Lower Back Pain!
Reality Check
over the past few months. I went to a chiro about 3 months ago and had an
X-ray taken. My right hip is higher than my left (about an inch higher) and
my spine has been compensating over the years (it's a tad crooked) and
apparently, due to "wear and tear", I'm now feeling pain. I don't know but
all the cracking and twisting haven't helped to ease the pain so now I'm
thinking of going to a physio to get a better opinion. Chiro said it feels
worse now because my muscles are just getting used to my now-mobile lower
back, as it was apprently really stiff before. I don't know, but it's been
2 months and it's still nagging like a bitch. I'm just wondering if I will
ever get it back to normal or is this going to be an on-going thing... if
so... that would suck big time. I couldn't do lower body exercises as well
as I could before the back pain. This is bugging me no end!
Anyone here experienced bad lower back pain for several months? Did it go
away completely? What type of doctor should I go to? Chiro? Physio?
Osteopath?
Tundra Wookie
"Reality Check" <rea...@reality.com> wrote in message
news:4019...@dnews.tpgi.com.au...
--TW Wishing he had real insurance so he could get his back looked at by
a doctor of medicine, not a "doctor" of chiropractic.
Sooky Grumper
> My lower back has been bugging me since early 2003 and it has gotten worse
> over the past few months. I went to a chiro
oye vey
> about 3 months ago and had an
> X-ray taken.
by a chiro??
> My right hip is higher than my left (about an inch higher)
They always say that, and may have set you up so that it comes out that
way on the x-ray. We all have different leg lengths.
> and
> my spine has been compensating over the years (it's a tad crooked)
If your spine is crooked, that may be scoliosis. You need to see a REAL
doctor. As another poster mentioned, a sports orthopaedist or a
rheumatologist.
> and
> apparently, due to "wear and tear", I'm now feeling pain.
That "wear and tear" would be arthritis, and you'll need to see a
rheumatalogist. Twisting your spine around won't help. If the pain is
caused by inflexible muscles and strength imbalances developed over the
years, then you'll want to see a physiotherapist that can show you how
to fix those problems while at the same appointments providing some deep
tissue massage to stop the spasm in the lower back that's causing you
the pain.
> I don't know but
> all the cracking and twisting haven't helped to ease the pain so now I'm
> thinking of going to a physio to get a better opinion.
Physio is not a medical doctor. Go see a doctor if there's a chance that
you have scoliosis and facet joint arthritis.
> Chiro said it feels
> worse now because my muscles are just getting used to my now-mobile lower
> back, as it was apprently really stiff before.
I've heard chiros say all sorts of bulldren, and they always sound like
conmen when they do.
> I don't know, but it's been
> 2 months and it's still nagging like a bitch.
You said early 2003 above, so that's a bit more than 2 months. Get a
referral to a rheumatologist.
> I'm just wondering if I will
> ever get it back to normal or is this going to be an on-going thing... if
> so... that would suck big time. I couldn't do lower body exercises as well
> as I could before the back pain. This is bugging me no end!
Go see a doctor. If the doctor then refers you on to a physio, good. If
he refers you on to a specialist (orthopaedic surgeon, rheumatologist,
etc) who then refers you on for physio, that's good too.
>
> Anyone here experienced bad lower back pain for several months? Did it go
> away completely? What type of doctor should I go to? Chiro? Physio?
> Osteopath?
>
>
--
spammage trappage: replace fishies_ with yahoo
atec77
Get referral and then an MRI , you may a disk problem depending on
symptoms , back pain is never good ( Ive had bulged disks for years and
its no fun)
off you go and get checked out. ( MRI)
I suffered with the heels going numb and what seemed to be pain in the
hips and legs , it wasnt . ( disks) ( neck pain to)
Tundra Wookie
"atec77" <"atec77(getaway)"@hotmail.com> wrote in message
news:401A24B2...@hotmail.com...
> Get referral and then an MRI , you may a disk problem depending on
> symptoms , back pain is never good ( Ive had bulged disks for years
and
> its no fun)
> off you go and get checked out. ( MRI)
> I suffered with the heels going numb and what seemed to be pain in
the
> hips and legs , it wasnt . ( disks) ( neck pain to)
What corrective action was taken? TIA
--TW
atec77
surgery was suggested , Ive put that on hold as there was no
confirmation by the doctor of success and Im having traditional chinese
manipulation by a fellow who is from mainland china , some herb and
acupuncture , its actually quite inexpensive and in the 3rd month is
providing some good degree of relief to the point where the latest mri
is suggesting some improvement in posture ( the rig hip was 17 mm
dropped) and is now about 1/2 that . Pain is lessened and Im actually
getting sleep , Im happy with the improvement even if I hate needles :_
)
yung tells me the muscles need time to relearn the correct way , his
english sucks but magic hands ..
>
> --TW
Steve Freides
news:401a20a3$1...@quokka.wn.com.au...
-snip-
> > I don't know but
> > all the cracking and twisting haven't helped to ease the pain so now I'm
> > thinking of going to a physio to get a better opinion.
>
> Physio is not a medical doctor. Go see a doctor if there's a chance that
> you have scoliosis and facet joint arthritis.
A Physiotherapist, at least as they are in Canada, is not a "wrong" choice
here. Physiotherapists have different and, to my mind, better, more
thorough training than do physical therapists in the US. Certainly an
orthopedist, particularly one who regular works with athletes, is also a
fine choice.
Steve Freides
I've had lower back pain for years - herniated disc. What your chiro did
for you may be, at best, inappropriately early in the course of your
treatment and, at worst, could contribute to worsening your condition. I
would, as other have suggested, stay away from a chiro for this.
"Treat Your Own Back" by Robin McKenzie would make good reading for you.
Available at many bookstores and also via http://www.optp.com and it's
cheap, too. It's my bible when it comes to taking care of my back.
I recommend, if you can do it relatively pain-free, deadlifting as a way to
get your back strong. It won't help your mobility and it might even hinder
it, which is, as I said above, is not necessarily a bad thing at this time
for you.
Darryl
years. Although it's not clear which is more effective: medical or
chiro management (Spine J. 2001 Mar-Apr;1(2):138-47). Make sure your
Chiropractor practices the Peterson method (or technique or whatever)
rather new-age 'torque-release' or other light-touch therapies. IMHO,
you're looking at a good 6 months of treatment (enter conspiracy
theorists).
It may be intersting to note that the radiological skills of many
chiropractors are on par with those of orthopods. If you're not
satisfied with his evaluation, have your doctor take a look at the
X-rays or refer you to an orthopod. Have a full workup. Perhaps you
have a slight case of scoliosis. I do and at the age of 16 (I was a
competitive swimmer), an orthopod wanted to install rods in my back.
Many years later neck and back are fine and I haven't had a cervical
dissection. Anecdotal yes. But it's non-invasive (unless you
consider your wallet and you don't have insurance coverage).
That said, my Holy Grail is now deep tissue massage. Find one that
specializes in athletes and make sure you come out of the first
treatment with DOMS and bruising. You won't regret it.
Darryl.
Jay
1) Deadlifting. I am serious. gradually heavier deadlifting, focusing on
pushing through the heels with an equal level of force.
2) Reverse hypers. making sure that both sides are elevating at the same
pace.
3) box squats. Nothing has helped my form more than learning to squat with a
deep box. Form has to be perfect when get to the bottom.
Then read a book or two by Dr. John Sarno.
Gary Newcomer
TW
I had these same symptoms since an accident at work in 1992, while
hanging red iron. I had MRI's several times over the next few years
arguing with the insurance company over the need for surgery, due to a
bulging disc (L5S1). Once it came right down to it, I didnt have the
surgery (read as chicken'd out .. totally different surgery then than
now) The pain in my lower back and numbness in right leg / foot
continued to get worse until I was on medication just about all the
time. I had just about become a drooling flytrap. ... Finally in
2002 I had a Laminectomy, I was walking the same day, and could
already feel the relief. By the next day I felt better than I had in
8 years ... Since then I'm 100% better, and at almost 44, quit smokin,
dippin and am back to pushin iron in the air ... as of Jan 1st 04
description of laminectomy here
http://www.spine-health.com/topics/surg/overview/lumbar/lumb04.html
just my personal experinece in back pain .. I feel for ya .. get it
looked at. most insurance co's require getting your medical doc to OK
an orthopedic doc ..
gn
Jim Ranieri
"Steve Freides" <st...@fridayscomputer.com> wrote in message
news:bvdsij$r3aok$1...@ID-151809.news.uni-berlin.de...
The difference between a physical therapist and a physiotherapist is the
same as the difference between tyre and tire or colour and color. Spelling.
Oldman
I had a lamenectomy in the early eighties. My left foot went completely
numb and I could not stand on my tiptoes on that side. The lamenectomy
releaved the pressure but I got periodic accute back pain and went to the
chiropractor. His treatments would relieve me for about an hour. I could
not sleep on my stomach at all. If i slept on my side and pulled my leg up
and it fell over on the mattress the next day my back killed me. I put a
large pillow on the side and if I rolled ove i made sure my knee was
supported. This helped immensely. I put a large pillow between my legs and
slept with straight legs. That stopped all the trouble. Try this pillow
trick as it seems to keep the pevic girlde aligned and allows the disc and
nerve swelling to ease. That should help your pain.
Seeing a physical therapist seems a good idea too of an orthopedist of
these ideas do not work. Man I really feel for you and hope you get
better...
Steve Freides
news:101leu2...@corp.supernews.com...
Not true, Jim. Talk to a physiotherapist and ask them about their training
compared to that of American doctors and physical therapists. I think
you'll find they're somewhere in the middle.
Of some interest to our original poster may be that physiotherapists undergo
training for joint manipulation. This training is quite similar to the
training of American osteopathic physicians and nothing like that of
American chiropractors.
I think you're just a spammer who's trying to drum up business for physical
therapists, Jim. You really ought to post in all caps.
>
Jim Ranieri
I think you're mistaking a PTA or Physical Therapy Assistant with a Physical
Therapist, which requires a master's degree and is used interchangeably with
the term physiotherapist in Canada, UK and Australia.
Steve Freides
No, I'm not, Jim. Physiotherapists a more/better trained than physical
therapists. In their societies they serve much the same function and the
terms are used interchangeably by most people but, like I said, ask someone
who is familiar with the training both get and see what they say - ask a
physiotherapist who's up on PT training in the US. I'm not familiar with
physio training in the UK or Australia but have discussed the similiarities
and differences at some length with a Canadian physiotherapist and American
PT's and both sides agreed that the Candian physio training included many
things American PT's don't study.
Jim Ranieri
Steve Freides
Jim, I've discussed the issue with one Canadian physio and several American
PT's, all of whom were in agreement. I don't have any other evidence.
I'll email a friend who's a Canadian physio and ask him to spell it out for
you, and I'll report back with what he says.
You know, we've got to stop meeting like this, Jim.
>
>
Jim Ranieri
"Steve Freides" <st...@fridayscomputer.com> wrote in message
> Jim, I've discussed the issue with one Canadian physio and several
American
> PT's, all of whom were in agreement. I don't have any other evidence.
>
> I'll email a friend who's a Canadian physio and ask him to spell it out
for
> you, and I'll report back with what he says.
>
You may be thinking of a physiatrist, Steve. Which is indeed a physician,
but not the same as a physiotherapist, which is the term used for a physical
therapist in certain countries.
Continuing ed classes in the physical therapy/physiotherapy field will bring
participants from Canada, US, South Africa, etc. and at no point is there a
distinction made between the physiotherapists and the physical therapists.
As I said initially, think tyre vs. tire.
Mick Russell
Mick R.
Jim Ranieri
"Mick Russell" <mickndeb at westserv dot net dot au> wrote in message
news:newscache$gnhdsh$lym$1...@news.westserv.net.au...
Steve Freides
No, I am thinking of what I said I was thinking of. I have emailed my
Canadian physiotherapist friend and will report back when I hear from him.
He doesn't check his email often so it may be a little while.
Jim Ranieri
The profession awaits your news with bated breath.
Mick Russell
atec77
Jim Ranieri wrote:
>
> >
> > No, I am thinking of what I said I was thinking of. I have emailed my
> > Canadian physiotherapist friend and will report back when I hear from him.
> > He doesn't check his email often so it may be a little while.
> >
>
> The profession awaits your news with bated breath.
So while your waiting relax and smile .. it makes the time fly by
Jim Ranieri
Well that was apropos of absolutely nothing, but I liked it.
Reality Check
"Sooky Grumper" <sookygrumper@fishies_.com> wrote in message
news:401a20a3$1...@quokka.wn.com.au...
> doctor. As another poster mentioned, a sports orthopaedist or a
> rheumatologist.
It isn't really thaaat crooked. Like a said my hip are uneven by about 1
inch. I doubt (ooh I hope not!) that I have scoliosis but I will definitely
see a medical doctor. It has been 2 months since my last treatment with the
chiro. He has a myotherapist in the clinic who gives me deep tissue
massage. If anything, that was the only thing that made me feel a little
better... untied some knots in my back muscles apparently.
Leg presses are a pain in the back literally! It sucks because I really
like doing leg work but because of my bad back, I'm very weary to do
anything heavy now. I have stayed away from the leg press machine for about
2 months now too and have just been doing squats and lunges... squats are
excellent though so I'm not disappointed with those. It's just that I don't
have many choices for second/third quad exercises.
Thanks for all the responses...I'll grab a copy of my x-ray and I'll see how
I go with my visit to a real doctor.. . Hope it's nothing serious.
John Hanson
<rea...@reality.com> wrote in misc.fitness.weights:
>My lower back has been bugging me since early 2003 and it has gotten worse
>over the past few months. I went to a chiro about 3 months ago and had an
>X-ray taken. My right hip is higher than my left (about an inch higher) and
>my spine has been compensating over the years (it's a tad crooked) and
>apparently, due to "wear and tear", I'm now feeling pain. I don't know but
>all the cracking and twisting haven't helped to ease the pain so now I'm
>thinking of going to a physio to get a better opinion. Chiro said it feels
>worse now because my muscles are just getting used to my now-mobile lower
>back, as it was apprently really stiff before. I don't know, but it's been
>2 months and it's still nagging like a bitch. I'm just wondering if I will
>ever get it back to normal or is this going to be an on-going thing... if
>so... that would suck big time. I couldn't do lower body exercises as well
>as I could before the back pain. This is bugging me no end!
>
>Anyone here experienced bad lower back pain for several months? Did it go
>away completely? What type of doctor should I go to? Chiro? Physio?
>Osteopath?
>
I experienced lower back pain for years. Weightlifting helped it a
great deal but what really worked the best was falling off a ladder
and landing on my lower back from about 10 feet. It's been great ever
since.
Hoff
news:77oq105tejtvi12mu...@4ax.com...
Just another data point for the Blunt Trauma Theory of weightlifting ;)
Hoff
>
Lee Michaels
"Hoff" <hoffm...@yahoo.com> wrote in message
news:jpdTb.206207$na.338430@attbi_s04...
You have to remember Hoff, that John is from Minnessota. They do things
different up in that neck of the woods. That is a back country chiropractic
adjustment!!
HTH
Wayne S. Hill
> I experienced lower back pain for years. Weightlifting
> helped it a great deal but what really worked the best was
> falling off a ladder and landing on my lower back from about
> 10 feet. It's been great ever since.
Ladders are great for that kind of thing. I have a friend at work
who fell a couple of rungs down a ladder and landed on his
arthritic knee. It smarted quite a bit, as you might imagine, and
became a bit swollen. He went to his doc, who said, "I usually
charge $5,000 for that therapy," pointing out that he'd broken up
some adhesions and improved his ROM. His knee's been much better
ever since (a good 5 years now).
--
-Wayne
Sooky Grumper
> "Sooky Grumper" <sookygrumper@fishies_.com> wrote in message
> news:401a20a3$1...@quokka.wn.com.au...
>
>>If your spine is crooked, that may be scoliosis. You need to see a REAL
>>doctor. As another poster mentioned, a sports orthopaedist or a
>>rheumatologist.
>
>
> It isn't really thaaat crooked. Like a said my hip are uneven by about 1
> inch. I doubt (ooh I hope not!) that I have scoliosis but I will definitely
> see a medical doctor.
It's probably typical chiro conmen mumbo jumbo. It's funny when you know
what crap they're going to pull, and then you can mess around with them.
Went once, had the chiro pull the conman bit, never went back. There's a
website that shows what they do to convince you that there're problems,
like pushing or pulling your limbs and then saying 'see how this side is
stronger' or 'see how when I press here the limb goes down and you stop
resisting so much'. It's all bulldren, and is a carefully applied con.
> It has been 2 months since my last treatment with the
> chiro. He has a myotherapist in the clinic who gives me deep tissue
> massage. If anything, that was the only thing that made me feel a little
> better... untied some knots in my back muscles apparently.
>
A good physio will do this type of massage, too, I think. Deep tissue
massage is a good thing usually. There's even a book that Stuart
McRobert says helped him a lot with back pain (from injuries and actual
scoliosis), but I forget the name. I think the author was bonnie Pruden,
but I'm not sure.
> Leg presses are a pain in the back literally!
They can be if your thigh flexibility is lacking. In the bottom position
the leg press will round your back, and this is not a good scenario (it
causes pain in a lot of people, as well as lower back injury).
> It sucks because I really
> like doing leg work but because of my bad back, I'm very weary to do
> anything heavy now. I have stayed away from the leg press machine for about
> 2 months now too and have just been doing squats and lunges... squats are
> excellent though so I'm not disappointed with those. It's just that I don't
> have many choices for second/third quad exercises.
You only really need one exercise, though, so you're ahead of the game.
>
> Thanks for all the responses...I'll grab a copy of my x-ray and I'll see how
> I go with my visit to a real doctor.. . Hope it's nothing serious.
>
>
--
spammage trappage: replace fishies_ with yahoo
weaklingX
> Reality Check wrote:
> > "Sooky Grumper" <sookygrumper@fishies_.com> wrote in message
> > news:401a20a3$1...@quokka.wn.com.au...
> >
> >>If your spine is crooked, that may be scoliosis. You need to see a REAL
> >>doctor. As another poster mentioned, a sports orthopaedist or a
> >>rheumatologist.
> >
> >
> > It isn't really thaaat crooked. Like a said my hip are uneven by about 1
> > inch. I doubt (ooh I hope not!) that I have scoliosis but I will definitely
> > see a medical doctor.
>
> It's probably typical chiro conmen mumbo jumbo. It's funny when you know
> what crap they're going to pull, and then you can mess around with them.
> Went once, had the chiro pull the conman bit, never went back. There's a
> website that shows what they do to convince you that there're problems,
> like pushing or pulling your limbs and then saying 'see how this side is
> stronger' or 'see how when I press here the limb goes down and you stop
> resisting so much'. It's all bulldren
frelling bulldren if you ask me.
William Brink
John Hanson <jha...@northernlinks.com> wrote:
Like when Homer fell over the trash can?
>
>
--
Will Brink
http://www.brinkzone.com/
http://musclebuildingnutrition.com/
http://www.aboutsupplements.com/
John Hanson
<wbrink@*remove*earthlink.net> wrote in misc.fitness.weights:
Exactly! You know, I hit a 25 pound PR in the deadlift recently too.
Lee Michaels
"John Hanson" <jha...@northernlinks.com> wrote
> Exactly! You know, I hit a 25 pound PR in the deadlift recently too.
>
25 lbs?? That is impressive John. Keep working on it. Soon you will be able
to use the big bar. And maybe even some plates. :)
billydee
Silly! Everyone knows the deadlift ruins your back. Stick to the leg
press machine. Make sure to load it up with all the 45s it can accept
and limit your range of motion to about an inch out and back.
