slow 0 Posted December 17, 2003 Share Posted December 17, 2003 My back hurts... Very painful when I sit, walk, move... How do you treat? Link to post Share on other sites
Ocean11 0 Posted December 17, 2003 Share Posted December 17, 2003 Variously; - 2-3 aspirin - カイロ on the back of the knickers (I have mine on today) - Gentle stretching (try stretches standing and cross-legged) - Walking with a self-consciously straight back - Jogging if you can stand it - Sleep with a pillow between your thighs, and hugging another pillow - Massage (I'll do you if you do me) - Back strengthening exercises (lie flat on your back with legs straight out, and extend each leg as if pushing down, thus rocking your hips slightly) - Shochu It's a bugger isn't it? Sometimes I get it so bad I can hardly walk. With me it moves from one side to the other, and around to the front. Link to post Share on other sites
justaddwater 0 Posted December 17, 2003 Share Posted December 17, 2003 A good massage is always good. Link to post Share on other sites
slow 0 Posted December 17, 2003 Author Share Posted December 17, 2003 Thank you Ocean, I appreciate your help. I'll try them. Jogging, Shochu... Do they work? Link to post Share on other sites
miteyak 0 Posted December 17, 2003 Share Posted December 17, 2003 I get the same thing during deadline time. All that sitting in chairs for 12 hours a day. Stretching and gentle excercise is the answer. If you can, take a short walk every hour or so. Find a good sitting posture. Stretches should include good hamstring (back of the leg) stretches. Some kind of daily exercise (bike, running, stepper) would also help, but if you do this, extra stretching becomes essential, or the lower back pain will get worse. p.s. if it's not from sitting too long, forget the above and see a doctor... Link to post Share on other sites
Ocean11 0 Posted December 17, 2003 Share Posted December 17, 2003 Seeing a doctor often involves having an x-ray, perhaps finding out that your spine is slightly damaged, and a lot of humming and hahing that doesn't make the pain go away. However, you can get good painkillers (always ask for the strongest) and shippu on your insurance. Situps and push-ups can also help sometimes, although as miteyak says, with stretching, otherwise they can make it worse. Link to post Share on other sites
miteyak 0 Posted December 17, 2003 Share Posted December 17, 2003 Oceans right, of course. Most doctors are of bugger all use when it comes to muscular pain... (I was just giving myself an out if you should say my advice made it worse) A good stretching/situp/gentle back raise aid is a swiss ball. Highly recommend you get one. You can also use it for your push-ups, etc. Allows your muscles to find their natural path, as well as supporting some of your weight. Strengthens balancer muscles too, which can improve general conditioning. Don't forget to consult a doctor before embarking on any new exercise regimen, however... Link to post Share on other sites
DumbStick 13 Posted December 17, 2003 Share Posted December 17, 2003 I LOVE getting a massage, does wonders. Link to post Share on other sites
mikazooki 0 Posted December 17, 2003 Share Posted December 17, 2003 me - well, my pain is neckular of origins, and trouble me right propoer it does. i'm trying to save a pretty penny for some accupuntural relief but i keeps spending m'money on snow related articles. so, i guess, the neck will just have to wait until another day. yoga also helps. Link to post Share on other sites
Dims 0 Posted December 17, 2003 Share Posted December 17, 2003 Slow be careful with the massage. I had lower back pain when I first came to Japan, due to sitting incorrectly writing a Ph.D thesis for about six months. Lower back pain, even worse when I sat for long periods. Try lying on your back and lifting each leg as far up as you can. If you get intense pain after a certain point, especially after lifting one leg in particular then you might have what I had, a protruding disc in your lower back, which pushed against nerves in your spine. The best thing is to find a good doctor in this counrty (hard, I know), and specialist if you can. My doctor gave me strong painkillers (three a day), vitamin B12 injections and best of all put me on what can only be decribed as a medieval-like rack device which gently pulled your hips away from the rest of your body, stretching the spine, helping the disc move back into place. I was told massage would actually have been really bad for me in the early stages. Unfortunatley the best cure was just time and a bit of rest. It took me over a year for the pain to stop and I still can't touch my toes without intanse pain. BE CAREFUL and get a proper diagnosis. I hope you haven't got what I still have. Link to post Share on other sites
slow 0 Posted December 17, 2003 Author Share Posted December 17, 2003 Thank you. I have this pain every year when it's getting cold. I try slowly stretching tonight after taking shower. I hope to have better sleep tonight. Link to post Share on other sites
frannyo 2 Posted December 18, 2003 Share Posted December 18, 2003 カイロ Are they them pad things full that magically get warm when you shake them? Link to post Share on other sites
Weegeoff 0 Posted December 19, 2003 Share Posted December 19, 2003 The best thing you can do for your back is strengthen your lower back muscles. Lie on your stomach,start with your hands pushed down in the middle of your back, now lift your head pushing your hands down towards your bum.Do three sets of ten. When you get stronger put your hands behind your head.and lift, then after a week or so . lieing on your stomach again lift alternat arms and legs at the same time ie. right arm left leg then left led right arm.Start slowly if it Stop hurts Link to post Share on other sites
Weegeoff 0 Posted December 19, 2003 Share Posted December 19, 2003 That should read.If it hurts stop Build it up so you can do 15 in reps of 3. 45 all together. Both exercises so that will be 90. do not try to do this within a couple of weeks you must take your time.I hope all this makes sense Link to post Share on other sites
slow 0 Posted December 19, 2003 Author Share Posted December 19, 2003 I'm trying stretch and Shippu, eased the pain but different part of my back hurts now. I think I do funny walking to shield the pain. It will take time to recover... Ahhhh, I'm going to Tomamu next Tuesday... " title="" src="graemlins/cry.gif" /> Link to post Share on other sites
Ocean11 0 Posted December 19, 2003 Share Posted December 19, 2003 > I think I do funny walking to shield the pain. Yes, that's a common response. Taking the time to stretch is important. Don't shy away from painkillers either - they're not just a temporary solution. There's a vicious circle of pain that causes muscular tension that causes pain. Painkillers, especially before bed, can help to beak that. I found that snowboarding with some lower back pain wasn't too bad. Sometimes it even got better, and it never actually got worse. At those times, I used lots of kairo (like a heat shield on the Space Shuttle). Link to post Share on other sites
METAL 0 Posted December 20, 2003 Share Posted December 20, 2003 Ocean11 - what is a kairo?? Link to post Share on other sites
Ocean11 0 Posted December 20, 2003 Share Posted December 20, 2003 It's one of those sticky pads that gets hot and provides localized heating for a day. 'Hot poultice' might be what you'd call it. Link to post Share on other sites
enderzero 0 Posted December 20, 2003 Share Posted December 20, 2003 What is the story with painkillers in Japan? I haven't decoded the over the counter bottles at the drug store. I have ibuprofen with me from home for minor stuff, but is it possible to get anything without a perscription that is...how do I say...more narcotic? Link to post Share on other sites
sunrise 0 Posted December 20, 2003 Share Posted December 20, 2003 Slow, I send you an email about the Alexander Technique. Did you get it? Link to post Share on other sites
slow 0 Posted December 20, 2003 Author Share Posted December 20, 2003 Thank you and sorry for not writing you soon, sunrise. I haven't checked my e-mail. It's interesting, but how did you get it? It works for everything, isn't it? Link to post Share on other sites
Dims 0 Posted December 20, 2003 Share Posted December 20, 2003 Sunrise, do you think you could send that to me as well. Still have back problems even though it's a lot better. I would appreciate it. Link to post Share on other sites
Ocean11 0 Posted December 20, 2003 Share Posted December 20, 2003 Me too! I'm always interested in cures for back pain. Much obliged... Link to post Share on other sites
slow 0 Posted December 21, 2003 Author Share Posted December 21, 2003 My back getting better after drinking Shochu last night! Thanks Ocean! Link to post Share on other sites
sunrise 0 Posted December 22, 2003 Share Posted December 22, 2003 Okay, coming soon. Watch this space..... Link to post Share on other sites
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