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Lower Back Pain Treatments? |
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Question:
On Sunday, while fiddling with the oven, trying to work out how to
spit roast the chicken my back siezed up.
I'm in absoulte agony, can hardly move a muscle.
Nurofen, ibruprofen cream, and rubs seem to have no effect.
Urgent suggestions for recovery please ?
Answer:
I've no idea what could have happened, but as far as back
problems go my advice would be "See a dcotor, or at least a physio, as
soon as possible." When it's your back you don't want to be messing
around with advice over the net that may be just the right thing, or may
in fact make matters far worse. Surely an hour getting it professionally
checked over is worth it?
I had a similar experience I went to the Physio an she diagnosed Lumbago, caused by
over stressing the muscles, massage, and heat treatment followed. Worked for me! In any case I'd lay off the Ibuprofen: if you're prescribed heat
treatment then you probably don't want to rub on an anti-inflammatory.
I find that Deep Heat rub is wonderful for back muscles in spasm.
You seem to have your lower-back muscles in spasm. It's an overuse,
perhaps followed by lack of post-exercise relaxation/stretching, injury.
And like any other cramp it is painful, immobilising and reluctant to go
away. If it was in your calf you'd relieve it by pulling up the foot to
stretch the muscle.
Backs are a different issue, being highly complex articulated structures
with slippery joints capable of lateral displacement as well as hinging.
Your problem sounds as if it is in the 5th Lumbar vertebral area, very
common for rowers. A spasm in muscles of the back can pull all of this
out of line and progressively worsen the condition. The joints are padded
and lubricated by the intervening discs, which are vulnerable to damage.
Furthermore, vital nerves both pass through and issue from between those
joint, and if these become pinched you will get a raft of other symptoms
with, always, the risk of some permanent damage.
Most back spasms do tend to pass off with time, but time can mean weeks
of misery. And time can increase the risk of permanent damage.
Provided there is no significant tissue damage the condition can be much
relieved, even eliminated, by expert manipulation.
So you need to consult an expert, pronto. Here you're in an area of
conflict between professionals. You can get first class treatment and
swift relief from a good physiotherapist, chiropractor or osteopath.
You can get serious wallet damage and little benefit from the less good.
And in my time I have met both sorts of all 3 professions - the good are
wonderful but the less good.
You may wish to discuss this first with your GP, or not. You could talk
to a local sports clinic (if you know one). Maybe even ring up a nearby
football or gymnastics club for a contact. Or go through the Yellow
Pages. Try to assess the relative degrees of interest that the
practitioner has in your wealth and your health before going ahead. It
all depends on how your local system works (aren't you in a Benelux
country?). But get treatment!
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