My Backkkk

[num1habsfan]

Hey. I'm dying of some MAJOR back pains for the last 2 days already. I know it's arthritis related because where I have the pains is where I had that triking injury a little over 3 years ago to my very lower back, basically right above the tailbone. I had this happen to me in the spring time, as well this past year--hurt to stand, walk, sit, or lie down. I went basically sleepless for days.

You all know I'm obviously a tough person but this back is just beyond what I can handle. I've been in near tears all day today, and if I stand up too quickly or sit down at the wrong angle then I basically scream out in pain.

Before i left back to Regina i took some tylenol 3s from dad, so I just had one of them. Right now its the only relief I have, but those things are always hard on my gut and i dont want to be falling asleep in the middle of the day if I take them at some time of day that's not night.

Please if any of you can recommend something. Assuming i passed my classes and can go to school this semester, with my back like this, i think sitting in plastic chairs will kill mee!!

~ Lisa ~

[Ursa Major]

Lisa, do you have a chiropractor? Seeing one of them is really your best option for relief. Plus maybe massage therapy.

And either cold or heat might help. It is different for every person, and every problem. Sometimes cold packs help, and sometimes a heating pad or hot water bottle will. Unfortunately, it is trial and error. If it makes it worse, try the other one. I'd start trying heat first.

And seriously, see if you are able to see a chiropractor tomorrow (today?). The sooner the better.

[num1habsfan]

Lisa, do you have a chiropractor? Seeing one of them is really your best option for relief. Plus maybe massage therapy.

And either cold or heat might help. It is different for every person, and every problem. Sometimes cold packs help, and sometimes a heating pad or hot water bottle will. Unfortunately, it is trial and error. If it makes it worse, try the other one. I'd start trying heat first.

And seriously, see if you are able to see a chiropractor tomorrow (today?). The sooner the better.

I can try something cold. I have a million tensor wraps. Can just wrap something up in a towel and tie it around my waste so it stays on my back. I'm skinny enough that i can do that without choking my stomach . i unfortunately dont have a hot water bottle, but in the morning maybe I'll have a hot bath instead of a shower.

I honestly don't know where I'd find a chiropractor here in the city. And my usual ride around town will be gone for a few days now so wouldnt have a cheap/easy way to get to one, either.

I told this to everyone: if I cant fall asleep on my bed, i'm gonna move to the floor and sleep flat on my back. And clearly since I'm still replying at 3 am, that means sleep is hard...

~ Lisa ~

[Ursa Major]

Go to Canada 411, to 'find a business', type in 'chiropractor' and your city and province, and they'll all come up. Or go to your yellow pages in your phone book, same thing. Find one close enough to get to by bus or subway, call in the morning and tell them you need somebody right away and make an appointment! Really, it isn't hard. Hopefully you'll find one who is good, as in every profession there'll be some bad ones.

Lying flat on your back might make it worse. Lying on your side with your knees bent might be better, it is easier on your back. Make sure you can lean against something. Like a pillow, the wall, or lie on the couch with your back pressed against the back of it. That works for me.

[ravenwoodglass]

I agree you need to see someone soon. If you have pinched a nerve or have a disk that is giving you problems not doing so could result in more damage. You do not want to ice this for more than 10 minutes at a time. Ten minutes on for ice and 20 minutes off. For heat relief run your hot water until it is as hot as it will get then take a small towel and wet it and place it on your back. If you got those tylenol #3 from someone else and it contains codeine do be very careful taking it with all your intolerances. It may be gluten free (I don't even know that for sure) but may also have other stuff your body doesn't want and could make it worse.

[hayley3]

It sounds like you have sacroilitiis. You should make an appt with a rheumatologist.

[tarnalberry]

I have an unstable sacroiliac joint, and have thrown my back out in that area before - it sucks. The chiro recommendation is a good idea (though a structurally based one would be best, that can get both time and money intesive), but seeing a doctor of some variety to find out what the issue is would be good. (It's not necessarily cartilage damage (arthritis) even if there was a previous injury. It could be other things that need to be addressed.)

[loco-ladi]

I almost know how you feel... sitting on the engines 12 hours day in day out for hours on end banging up and down with out much suspention to speak of and OMG I feel it after a week or so.... Last trip I had an old "SD-40" that had seen better day 20 years ago, last night..... all night..... for 12 hours..... in that uncomfortable seat and I am feeling it today... been awake over 24 hours now as I also can't lay down due to the pain..... but I now have a jacuzzi tub filling up and I know where the on button is!

I'd race you but I have an unfair advantage..... its in my house, lol

[num1habsfan]

What are the chances of it being something like osteoarthritis??

~ Lisa ~

[tarnalberry]

What are the chances of it being something like osteoarthritis??

~ Lisa ~

At your age and activity level, low. That's not to say nonexistant, but osteoarthritis is a condition that comes from overuse - and that's generally due to long-term poor wearing patterns. And it would have to be a noticeable problem for only two decades of wear to cause a problem at this point.

That doesn't mean it's not worth checking out the problem - a disc issue is more likely, and a more potentially immediately serious (at this point) issue. You need to schedule an appointment already!

[num1habsfan]

At your age and activity level, low. That's not to say nonexistant, but osteoarthritis is a condition that comes from overuse - and that's generally due to long-term poor wearing patterns. And it would have to be a noticeable problem for only two decades of wear to cause a problem at this point.

That doesn't mean it's not worth checking out the problem - a disc issue is more likely, and a more potentially immediately serious (at this point) issue. You need to schedule an appointment already!

Anything is possible i think when you have Celiac at a young age haha. Seems like whatever people usually don't get until they're older we can too. That's why I'd like to know....I'll see, if it doesnt improve on the weekend I'll just walk to the hospital at home. Much more handy to walk 3 blocks and not have to wait like 10 hours to be seen! It would be nice to know exactly what kind of arthritis i do have...

~ Lisa ~