I have been suffering from a bad back now for almost 4 weeks due to one if not 2 or 3 of the following:

a - a 6 mile run over slippery terrain

b - moving 15 heavy earth filled pots across the garden

c - putting up an 8ft real christmas tree on my own

d - Mr Cat jumping on me from the kitchen extension roof in the misguided, beer fueled impression that he could fly.

I was fine until the monday at college....by lunch time I had started to stiffen up...each time I got up to go to the loo was more painfull......by 9pm that night moving full stop was a problem. I could hardly move for 2 days....it got better and I can move about properly but sitting or lying on my front is still very uncomfortable and stiffens lower back up. I also get the shooting sensations around my hips and down my thighs.

I succumbed and went to the doctors today, he said it is 'Mechanical back pain'?? He said I have to keep it moving but understood that I was too uncomfortable to do this, so he prescribed a pain killer - Tramadol - bloody marvelous they are...within an hour of taking a couple of these little beauties I could bend and stretch like a teenager.

Is this the way forward - painkillers, I have done a shed load of stretches as he recommened whilst 'under the influence'.

Anyone else with back problems out there.

I've got permanent back ache at the moment - comes with being constantly bent awkwardly whilst feeding Eddie and fending off an exuberant Gigi with the other hand.

I find lying flat on the floor for half an hour sorts it out :naughty:

That dosn't work....it makes me at peace for a while, but worse when I get up....I going to stick wiith the drugs..easier and a lot less painfull.

Painkillers are the way forward, if the doctor is right in his diagnosis. It will help with the pain, whilst still working the muscles. The best thing to do is find a comfortable position and watch every episode of Alan Partridge you can lay your hands on, end to end. If you're still not sorted, fish out Python's "And Now for Something Completely Different" and watch that, too. To avoid accidents, have a commode handy.

HTH. :thumbsup:

until I took some magnificiently strong painkillers for my gall bladder pain, I had no idea how marvellous painkillers could be. I thought paracetomol extra strength or feminax was as good as it got, and mocked Michael Jackson for being hooked on painkillers!
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Hope your back is recovering Cat and that you are taking it easy .... don't look into Bazil's eyes when he says he wants to go out for a run ... look away, look away!
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I hope your back gets better soon Cat. Horrible things bad backs. Mine started playing up about ten years ago through bad posture mostly, ny doctor said. I took up yoga and that helped a lot. I still do it - but not as often as I should. As well as flexibility the breathing and relaxation are great for pain management. As are drugs of course.:wink2:

Have a week off work, that'll help! (if you dare:gunsmilie )

HTH.

I have the worse pain in my lower back and between my shoulder blades, as well as my joints with this fibromyalgia crap. They gave me Tramadol and it is lovely!! Also Tylenol #3 and a muscle relaxer called Soma. I try to work out what pain I can in a hot shower, even if I run the water heater out!, and then stretch somemore when I get out. Then, I decide if I drug up or not. But they have been very handy since our weather is undecided on us freezing or sweating and this aggravates my sinuses and my pain. :excl:

I'm still better today and have only had my morning Tramadol (1 tablet only), 2 paracetamol later and now beer.

I don't want to get better too soon as I won't have to take my Tramadol...for the first time too I can understand the addiction to pain killers, this sort not asprin etc...they give you a calming relaxed effect too.


....any offers, got 27 tablets left.....

Have a week off work, that'll help! (if you dare:gunsmilie )

HTH.

Fear not Buzzulation....I am leaping about like a gazel.

Maybe this will help!

http://www.aleve.com/images/Aleve_Sketches/Self_Back_Rub.jpg

I keep expecting Morton Harket to pop out any minute.....A har!

I keep expecting Morton Harket to pop out any minute.....A har!

Blimey - i wish he would pop my way. He is my GOD :wub:

Im glad your back is feeling better today. Mr.B has suffered from back pain most of his life. We couldnt do anything. If we went shopping he couldnt walk for more than 5 mins, so he would spent his life sat on the benches outside, whilst i ran around.

He couldnt decorate as he would get a spasm and collapse on the floor. It was scarey. But he started going to one of those people who put you in weird positions and crunch you. It did him the power of good.

Are you sure he wasn't just trying to get out of the shopping and the decorating though Bonnie? :w00t:

Are you sure he wasn't just trying to get out of the shopping and the decorating though Bonnie? :w00t:

Hmmmmm .... i hadn't thought of that :unsure:

Catherine oh Catherine - why oh why do you think you are 18?? You are not, your nearly middle aged and doing all those things individually are going to strain something [thankfully it wasn't your bladder or bowels!!!], but doing all 4 in relatively quick succession is asking for trouble.

I spent about 6 years on painkillers, having physio, acupuncture, cortisone injections, oesteopath, chiropractic remedies and to top it all off 4 months in a re-habilitation hospital all for a mechanical back injury. So I know where you are coming from and what I am talking about. I started worrying that 6 years on painkillers would make me addicted - so I slowly weaned myself off them, along with a back strengthening regime, swimming, walking, dancing [ballroom is good for posture], and stomach excersises. And you know what - my back is as good as new now - although I still get twinges and then I take it easy.

My advice is seek advice on back strengthening excersises, sit correctly, bend correctly and just be sensible.

Mr F takes 8 tramadol's a day for his back injury and he hasn't taken my advice on back strengthening excersises yet ... I am still working on it!

Good luck my dear, it can be troublesome and v. irritating spesh when you want to swing from chandeliers!!:bag:

Catherine oh Catherine - why oh why do you think you are 18?? You are not, your nearly middle aged

this is the most damning thing anyone has ever said to me.

:cry:

However my lovely flippy labia loola, I heed what you are saying...for the first time I can understand how painkillers can be addictive...8 aday you say..f-ck about I would be spaced to no where.

My brother keeps harping on about a chiropracter to find out what the root cause, which I think is sensible - its been playing up a bit again today so obviously isn't sorted.

The doctor has adviced a blood test too, but thought it would be best to wait till after the week end so there is some blood in my alcohol stream again.

My brother keeps harping on about a chiropracter to find out what the root cause, which I think is sensible - its been playing up a bit again today so obviously isn't sorted.

The doctor has adviced a blood test too, but thought it would be best to wait till after the week end so there is some blood in my alcohol stream again.

I know middle aged was a bit strong wasn't it, but it sure grabbed you by your short and curlies!!:w00t:

Now I don't think this is a bad starting point, chiropracter that is - they do some tremendously hysterical moves, that have them wrapped around you like clingflim on a turkey - and then pong they crunch themselves into a ball with you sandwiched in the middle - everything goes >>>>>> C . R . A . C . K <<<<<<<< and then the relief of pain is palpable! Go For IT!!:ohmy: :wink_kiss

I love going to my osteopath. If it wasn't for the cost, I would go every week. Apart from the manipulation and sandwiching that Flippetygibbet has described above, it's very relaxing. It's usually about £30 a session, but I think it's worth investigating.

However my lovely flippy labia loola, I heed what you are saying...for the first time I can understand how painkillers can be addictive...8 aday you say..f-ck about I would be spaced to no where.

My brother keeps harping on about a chiropracter to find out what the root cause, which I think is sensible - its been playing up a bit again today so obviously isn't sorted.

The doctor has adviced a blood test too, but thought it would be best to wait till after the week end so there is some blood in my alcohol stream again.

Only you Cat, only you!!!:devil:

I've got a bit of a bad back too. Unfortunately I know the reason ... it's cos I is too fat and unfit ... so self inflicted really and deserves no sympathy. Although it does deserve some of those drugs Cat, if you've got a brown paper envelope could you post me a supply please?!

Dave suffers badly with his back & is on painkillers, has been for years but we've recently discovered something called Devils Claw - Holland & Barratt special whicyh has natural anti inflammatory & pain killing properties - takes about 2 weeks to get into the system tho & you can't take your painkillers while waiting, am waiting for summer for him to try it cos got no chance without his tabs in this weather