Any remedies for back pain?

[K. Ayato]

Hi. I'm pretty much in the same boat as c.t.girl. Since I have scoliosis (curvature of the spine) I experience pain in the middle region of my back, just barely below the shoulders. Most of the time it's minimal, and I can easily handle it with a few trunk twists to get the air pockets out (kind of like cracking your knuckles) but today it's really bad. Hasn't eased enough to a tolerable level all day. Aside from Advil and ointments, is there anything you can suggest to ease the pain? Any stretches I can try out or anything? The only thing that can be a cause is my mattress cover. It's too small and when it bunches up underneath me, it causes a lot of pain in my back by the time I wake up. But today that wasn't the case. Please, I could use all the help I can get.

[Alice]

Is your mattress itself okay? I mean not too strangely-shaped or old or something? When my mattress needed replaced it caused some annoyance and trouble.

But I don't really know much about back pain. I'm sorry. :/ Prayers

[The Doctor]

Well...I know this witch doctor down in Guatemala...

Alright, seriously though (he's cheap, and his percentage of patients living after the fact is increasing now), see a REAL doctor and get his or her advice on what's going on. He/she may see fit to provide you with powerful medication that will get rid of the pain (and depending on how powerful the medication is, all your cares in the world as well).

Go ahead and look into buying a new (but affordable) mattress as well that will fit your means (Wal-Mart; Goodwill) but also won't hurt you (Big Earl's Shack Shop isn't an option here).

[K. Ayato]

I've gotten a new mattress. In May. Just recently rotated it. Works good.

[Kiba-kun]

very wise advice Doctor but you should be carefull of the medication they're giving you. My mother has really bad back pain and they first put her on a few pain releavers, then that didnt help so they put her on more and then more. so now she gets so drugged up she has a hard time driving and working, so if you do get a pain releaver make sure that it will work and if they try to throw more on you i'd say no.

as to the original Q i would go to a ciropractor(sp?). if its the backbone its self they find the problem and pop it back in place but if its just tightened muscle like i have they will use a vibrator that will loosen it up for a couple of hours in that time i would try a couple of stretchs as to what kind i have no idea since after i go i head strait to work

hope that helped

[termyt]

I also suffer from back pain, although mine is brought on from repeated injuries and lugging around extra tonnage.

Your feet actually have a lot to do with your back. Most people don't realize this. Wear comfortable shoes with good arch support. Your arches are vital to how your back works.

Another good thing to do that doesn't seem obvious is stretch your legs. Back pain can be caused by pressure building up because spinal fluid can not flow freely. By stretching your legs, you help to open up the spinal column to allow the fluid to flow and the pressure to decrease. My back pain has been significantly reduced since I began doing leg stretches every morning in the shower.

[Fsiphskilm]

Find a "

[Mr. SmartyPants]

try sleeping on hardwood

or maybe those "icy hot" back pads or something

[Eriana]

I would go to a back doctor and ask about your spinal, get x-rays and find out whats going on. Or take Volt's advice. It's sounds like a good idea. My dad has a broken back so I know that he experiences a lot of pain and has done stretches, heating pads and works outs and they seem to help him alot. Since you have a new mattress I would just try to lay down on my back or stomach (which ever ones more comfortable) and try not to move. Your neck also is a part of it. Where there's back pain neck pain usually exists too. If you get bad enough neck pains you get a terrible headache. Maybe try Advil Liquid Gels and Aleve that might help you a lot. The biggest thing is asking your doctor what to do, make sure your going to somebody with a lot of experience in this sort of thing also, your pains could just increase if your not careful.

[K. Ayato]

Hey, I just found out that the cause was tension due to stress. I'll have to watch out for that. When I tense up, it really accumulates in the area near my shoulders.

[Eriana]

Wow be careful. Yes I would try to take a deep breath count to 10 and slowly count downward. Another way of relieving stress is to quickly make a tightly wrapped fist and then release your grip and let your hand hang loosely. Sometimes this helps me a lot. Usually I go with the counting though. Sometimes it helps to count in a different language as well.
Hope I'm helping you a little and I'll try to remember to pray for you!

[Rogie]

For common back pains, especially due to stress and tension, I would recommend buying some horse linament. Yes, I'm pretty sure it's stuff that they rub on horses, but it also works great on stiff joints and back pains for humans. You can get it from a drugstore (they'll have to order it, probably), or maybe even from a vet.