Ugh. Back.

[dreamshark]

I think I just joined the "my back went out" club. I've heard people talk about this phenomenon but it never made sense to me. What, you're just standing there and your back "went out?" Surely there's more to the story than that - lifting without bending your knees or something? The most common explanation seems to be "I leaned over to

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I think I just joined the "my back went out" club. I've heard people talk about this phenomenon but it never made sense to me. What, you're just standing there and your back "went out?" Surely there's more to the story than that - lifting without bending your knees or something? The most common explanation seems to be "I leaned over to <pick something up, whatever> and then I couldn't stand up again." That's pretty much what happened to me. I wasn't lifting anything, or twisting, or even leaning over very far. Got a stabbing pain in the very base of my spine as I started to straighten up. I continued to elevate my body to vertical and the pain spread upwards to encompass most of my lower back. WTF?

I've had sore muscle pain in the lumbar region before, even an occasional muscle spasm after exercising too vigorously. But I've never had pain at the base of my spine. And never had pain for no reason at all. It hurts when I stand up straight or go up stairs. Doesn't hurt particularly when I'm sitting or lying down. Icing it had no discernible effect. Hot bath made it feel better temporarily, but getting out of the tub made it start hurting again. Hurt even more after a night's sleep, but I think it's a little better now that I've been moving around. Or maybe that's the four ibuprofen talking. Fortunately I can sit and work at a computer with no problem.

I'm gonna take it easy for a day or two and see if it gets better. I know if I went to the doctor at this point that's just what they'd tell me anyway. Anybody reading this have any experience with backs that "go out?"

Comments

[skylarker.livejournal.com]

When I went to Becca while my back was out she warned me NOT to apply heat; there's some temporary relief, but the muscles swell and it makes things worse.

[chirosinger.livejournal.com]

1)Rest your back as much as is possible.

2)Put ice on the affected area for 15 minutes, take it off for half an hour, put it on for 15 minutes, etc as much as is possible, making sure you have something dry between you and the source of cold (towel, jeans, etc.) While icing may not make it feel better right away, it reduces any inflammation that is probably occurring in the affected joint(s). Heat can increase this inflammation.

3)Try laying on your back on the floor and pull one knee up towards your chest. Hold it there for 30 to 60 seconds. If it hurts more to do this, don't pull your knee quite as far up. Repeat with the other leg. Do this at least 3 times a day (more is better in this case.)

[davidschroth.livejournal.com]

I'd probably go with chirosinger's recommendations, but...

One of the things I found surprising is that the yoga pose Forward Fold has always helped a surprising amount when I had one of those my back went out episodes.

Surprising, because it's very counterintuitive to me that standing folded over would help my back pain.

[chirosinger.livejournal.com]

That pose is good because it helps stretch out some of your back muscles and your hamstring muscles which can contribute to the root cause of the back pain. Good suggestion!

[minnehaha.livejournal.com]

Listen to Becca, she knows this stuff. My chiropractor (who I just saw today because MY back is out, too) would tell you the same thing. Gentle stretches (not to the point of pain) are what's wanted. Also gentle activity like short walks and such. Staying immobile in a pain-free position and soaking in a hot bath will only make things worse and slow your recovery.

K. [Been There, Done That]

[dreamshark.livejournal.com]

So... we're all assuming that the root cause of the pain is ... what? Remember, I didn't do ANYTHING to strain or injure my back. If it's not an injury, why do I need to ice it? Can pieces of your body just pop apart spontaneously, causing enough internal damage to count as an injury?

I just hope it's not a disk.

[buttonlass.livejournal.com]

I think of injury as something abnormal occuring to part of me usually involving pain. By my version you have injured your back, healthy ones don't hurt like that.
What ever is wrong with it will make the nearby tissues and things mad because they will automatically try to adjust and adapt to the injury, regardless of whether or not it's their best idea.:)The ice helps with the swelling from such problems.
And yes parts of my body often spontaneously pop apart or at least pop out of the way they are supposed to be. That's why I see Becca sometimes. She makes the hurty parts stop.

[skylarker.livejournal.com]

I wasn't doing anything, either, when mine went out - just sitting. I think it was stress. Charleyhorses are evidence that muscles can go into spasm without provocation.

[dsgood.livejournal.com]

Sympathies and good wishes!