes if it gets really horrible a muscle relaxer plus the moist heat. but was told not to lay on it continually.
i was told a while back by a LLMD not to ice because the bb loves a cold environment.
hope this helps
none of the above is medical advise. just my 2 cents
Posted by lymebytes (Member # 11830) on :
I use Thermacare wraps. They can be bought at any store, Walmart, Costco, Walgreens, etc. They work great and you are tied down to a heating pad, they get very warm and are recommended to wear 8 hours and giving additional relief beyond the wear time.
Hope you feel better soon.
Posted by Jason21 (Member # 16393) on :
Skelaxin and Trigger Point massage. A lot of back pain comes from trigger points in the psoas muscles.
Lay on your back with your knees up. Let both knees drop to the side. This allows you better access to the psoas.
Check about 3 inches to the side of your navel and see if you have any tender spots. Don't just touch the surface. Really get in there and dig through the skin and belly fat (not that I'm saying you are fat!) to get to the psoas.
Get the Trigger Point Therapy Workbook by Claire Davies. It did wonders for all my aches and pains, especially my back.
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