Neechan Posted April 25, 2015 Share Posted April 25, 2015 For like a year now my lower back has been hurting. It started with just bending over and now it's pretty much constantly no matter what I do. I'd go to the doctor but I can't afford it, given that... well, no one in this house has a steady job and I'm the only one (of course) without health insurance. It doesn't help that I'm stressed out of my mind. We finally moved into a bigger house, but now the whole house is covered with boxes of stuff that belonged to my roommate's grandmother. All because her mother doesn't believe in getting rid of anything at all. Her mom even got mad at us for putting an 'antique chair' in storage because there was no room for it (I'm serious, the only space to move on the entire first floor is a pathway from the front door to the kitchen.) because SHE says that she told EVERYONE that it would get ruined there. But despite her complaining about it, she hasn't gone to get it. Apparently there was absolutely no reason it should have gone there. But there's no space here for it and she knows it. I don't understand the deal. In addition to that, I, with my bad back, had to move all of dear old departed granny's furniture (I am a tiny 22 year old indivudual) because none of mom's sons actually showed up to help. Making my back and my stress worse. Sigh. I wish I could at least get some pain killers or something, but the shortest wait for a free clinic around here is about two months now. Ranaki 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mouseykins Posted April 25, 2015 Share Posted April 25, 2015 Have you considered going for a massage? It might help alleviate some of the pain. I had horrible lower back pain when I was pregnant with my second child to the point where I could barely move. I went for a massage and after 30 minutes all the pain was relieved. I'd also suggest seeing a Chiropractor if you can. The good ones can pinpoint your problem areas and relieve pinched nerves as well as realigning your joints. Sometimes with back pain a doctor needs to be seen to rule out an injury or any underlying cause. You could also try a TENS device. My husband uses one called Dr. Ho's and it's helped him tremendously. They can be a bit expensive though, but at least it's not a one time thing. I'd suggest trying to get into a free clinic like you mentioned, even if the wait is two months. At least it'll be something to help figure out why you're in so much pain. To help manage your pain you can do what's called piggybacking pain relievers. Always follow the labels and discuss with a pharmacist before following what I'm about to say. I'm not a medical professional but this was the advice given to me by my baby's doctor. What you can do is take a dose of ibuprofen since it lasts longer, if before your next does you're not getting any relief take an acetaminophen dose. Make sure you wait at least 2 hours after the previous medication so you don't overlap it too much. Ibuprofen has a 6-8 hour lifespan, while acetaminophen only has a 4-6 hour life span in the body. For my daughter I followed this method while she had a throat infection a few months ago, and an ear infection recently. It helped her get the rest she needed and to play comfortably. Ugh that is annoying! If it's that big of a deal for her then she should be the one to house the chair and not put the burden of all the belongings on her daughter and yourself. Neechan and weezieb3 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lakecat Posted April 25, 2015 Share Posted April 25, 2015 I'm sorry to hear that Neechan. I hope this doesn't sound too simplistic, but does aspirin help? Also, I know that some people get partial relief from heat applied to the back, such as from an electric heating pad. You should also Google reputable medical sites for back pain relief. Good luck. Neechan 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Panthersclaw Posted April 25, 2015 Share Posted April 25, 2015 As the people above me have mentioned: pain relievers, heat, massages and chiropractors all can help with back pain, but cold can also help depending on what is causing it. Also try to limit strenuous activities like heavy lifting for a while. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Neechan Posted April 25, 2015 Author Share Posted April 25, 2015 I didn't think to try heat. I think I have one of those little heating pads around ... somewhere ... in a box, problem, lmao. I'll try that and some pain medication. I was only taking it for cramps and headaches, and guess what? Didn't think of it for my back. Geez, I feel like I'm losing my mind. And luckily we always have acetaminophen and ibuprofen so I'll try the piggybacking method. Thanks everyone for the advice. I'll look into some clinics again, but until then I have some stuff to try out. I feel so dumb for not thinking of it on my own though! XDD Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mouseykins Posted April 25, 2015 Share Posted April 25, 2015 I'm glad you have some things to try out. Just be cautious with the piggyback method and write down when and what you took each time so you don't double dose or anything like that. Also don't exceed the recommended daily dosage either. Good luck to you! :) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ladybug22may Posted April 25, 2015 Share Posted April 25, 2015 "Wet" heat can penetrate better with back pain, too. You might want to try a wet towel microwaved in a partially open ziploc, then wrapped in a towel and pressed against the painful area. If I were you, I'd also look into yoga for back pain. Strengthening the surrounding muscles and stretching out the tight areas can really help.Also, I second the chiropractor. It's no cheaper than a normal doctor's visit, at least for me, but a decent one is much more likely to be able to provide you one-visit relief instead of a series of expensive appointments. (Note: you want one who is primarily concerned with the actual physical structure of the back, not a bunch of pseudoscience about chakras and balance and such. Good chiropractors are very similar to physical therapists who specialize in the back.) Source: was hospitalized last year with back pain so severe they thought it was appendicitis. Paid thousands of dollars for a CT only to be told that "it was probably muscular and there was nothing they could do." Chiropractor immediately detected a vertebrae that was out of alignment, moved it back in, and gave me exercises to stabilize so it was less likely to happen again. (Much cheaper than the CT...) Neechan and Mouseykins 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ranaki Posted April 26, 2015 Share Posted April 26, 2015 You could try to lay on the floor with your butt against the bottom/base of the couch/sofa/love seat/recliner-type chair with your calves resting on the cushion or bed (if you have it on a frame and not lazily slung on the floor like mine xP). I have mild scoliosis (my L1 veers to the left) so I can understand the pains of moving a bunch of stuff around or carrying heavy things for a period of time. If you sleep like that maybe 1-2 times a week (if you can, that is) it can help a bit to realign and even let gravity help blood flow and alleviate pressure. ladybug22may 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Neechan Posted April 29, 2015 Author Share Posted April 29, 2015 Thanks for all the suggestion guys. But hey, good news! I've been almost back-pain free for 24 hours now :D I don't want to jump the gun, but I got a new mattress and a pillow topper and I think it was partly the old mattress that was causing the pain. Obviously all the lifting didn't help, but this has been a huge relief for me~ Dawn* and tk421beth 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
twilight790 Posted May 7, 2015 Share Posted May 7, 2015 I had bad back pain when I was sixteen because I carried a bass drum for marching band. I went to The Joint Chiropractor and it worked like a charm. My back is great now. I recommend it. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
turquoisekitten21 Posted May 7, 2015 Share Posted May 7, 2015 Also with that piggybacking thing, be very careful on what you use. You can do this relatively safely with acetaminophen (tylenol) and ibuprofen because they are processed through different internal organs (tylenol through liver and ibuprofen through kidneys) and therefore don't cause a lot of damage. I have been recommended this a few times due to my own chronic pain from my doctor and from other reputable sources. Also do not mix ibuprofen with aspirin, so be careful if you use a headache formula of tylenol as they often contain that in addition to acetaminophen (like excedrin migraine etc.). Hope that helps :) and cheers to less pain! Also mildly unrelated, god I miss marching band!!! But boy do I not miss carrying that french horn while marching. Much better suited to concert season. ;) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Neechan Posted May 26, 2015 Author Share Posted May 26, 2015 So another update. The back problem is definitely better, but after a short while it came back albeit at a reduced intensity. I'll think about the piggybacking again with all this information (I have to buy new pills because all I happen to have is ibuprofen and asprin). I just wish there was something more substantial I could do. I don't suppose going for walks would help my back, would it? lol. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
crazytingz Posted June 8, 2015 Share Posted June 8, 2015 Awh sorry to hear that. >__< Have you tried muscle cream? I use Myoflex & it has a cooling agent as well. Works like gold. Hope you feel better ~ Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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