Bad backs

[colly]

Yet again I'm walking like the world is falling over.

Saturday AM Mrs Colly and I went out walking. Not all that far, about 5 miles in all.
I was as right as ninepence when we set out. Although it was across fields and stiles etc, I didn't stumble, catch my foot or otherwise do anything un-towards.
Walking down into Alnmouth I said my back felt a little stiff. By the time we had stopped for tea and walked back via the road I was in agony, crunched over to one side trying to ease the pain.
I'm off shortly to see the chiropractor who has in the past worked wonders. It still means I will probably be unable to work for a day or two.
This event has come right out of the blue. I've not been lifting or carrying anything heavy for at least a couple of weeks and up until Saturday felt fine.

Any suggestions as to ways to prevent this kind of thing happening ? It is muscular rather than a spine thing and I already do stretching exercises though not everyday.

 

[BigonaBianchi]

Cant answer your questions as Im no doc..but my back pain issues seem to be related to poor posture and periods of inactivity/off the bike. Stretching and keeping moving help more than rest. Being aware of posture, especially when sitting at a pc desk etc help. When it strikes it is very painful and immobilizing at times, but makng myself move the lower back carefully has helped me (everyone is different though..so do what doc says not what I say)

I also found that applying a heat pad, or deep heat cream/ralgex on rides helps. If it's cycing related maybe the bike position can be adjusted to assist?

Basically I went onto NHS direct website and followed their advice tree on lower back pain.

https://www.nhsdirect.nhs.uk/CheckSymptoms/SATs/ChestAndBackPain.aspx

 

[swee'pea99]

You have my sympathies. I have been there (usually due to some identifiable - generally dumb - cause) and it's a bugger. FWIW (probably not much) I'm a prime target for this kind of thing, being tall, lanky, and desk-bound, and I started to get hints of trouble a decade or so ago. I was recommended to take up regular swimming and, touch wood, have had no problems since. Apparently it's about getting just enough strength/flexibility workout without actually putting a strain on anything in particular.

 

[BigonaBianchi]

another vote for swimming...

 

[ASC1951]

This event has come right out of the blue. I've not been lifting or carrying anything heavy for at least a couple of weeks and up until Saturday felt fine.
Any suggestions as to ways to prevent this kind of thing happening ? It is muscular rather than a spine thing and I already do stretching exercises though not everyday.

I know it feels like 'out of the blue', but that isn't the way things happen to those of us <cough> not in the first flush of youth. There is a gradual process of weakening and tightening and then, ping, it's suddenly over the limit. Your walk is the occasion but not the cause.
Stretching, certainly - I know you already do this, but I would see a sports physio to make sure that you are doing enough of the relevant stretches. I also do spinal twists and a yoga cobra pose, which help. Definitely swimming, too, especially front crawl because that gives more rotation than breast stroke.
But some body pain is just inevitable. My toes hurt the day after a run or long walk, which no amount of stretching or picking up spiky balls is going to prevent. As my physio points out, "At your age there is bound to be a degree of degenerative change. But it is better than the alternative."

 

[EltonFrog]

And yet another vote for swimming, I don't know why, but it works for me.

 

[ColinJ]

TBH colly - you may not have done it for a couple of weeks, but regularly humping 3 piece suites between people's houses, your van and your workshop probably isn't helping your back!

 

[screenman]

I tend to suffer most when I let the belly get a bit on the large size, a few pound off always seems to sort it out, I think it tends to pull my posture out. I also stretch regularly as my job needs to to be reasonable flexible.

 

[Globalti]

Yoga would help. Seriously.

 

[Over The Hill]

Sounds similar to me with it triggered off by all sorts of things: Long walk or sitting at a desk all day.
Mine also is there often when I wake up but then goes when I get up.

I do stretching exercises but do them every day (1 On back curl up 2. Legs raised, 3 leg twist to each side, 4 on front curl back 5 Cat.)
For past month I have also started Pilates class which I have found really helps.
Pilates will work on core strength and so support the back more, Yoga also good but perhaps more on stretching than building up strength.
Idea of core strength is that muscles take more control and back is not so pulled around basically. I think once per week is not enough so I am aiming to do both a Yoga class and a Pilates class each week.

Do go to the quack though and they will do some blood tests to see it is not anything nasty.

 

[colly]

Thanks one and all.

The chiropractor said exactly what you said ASC, in that it hasn't occured 'out of the blue'. Something will have sparked it and what I am experiencing now is the end result.
I thought it was simply muscular but it seems it is nowhere as simple as that ( no surprise there I guess). He was explaining while manipulating my hips and spine and to be honest a lot of what he said simply didn't get absorbed. Maybe it was my screaming that drowned out his voice. I don't know.
But for now I am easier and have another appointment on Wednesday. It's ice pack on for 15 mins and off for an hour then on again for 15 and so on for the rest of the day. That really is helping. Walk gently, no twisting, lifting and carrying. Common sense.
It seems

Mrs Colly goes to a yoga class on Mondays so I might well go along and carry some of that into everyday life.
Swimming. Yes I really enjoy swimming, front crawl especially, and it's a while since I have done it on a regular basis. I'll have to find time which is always difficult, but hey, what's your health and well-being worth?

Colin you're right, lifting heavy furniture isn't exactly a brilliant way of keeping fit but I do try and do it with as much care as I can. Straight back, use legs and so on.
I often get customers offering to help me with a sofa, and it's kind of them to offer, but more than once I have hurt myself because the 'other pair of hands' doesn't really understand that there is no need to rush, especially when it is particularly heavy or large. Nor when to push, pull, lift or drop. I prefer to arrange and pay someone who is experienced. ( it helps having a couple of strong offspring)

So a couple of days not working. ................... but then there is always the bookwork I can do.

 

[Dayvo]

Yoga would help. Seriously.

Which flavour would you recommend?

 

[Globalti]

On a couple of occasions in the past I've had lower back pain after a click while twisting. On the two last occasions I've seen a physio who has manipluated my sacro-iliac joint by twisting me then shoving down hard. There's a pop and I walk out pain free. It's a bit like clicking your knuckles only bigger.