back problems?

Hey its been forever since ive posted shit on here but just curious if any one has any experience with back problems and being able to work them out.

so short story is putting a tire back on a car my back tweaks (could be pulled muscle could be a spasm) and i was unable to move or get up or be moved by anyone for over 2 hours. had to have an ambulance pick me up and take me to the hospital for some muscle relaxers and what not.

so i thought it was a one time deal and ive been better this week until i go to take off my shoe and it happens again (yea pretty lame i know haha) so question is... what the fuck? im supposed to be shipping off on monday for a two month sampling season on a trawler and cant be having these problems.

does anyone here have a similar problem and did a chiropractor fix it or help or did you need something else done? since it happened so easily the second time i kinda thought it might be a slight nerve problem. but besides that im in the dark and need to figure something out.

 

so to "get it taken care of" what kind of doctor did you go to? i know i didnt do break any vertebrae but the messed up disk had crossed my mind. also if its relevant for anyone reading, my glute just below the original spasm has been super tight and sore since it happened

 

Sounds like you need to see a neurologist and get an MRI. I have two herniated disks and joint issues in my lumbar sacral joint. I had a few episodes like the ones you have described. I had surgery and recovered very well.

 

I'm not sure how to fix it, but a good rule to follow is take care of your back and your feet. If you're not on one, you're on the other. I've battled back pain a lot lately. I've just had to gut it out.

 

Stretch, work the stabilizer muscles around, Massage/Chiro/PT, eat right, etc can all help but you're going to have to be consistent and careful. I've had a messed up spine for over 3 years no with little to no relief. Life sucks like this ha take care of it now and take it seriously.

 

I pulled my left side, just before New Years from my butt up to just below my shoulder blade. I went to a chiroprator and he sorted me out over about a month of visits. Also changed of I sit and started working out, trying to get back in shape. Apparently round is no longer an acceptable shape in this house....
Good luck, it suxs

 

MRI is a good way to go but seeing a doc for a referral is best. Don't push this off as other have said your back is important. Also, be careful driving. You don't want an episode when you're doing 70 on the highway, or even 30 on a side road for that fact.

 

thanks guys. yall all pretty much took my tentative plans and made them concrete. this whole time crunch thing is going to make this an interesting week to say the least. im praying a miracle will pull through because our seasons arent exactly back friendly. even when my back was 100% it would tire and be sore everyday

 

I recently hurt my lower back something fierce. Same situation with an ambulance. I couldn't get up or move on my own. After being home afterwards I couldn't walk on my own or do pretty much anything.

Physical therapy is the answer and maybe a cortisone shot. I've been in physical therapy for about 7 weeks and I'm at about 80-85% of what I was before I hurt myself. Still have a few more weeks to get through.

 

it sucks visiting your parents and then this happens.... couldnt even get my own pants off...

 

Worked on my feet for 20+ years wearing steel toed shoes ... I had a lot of back trouble for years and then my chiropractor talked me into buying custom fit orthotics. Knees and back quit hurting and I don't see her except to get my neck twisted. The orthotics aren't cheap but they are tax deductible

Laying on your back flat on the floor and your legs on the couch... Calves and back horizontal with thighs vertical ... this should give you some relief

 

Chiropractor worked for me. My hamstrings and hip flexors were too tight, so he did some stretching and showed me some stretches to do. My issues were lower and mid back, but it was caused by me being a fat ass. If you're fat (sorry to be blunt) it is BAD for your back.

Soooo... I went from 218 lbs (at 5' 10") down to 173, at which point my wife said I looked sickly. I've been holding at 177-185 for awhile now.The weight loss helped A LOT.

I actually went and got an adjustment today. My back was cool, but my neck was killing me. When he 'adjusted' it, it sounded like someone twisted a sheet of bubble wrap. I feel great now!

I'd see a chiropractor, but look online for one with really good reviews... some of them are a lot better than others.

 

I had back trouble years ago ,tried to pick up a Cat head ,it weighed about 160 lbs , twisted and fell to my knees , I fought it for weeks went to a good back doc, gave me steroid injections , I passed out on two of them, but after the 3rd much better, I started running ,dropped 60 lbs, and I haven't had any reoccurring problems but I watch how I lift and excercise often.

 

Hmm.. I have similar symptoms. My chiropractor told me my hamstrings were extremely tight. My back always feels super tight and stiff, and anytime I go to pick something up, it feels like every muscle in my body is pulling on my lower back.

The last month I have been going to him and he does different stretching techniques and machines to help relax the muscles. As of now I am feeling SOMEWHAT better, but my lower back is still very much aching and tight...almost feels as if you were to lay down on your stomach and someone just stood on your back...I am sure being out of shape for many is a cause, but I am 5'7 155lbs and exercise regularly...so I am not sure what the cause is, whether is bad posture or something else. I do notice that I tend to start feeling the tightness increase when I drive for extended periods in my truck. Provides very little support I think...

 

I have my faie share of back and neck pain but nothing like you guys. I started doing the p90x workouts, one day a week the workouts are all yoga and have at least 25 minutes of mostly back stretch kinda stuff. After I did that my back wouldnt be sore for a few days and didnt have ANY tension in it and felt relaxed.

I know yoga sounds kinda lame but I bet most people would be tired as shit after they did that yoga video.

 

Disclaimer: I work for a company that designs & manufactures spinal implants. But, I am not a doctor. So that said, here is some basic info off the top of my head.

I'd suggest a neurologist or orthopedic specialist. Or at least let your normal doctor check it out.
Even if you get sent to see a surgeon, you likely won't get surgery. Surgeons just tend to have access to the better diagnostic equipment and staff. If the conditions permit, surgeons like to try nonsurgical treatments first. Insurance companies tend to require that anyway unless there is good/obvious reason for surgery right away.


There are varying degrees of nerve compression that can cause pain, discomfort, tingling limbs, numbness, etc. Treated properly, you may go back to normal. If it goes too long without treatment, nerve compression can become nerve damage. May be reversible damage, may not be. Also, the source of the pain isn't always easy to pinpoint. Every body differs a bit and there are a lot of nerves and muscles at the spine.

Might have a pulled muscle only.
Might have a pulled muscle that has swollen and hitting a nerve.
Might have a bulging disc compressing against a nerve.
Might have a fracture on a vertebral body with bone fragment sticking into a nerve.
and so on...
The spine sees a lot of movement and carries a lot of weight keeping the body balanced. Lots of parts moving and interacting with not a lot of clearance around them sometimes.

Chiropractor may be all you need but I suggest talking to a 'real' doctor first. No offense to chiropractors but your doctor/surgeon can refer you to one if that is really all you need for treatment now.

There are a lot of websites out there with good info. You can likely ignore most of the lawsuit this and that sites though. Someone is always out for a payday against a medical company.

 

Father time is way older than you... and he's kicking your ass right now!

He's gonna do it every day until you start feeling it... you will not be in your 30's forever. I am only 44 and probably in better shape now than I ever have been, minus a bum shoulder.

Still... wish I was 25 again. I now understand what my dad meant when he said youth is wasted on the young.

 

Late to the party here, but i have this EXACT same issue. I picked up my little girl the other day and almost fell down the stairs. Back locked up and brought me to my knees. I've found if I just bear it for the time it takes me to flip over on my back, it usually takes the sharp stinging pain away.

This happens to me once a month or once every 2 months. MRI revealed nothing wrong. Xray - Nothing wrong. My Dr suggested physical therapy. Therapist told me it was muscle spasms due to misalignment of the spine and pelvis. Chiro popped everything back in place and therapist gave me exercises and stretches to keep it in place. Had to go to the Chiro for about 3 weeks straight. Therapist for the next month. So far its been about 3 months and i'm in good shape. Just dull pain every now and then.

I'm not a big fan of Chiros, but in this case, it helped me. You just need to see the therapist to make sure once your all lined up, you stay that way.

Hope this helps you some. When it happened to me, i was down for 2 or 3 days. Walking crooked, couldnt tie my shoes, put on pants, socks anything. Even wiping my ass was painful as hell.

 

I know there have been a lot of answers so far but never hurts to have as much info. I have had the same thing. Best answer I have seen so far that has worked for me is the stretching, keep it in shape and BE CONSISTENT with it. Consistency is the key. If you let it go back to being tight and inflexible you will keep having bouts of it acting up. Every morning in a hot shower slowly stretch it out but start doing a regular stretching routine and some type of workout. Nobody is too manly for yoga. It works.

I've laid on my floor for an entire day because if I moved a 1/4" inch pain would just lock me up head to toe. But if I'm consistent with keeping my back good and flexible I'm good. Not just staying in shape.....because I run, bike and lift weights and while that helps a lot I STILL have to make sure I pay attention to staying flexible because if I ignore my back I still get some shooting pains and spams occassionally.

Good luck.

 

Thanks guys. i need to keep all of this in mind. im trying to stretch everything and my glute/hamstring are still stiff and painful as hell (but its only been 2 days since the last geriatric episode) the main thing worrying meis that i know i wont be able to make it to the doctor before monday. and thats going to make for a long season.

and yes Yoga is the shit. (and not only for the yoga pants ((which i fully support during all seasons and sports) it really relaxes things out and stretches you out).

and from now on i can never make fun of anyone with a back pain. this shit sucks pretty bad. cant even get into the truck without my glute tightening up like a sumbitch.