topic Re: back pain in Wellness

back pain

gazelle77 — Tue, 13 May 2014 18:05:14 GMT

I have back pain when getting up from lying down flat. Especially in the morning,getting out of bed. I have this pain that is located upper mid back, on both sides of my back. Not on my spine, not lower back. Just on the right and left side of my upper back, radiating deep from the rib cage. Getting up from laying down flat is always painful. In the morning I am bent over some for about 15 minutes while walking around until I can stand up straight. The pain goes away.... I am fine during the day, but, when I sit I must put a pillow behind me in the hollow of my back or I feel the same type of discomfort- to a lesser degree- that I have in the morning. I use a pillow in the car as well when driving

I do have a new mattress.. so that is not the issue. I was thinking it was tight muscles... I do have arthritis in my lower spine and both hips, I do not know if this pain in the upper mid back would be connected. I have never had a massage. I do not believe in Chiropractic so that is not something I would do.

Any suggestions? I know I can bring it up with my doctor next check up and I will come July. Since doctors do not seem to be much help, EVERYONE AND THEIR MOTHER COMPLAIN TO THEM ABOUT THEIR BACK...., I figured I would get any suggestions from some of you who may have a simular issue. Thanks so much for your time!

Re: back pain

Porcelain — Tue, 13 May 2014 18:19:52 GMT

Hmmmm. The sides of your upper mid back would be your latissimus dorsi muscles, wouldn't they? Or maybe your deeper trapezius muscles. Have you tried any good back stretches?

It's possible that your new mattress is causing you to sleep differently, which could affect your back. If I sleep too long on the sofa I know I get back pain. Maybe try experimenting with pillows and different support schemes when you sleep to see if it helps.

Re: back pain

gazelle77 — Tue, 13 May 2014 18:26:11 GMT

On 5/13/2014 Porcelain said:
Hmmmm. The sides of your upper mid back would be your latissimus dorsi muscles, wouldn't they? Or maybe your deeper trapezius muscles.Have you tried any good back stretches?

It's possible that your new mattress is causing you to sleep differently, which could affect your back. If I sleep too long on the sofa I know I get back pain. Maybe try experimenting with pillows and different support schemes when you sleep to see if it helps.

I sleep without a pillow- flat- as a pillow makes my neck hurt.... the only pillow I use is between my knees to comfort my hips when I sleep.

Re: back pain

hckynut — Tue, 13 May 2014 22:07:19 GMT

Just posted this same thing in the other "backache" thread. Not exactly the same as what you have but these same things apply to any part of the spine.

___________________________________________________________

Any Physical Therapist or a doctor that Specializes in the Spine, will tell you the best way to protect your back takes 2 things.

Keep every thing(muscles and connective tissues)on your rear side as flexible as possible. Along with that keep the supporting structures on your front side as strong as possible.

This takes daily(sometimes more often)strengthening and stretching exercises that are specific to certain muscle and connective tissue groups. As long as ones back side is flexible as one can get it, and the front side support muscle groups are as strong as possible? Chances of a serious type of damage is reduced greatly.

The best thing immediately when one notices any pain is ICE. If the pain is anywhere in the lower spine along with that is to get into a prone or on lying on your back position. The objective is to reduce the strain on the whole spine not just the area where one is having the perceived pain. If ones gastrointestinal tract can handle them, anti-inflammatory meds are also something that will help with the pain that is sometimes accompanied with inflammation.

Never a bad idea to remember what one was doing 24 hours before the pain started as many times one has to look in reverse to see if maybe an accumulation of things could be the cause of this type of discomfort.

Re: back pain

Harpa — Wed, 14 May 2014 17:35:45 GMT

Like the blind leading the blind....! Hi, gazelle, your fellow back sufferer! Only I'm more concerned about your back problem than mine. I know what mine is from and the ways I can ease out of it.

Have you always slept w/o a pillow? I should think that would put undue strain on your neck, etc. area/s unless your legs were quite propped up. Which is how I sleep - on my back, with a supporting pillow, but w/ my knees & legs elevated with another pillow.

I haven't had back problems in a long time, (since my GD was littler and I was lifting & dancing with her often.)

hckynut is right about the good solid front core, which I also had (yes, past tense) when I was doing Pilates regularly.

That would be my suggestion -- to elevate your legs while sleeping, and see if that doesn't help to take off any pressure and so that you don't feel the stiffness in the mornings.

Best wishes!

Re: back pain

gazelle77 — Wed, 14 May 2014 17:50:51 GMT

On 5/14/2014 Harpa said:
Like the blind leading the blind....! Hi, gazelle, your fellow back sufferer! Only I'm more concerned about your back problem than mine. I know what mine is from and the ways I can ease out of it.

Have you always slept w/o a pillow? I should think that would put undue strain on your neck, etc. area/s unless your legs were quite propped up. Which is how I sleep - on my back, with a supporting pillow, but w/ my knees & legs elevated with another pillow.

I haven't had back problems in a long time, (since my GD was littler and I was lifting & dancing with her often.)

hckynut is right about the good solid front core, which I also had (yes, past tense) when I was doing Pilates regularly.

That would be my suggestion -- to elevate your legs while sleeping, and see if that doesn't help to take off any pressure and so that you don't feel the stiffness in the mornings.

Best wishes!

I will try that... but when you turn and toss through the night how do you keep your feet elevated?? Wish I had a fancy bed that I could make the bed go up and down!

Re: back pain

Kachina624 — Wed, 14 May 2014 21:21:49 GMT

I've recently been troubled by a sharp pain that goes from under right boob around to under the shoulder blade. I couldn't even turn over in bed. Once I got up, I was fine. Went to doctor who thought it might be pluericity or pneumonia. I had a chest X-Ray done and it showed nothing. It's better now but I still get an occasional twinge. It felt like a broken rib.

Re: back pain

terrier3 — Wed, 14 May 2014 21:26:37 GMT

I have posted this advice before...

I too was in a lot of pain in the morning, especially after working out the night before. Sometimes I couldn't even turn over in bed...

So I bought a Rumble Roller on Amazon.

My trainer showed me how to use it to relax tight muscles. It took about 5 minutes to feel relief!

My rumble Roller is the heavy duty one in black with large knobs that knead out pain...there are softer versions too.

Now I "roll out" my muscles before I go to bed...and again in the morning if needed.

No more pain...I'm not kidding!

It's less than the cost of one massage...and you can use it any time you feel stiff or in pain.

Re: back pain

hckynut — Thu, 15 May 2014 01:14:33 GMT

On 5/14/2014 terrier3 said:
I have posted this advice before...

I too was in a lot of pain in the morning, especially after working out the night before. Sometimes I couldn't even turn over in bed...

So I bought a Rumble Roller on Amazon.

My trainer showed me how to use it to relax tight muscles. It took about 5 minutes to feel relief!

My rumble Roller is the heavy duty one in black with large knobs that knead out pain...there are softer versions too.

Now I "roll out" my muscles before I go to bed...and again in the morning if needed.

No more pain...I'm not kidding!

It's less than the cost of one massage...and you can use it any time you feel stiff or in pain.

Olympic Athletes have been using this type of method for several decades now. I bought one of these back in the 1980's and I took it to all the hockey games when I was the Ref. In between periods I would use it to roll over my quads and it helped keep them loose and a lot more comfortable.

Showed it to one of my Ortho Doc players and he had never seen one before. He passed this on to his friend that now owns, I think, 6 Physical Therapy Clinics in our city. They use it and recommend it for just about anyone and on any or all specific muscle groups. The theory is pretty much like walking or moving muscles to help disperse the lactic acid built up when doing any type of high level/longer lasting type of movement with certain muscle groups.

With hockey for me it is the quads and for running Road Races and training it was the back side of the legs.

It definitely is something I too would recommend for someone to try. At first for some it might hurt a bit, depending on what level of contraction this muscle happens to be at the time. But overall I have yet to find anything better for a quick loosening up product for muscle and connective tissue relief when overused or close to being overused.

Forgot all about this thing and thanks for telling those here about it.

Re: back pain

Kachina624 — Thu, 15 May 2014 02:25:28 GMT

I'd like to try this thing. Amazon has three. Can someone please look and tell me which would be best for lower back pain?

Re: back pain

lolakimono — Thu, 15 May 2014 02:30:21 GMT

When I have that, I take Magnesium (Natural Calm) and it's usually better in a few hours. I agree that the roller might be a good investment (if you can tolerate the pain).

Re: back pain

TRUE — Thu, 15 May 2014 02:42:15 GMT

Costochondritis (kos-toe-KHON-dri-tis)

Google it I've had it for years and it will move too its very painful....

Re: back pain

gazelle77 — Thu, 15 May 2014 02:45:52 GMT

I saw this roller on Amazon..... I went ahead and ordered one. Worth at least to try it....perhaps it is just stiff muscles. Thanks!

Re: back pain

adelle38 — Thu, 15 May 2014 02:50:03 GMT

Do you know a good chiropractor? My chiropractor helped me with the same problem. He did a couple of adjustments but he also showed me how to move properly and gave me stretching exercises. One tip was never bend over from the waist. Either squat or sit.

Re: back pain

gazelle77 — Thu, 15 May 2014 02:51:01 GMT

On 5/14/2014 TRUE said:
Costochondritis (kos-toe-KHON-dri-tis)

Google it I've had it for years and it will move too its very painful....

Do not think this is it, I have no trouble breathing, and it is on both sides of my mid back. Thanks anyway for commenting!

Re: back pain

gazelle77 — Thu, 15 May 2014 02:52:47 GMT

On 5/14/2014 adelle38 said:
Do you know a good chiropractor? My chiropractor helped me with the same problem. He did a couple of adjustments but he also showed me how to move properly and gave me stretching exercises. One tip was never bend over from the waist. Either squat or sit.

Not into chiropractic. I know many swear by it, but I just do not trust them as there are so many bad ones who take advantage of people and insurance companies.

Re: back pain

adelle38 — Thu, 15 May 2014 02:56:04 GMT

On 5/14/2014 gazelle77 said:
On 5/14/2014 adelle38 said:
Do you know a good chiropractor? My chiropractor helped me with the same problem. He did a couple of adjustments but he also showed me how to move properly and gave me stretching exercises. One tip was never bend over from the waist. Either squat or sit.

Not into chiropractic. I know many swear by it, but I just do not trust them as there are so many bad ones who take advantage of people and insurance companies.

It's true there are many bad ones. Mine came highly recommended and he sticks to what he knows, the spine. He doesn't keep people coming back for years or sell high priced supplements and equipment. He knows a lot about body mechanics and that's what's helped me the most.

Re: back pain

beckysuea — Thu, 15 May 2014 03:02:49 GMT

I have a problem when I lie on my left side. When I get up I can actually feel my ribs contract. I went to the physical therapist and was told it was my quadratus lumborum muscle. I now sleep on my right side and that is it. I can't turn over in bed or lay on my left side.

Maybe check that out.

Re: back pain

Kachina624 — Thu, 15 May 2014 04:12:56 GMT

On 5/14/2014 TRUE said:
Costochondritis (kos-toe-KHON-dri-tis)

Google it I've had it for years and it will move too its very painful....

I read all about it and it could have been what I had. Thanks for the link.

Re: back pain

shoekitty — Thu, 15 May 2014 04:47:10 GMT

Gazelle

I know how you feel,. It is a pain in the butt! I don't know about you, but my whole darn life is rearranged with this back deal. I have a slipped disc and a few other things. I don't get pain in my back, I get it in the hips and down my legs. Pain pills are useless when it acts up. John is right. Core exercise is one of the most important things you can do, even if it hurts. Icing is next. I also use arnica, and bought those ice packs I can strap around my back and or knee. I still go to gym, everything is modified.

My daughter got back pains from her new mattress. She has the neck thing too, cannot use a pillow. I do have a suggestion so your neck stays in place and has a little support. I have this down pillow I removed all but a few quarts of feathers and sewed it back up. It is all of 1/2 inch high, LOL! But I told her to lay it flat under her neck, and scrunch it around the sides of her neck. She is in nirvana! I do it too, but I also have another flat pillow under that. I need some height, or my back goes out..

I am 66, and never, ever thought I'd have this kind of trouble. I was always very active. I still am, but have to do things in increments. Never can I do it all at once. I get things done, just takes forever. I guess I should be happy for that, because some people are totally immobile. I have a great deal of empathy for those that suffer from chronic pain that effects everyday life.

ETA

I am not into chiropractic care either. I know some people swear by it, but my daughter was permanently harmed by it. I know that is rare, rare rare. But it did happen to her. However, I cannot suggest accupunture highly enough. It is peaceful, painless and totally relaxing to me. It doesn't last long, just like other treatments. But when I do go, I feel very good after.