Anyone have a remedy for a sore back?

hr

and a little more attention to your ageing body :) Seems I tweak my back every fall when I get over-extended and rush to get the jobs done.

I try to stay away from pills that just mask the true problem or pain.

I take a brisk walk every morning with the dogs and my chiropractor has set me up with some good streaching exercises. I also do some simple, basic weight training.

Working alone you tend to do things that you shouldn't. I've gotten better at asking the other subs for a hand lifting, etc.

I've also started eating a bit healthier meals. That seem to help keep the energy level up near the end of the day.

hot rod

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S Ebels

Must be getting old

About three weeks ago I was carrying an extension ladder on a job site and the GC's guys had a bunch of wood trim laying all over in the garage. One of the #12's snagged a piece of that trim and I went down like a ton of bricks with the ladder on top of me. Didn't do any damage to vertebrae but the doc says I partially tore the long muscle that runs parallel to the backbone. If I move wrong it feels like someone stuck a knife in me. He says it'll just take time to heal up, but man oh man, it's that time of year ya know?

Anyone have any ideas on what a guy can do to speed the procces up a tad? Getting sick of working at half speed and things are stacking up.

kevin coppinger_4

I really feel...

for you . My back is not very great anymore either. Ice and heat alternating 15 on , 15 off. This will get the blood flowing and speed healing. Motrin helps too... kpc

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David Sutton_6

Hot tub

This works for me. but dont over due it. you only have one back give it the time it needs to heal, i pray you feel better soon...David

Maine Doug_50

Tears need to be

treated carefully or they get worse. I have tears in my shoulders that will be repaired next year and it will be hard to work with one wing.

Like Kevin said, cold to reduce swelling, heat to promote circulation and no stupid manly man acts to make it worse. Your general health status can affect healing rate but there are no magic bullets. I broke my back and it was a long recovery, you are fortunate that it is just a tear.
Be careful and allow it to heal.

Mike Ford

Well...I have had the same problem. I have to say that rest is best but if you have to work I have used Alleve and Flexorall, a muscle relaxer, prescription only.

Boston

I can comment on this one

I was trying to pull start a generator 2 years ago. Wouldn't start pulled a bunch.

Something happened in my back. Legs went out felt like I got stuck with an ice pick in my spine. Knew I had a real problem.

Herniated disk, l4, l5. Needed an injection of muscle relaxant just to be bale to breath. Doctors wanted to operate.

I decided to start PT and then found a trainer to really help me develop "core" muscles.

I am stronger now than when I was in my 20's, better posture, strength and my back feels great. I watch it, but knock on wood, muscle in your core protect a bad back.

Hope that helps. Not a short term answer, but it kept me going.

mario_2

get a peice of one inch ridgid insulation. The kind without the foil. Around here it is pink or blue. Lie on your sore back with your knees bent and your feet flat on the insulation. It won't fix anything but it abates the symtoms.

[Deleted User]

What Brian said...

Find yourself a good physical therapist who specializes in work related injuries. They know the inner workings better than most MD's and they can recommend exercizes to stretch the muscles (without tearing them) and promote good blood flow which promotes healing. When you pull a muscle like that it tends to seize up, Kind of like white knuckling it. When there is no blood flow, your knuckles turn white, and your pain gets worse because of a lack of blood flow necessary to start the healing process.

Another often overlooked treatment is acupuncture. My acupuncturist here in Denver is a world famous doctor named Peter G. Hanson. He is a traditional MD trained by far Eastern acupuncturist who works miracles. He has told me more than once that he basically calms down the muscles so that blood flow can be re-established, and the damage will repair itself.

The strange thing is when they are sticking you full of needles, and possibly inducing micro currents into some of the needles, you don't actually feel any pain, and they are sticking these needles WAY deep into your muscles and TWIRLING them.

Minor bleeding when they de-porcupine you, but the relief for me was overnight.

Between my physical therapist and Doc Hanson, I felt like a new man.

Consider it. IT goes back further than our medicine in history.

Take care my friend. And start thinking about working ON your business instead of IN your business. Let that bright kid of your take over the field reins, and you start mastering an exit strategy...

ME

Weezbo

well,...may seem trite

buh a journey to the body mangelers once every three days for a couple weeks...and then two bottles of wine:) thats all you get mix the wine with equal parts of water half a bottle at a time drink it down and go to sleep. plinking keys on the computer i would advise against as you might see something and dispell someones illusion. after you run out of wine just keep pluggin along...

if a 24 " wrench will work get a 4'er and let the Ladds wrack up some experience:)

by putting the 4 footer down from time to time one of them will pick it up just to see what the facination with the gert wrench might be

there is a thing that is pretty reasonable it definitely helped it is called thermaCare...it is all of 6 7 ddollars and shoots heat to your body all day long... then there is a CY-106L chi flow swing machine ...it is a deal that swings your legs in an orbitand at varing speeds from side to side...this then creats circulation throughout your legs and hips and moves your spine about and relaxes tension while increasing the circulation.... after you let it go through its cycle it temporarily makes your legs feel like you just ran a Ways and your pegs are kinda weak for a couple minutes...it works wonders on getting circulation to the spine...

it really helps in your range of motion.

someone said something about flexorill to me maybe that stuff works i dont know...

Christian Egli_2

Sorry to hear about all the pain

Why do it quick? Perhaps it is best to get the problem fixed just right in the first place. But I don't know a thing about fixing bones and muscles.

Only things I can think of that might help is if you have floor heat, then sleeping on the floor might be quite nice. I did that for a while once when I had hurt myself, it felt real nice sleeping on the solid warm floor - it gets warm because you cover it with blankets and pillows. I also imagine you can get a nice hot cast iron back rub from a steam radiator.

Be careful and I hope it all gets back in shape quickly.

KAG

Back problems

Rest is the best solution. Once you have fully recovered ask your doctor for exercises to help re-strenghten your back. Sit up, hyper- exstentions etc.. Also try and move your seat in any car you drive closer to the wheel, when you sit to far back this can put to much stress on your back. I had back spasums for years my doctor sat me in my car and showed me how I was driving could have caused the problem. I almost sit on top of the wheel now and my back feels great. 10 years no spasums. It takes time to get use to but once you do WOW. It may seem silly but it did wonders for me.

J.C.A._3

Steve,

Been there, done that. As a matter of fact..I believe the first time I met you (Wetstock 1 in Marlboro, Ma. with the Bambi jerky), I sat at a table in the back because I was 3 days out of my second back surgery. My girlfriend, at the time wanted to attend,(to make sure I didn't hurt myself) but I told her she wasn't paid for and I wouldn't do it.

I think you've been given some great advice. It's time for some rest. I know it's the wrong time of year, but it's the only choice.

Pass on the physical work to your underlings, and concentrate on the business...it makes for a more stressful exsistance,but your lower back will thank you in the long run.

An MRI wil give the Dr.'s the insight to where the problem lies...but YOU have to MAKE the time to do it. If you don't, then your running a big risk to your working future.

The Dr. informed me of a family trait...called "degenerative disc disease" , and I'm the lucky one..It didn't effect me until I was in my late 30's. Over 4 years since my last disc removal surgery, and with determination and exercise..all is well.

Make sure they really check this out. Guessing on their part is like changing parts until you don't get called back anymore. Know what I mean? Chris.

Darrell

Do the ice and heat thing. Ice will take care of the swelling and is a great painreliever...after the cold stops hurting you can actually sleep on ice! I used the gell-pacs not too cold. Heat will increase the blood flow, like you've been told, but will also increase the swelling. So turn about is in order. If you hot tub or soak in hot water, watch your posture. Stretches and then excercise will heal and then prevent further damage. Minimize the drugs, if at all possible, your liver has enough to do to heal you without the overload of toxins...drugs. Don't be afraid of the alternative stuff...but, do your homework on the practicioner. Don't sit down for two weeks...keep moving under the direction of a PT. 10 years ago I fell 24 feet off a scaffold and broke my back. Now I'm most of an inch shorter but I work everyday with minimal pain and no real deficit. No surgery, just bracing for six weeks and PT under the direction of a good chiropractor/physical therapist who was more interested in me than my money. He had me put all three kids in Little League and then sign up to help coach. Yep, I was in a brace, but the kids didn't care and I had to get up, get dressed, get out every day for practice, and invest myself in others. Best advice I ever got, and the best summer of my life with my kids. I used a TENS unit, an electrical stimulator alot to control the cramping and pain. Take care of yourself...you've got a lot of miles left to go.

Wayco Wayne_2

All good advice here

I do a maintenance on my back at the chiropractor 4 times a year wether I need it or not. I also get a full body massage every other week, also maintenance. I did accupuncture for my tendonitis problem. I helped, but a lot depends on who your Doctor is. The first visit can be energizing. :O. Yoga is great for yu if you can get past the incense and fruity music. Never over stretch. Concentrate on thr service end, and get a helper to carry your tool bucket and other things for a while. It's not fun but you gotta be patient. I feel your pain. Good Luck to you. WW

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S Ebels

So nice to know y'all care

Kinda chokes me up

I've been doing the ice and heat thing and it helps. 800mg of Ibuprofen knocks it out pretty good when needed. It is getting better and I'm trying to limit myself to basic service calls. That still involves a lot of bending though.

My main concern is that deer season starts the 15th of November.....:)

Bob Bona_4

sorry to hear

that Steve. I, of long torso, ocassianally suffer from sore backs too.

7 years ago, I invested in an "Invertachair". It's pretty cool..soft black leather, headrest. Whenever the back gets taxed, I go hang for a bit. Takes pressure off the spine and muscles, and I feel pretty good after.

These are made by Hangups. Sorry, have no link at this moment..

clammy

advice on backs

Very sorry to hear of back pain but let me clue you in on some thing .The # 1 pervention for hurting your back i to be limber which means streach each day besides yoga and shista streaches check out the mecheanie back book it is writen by the best back treatmant center in north america follow threer emergency back streaches they work basies on yoga also pro athelic go to there treatment centers second note if you do go to a doctor do not take musle relaxers or medication to reduce swelling they slow you backs and bodies natural healing first the relaxers also relax your heart besides those back musles and also dull the pain which always makes you repeat or do things that your back ain't ready for and anti inflamation pills stop sweeling which is your bodies natural reaction to damage which is to mass white blood cells to repair anti inflamation pills stop this or lessen the bodies natural reation to damage .Over the years i have hurt my back quite a few times a few times so bad that i could not ebven walk ,get up from a sitting postion or get out of bed i followed the mecnizin back book and did yoga streaches for my lower back and was good to go in a few days .I an 43 years old and i can still touch my toes perform a full split and fly a round house kick at a 6ft 5 hieght i am 5 ft7 tall i only streach 2 or 3 times a week for 5 to 10 minutes .on another note aspire and pain masking medication in my experences have ended up doing more damage every body does stupid things when they are under medcation that masks the pain i take no pain killers ,asprin,anti in flamators or muslce relaxers theye are all maskers listen to your body and take your hints from it also

hr

heated truck seats!

are also a nice way to relax a sore back.

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Mike T., Swampeast MO

Only remedy I know of is time to heal--and the older you get the more time it seems to take. Avoid the movements that cause pain and keep medication use to a minimum. If you utterly must use a muscle relaxer like flexoril or the somewhat similar non-prescription stuff, avoid using for any extended period. When my neck was screwed up (eventually surgery and neck brace for 4 months) I was utterly hooked on flexoril. Absolutely could not sleep without it. When 'scrip ran out I'd be calling the Dr's office begging for more. When neck brace came off and last bottle ran dry I truly did not sleep for three full days.

Believe I did something very similar to "tearing the tenderloin" when I moved a big rad by myself and caught it when it tried to fall over. Did mainly computer and drafting work for about a week and it seemed MUCH better. Then had to do my big monthly mailing--about 900# or so--that gets moved several times. Pain returned and I'm back to sitting to put on underwear/trousers. Literally fell over Friday putting on the underwear...

Plumdog_2

breaking the cycle

Sometimes back muscles can begin a tightening-pain-more tightening-more pain cycle that worsens itself. I tried the chiro and the acupuncture and nothing would work. Finally went to the family M.D. and got prescribed muscle relaxers for "back spasms". Worked like a miracle.
Take care and good luck hunting.

Maine Doug_51

Yes, heated

truck seats. I miss the seats I had in the Explorer. Wish I could find a luxury heated motorized seat that would fit in my Jeep.

jerryb

If you know somebody who has horses or know where a tack shop is get some BIGEL OIL thats used on horses legs after a work out can't buy anything better MHO jerry

Guy_6

Heat

If sleeping on a warm surface is the answer, Sunbeam makes a heated matress pad, much like a heated blanket, except the heat comes from beneath. The lower section has more "coils", so that your feet stay warm, but if you want, you could invert it and get more warmth up top.
We bought ours at -where else- Wal Mart, and it was fairly inexpensive.
I have also enjoyed the benefits of the heated seats in my truck for my back, but a word of caution for the ladies out there-They are not so great for women. At the risk of being rude-too much heat down there can cause issues.

hr

the heated seats in our car

has a high, medium, low setting for both sides.

Upholistery shops can retro fit heated seats. Even with an adjustable temperature control, I'm told. A couple hundred bucks a seat in my area.

hot rod

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tom_82

everyone's got their opinion

So here's mine.
I'm forty two. I hurt my back several years ago roofing, was fine for a while. I got into running for several years and triathlons. Seems like running was the worst. My job still involves heavey lifting and I have tried everything under the sun Chiropractors, massage, pt, steroid injections. Nothing seemed to work for too long.
about a year ago I saw a guy, a chiropractor who works primarily the soft tissues. the technique he uses is A.R.T active release technique. check it our.
It has done wonders for me. I can't run anymore but I can work, I can have fun, I ride my bike everyday and swim three times a week
If you have a pulled muscle that needs to heal. The problem would continue if other muscles take up the slack and you get unbalanced JUST LIKE A STEAM HEAT SYSTEM!!!
My opinion. Find a reputable guy who practices A.R.T.
TOm

Mad Dog_2

Calistenics and Isometrics and then the pool

Do you have time for that? I don't either. Let the young guys do the humping. Your back will get somewhat better, but will never be the same. You have to baby it now. Mad Dog

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Darin(in Michigan)

Oh! My back!!

On Wednesday I must of had too much time in a crawl space because my back was killing me. Thursday wasn't much better but me and the lady went to one of those fancy sit down dinners where they serve several courses and the chef picks the wine for each one. Friday, my back was the least of my worries and breakfast was white bread and cold water.

mp1969

Best remedy

I find that my apprentice or a helper are the best treatment for weary bones.At 55 I have tried everything else. At the age where I look for strong legs, backs and fresh minds.

MP1969

mtfallsmikey

Mine hurts today too!

Helped a neighbor pill 150' of 1" galv. out of his well! We had a tractor doing the heavy lifting, but..a reminder of the abuse I've heaped on my body from 40 years of attics,crawls,boilers,etc.