[mscat816]

I have for the second time in 6 weeks experienced excrutiating lower back pain on the left side from simple transferring - standing up from bending over and standing up from sitting. My doc ordered an MRI which showed nothing significant. I know from previous consultations that my obesity is not helping - I have a bad knee too! Any suggestions for how to manage this while I am losing my 75 pounds?

[curlylocks]

if the back pain runs down your side and down thru ur butt u have something goin on with your sciatic nerve.

[TMunday]

I see a chiropractor!!!! That is what you need! You should be fine after a couple of visits. Your doctor won't tell you to see a chiropractor!! My old doctor was totally against it! However, the chiropractor resolved my issues at that time and my doctor didn't! I have been seeing a chiropractor now on and off for almost 7 years! I won't be without one! Tell the chiropractor about your knee too!!! They could be related. I had that problem too.... and it was all resolved by the chiropractor! Doctors will order tons of tests.... may even say surgery.... chiropractors won't. They will adjust your back and make it 100% again. It will be better for you and cheaper in the long run.

[Happy Canuk]

Hi. I agree with the poster above. I have had a bad back for over 30 years. Had surgery 23 years ago and now have arthritis in the lower back and hips. I have been going to the chiro right along. My last chiro has been simply amazing and I have gone from being really disabled to just disabled That pain is very unpleasant and could be from a disc. Disc's don't show up on a normal xray. Ask to see a specialist if it persists.

[hefty1]

try doing stretching exercises for your back. glen

[Mel]

And add strengthening exercises for your lower back and abdominals.

I have several clients (I'm a personal trainer) who have been told by their doctors that their last hope before surgery is to try to alleviate pain by strengthening their backs. Some of them have severe sciatica as well as lower back pain. They've all seen marked improvement since starting a resistance training program designed to help their specific problems.

Mel

[mscat816]

All of your comments have been very helpful! Thanks to all who posted!

[No, I'm Sweet Tea]

Hi mscat - welcome! I feel your pain.

Last Nov. I found out I have a herniated disk in L4/L5. I don't have much back pain other than a little stiffness in the morning but I have horrible aweful leg pain from the sciatica that is caused. I just finished 5 weeks or physical therapy. I showed no improvement really but those excercises I had to do may be what you need before your situation gets worse! As Mel stated, they are for strengthening your lower back and stomach - because your lower back carries all of your weight these excercises could be really important to you (and to ALL of us). Even tho the physical therapy didn't help me as the Dr and I had hoped...I still do these excercises twice a day. Maybe talk to your doctor about some physical therapy - it could nip your problem in the bud before it gets too far!

Good luck and let us know what happens ok

[carla49]

Hi Mscat. Another thing worth trying is acupuncture, especially if you can find a doctor trained in China.
I did go to a chiro for a long time to try to fix my sciatica. It didn't help, and I've been a little wary since because before I gave up an adjustment caused a new (temporary) back injury. I do have friends who have used chiros who don't crack your back, and who have been helped a lot. The advantage of acupuncture is that if it doesn't help, at least it does no harm.
The exercise/physio route can also be very helpful if you're not a quitter like me. Pilates for strengthening your back is good too. I was very bad at Pilates (they didn't actually hold me back to repeat, but...), but plan to go back and do the intro course again - it's quite gentle, progresses very slowly, and really helps to isolate and strengthen core muscles.
Another weird possibility: in some cases the pain is caused by an imbalance like legs of slightly different lengths. If that's the case, orthotics in your shoes can help, or at least wearing supportive shoes and not going barefoot.

[No, I'm Sweet Tea]

Carla makes a good point about shoes. The first time I saw my physical therapist, one thing she said to me was "let's talk about these shoes!" My tennis shoes were wore out, and the cheapy kind. Once they are wore out they don't give you the support you need and that also contributes to the back pain. Get some good, comfy tennis shoes - it will make atleast a slight differnce. My choices are Addidas and Asics as far as comfortibility.

Also, watch your posture. I am very bad about this. I'm a graphic designer so I sit at a desk behind a computer 10 hours a day and my posture is far from good. One thing that helps me sit up correctly at my desk is to put a box (or something) under my feet so that is brings my knees upward.

[lilmommy2]

Hi!
I'm new at this..but here goes, I also had back surgery a couple of years ago and I too am working on my weight. I had a herniated disk in my lower back and it feels better than what it did before I went in for surgery but I still have some problems with it like when I stand up too long or sit too long. Also if I push myself and do too much around the house or exercise. I find that sleeping on a heating pad at night and also right before bed I soak in a hot bath, as hot as I can stand it. It loosens up those muscles right away!!
I was also diagnosed with premature heart disease...I am only 25 years old!!! Does anyone know of some good exercises that are somewhat easy on the heart??

[Tani]

You've gotten some good advice already, but I thought I'd chime in too.

I have a (long) history of sciatic problems so here are some things that have helped me.

Keep up low/no impact exercise, it really helps to stay active at whatever level doesn't cause more pain. Walking and swimming work well for me. The worst thing I've found for back pain is inactivity.

When you have an acute episode of pain, icing the area for 20 minutes or so can really help a lot.

A really good stretch for sciatic pain is the one where you sit on the edge of a chair and cross your ankle over your knee. Put a little *gentle* downward pressure on your knee. I do this multiple times a day, even when my back is behaving and it really seems to help keep things loose.

Strength training exercises for your abs and lower back will help a lot but be sure to ease into them very slowly so as to not cause further injury (I learned this one the hard way) Never start up new exercises while you're in acute pain.

I hope you feel better soon. Backs are such tricky creatures!

[dee53]

Originally Posted by lilmommy2

Hi!
I'm new at this..but here goes, I also had back surgery a couple of years ago and I too am working on my weight. I had a herniated disk in my lower back and it feels better than what it did before I went in for surgery but I still have some problems with it like when I stand up too long or sit too long. Also if I push myself and do too much around the house or exercise. I find that sleeping on a heating pad at night and also right before bed I soak in a hot bath, as hot as I can stand it. It loosens up those muscles right away!!
I was also diagnosed with premature heart disease...I am only 25 years old!!! Does anyone know of some good exercises that are somewhat easy on the heart??

Hi mommy,

I too have mitral valve prolapse syndrome (irregular and premature heartbeats) and without the Toprol I'm on ... it really bothers me ALLOT!

I also produce too much andrenaline, and the Toprol cuts that down and so it helps with the palps.

I lost 50 pounds 5 years ago by walking every day 2-3 miles a day, and eating lower fat ... and the heart didn't bother me much at all, of course, I was on the Toprol too. Before the med, I had a horrible time and it made my life miserable ... but now I do most everything, and besides an occasional skip or pvc .. I'm fine.

Just wanted to share...
Hugs,
Dee

[Claire de Ravin]

I hurt my lower back/butt area horsing around with my friends - I fell pretty hard. Now it hurts sometimes to do curl-ups. I am going to try the shoes idea, I don't know why I do exercise barefoot. And I'll try the stengthening back exercises. Thank you for the tips, this site is very helpful and encouraging!

[curlylocks]

shew when i read these posts i just say a prayer and thank the big guy that i found an excellent surgeon.. i had 3 herniated discs and had all 3 repaired and fused with bone paste... (lumbar laminectomy) 135 staples to close the site..

the dr said he had never seen so much arthritis in a 40 something.. he removed it.. I have not had any pain since waking up from surgery.. I was very blessed to find such a wonderful doctor! he didnt do a zillion tests.. just 1 mri.. and series of xrays... said this is whats wrong... and we can fix it!