Back pain

[Halcyon]

Can anyone try to help me figure this out.
I havent been lifting anything heavy, havent done any complex sport, yet today I have woken up with loads of back pain.
If I am lying down or seated in one position I am fine.
It's when I start to move that my back is moving and hurting.
I have no idea what has caused this and am really hoping it goes by the end of today.


Thanks,

Halcyon.

[Ramrod]

It's probably an accumulation of damage (micro-trauma) that has finally produced pain. You probably did something yesterday that was the final straw (or possibly just slept in a 'funny' position)
Go see a BCA chiropractor (or an Osteopath who qualified from the BSO in London) for a proper assessment. GP's are usually useless with low back pain but if you need painkillers then obviously go see the GP. Physiotherapy isn't nearly as effective as Chiropractic for low back pain but at least it's free on the NHS (usually after a long wait)
See if a local Chiropractor is doing a free spinal assessment so that you can at least get an idea of what is probably damaged in your back.
.......and for goodness sake, don't assume it will go away, even if it does-it will probably return.

Originally Posted by Halcyon

Can anyone try to help me figure this out.
I havent been lifting anything heavy, havent done any complex sport, yet today I have woken up with loads of back pain.

Sounds like you've maybe slept in an akward position.

Originally Posted by Halcyon

If I am lying down or seated in one position I am fine.
It's when I start to move that my back is moving and hurting.
I have no idea what has caused this and am really hoping it goes by the end of today.

I have regular back problems, and they are either muscular or a trapped nerve.

A little gentle stretching may ease it, but if you're just careful with it, it'll ease up over the next couple of hours. If it is a nerve, and it pops free, then it will suddenly just stop hurting. If it's muscular, then it'll ease over time.

I usually take some 400mg Ibuprofen - as well as taking the edge off the pain, it also acts as an anit-inflammatory. Usually masking pain is not neccessarily a good idea, but since you've not suffered an injury, as such, I would advise that easing the pain to allow you to get on with life will probably be the quickest way to get rid of it.

[Halcyon]

Thankyou both of you for your replies.
I will look into seeing a chiropractor as I feel it may be best they had a look at my back as I have never been before.
I will take some paracetamol and see how it feels at the end of the day.

Now that I think about it, I did feel a bit odd last night so I think it may have started last night.

I've got to go out now, but I'l let you know how Im feeling by the end of the day.

Many thanks.

[Ramrod]

Originally Posted by ScaredWebWarrior

If it is a nerve, and it pops free, then it will suddenly just stop hurting. If it's muscular, then it'll ease over time.

Nerves don't 'pop free' .....and most things 'ease over time'
..........the big thing is to prevent recurrences in the future!--and the best way to do that is to get the injury treated asap and figure out what caused it to avoid doing that thing again.

Originally Posted by Ramrod

Nerves don't 'pop free' .....

What I mean is, the relief from the pain from a nerve can be sudden and dramatic, whereas muscular pain usually eases slowly.

Originally Posted by Ramrod

and most things 'ease over time'

Again, if it's not an 'injury' we're looking at a matter of hours - otherwise it's usually days.

Originally Posted by Ramrod

..........the big thing is to prevent recurrences in the future!--and the best way to do that is to get the injury treated asap and figure out what caused it to avoid doing that thing again.

In general I agree. However, if it's just from 'sleeping funny', then no 'treatment' is really need it - that's if you can get the treatment in time to be useful. Then there's the cost too.

This is where a kind and caring partner comes in - so long as they can do a bit of basic massage.

I know what kind of things cause me back problems. I can't always avoid them, and there isn't much treatment - I certainly couldn't afford it on a daily basis.

[Ramrod]

Relief from nerve pain is almost never sudden/dramatic-due to the mechanisms of injury and biochemical changes in the nerve and nervous system associated with such an injury......what most people think of being a 'trapped nerve' usually isn't.
If you have pain....you have an injury=damage to physical structures.
No physical treatment should be carried out on a daily basis (at least not past the short term)

[Halcyon]

Ok, Well I had a spare half hour and went and did a bit of light stretching and the pain does seem to have died down, its just a little sore now.

I'l still make sure I have it looked at, but I'm glad its hurting less now.

Thanks to everyone for the help they offered.

[Ramrod]

Originally Posted by Halcyon

Ok, Well I had a spare half hour and went and did a bit of light stretching and the pain does seem to have died down, its just a little sore now.

Good! ...just don't confuse a lack of symptoms with a lack of problem...

[Chris]

I have removed some posts from this thread to prevent the flame-war that is brewing. If anyone wishes to continue, please do so by PM. Any more off-topic or flame posts will be removed immediately, so please - save yourselves the trouble.

[Wicked_and_Crazy]

good advice there Mr Back Cracker

I visited a Chiropracter about 3 years ago and the chap sorted me out after a number of visits. Eventually after 9 months i did get an appointment from the hospital to visit a phisio 9 MONTHS!!! that is no way acceptable and there was no way i was going to suffer for that long. As Rammy says, dont mistake the lack of back pain for the lack of problem, its not funny when your legs start to hurt bacause of your back.

I now visit my Chiropractor every 6 months just for a check up, funilly enough i went yesterday, he does relatively little but it always amazes me that he pokes all down your spine and can then tell you exactly where you do and dont have pain. IMHO its money well spent regardless of how little manipulation he does.

[Chimaera]

^^^ What he said!

I visit my osteopath whenever I get back/neck problems, I don't let them get too bad though, then one visit usually shifts things where they should be and it's all sorted. Can't recommend them highly enough!

[danielf]

Originally Posted by Wicked_and_Crazy

<snip> IMHO its money well spent regardless of how little manipulation he does.

I't all a matter of patience init?

[Halcyon]

Thanks Chim.