Has anyone here conquered chronic back pain?

[Colleen]

I've had trouble with my back for the majority of my life. I have a sway back and had some minor scoliosis when I was younger, so even when I was a teenager it hurt sometimes. Each of my pregnancies and c-sections, along with my double abdominal hernia, have magnified my lower back pain. I thought the hernia repair would help in that I'd have more ab/core support, but that's not been my reality. I am always aware of my back; it virtually always hurts.

 

For the most part I just live with it, but recently it's been getting worse. I feel best when I'm running, but lately, once I stop running, the pain is even worse. It's so discouraging to think of living like this the rest of my life.

 

I've been going to a sports chiropractor ~ recommended to me by several area athletes ~ and I feel worse than ever. The same is true with massage; I feel good at the time, but later, the pain is worse. And that was also the case the couple of times thus far that I've done Pilates.

 

I wonder. Is this just the hand I've been dealt? Is there any hope? Has anyone here successfully conquered chronic back pain? Btw, I recently had a series of x-rays and they didn't point up any structural problems.

[susie in tx]

 

I've been going to a sports chiropractor ~ recommended to me by several area athletes ~ and I feel worse than ever. The same is true with massage; I feel good at the time, but later, the pain is worse. And that was also the case the couple of times thus far that I've done Pilates.

 

Have you mentioned this to your care providers? Perhaps they could switch something up to see if it would be more helpful. I have also found that not all chiros are equal. I've switched to a different chiro when one didn't work. Currently, I see a chiro that uses the Webster technique. I am very pleased with the results.

 

I've had some sort of back pain for quite a while, since my teens. My right shoulder either has arthritis or something else wrong with it. It's often a problem for me. Then, I was in a car accident in my 20's. Chiropractic saved my life.

 

Since then, I've gone to a chiro off and on. I've never gone as consistently as I have this pregnancy and I have to say that I have not had many of the aches and pains I usually get during pregnancy. An added bonus is that I feel like my arm is fixed.

 

I'd encourage you to keep trying. Back pain is no good.

[mrsdash]

Colleen,

I am so sorry to hear about your back. I suffer and have suffered from lower back pain and sciatica for over 20 yrs. I felt good when I ran but then my knees suffered. I wish I had an answer or a fix for you but I don't. The only things I have found that eases my pain (which at times is excruciating enough for me to hug walls or fall to my knees) is to try to keep a strong core. I do back exercises in the morning and I always do planks. Planks seem to help. Pilates and stretching help. If I am sitting poorly in a chair or on the sofa, I know I will have a hard time getting up or standing so I try not to sit in a slouch. Again, no answer but I can relate and I know how frustrating it is to deal with. I feel for you.

[TraceyS/FL]

My Dad's back issues in the early years were tissue related - today they'd know more because of MRI's and such. XRays never showed a thing. He tore up his knee skiing one year - and told the doctor, THAT is what my back feels like. He has echoed thoughts, he's hurt more after massage and some types of exercise. A 1/2 mile walk put him basically in bed for 6 months.

 

He has a variety of other issues that have cropped up as he has gotten older (he's in a scooter now), they now show up on xrays.

 

HOpefully you can find something that works - i know no one should suffer like he does, and he wouldn't wish that chronic pain on anyone.

 

:grouphug:

[Slartibartfast]

*hugs*

 

I have gotten some relief from chiro. It doesn't seem like it..but if I stop going I feel like heck.

 

Have you tried craniosacral?

 

They have done that a few times, it really seemed to help.

[Happy]

I'm sorry for your pain. It's no fun.

 

Do you ever spend time lying on your back on the floor with your feet on a chair? I learned to do this many years ago to ease my back pain. It is amazing how good it feels. A few years ago, I spent two solid weeks on the floor until my spine gave in and got back into alignment with my chiro's help.

 

A strong core, good shoes, and good posture help. Unfortunately, my upper back pain is one of the reasons I no longer run. Walking briskly is my exercise of choice.

 

One other thing, and I hesitate to bring it up, but....

 

Years ago, my SIL had a flair up of her chronic back pain. After a few rounds of chiro treatment with little result, she had an MRI which revealed cancer eating away at her spine. If your pain persists, please ease MY mind and get an MRI. ;) We don't typically think of back pain as a symptom of anything but back issues.

[Unicorn.]

I suffered w/ back pain for 12 yrs. Dh and I bought a Comforpedic Mystere' mattress 2 yrs ago. I don't have back pain anymore. I sometimes get some stiffness if I sit too long somewhere, but I don't limp when I get out of the car anymore, and I can actually lay on my stomach on the bed and read again. Most importantly, I don't wake up in pain.

 

I'm sorry your having so much pain. I hope you find some relief soon!

[Laurie]

Dr. John Sarno MD wrote Healing Back Pain: The Mind-Body Connection. He believes that intense emotions like anger or anxiety can trigger pain in the body...it's the mind's way of deflecting the true source of the pain. He calls this Tension Myositis Syndrome.

 

My back can go out during times of extreme stress. It started acting up on me the other day but I knew why and could deal with it using what I've learned about TMS.

 

Since you've shared some of the stresses you're dealing with on a regular basis I'm hoping that you won't be offended by this book suggestion.

 

Take care, Colleen. :grouphug:

[Beth in OH]

I am always aware of my back; it virtually always hurts.

 

For the most part I just live with it, but recently it's been getting worse.

 

You're singing my song, except my problem was in my upper back and shoulders/neck. Seven or eight years ago, a couple of months of frequent chiropractic resolved the problem, but the pain gradually returned. I have also been a very faithful YMCA strength class participant for the past several years. I've always been very careful about form, and I have also refused to overdo it with the amount of weight I use. Although I have generally felt great and strong, my upper back has remained painful. Stretching brings no relief--only a sensation that my brittle muscles are about to crack into a million pieces.

 

About a month ago at a routine check-up, I asked my Dr. for a referral to a physical therapist (most states are direct access, so a referral may not be necessary unless for insurance). I had finally decided that I didn't want to carry this pain into my mature years. We have a high deductible insurance policy with an HSA, and even if I spend a bunch out of pocket to address the issue, the improvement in my quality of life will make it worth every penny!

 

I've now gone to PT once/wk for the past 3 weeks (assessments only--I do the program at home). The first phase is healing, then the second phase is strengthening so that the problem doesn't return. They gave me two simple stretches to do that were much more muscle specific than anything I've ever learned at the Y. After 3 weeks of these stretches, and some traction stretching at my PT appointments, I'm feeling less pain than I have in years. I can now turn my head in all directions without pain! I begin the strengthening part tomorrow.

 

I believe that you're right about the core being the key. Nevertheless, PT's can help you isolate small muscles that aren't functioning properly and help you work to strengthen them so that you get relief. PT's can give you specific help that the standard strength coaches can't.

 

Beth

[Carol in Cal.]

She tried everything, and what finally helped her was acupuncture. She was so NOT an acupuncture type person--pretty conservative, and not alternative - y at all. But it worked.

 

IIRC, she had an introductory visit where they talked with her for a long time about the issue. Then she had a visit with an actual treatment, and was left feeling worse. But she had heard that this might happen, so she persevered. By the third visit she was much better. She didn't have to continue this as a regimen, although I have heard that some people do that. I think that she went a total of 5 or 6 times.

 

Her back pain was in her lower back, and she said that it felt as if it was quite deep in her back, way under the surface.

[Paintedlady]

I started getting a lot of lower back pain every time I bent over or laid down. It was progressively getting worse over the course of a year. I started taking Glucosimine b/c I'd heard a lot of good things about helping with joint pain. Within 6 weeks I realized that I couldn't remember the last time my back hurt.

 

I take 2 tablets every day with my allergy meds and I never have back pain now. I've been taking it for about 9 months and I'm loving it. I buy it at Costco b/c I can get a big bottle of it for a lot cheaper. hth!

[Camy-7 boybarians 1 lady]

Colleen, in addition to the therapeutic and rehabilitation options, have you ever worn a lumbar support belt? Also, perhaps Pilates is bit too much for you at this juncture. Maybe a more gradual and gentle exercise option may be worth looking into. I highly recommend Peggy Brill's The Core Program (your library may have it...or I can even send it to you if you want to borrow it). I like Ms. Brill's 3 phase exercise program, based on fitness levels and physical ability. The exercises take 15-20 minutes, 3-5 times per week. (((hugs))).

[KidsHappen]

I have been to a few different chriopractors without success. However about 6 months ago I started seeing a Chiropractic Physician who specialized in joint and muscle work (sports medicine). He also has a message therapist on staff. They work together on both muscles and alignment issues. It has taken a while to get exactly the right exercises that I needed to build the muscles I need but I am starting to have some success. I am having pain free periods. I still have pain when sitting or laying for long periods of time but I can usually relieve the pain somewhat with exercises and warm baths. I do still need pain meds ocassionally but much less that I did when my pain was at it's worst. I have hope for a relatively pain free or at least much reduced pain future.

 

If you aren't having success with who you are seeing try someone new. Don't give up though I had pain for about 16 years before I found the person I am using now. And this is the first time I have ever felt like I was making progress.

[mom2abcd]

"Conquered" might be too strong a word for me, but my back pain is pretty much under control.

 

I, too, have scoliosis (mild). I also have pretty severe degerative disc disease. (Everyone has this, but mine is way beyond my age because of an old injury). I also have SIJ pain.

 

Pilates must be taught by an expert. Most of the people at the various YMCAs, clubs, etc. are not experts. They may have gone to training out of state, but they can do more damage than good. I would totally drop Pilates for now.

 

I find getting the pain under control with anti-inflammatory medicine and muscle rub, lalying around and letting the muscles relax, etc. is a vital first step in pain relief. Chiropractors usually help, but even two racquetballs in a long sock and working your own back help pop things back into place. Drinking lots of water is one more thing that helps.

 

After several months of Physical Therapy and chiropractic care (enough that my insurance ran out), I finally got some relief by following the above paragraph and using a memory foam mattress topper from Sam's ($140).

 

Also-- I find that it's very important for me to wear shoes with good support... New Balance tennis shoes with SR-2 support. And I use a cervical pillow at night that helps support my neck.

 

Back pain is NO fun. I hope you get relief soon.

[Colleen]

It helps to hear what others have done/are doing; I'm going to save all your replies. It's good for me to be encouraged to keep pursuing solutions, rather than accepting the pain as a life sentence. Thank you!

[JWSJ]

I've had lower back pain for 20 years. Stress makes the pain so much more.

 

Leg stretching has been the only thing to help.

 

And I have to keep doing the stretches at least twice a day or the pain returns.

[Jean in Wisc]

Colleen, in addition to the therapeutic and rehabilitation options, have you ever worn a lumbar support belt? Also, perhaps Pilates is bit too much for you at this juncture. Maybe a more gradual and gentle exercise option may be worth looking into. I highly recommend Peggy Brill's The Core Program (your library may have it...or I can even send it to you if you want to borrow it). I like Ms. Brill's 3 phase exercise program, based on fitness levels and physical ability. The exercises take 15-20 minutes, 3-5 times per week. (((hugs))).

 

Yes, Peggy Brill. I use to sit in the chair at night because I could not sleep lying down. I did this for years. It was not until I talked to my sister who has had severe chronic knee pain and she told me that we who live in pain forget that this is NOT NORMAL that I came to understand that many of us live with pain because we have a skewed perspective. Sometimes we have gone to the chiro, medical doctor (spine specialist here), physical therapist, massage specialist, etc, and we have gotten no good answers. But sometimes we are just living with pain that could be resolved or made better, but our emotional make-up which is entangled in pain does not clearly see the path we need to pursue. Living with it without persuing remedy is sometimes part of the problem that goes hand in hand with pain--it helps to have a healthy person to see this in perspective and gently urge us to pursue a course of therapy. I don't know where you are in this, but I thought I'd pass on what I'd learned. I should not have lived with that pain for so very long! Insurance or no.

 

I do the Core Program (I tend to stay with level 2, which has worked really well for me)--one week I did not do it, and I ended up at the chiro in great pain which took several weeks to resolve. Weight lifting, too, has helped to strengthen the areas where my ribs use to pop out of place all the time--OUCH. Gentle aerobics, a good matress (Select Comfort here), afternoon naps on days I didn't get enough sleep--all of this can help.

 

Physical therapists can be amazing. That is a must-try in my opinion. Learning what I do that makes it worse and then learning what I can do to make it better is my key. No heavy lifting of farm buckets!!!!!!! Everyday Core Program. These are the 2 biggies in my world.

 

HTH,

Jean

[jenadina]

I have a lot of back pain due to scoliosis and I find that doing T-Tapp REALLY helps. When I remember to do it, my back is pain-free for DAYS.

 

I'm not affiliated, just a happy customer!

[Scarlett]

My dh was in a serious car accident when he was 13 and suffers from chronic back pain. He ALWAYS begins to hurt if he slacks off on his work-outs with weights. Do you do any sort of weight work-out? Also, when he worked in a factory and was on concrete all day he REALLY hurt at times even though he was in his 20s at that time. I think that might be the case with you running on hard surfaces

 

And my brother suffers from back pain. There is some hereditary issues with his back, as well as a serious head on collision...BUT his back and all over pain intensifies during times of stress. For instance, last week during our Dad's heart surgery...brother was in physical pain...and I am positive it was from all the emotion going on inside of him.

 

Ahem....not that I am saying you have strong emotions or anything.. ;)

[Kate CA]

I've been going to a sports chiropractor ~ recommended to me by several area athletes ~ and I feel worse than ever. The same is true with massage; I feel good at the time, but later, the pain is worse. And that was also the case the couple of times thus far that I've done Pilates.

 

I

 

Hi, stranger! :) What is the difference between a sports chiro and a regular one? We have gone to a regular one and he does amazing things for us. Is it possible to find another one and see? I am *so* sorry you are dealing with pain. It is very difficult and I feel for you. Hugs.

[joannqn]

Back pain is so hard to live with. I used to have chronic stomach pain (bear with me as it is related). The MD told me I had heart burn and to drink Mylanta. He told me forget the measuring spoon, just take a swig. I kept bottles of Mylanta at my home, at my work, and in my car and drank it several times a day for two years. Later a specialist told me, "I don't know what's wrong. Take this medicine. If it works it will tell me something; if it doesn't work it will tell me something."

 

Meanwhile, I developed chronic lower back pain and headaches. I started going to a chiropractor but he only made it worse. It got so back that I constantly paced. I couldn't sit for more than a minute and couldn't stand for more than a minute. I attended church pacing....sit, stand, pace, sit, stand, pace....the whole time. I was in severe pain.

 

I changed chiropractors. Things slowly got better and within a few months my back pain was better and my stomach pain went away. He explained that every major organ is attached to your spine somewhere. If your spine is out, it tugs on the organ attached at that spot and can cause pain in that organ. Thus, the vertebra where my stomach was out was out. Once he fixed it, my stomach wasn't being pulled on anymore and stopped hurting.

 

I went to him weekly for about four years. Now I almost never have lower back pain. Occasionally, I get that same kind of stomach pain. When I do, I head to the chiropractor right away because I know my lower back is out. He usually can fix it again in one visit. Occasionally, I throw my neck out and cause myself severe neck pain and headaches. It's so bad, I'm nauseous. He can usually fix it in one or two visits. Sometimes, my job pops out of it's socket and hurts. Dentist told me I had TMJ and needed expensive fixes. Chiropractor pops it back in place in one visit.

 

Oh, and he cured my daughter of colic in one visit too. Three hours of crying every night, gone after one visit. Her neck was out.

 

Bottom line, a GOOD chiropractor can fix a lot more than just your back. It's worth trying again with a different one.

[ma23peas]

I have not read all the replies, but I was in a horrific 5 car pileup when I was 20 and it decimated my lower three vertebrae...

 

I'm 40 now and can honestly say that STRETCHES have saved me from surgery. The key is your hamstring...I can now lay on the floor and pull my knee to my nose without bending my knees (straight leg..just one leg at a time)..but I always use that as a key, if you can't pull your straight leg while the other is bent and foot on the floor..beyond a 90 degree angle..then you need to work on your hamstring stretches...slowly and daily...there are other back stretches that help support...but start on those...if the hamstring is tight it puts so much pressure on your back muscle mass that supports your spine, usually the lower back is the part that gets pulled or spasms the most...as long as I am stretched and even if I bend or lift poorly, I won't have the back issues I normally would.

 

I'll try and find a link to the 5 stretches the pain doc's at the pain center in Seattle gave me (I was a pharmaceutical rep doing a fellowship with them and they gave me those exercises...worked like a miracle!) I don't take any antiinflammatories or pain medicines and used to not make it through the day without them when my back would go out...I haven't had my back to seize like that for over 10 years now!!

 

Tara