Bad Back....so painfull

[RAPPLEBY2000]

I did a small amount of digging on Sunday and my back kills, :aargh4:
Managed to do a driving job yesterday on Monday Ibuprofen, Paracetamol, heat pad, and wearing a back support but after 2 days later I woke up and couldn't walk, so I crawled to the loo upstairs, a little later I could stand (I guess when the meds kicked in.)my back isn't stiff, it's now just a constant dull ache but feels like painfull electric shocks if I bend the wrong way.
no doubt I'll be ok again in a couple of days, but it does worry me how dissabling it really is.

Outdoors I would be unable to carry any weight and was thinking what if I get a bad back on a Bushcraft event?

Obviously the simple answer is rest, some say omn a flat surface, My Mum Who suffered for years was told by a Dr body flat on the floor or with legs at right angles, not very practical on a campsite especially if you are setting up packing away or leaving.

Are there any back pain sufferers with kit or medication advice?

what sort of bag?
long or short back?
internal/external frame?
Hammock or camp bed?
roll mat or thermarest?

any advice would be welcome, many thanks

 

[TeeDee]

Try the following.

Hang off a pole by your hands - let gravity drag your pelvis down and 'reset' your back.

Lying on your back pull a knee up to you chest and squeeze it in and hold for a ten count. Do the other leg also.

Lying on a raised surface allow one leg to drop down behind you and let gravity just hold it for a ten count.

Prevention wise - How strong is your core and Ab Muscles ??

 

[Bear mears]

Sounds like a muscle issue I doubt you would be crawling around if you did any real damage.
I've had similar problem before I was given cocodamol by my gp and once it kicks in you can't feel a thing lol. Rest is the best mate let it heal up before doing any more work you will only make it worse.

 

[RAPPLEBY2000]

Try the following.

Hang off a pole by your hands - let gravity drag your pelvis down and 'reset' your back.

Not sure I could do that as raising arms hurt more first thing, perhaps because it slightly changed the weight distribution, but worth a try.

Lying on your back pull a knee up to you chest and squeeze it in and hold for a ten count. Do the other leg also.

Lying on a raised surface allow one leg to drop down behind you and let gravity just hold it for a ten count.

no problem doing these, I was fine untill I tried to stand, I shall try this next time.

Prevention wise - How strong is your core and Ab Muscles ??

yes....thats likely to be the problem... At present my work is quite sedantry. I'm usually fine walking with a load but no stomach muscles or lower back strength to speak of, and suddenly digging for an hour was asking for trouble. many thanks, I shall start training my ex-6pack when I'm fit again

 

[RAPPLEBY2000]

Sounds like a muscle issue I doubt you would be crawling around if you did any real damage.
I've had similar problem before I was given cocodamol by my gp and once it kicks in you can't feel a thing lol. Rest is the best mate let it heal up before doing any more work you will only make it worse.

yep, just straing muscles with no warm up or practice.
The electric shock sensation is horrible though, feels like you don't want to move incase it's serious I don't think it's a slipped disc or sciatica or anything like that it's just painfull and takes a while to be flexible to walk upright.

I was just picturing waking up on a bushcraft weekend on a rainy day and either being stuck in my hammock or having to crawl everywhere, horrible thought.

 

[Toddy]

Huge sympathies…..and empathies. Mine's killing me just now

Electric twinges are nerves getting unhappily tweaked. Sciatica and the like usually.

Folks make jokes about sore backs; aye, and it's funny until it's your own, and you realise just how incredibly debilitating and limiting it actually is. How incredibly tearfully painful it can be.

Exercises actually do help, but being aware of your body, and how you move it, helps a great deal too. It's worth the money to see a physiotherapist. They'll give advice and exercises that really do help, too.

Best of luck with it, I hope it settles well and quickly for you

M

 

[dwardo]

I have suffered with neck and back pain for years as have many others here. Mine was solely due to my profession as a field engineer. So, lots of driving and lots of sitting at a computer mixed in with lots of stress, perfect recipe.

Until recently that is.

Last year I started up Martial arts again after about a 25 year break and the difference is night and day. Yes it was a case having to pour my self out of bed for the first few months but since then its been great. Very few problems if any and it is all down to the exercise and building core strength. Not to mention its fun, challenging and rewarding. Plus its Dad and son time as we go together most sessions.

Could not recommend it more. If you do think about the MA route then find an instructor that sympathetic to older joints and bones as mine is. Half of out time is spent stretching and almost yoga and the other MA.

Good luck.

 

[mrcharly]

Once you've recovered, I urge you to not let your back get weak.
I have a weak back from a childhood illness/disability, according to the general stats about now I should be fairly crippled.
I'm 50 now and my back hasn't been as strong for decades. 2-3 times a week I spend about 10 minutes doing some exercises with a powerbag. That's about all it takes. That small investment in time is very worthwhile.

 

[RAPPLEBY2000]

It sounds like excersize and streghthening is the answer.
it's really annoying I never have a problem carrying heavy bags or lifting boxes around, etc .
I guess it's an age thing too as I'm in my early 40's and overweight.

Just to add insult to injury, I'm awaiting a repair on a double Hernia operation so I can't really do too much in the way of stomach excersizes which would be ideal.
then it's a 5 week recovery period....yay!

I know, I know, I shouldn't be digging

This is the problem when you get older, I still have the brain of a young man and assume I can do all the physical things I could just shrug off 20 years earlier!

 

[peaks]

I have a troublesome back - or had. The last time I had a flare up which was incapacitating, I went to see an Osteopath, who did some releases and also did some acupuncture. The relief from the first session was considerable - I could drive, go to the loo etc I had about 4 sessions, had gentle exercises to do in between sessions.

She then suggested the course below - I can honestly say it was transforming, although I was highly sceptical when it was first suggested. I do some of the exercises almost every day, and I also go to a Pilates class once per week. Not had any problems for 4+ years , I'm much more supple/flexible and if things start to trouble me, the course teaches you some really effective first aid moves which seem to stop things progressing.
I'm 59 by the way and did a sedentary job.
http://www.yogaforbacks.co.uk/

 

[John Fenna]

Huge sympathies and empathies from me too!
Because of my duff knees I can find standing to long painful and my poor movement caused by the knees makes sitting for too long painful... I often watch TV standing up!
A mashed SI joint means that getting up from sitting can feel like someone hit me in the base of the spine with a sledgehammer and getting out of a bed/hammock can be a real adventure (as can taking socks off!)
I find my stretcher bed the best option for bushy sleeping and better than any hammock but my spreader-bar hammock is second best, a normal hammock OK and ground dwelling least best....
My stretcher bed

 

[Hibrion]

My approach would be prevention rather than try to fix it when it things go bad. If it is a problem that is re-occuring consider taking up pilates and seeing a good personal trainer once you feel a nit better in a few days.

My partner suffered a bad back for years and no meds worked. Since she started the above a couple of years back she has had no problems whatsoever.

 

[Bear mears]

yep, just straing muscles with no warm up or practice.
The electric shock sensation is horrible though, feels like you don't want to move incase it's serious I don't think it's a slipped disc or sciatica or anything like that it's just painfull and takes a while to be flexible to walk upright.

I was just picturing waking up on a bushcraft weekend on a rainy day and either being stuck in my hammock or having to crawl everywhere, horrible thought.

I was on holiday and walked the dog on the beach Kay down on some grass and felt something "pop" didn't feel much then in the morning couldn't move for about 2 hours and I know that shock sensation just kept coming and going. Few days of rest and a lot of lying down did the job for me matey

 

[TeeDee]

yes....thats likely to be the problem... At present my work is quite sedantry. I'm usually fine walking with a load but no stomach muscles or lower back strength to speak of, and suddenly digging for an hour was asking for trouble. many thanks, I shall start training my ex-6pack when I'm fit again

So just in case its over looked and I realise I'm being a tad pedantic but I just want to offer you the best advice and unsure on your level of understanding.

Don't JUST focus on the anterior ( front ) side of your core via pointless Crunches and suchlike.

For the core - focus on all aspects

So start with the Plank - static holds.

Progress onto Deadlifts , Farmers walks , Side bend , shoulder weighted carries. Throw in some situps and Flutter kicks to balance it out.

 

[Klenchblaize]

Go see your GP and insist on a referral to a Specialist. After you've had a scan, nuclear or otherwise, then come back and let us know what's wrong.

K

 

[Janne]

Go see your GP and insist on a referral to a Specialist. After you've had a scan, nuclear or otherwise, then come back and let us know what's wrong.

K

This is good advice.

I have back problems like you. I am a bit older too.
I suspect you have a strained muscle/muscle spasm, possibly with a disk involvement. Not a properly trapped Sciatic nerve though, that pain is worse.

I think your GP will prescribe you a prescription grade muscle relaxant and pain killer

What helps me is hot showers, a hot pad and lying on the floor. Not doing any movement that triggers pain.
Research show that no treatment is more efficient that other, be it Physio, acupuncture, massage, you name it - versus relaxants and painkillers.

(tongue in cheek) - congrats, you can now look forward a lifetime of periodic back problems.

 

[Nice65]

Had similar, it was crippling and I sympathise. My doctor prescribed me the codeine based pain killers first. Dihydrocodeine made me less nauseous than the others. But I was still in agony. Valium eased it coupled with Naproxen for inflammation.
Eventually got Oramorph. That certainly took the pain away. It was constant for about 3-4 weeks, I couldn't find a position that was comfortable and it really ground me down.

 

[dannyk64]

I don't have first hand experience of using it but I have heard birch polypore tea can help with many chronic pains and aches due to a variety of medicinal compounds contained in it especially if consumed on a regular basis.

Can't hurt to give it a try.

 

[Damascus]

Hi rich, I have had back problems in the past, after the first bottle of Grouse whiskey the pain seems to subside, continue this treatment over the next few days, the hangover will be worse than the back pain and will if nothing else relax the back muscles.

hope you get it sorted I understand the pain!!
,

 

[Janne]

I had one episone of Sciatica 3 years ago, I lifted an EMPTY cardboard box and it went. 15 hours of pure hell, the only position that was bearable was on all four with my bum high.
Took no meds as it happened a Friday evening and my friend/GP was out and I did not want to disturb him.