Ouch! Back Pain - HELP!

I've been through the PT route for upper back pain. nothing they did made the pain any better. finally went to a chiropractor. after a whole series of x-rays he finally adjusted my back. WOW! instantly better. it took several months to get it to stay adjusted. the key to this is a good chiropractor will take x-rays and possibly an MRI BEFORE adjusting anything. he should understand the problem and if chiropractic adjustment can help or harm. stretching, strengthening, and massage along with WATER, WATER, WATER should also be used

Water
Yoga
Rolfing
Cranio-sacral
Solitude
Release

A few months ago, I faced the same type of problem. I was suffering from my lower back pain seriously. I went to the doctor. He suggested me to do MRI. After that, he found a little disk bulge problem on my L3-L4 lumber area. He advised me to do some back exercise and also advised me to use a good orthopedic mattress and change my sitting and sleeping posture. Still, now, I am almost free from back pain. I am doing the exercise daily.

If by chance your troubles are nerve related, hopefully not, but this: 

Jaaron Mankins wrote: I have had this same habitual problem return especially acutely this year. I take glucosimine (joint), and fish oil was recommended by my chiropractor. What helped mine the most though, was just water, water, water.

If it's just muscle strain in your back, no twingy shock like pains down you legs or other weird parts, then vitamin I and R&R.

Back and muscle pain can be mysterious and elusive. I use a multi mode approach; rest, ice , heat, ibroprofen, deep tissue mssage, stretching. If everything fails try asking a prescriber for prescription muscle relaxant like cyclobenzaprine.

I notice this thread is years old. What happened with original posters?

In this case, you should do back exercise daily according to the suggestions of doctor. A few months ago, I was suffering from severe back pain. After doing MRI, the doctor told me to do some simple back exercise. Also, he told me to use a spine mattress for better back support. I followed his advice and now I am almost good. I think, exercise is the great solution for any kinds of back pain. Thank you,

  
Ricky

Ricky Anderson wrote: In this case, you should do back exercise daily according to the suggestions of doctor. A few months ago, I was suffering from severe back pain. After doing MRI, the doctor told me to do some simple back exercise. I followed his advice and now I am almost good. I think, exercise is the great solution for any kinds of back pain. Thank you

I started doing light squats and it pretty much cleared up my persistent 10 year back pain in a few weeks. Basically I went o a knowledgeable PT and I forced her to explain the mechanics of it all, with that info I experimented with strengthening and found that squats with light weights and great form did the trick.

Paul Blais wrote: .... the key to this is a good chiropractor will take x-rays and possibly an MRI BEFORE adjusting anything. ...

Back problems can be extraordinarily painful and debilitating. Instinct says there must be something seriously wrong which should be fully investigated (personal experience speaking).

However research clearly demonstrates X-Rays and MRI are unhelpful unless the clinical examination suggest likelihood of significant pathology or disease. Over-investigation quite often leads to poorer outcomes as pseudo-diagnoses ("disc degeneration" "spondylosis") or false positives are identified which cause unnecessary worry and lead to an increase in unnecessary procedures. MRI or X-Rays will not diagnose >99% of people with back pain and will not change treatment in >99% of people. X-Rays should never be taken unless there are clear clinicial indications, such as fall from a height suggesting possible fracture. Clincial guidelines across many countries are very clear on this. Plane lumbar X-Rays expose you to a not-trivial amount of ionising radiation (about x100 the dose of a chest X-Ray). X-Rays should not be taken routinely prior to manipulation ("adjustment").

A good review of the evidence about X-Rays and scans here.

Declaration of interest: I am a PT and spinal pain researcher. I had a very painful low back for a few months in my early 30s but with time, keeping as active as reasonable, and doing my exercises I've had no significant problems for decades.  

[Edit: second sentence, clarification when X-Rays and scans are useful].

Ignore the fact its Loius CK ... but this is accurate

Similar story for me, slow onset lower back pain that just got worse for 3-4 months.  It got to the point that I had trouble walking standing straight up.  If this happens go see a sports medicine trained doctor, and quite possibly a surgeon.  I ended up having surgery to remove some exploded L5-S1 disk as it was wrapped around the sciatica nerve.  Felt better immediately upon waking up from surgery.  So, listen to your body if it still is getting worse even trying to stretch and do PT exercises go get help.

can occur due to several reasons such as injuries, work on desk or computer for a long time, lifting heavy bag, objects or weights, bad sleeping position etc. The exercise is a good way that relieves your back pain without taking any medicine. I am a back pain sufferer. I personally do exercise daily and maintain good postures while sitting and sleeping.