Oh my aching back!! Doctors?

[JavaBrewer]

So I'm on a trail run yesterday and end up tripping & stumbling over a half burried rock. I didn't go down but heavily torqued my back in the process. I walked home and barely made it up the steep final hill.

If I sit in a chair or lie on my back or sides for any length of time I am unable to stand and my back immediately goes into terrible spasms. So far the only way I can get up on two feet is to first lie on my stomach with elbows on the ground and stretch my back for 10 minutes. Once up I have to walk very gingerly as any upset in balance makes my back go into spasms again.

So my question. Should I take pain meds (advil) and lie around on my stomach all day or should I get out and walk as much as possible. Will walking/exercise worsen my condition or speed recovery? I've been leaving messages for my Doc but so far have not gotten a return call. I'm hoping to get something stronger than advil, like a muscle relaxer, but hate taking narcotics.

Doctors in the house - advice?

[trekkor]

Chiropractor...Immediately.

Go to one that your friends recommend...Today!!

Instant relief. Tell them it's an emergency. Do't wait!


KT

[HardDrive]

Originally posted by trekkor
Chiropractor...Immediately.

KT

No, do NOT do that. Go to a physician and insist on having an MRI done, and don't take no for an answer. You might get resistance because its a $1200 test.

I lived with 2 badly ruptured disks in my back, which got worse, because the #*&(@*%($%# doctors did not have an MRI done.

Ruptured/bulging disk can be managed though physical therapy (or yoga), stretching, and strength training. I don't take any drugs other than the occasional ibuprofen, and that ususally because I beat myself up working out.

Want drugs? Valium (diazepam). The classic. Works like a champ. The last time my back really went out about 3 years ago, 2 days on valium and advil, and I was good to go.

Chiro may come into the picture, I'm not ripping them. But it is critical to find out what is actually going on, and only imaging can tell you that.

[Moses]

As a basic rule it's always good to know what you're treating before you treat it. Proper diagnostics before therapy. Always.

Chiropracters can work wonders with paraspinal muscle injuries. Meds work well, too. If you have numbness or burning in one or both legs, get to your doctor fast.

[nostatic]

what if it hurts when I pee?

[onlycafe]

hot showers , ice packs. canadian aspirin.

[craigster59]

Originally posted by nostatic
what if it hurts when I pee?

When your balls feel like a pair of maraca's

You've probably got the gon-o-ca-ca-cacus

[the]

Originally posted by dmoolenaar
So I'm on a trail run yesterday and end up tripping & stumbling over a half burried rock.

Did you happen to be on city property at the time?

I just saw a TV commercial that said you may be entitled to significant monetary compensation!

[jluetjen]

After straining my back a few years back while painting the garage floor, My doctor recommended either Pilates or Yoga. Having tried both, I prefer Pilates but both seemed to be effective. After searching the racks at Barnes and Nobles, I found this book that seemed to fit my needs best. I've been doing 30 minutes a day, 5 days a week for a few years now and have had no more back problems. I've got about 5 that I used before and after excercising which take about 5 minutes to do. A side benefit is that where in the past I had a hard time bending at the waste and touching the floor with my fingertips, now I can almost lay my palms on the floor without bending my knees -- so my flexibility had increased significantly.

My wife is a proponent of Chiropractic therapy, but she keeps going back every few weeks to a month for another "crack". Once I started doing the pilates, my backproblems have gone away.

I agree though, anything like this should start with your doctor to ensure that you understand what the problem is, and that your treatment won't make it worse.

A couple of other observations...
1) My doctor said that nowadays they discourage the "Take some pain relievers and lay on the couch for a week" approach since if the back problem is muscular, the muscles need to be flexed and blood flow increased. Neither of these happen on the couch.

2) "Stretch away from the pain". If it hurts when you bend forward, then start by stretching back. Or vice versa until you regain enough flexibility to stretch in all directions.

First: SEE YOUR DOCTOR!

[Zeke]

As an amatuer in the back injury business, I can tell you there are two types of injuries common to the back. They can be simultaneous. Spinal and muscular. They both can be very painful.

My wife has had two back surgeries, both for a disc problem. Recently, she and I both sprained ours back within 3 days of each other. There are no indications of disc injury in either case, this time anyway. The wife's sister also had a recent back injury and it was spinal, meaning there is disc damage (in my layman's terms). At first, surgery was indicated, but through an excellent program of soft stretching and exercise, she will be spared the knife. My wife will tell you surgery is to be avoided unless you can only crawl into the doctor's office after as much non surgical treatment has been performed with little or no results. No one we have ever talked to has come away from a disc operation totally pain free, even after lengthy recuperation and rehabilitation. It simply is a last resort.

My advice is to avoid any aggressive treatment until you've had plenty of rest and you're as good as you're gonna be, which in most cases is altogether free of any pain. In two cases, I went to a chiropractor on the day of the injury and they made things worse. Subjective, I know, but I'll stand (or lie) on my statement. In a few other instances, not much was gained by being there right away. I can do the hot packs and ice myself.
And, a couple of times it might have helped me recover more quickly be starting immediate treatment. The injuries are not always the same.

A medical doctor may or may not have much skill with chiropractic principals. But, he/she can damn sure give you some drugs and they can be of benefit. YMMV

Always warm up and stretch before any activity, or at least start out easy and slowly. This includes mowing the lawn or taking oout the trash. That ugly pain can bite you at any time. My worst case yet was driving 100 miles and then jumping out and lifting a chair. I hurt for two weeks.

[Tobra]

In the future, try to pay more attention to where you are putting your feet on trail runs.

Any Chiropractor worth their salt would take a history and check you out prior to doing anything. They will take radiographs which will tell you nothing, as I can practically guarantee you do not have an osseous injury. MR can show you a lot, and are very expensive.

Backs are tough, can have severe occult injuries, or minor ones that feel like you will die for a few days.

[JavaBrewer]

Thanks for all the input folks. I am afraid of chiropractors only because I saw one totally mess up my Dad. That said I made an appointment with one for the afternoon but then had second thoughts and cancelled. I borrowed a Vicoden and a couple Flexerol from a neighbor and combined with an ice pack has got me sitting w/o too much pain. It's still brutal to stand up after sitting. If the pain does not subside by Monday I'll push for the MRI.

[wrecktech]

Originally posted by dmoolenaar
I'm hoping to get something stronger than advil, like a muscle relaxer

I think Advil has an anti inflammitory in it, it works better for me than anything else. I take 800mg and I think 3 to 4 times a day but ask a doctor first.

[Joeaksa]

Dave,

Taking Vicodin and Flex are both about as strong as you want to go before seeing someone. Also plane jane asprin is a good anti-inflamatory drug, which might help but do not take too much.

Ice does not help me, but warm bath's relax everything. Have you tried heat or bengay?

[HardDrive]

Vicodin works, but it goes to my head to much. I stick with ibupofen on the pain end. Flexeril is effective, but it leaves you pretty spaced out. I guess everyone reacts to medicine differently. Valium not only helps relax the muscles, but you kind of forget about your problems as well .

[HardDrive]

I think I also need to come clean about something I was trying to dance around: I think chiropractors are quacks. Complete quacks. I know to many people who have had terrible damage done by them, my mother being one. I'm not saying MDs are the only answer, as I think yoga and developing core body strength are really the key here. But at least an MD can get you a solid diagnosis as to what is wrong.

[89911]

Having done this a few times, you need steroids (Medrol dose pack) ASAP. Give me your local pharmacy and a number and I'll call it in for you. The last time I did this I was running up the stairs to my office and tripped on one of the steps (stupid Birkenstock's!!). You most likely pinched a nerve root trunks exiting you spine and the inflammation is causing the persistence pain to continue. I am not one to over-medicate, but when my son's pediatrician puts him on the same dose pack I take for a small rash on his face, I feel like it's worth it.

[JavaBrewer]

I'm switching doctors as he refused over the phone pain meds without a visit to his office. I know he's doing the right thing, and I want that exam, but come on. I can't get in until next Tuesday and I just wanted 5-6 pain pills to get me through the weekend. My son has 3 baseball games this weekend and my daughter on softball game. Can't miss those. I've been thinking about switching to a more local (to my home) doc anyway and this kinda seals the deal for me.

After my exam, and if I get an MRI that returns clear of major damage, what do you all think about acupuncture?

Again thanks for the advice folks.

[legion]

I recommend rest. Sit on your ass in front of the boob tube for at least 8 hours every day. I also recommend a BJ before and after each rest period.

(No, I'm not a doctor.)

[HardDrive]

Originally posted by dmoolenaar

After my exam, and if I get an MRI that returns clear of major damage, what do you all think about acupuncture?

My wife is the Directory of Complimentary Medicine at her hospital. Acupuncture is one of their main treatment offerings. I am very skeptical of it myself, but she has treated me before, and there is no question it helps. I'm not sure I always buy the explanations for why it works, but you can't argue with results.....

Definitely worth a try.

Seems to be most effective as getting muscles that are in spasm to release.

Don't ignore legions advice, he is a wise man.