Discussions

What would you recommend for back pain that's on going. Been happening for months now. Physiotherapist? Chiropractor? Message? What worked for you to relieve you back pain?

Chiropractor for me

First, get it checked out by a doctor. It could be part of a bigger problem and a CT scan or MRI might be needed.  
 
I've had back pain for over 12 years. I feel like I've tried a lot. It was only within the past few years that I finally found out the reason was protruding and extruding discs and I have arthritis in my back.  
 
For myself, I find chiropractor adjustments and yoga/stretching work the best for instant relief. I take tramacet multiple times a day and use things like ice/heat, voltaren emugel and at home massagers. I try to know my limits and not over do it but some days things just need to get done and than I spend the next day or 2 taking it easy and resting my back as much as possible. I've only had one professional massage but found it way too painful to enjoy it but some swear by them!  
 
There's not a day (or even an hour lol) that goes by with me not being in pain so I really stress to you to get it checked out! Back pain affects your whole body (and life . ) and if there's something you can do to help it, do it!  
 
Edited by sammy, 2016-04-08 22:17:52

That's a tricky one because 'back' pain can involve so many different areas of the body.A lot of back pain is referred pain, which means the area that hurts isn't necessarily the area that's injured.  
 
Why? Because our major nerves travel from the spine out to our extremities so the cause of the pain can be anywhere along that nerve path or start at the spine.  
 
Also the spine is in contact with the hips, the ribs, the neck, and many many major muscle groups.  
 
I'm not saying this to discourage you. I'm saying this to encourage you to take time & make the effort to figure out what is really hurting, assess if you have any injuries, anddetermine if there are specific movements that hurt or are harder to do on one side than the other.  
 
I just did what the chiropractor & physio said i should (assuming i had true back pain). Instead, i had hip & rib problems we didn't realize, and i was doing exercises/therapy which caused more pain.  
 
One easy thing that helped me a lot &i have heard over and over as i researched about back pain relief is that walking helps! There is little chance of injury and it helps all of your core muscles to strengthen again.  
 
Apparently todays cultures that sit so muchare at alarming rates for back pain while it's rare in cultures that have more traditional work versus office jobs.

I would definitely recommend starting with something gentle (not back cracking) like physio or even better, a chiropractor like kaleigh strath, who does gentle alignments rather than cracking.  
 
Go somewhere that you can get xrays to see what is actually wrong & misaligned. (she does this). It can save you a lot of money going around looking for the right solution, and a lot of pain trying to tray the wrong ailment.  
 
To the other poster, sorry to hear your troubles. If it was me, i would want to know WHY i had those disc problems. Is something misaligned in my neck/hip/pelvis that caused the spine to compensate, which forced the discs out of their normal space?  
 
I think the disc troubles are a symptom of the real cause and you should keep looking for answers! It's worth it!  
 
Doctors simply have to learn so much information about all body systems that they can't be specialists in back issues. Seek out someone who is a specialist.

Sorry I should of been more specific, I've had lower back problems for awhile now and actually walking doesn't help me at all, If I walk to long my lower back and hips ache pretty badly

Heritage....the discs are no longer out of place (as of my last MRI anyways). I used to go to the pan am pain clinic and now see Dr. Wong here at the Brandon pain clinic. I was told it was nothing I did or could have prevented, it's just the way my back is. My hips and neck do go out of alignment and than the back pain is worse but usually a trip to the chiro makes it manageable again. I forgot, I also get cortisone shots. They seem to help for a bit so that's good!  
 
Cat lover....exactly the same!! I'm laying in bed now actually because after a day of work and than a shopping trip with a friend, my back hates me lol. Walking for short periods help but it's a fine line between just enough and too much. You'll know best how long works for you! Make sure you have proper fitting and comfortable shoes too.

I feel ya! I've always had issues with my back (including bulging discs). And since having my daughter my tailbone has been killing me. I went to my dr about it finally. We are sending me for an xray, then go from there. Massage used to help, but nothing touches this tailbone pain of mine. I personally am scared of chiros (had one good one, he retired then met a quack). I suggest starting at your dr. Even physio may be the better option. I've also been looking into yoga but am chicken to try

I have no scientific proof that what I did helped, but my worst back pain was when I was a smoker and physically inactive. After I quit smoking and my body healed the internal damage I had done, I then took to being physically activity and doing purposeful stretching to gain back the strength I lost while an inactive smoker.  
 
This process has taken 10 years, but I noticed the difference about 2 years into my decision to change my mind about smoking and being inactive.  
 

The most important thing is to strengthen your low back. DON'T ignore it though that's what I did and now I suffered a fairly serious disc injury.

my husband has had lower back pain for over 7 years now...and finally something is being done about it. (which also took a year).  
 
You really need to fight for your health. Many years he was given pills which sure may just give him temporary relief but its not fixing a main and ongoing problem.  
 
He was lucky to have someone push for a CT scan and has led to an MRI which has led us to being able to meet with a back specialist soon to see what's recommended next (surgery etc.).