Ouch - I've hurt my back!

[Milims]

On Monday night I had the most aweful dream about having to ride an elephant 30 miles down the A1 in a hurry and woke up with a sore hip (apparently I'd thrashed about for most of the night) Anyway, as the day progressed it became progressively worse and the pain spread across my lower back to the point where I had to leave work early. I went to the docs yesterday and he said that it sounded like I was having a muscle spasm and gave me what he called a deep friction massage - extremely painful and I have a lovely bruise on my bum to prove it! Anyway, I've been off work for 2 days now and I'm going stir crazy! I can't sit still at the best of times and now I have to keep moving otherwise I seize up and it hurts - but sitting still hurts too. Does anyone have any ideas as to how to make it unseize?

[tim&fatima]

Sorry to hear it mate.
I have no remedy. I would have thought applying some heat may help.

Are you still able to put your pants on one leg at a time !

Sorry, saw the opportunity and I took it. hope your better soon.

[red]

sorry no advice.. but you have my sympathy.. sounds horrid!

I spose you have tried anti inflam meds.. like asprin? actually dont spose that will work.. but you get desperate...

[Thomzo]

Ouch - sounds painful. Poor you. The only thing I can recommend is some serious heat - as warm as you can comfortably bear and try to keep it on for as long as possible. You can buy pads that self heat and that have self adhesive sections (like a plaster). Or you can try strapping a hot water bottle on it.

Gentle movements will stop it siezing up but it sounds like you are having to do that anyway.

Good luck - I hope it clears up soon.

Zoe

[Russian Doll]

hi hun i have thought sort of thing with my shoulder..i do find a very hot bath,,as ot as you ca handle does help

[MKG]

I've had that since I was sixteen, and all the advice is correct - the only thing that's really effective over time is heat (although I would say not to make it TOO hot). Avoid idiot masseurs like the plague - the number of times I've been put in bed by people who knew best ... I'd like to work on their backs for a little while.

The other thing is not to despise the simple pain killer, and I find ibuprofen the most effective for back pain. At least they make life bearable until the inflammation had gone away.

[ina]

Oh dear - that doesn't sound too good. I've had back, hip and leg problems on and off for decades, and nothing really helps... Except for time, and taking it easy while not keeping too still! So no good advice, I'm afraid. Painkillers and anti-inflammatories don't help me, either.

Except - maybe you shouldn't spend your nights riding elephants down the A1 in future...

[Helsbells]

I would say Ibuprofen, its the best medicine for muscles and pains like yours but make sure you take it with or after food if you do decide to resord to this because it can damage your stomach if you take it on its own. You can also get ibuprofen rubs if you dont fancy taking it orally.
Alternativley black pepper essential oil relieves aches and pains, yarrow is a natural anti-inflamatory and can relieve aches and pains in the bath, also you can use cayenne in an oil rub for muscle pain.
Also Biotin (vitamin H) can ease muscle aches and pains, you can find it in B complex vitamins, and nuts, fruit, beef liver, egg yolks, milk, kidneys, and brewers yeast.
I havent tried any of these alternative remedies so I would check them out first.
Hope its some help.

[old tree man]

so sorry to hear about your back, a remidie i usually use is a nice hot bath with some essentil oils with a warm hot toddie at the side of the bath to help relax you. then as soon as you get out of the bath slide into bed with a warm water bottle on the affected area another hot toddie and slip into a restful sleep and hopefully in the morning it should have eased, if it works repeat method until it has subsided over consecutive nights,
always works for me
all the best

Russ

[oldfella]

A hot bath, A whisky, try to sleep and then shoot the bloody elephant.

[Milims]

Thank you all for your sympathy and remedies. Oh if only I liked whisky!! Would gin do? I've been doing the hot bath thing and it works for a while and I've also discovered that lying rather than sitting or standing works well too. Guess I'll just have to stay in bed for as long as possible - only getting up for more gin, hot baths and to go to the loo - actually that sounds much more attractive than work!! lol

[snapdragon]

Do you have a local friendly McTimoney Chiropractor? or an Osteopath? they have a way of finding where the problem started from and fixing it.

then shoot the bloody elephant.

hear hear !!!

[emmsy]

that sounds really painful . try deep heat or heat pads. lots of rest and no sudden movements also if you can go for a massage it will help muscles get back to normal

[MKG]

I take it that the A1 is a trunk road, then?

[Milims]

I take it that the A1 is a trunk road, then?

I have to stop now - laughing hurts!