Back trouble (painful pulled muscle)

A combination of a physio and Pilates might well sort you out and teach you how to avoid the problem in future as well as strengthening your back. When I was younger I was in a corset for 2 years and suffered after pregnancy and on and off for a long time until I found Pilates which I've just banged on about in the Pilates thread. Pain killers help relieve the symptoms but they don't resolve the cause

Lona my son who is a chiropractor would disagree. But he also is very clear that if you want to avoid repeat bad backs, you have to strengthen the muscles rather than think someone else is going to fix it for you.

There is a book called "Treat your own back" by Robin Mackenzie. It has lots of good advice and exercises to help backs. My previous boss recommended it based on her previous experience as a physio or some such thing. I hope you are soon feeling better.

Thank you, numberplease - I've managed to do a little gardening this afternoon - just pulling up bracken, s bit of bindweed which is strangling my border plants and dead forget-me-nots, but at least it was something, though as you say it does hurt at lot! It's an intense ache rather than searing pain at the moment. I'm thinking little and often will help. I'm hoping DH will take me out for a gentle walk tomorrow afternoon to a garden in Kent. I really need some exercise but between my back and my painful Achilles tendon I'm not up to anything major!

I`ve suffered, on and off, with my back for about 35 years, my problem being sciatica. At the beginning, my doctor said rest as much as possible, lots of lying down, a very little walking, NO sitting up. But after resting a lot, I found it to be much worse. Nowadays the advice is to keep on the move as much as possible, even though it hurts (a lot!), it does help to stop the stiffening up. Hope your back is soon better.

Lona thanks! rushes off to get the paracetamol

I was taking ibuprofen but was worried about overdoing it having read elsewhere that 'pain is a signal something is wrong' and worried I could be doing further damage by trying to dull the pain!

Chiropractors treat skeletal problems not muscular.
Take ibuprofen which is anti-inflamatory, and if the pain is very bad, alternate with with paracetemol,every two hours. Recommended by a doctor, not just off the top of my head!
Always keep moving gently.

Many thanks for all the suggestions and exercises.
Anno - what exactly are pelvic thrust exercises?

Will try Nelliemosers exercise and it's reassuring to know that keeping moving is a Good Thing. Yesterday I was playing with our 10 month old granddaughter on the floor -she loved it when I was crawling after her and I found that position didn't hurt as much - until I tried to get up again, that is!

I might see if I can get a back massage. I see a reflexologist every few weeks anyway, purely because I enjoy having a foot massage rather than for any other reason - it's very relaxing and calming and she also throws in a bit of counselling and encouragement She also does good massages so I wonder if that might be an option.

I was going to Pilates classes but stopped because we have to pay for a whole term up front and I found I was missing too many because of DGD visits. Will have to find a class I can pay for each session at a time. I'm sure that would help, once my back's recovered. Failing that I guess it's time to include back-strengthening exercise into a daily routine....

Have you got pain radiating down one or both legs? If so how far down does the pain go? If you have, this means that the sciatic nerve has been affected. If not, is it in one area only?

A trip to your GP sounds in order if the pain does not lessen within the next couple of days after the above treatment of heat and/or cold and appropriate analgesia as suggested.

You say that you had an Achilles problem but it isn't related ? perhaps it is , I would recommend a good Physiotherapist , making sure they are a member of the Chartered Society of Physiotherapists for a thorough assessment and treatment

What Jess said! ^

I pulled a muscle in a judo competition fifty odd years ago and it still periodically 'goes' again. Remaining inactive is by far the worst thing to do.

I am tempting fate here - but my back has been fine for ages. Very difficult to type with crossed fingers whilst holding onto the wooden desk!

I wouldn't go near a chiropractor.

(With apologies to Miss Furness for starting every sentence with I!!)

Do keep moving. If you can get onto the floor and back up try lying knees bent up and gently rocking them side ways (after your pain killers have kicked in.) It might also help to gently push the small of you back down towards the floor.
Hope your're better soon.

I advocate pelvic thrust exercises for lower back muscles (works for me), but there are lots of other exercises for back spasm on Youtube. But don't push yourself too hard - gentle stretching helps.

It will get better. Keep moving - most important and take painkillers such as ibuprofen.

I have found either osteopath or chiropractor to be good, but I would always use one on personal recommendation rather than 'blind'. Painkillers and keeping moving gently is important and I did once have valium from the doctor - gin and tonic works well too

Painful backs are dreadful - I first did mine at uni and things regularly go wrong. Doc often gives me valium (or equivalent) as this relaxes the muscle spasm that is causing the pain.

I'd go to a chiropractor but if you don't have a recommended one near you or don't believe in them then exactly what Agus said.

For a really sore muscle in spasm I prefer acupuncture as it's fairly passive. Next to that an osteopath would be very helpful. The reason I say this if the pain is really bad I can't stand to have the muscles manipulated so it's acupuncture first.
On a pill front a mix of paracetamol and ibuprofen may work. Be careful to only take recommended dose and read leaflet if on other medication. Painkillers don't work for me.
A bag of frozen peas for acute pain rather than heat also.
Most muscle spasm seems to start to improve after six days but, as someone with back pain since I was 17, it usually takes input from a professional if still stopping you getting about.
Hope you feel more the thing soon. Rowentree

I would advise strong painkillers and heat treatment, rub or hot water bottle and rest as much as possible for a couple of days. If it gets worse or doesn't appear to be healing then a visit to,your GP.