Back Problems ?

[Bridge hibs]

Ive done manual work since the day I left school with a lot of it very physical such as concreting to roofing. Throughout the years I have been plagued by lower back issues, mostly tightness and muscular.

Last Sunday I gave my grass its (hopefully) last cut for winter, it was quite short but heavy. I felt fine after it but Monday morning I literally felt crippled, so much pain in my lower back and hips with numbness down the front of my left thigh.

I phoned my Doctor who arranged a Physio appointment which I had yesterday. Seemingly my issue was simmering and was just waiting for a trigger, trapped nerve affecting my left side but moreso I appear to have lost significant muscle mass on my left upper thigh, this as was explained was most likely as a result of a previous back injury.

The Physio has given me a programme via an NHS app which sends her a report on my progress and can gauge what if any tweaks are needing done or if further investigations need to be followed up.

In the meantime I have been signed off work for a few weeks and Im using codiene etc to dull the pain.

Anyone else experienced the same or similar and how did/do you cope with day to day activities ? Right now I cant sit for any longer than 10 minutes, cant stand for any length of time, I cant find a comfortable position to sleep and I cant walk any distance.

[Itsnoteasy]

Ive done manual work since the day I left school with a lot of it very physical such as concreting to roofing. Throughout the years I have been plagued by lower back issues, mostly tightness and muscular.

Last Sunday I gave my grass its (hopefully) last cut for winter, it was quite short but heavy. I felt fine after it but Monday morning I literally felt crippled, so much pain in my lower back and hips with numbness down the front of my left thigh.

I phoned my Doctor who arranged a Physio appointment which I had yesterday. Seemingly my issue was simmering and was just waiting for a trigger, trapped nerve affecting my left side but moreso I appear to have lost significant muscle mass on my left upper thigh, this as was explained was most likely as a result of a previous back injury.

The Physio has given me a programme via an NHS app which sends her a report on my progress and can gauge what if any tweaks are needing done or if further investigations need to be followed up.

In the meantime I have been signed off work for a few weeks and Im using codiene etc to dull the pain.

Anyone else experienced the same or similar and how did/do you cope with day to day activities ? Right now I cant sit for any longer than 10 minutes, cant stand for any length of time, I cant find a comfortable position to sleep and I cant walk any distance.

Just after Xmas this year my back went into spasm. I could not move on both occasions. I was on my living room floor for 42 hours I could not move. Pissing in a milk bottle & 💩 in a rubbish bag. I have since been going to pilates twice a week & have never had any issues since.

[speedy_gonzales]

Another vote for pilates.
16 years ago I suffered sudden lower back pain that resulted in nerve pain (neuralgia) down my left leg. Scans revealed a compromised disk (lumber 7?) in my spine putting pressure on the nerve.
After quite heavy pain killers and muscle relaxants I was eventually able to start working on my core and Pilates was heavily recommended.
I don't practice it as much now but I'm more aware of the signs, as soon as I feel my back tighten I drop and do a child pose(more like yoga) and stretch the back out.

[Bridge hibs]

Cheers guys, its L4 and L5 that appear to be goosed. My back is so ****ing tight but Im going to look more into the pilates stuff.

With regards the lavvy, my groin and ging gangs feel like they have been booted but although a struggle I manage the stairs up to the toilet, just.

[Hibrandenburg]

My body has been wrecked by what's probably best described as "extreme sport". Hips, knees, and lower back are all knackered.

For my back I've found that lying flat on my back with a beer crate topped with a pillow placed under my knees so that my thighs are at 90 degrees to my body helps. I'll sleep this way and over an extended period it helps put the base of my spine back into it's intended form by gently pressing my weight onto my lower and middle back.

[Trinity Hibee]

Sleeping with a pillow between your legs if a side sleeper or under your thighs if you sleep on your back can help keep your body in a neutral position too.

Yoga/pilates can also help this. You can find plenty YouTube videos on both which have back injury specific stuff if you don’t want to go to/pay for classes

Also don’t spend too long sitting in the same position on the sofa etc. get up and move around

[Bridge hibs]

Sleeping with a pillow between your legs if a side sleeper or under your thighs if you sleep on your back can help keep your body in a neutral position too.

Yoga/pilates can also help this. You can find plenty YouTube videos on both which have back injury specific stuff if you don’t want to go to/pay for classes

Also don’t spend too long sitting in the same position on the sofa etc. get up and move aroundCheers mate, yeah Ive been doing the pillow thing for a while due to left hip pain and that very much gave instant relief. Positioning has been one of my main problems as any period of time in any position causes discomfort.

Im off work for a while so will afford some time to look into the pilates stuff.

[BS44]

Have you considered visiting a chiropractor? I injured my back earlier in the year, got the pain and my mobility sorted out after four or five visits, though I had to take things easy for a further month after to avoid injuring myself again.

And try a cold compress on your lower back, it'll help with any inflammation. Wrap a bag of frozen peas in a tea towel and put it on your back for 10 to 15 minutes

[Bridge hibs]

Have you considered visiting a chiropractor? I injured my back earlier in the year, got the pain and my mobility sorted out after four or five visits, though I had to take things easy for a further month after to avoid injuring myself again.

And try a cold compress on your lower back, it'll help with any inflammation. Wrap a bag of frozen peas in a tea towel and put it on your back for 10 to 15 minutesCheers BS, I actually was seeing a Chiropractor many years ago and he was brill, for a jambo as he also worked for hearts. Think his name was Colquhoun but it was so long ago.

Ive done and still doing the hot and cold compress but to be honest its very uncomfortable. Ive started codeine so hopefully that will take the edge off things.

[Smartie]

Funnily enough, my back is killing me today - sat for far too long in a dodgy position on a train yesterday.

Annoying, because I’ve got a long history of work related lower back problems that I thought were in the past.

I threw so much at my problems it’s hard to know what made the difference. I did quite a lot of core strength training with the core in the right position to work out lots of imbalances that my work had created. I’m very aware of bad posture at work so make sure not to stay in any dodgy position for a length of time. I got a new mattress, which has been brilliant.

A variation on something mentioned above - I got an exercise doing the core strength training called “90/90 breathing”. When J was doing the training I had an acute flare up of my back problems and couldn’t really do much. Instead, I’d sign in via zoom from home and do breathing exercises. Google will have a better description but if you lie on your back near a wall, pull yourself up to it with your hips and knees both at 90 degrees and your feet flat against the wall - and just stay there, lie your hands on your chest, relax and breathe. If I feel the problems coming on, I just do that for a bit and it helps.

When the back is sore, sitting and standing and everything hurts. This position (even it’s a pain to get in and out of) seems best for taking pressure off the lower back and gives a wee bit of respite.

[Itsnoteasy]

Sleeping with a pillow between your legs if a side sleeper or under your thighs if you sleep on your back can help keep your body in a neutral position too.

Yoga/pilates can also help this. You can find plenty YouTube videos on both which have back injury specific stuff if you don’t want to go to/pay for classes

Also don’t spend too long sitting in the same position on the sofa etc. get up and move around

I personally think you should go to pilates to start with to see how to do the exercises properly. Then when confident enough do the online ones.

[Itsnoteasy]

If considering going to a pilates class males are in the minority. Don't let this put you off. I do a class with 10 silver surfers & I'm the only male there.
I certainly feel the benefit, twice a week for the last 8 months.