Lower back supports - do they work??!

georgiegirl

georgiegirl

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Would love peoples advice for someone who suffers lower back pain. My job causes a lot of it and standing for long periods or driving is really aggravating it at the moment. Im currently living life on a shed load of painkillers (not good when your mid to late twenties!) but would appreciate peoples views on back supports for riding and time out of the saddle to see if they help? (if anyone has any particular ones they would recommend that would be great)

Starting physiotherapy tomorrow so fingers crossed we will be able to make a start on fixing it rather than covering it up with the myriad of drugs that Im currently taking!
 
I started wearing one at the start of this year. Niggling lower back pain, aggravated after a fall. I also stopped doing jobs (mucking out and lifting water buckets etc). I even stopped riding for a month to give it time to sort itself out. Did eventually get better and I stopped wearing the support. It was quite a bulky one like a weightlifter one. I found this more supporting than the elasticated vertibax? one. You need to take this up with your employer though if your job is causing pain at your age. could be setting yourself up for a lifetime of backpain
 
I wont go into the details of my job (how boring!) but it does involve a lot of standing in one spot for a long time and a lot of lifting and pushing - incidentally we have been without the proper aids we should have for those tasks for months on end - it is an ongoing battle to get what we should need in order to do these tasks safely, however cuts are cuts and it seems its not being sorted out.

Its not so much lifting that seems to set it off - is more being stood or sat in fixed positions which is aggravating lower back 'bone' type pain and then the rest of the time its leaning or twisting which is causing muscle type twinges a little bit further up. As i say, hopefully the physio session tomorrow will help make some progress to sorting it out. It just seems for now my doctor is content with pumping me full of drugs (codeine, tramadol and diazepam - such a cocktail!) and masking the problem rather than sorting it out. I am still hacking out my horse and doing light schooling only (the doctor said this was ok) but not doing a whole lot else :(
 
showpony - whats dry needle therapy? is it similar to accupuncture? I asked my doctor today wether I should shell out on some sessions with a chiropractor but she said there was zero evidence it works and it would be a waste of money?
 
Hello. Sorry to hear you are struggling. I have a long term history of severe back pain including spinal op and am generally dosed up on painkiller, so can sympathise. I use a mueller back support as my physio said it was one of the better ones. It is very comfortable (although a little warm) and has wire supports (bit like a corset) which add to the support. My chiropractor, by contrast, seems more sceptical of supports in general. But the way I see it is that it FEELS like its helping, it stops the cold getting at my back (in winter anyway) and I dont think it harms. So I would say go for it. I assume you have already been advised to take frequent breaks when driving? I was told that people with back trouble must try to not drive or sit for more than twenty mins at a time. Have you tried ice packs? Have you had an mri? And, finally, have you seen a chiro? Sorry for the questions and realise I am going beyond what you first asked, but I feel like I want to share any tips I have with fellow sufferers as I realise just how dreadful these kinds of problems can be.
 
georgiegirl said:
showpony - whats dry needle therapy? is it similar to accupuncture? I asked my doctor today wether I should shell out on some sessions with a chiropractor but she said there was zero evidence it works and it would be a waste of money?
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Ah you posted this after my response. Doctors in general are very anti chriopractor (or certainly all of those I met have been). I have been where you are - gp happy to dose me up on meds but no one getting to the root of the problem. My chiropractor keeps me eventing. Undoubtedly without his help I would be stuffed. I dont care what the doctors say and I havent done any formal research myself, but my own experience has shown that some people respond well to chiropractic treatment, others do not. Personally, I dont respond well to physio and never got much from it. I have had great results with accupuncture, but the chiro is my main man!
 
Hi Fun Times thankyou for the reply.

No one has told me about breaks when driving. I have borrowed a car back massager from a friend so will see how I get on with that. Unfortunately my job requires that I often have to stand completely still in one spot, often for about 5 hours at a time (I am scrub nurse in an operating theatre) and the rest of the time involves moving patients from operating tables to beds and vice versa.

The only way I can describe it is my lower back feels squashed together. Its bearable (as long as im not stuck in one spot) but as I say sometimes if I do twist or bend the wrong way I do get shooting pains which really do hurt. Obviously not good when I have years and years left doing the job that I do and love - as well as not wanting it to affect riding.
 
Something else suggested to me is to work on your core muscles so that these are taking on much of the effort of holding you up and not just letting your spine do all the work. Not easy to do exercises if you are in pain though. Standing for long periods kills me - I try to keep thinking "bellybutton towards spine at all times " helps keep everything properly aligned : )
 
If you have to stand a lot, it may be worth you going to see a podiatrist as they may be able to give you specially designed in soles to help. The feeling you describe is how I describe my back when a facet joint has become locked. I also describe it as if I have lost my shock absorbers. Of course, it may not be that with you. In my case, chiro adjustment has always helped. Be careful with twisting though as I dont need to tell you that twisting and bending at the same time makes your spine v vulnerable. If it persists, you should push for an mri to rule out disc problems.
 
didnt think of it that way but thankyou Fun Times! For work I have to wear 'croc' type shoes as they are easy to keep clean for theatre etc but for months Ive been coming home saying my feet hurt, wether or not this is just due to long 12 hour days at work or if they are not right for me who knows? - it seems the back pain has come secondary to this. Perhaps the answer is in my shoes? I know through working in the NHS we can get access to the podiatry clinic. Might be worth asking the physios tomorrow.
 
Your description sounds like my back, Georgiegirl, which in my case apparently was a seized sacro-iliac joint with resulting loss of flexion. I've never tried back supports for riding, but I did build core muscles using yoga and bought an Acavallo gel out seat saver. The latter is critical for me, as I get unbearable pain without it. I also make sure I squeeze my buttocks when going downhill, to support my lower back.

Forgot to add, that I have to wear certain shoes, too. I started with custom made insoles, but hated them, so I'm just careful to keep 'pretty' shoes to an absolute minimum and only wear Ariats for riding. Don't know how you'd work it with your work shoes - i know the ones you mean as I used to wear them in the lab.
 
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I used to take tramadol like smarties for back pain until my physio got me into weight lifting. You need a weight lifting pt to teach the form and get you going, it strengthens everything whereas braces support but don't stabilise Or fix the issue :)
 
My biggest and best bit of advice for anyone in a desk/driving based job is hip flexor stretches. Lots of them. The more of the day you spend sitting the more your hip flexor muscles shorten. Then when you go to stand up, because your feet are fixed on the floor, the shortened muscles pull on the front if your pelvis, effectively shortening and tightening the lower back muscles. So you get this bottom out belly out posture with a really tight painful lower back. I have a prolapsed disc and resulting sciatica and the only thing that has given me relief is being religiously dedicated to doing the stretches. The last few weeks I haven't done so many and I'm in a lot of pain again. I also get chiropractic treatment which coupled with stretches really helps.

My gp tried to tell me I had pulled a muscle in my back. I will never trust a gp when it comes to back pain. Hopefully yours is better!
 
KatPT said:
My biggest and best bit of advice for anyone in a desk/driving based job is hip flexor stretches. Lots of them. The more of the day you spend sitting the more your hip flexor muscles shorten. Then when you go to stand up, because your feet are fixed on the floor, the shortened muscles pull on the front if your pelvis, effectively shortening and tightening the lower back muscles. So you get this bottom out belly out posture with a really tight painful lower back. I have a prolapsed disc and resulting sciatica and the only thing that has given me relief is being religiously dedicated to doing the stretches. The last few weeks I haven't done so many and I'm in a lot of pain again. I also get chiropractic treatment which coupled with stretches really helps.

My gp tried to tell me I had pulled a muscle in my back. I will never trust a gp when it comes to back pain. Hopefully yours is better!
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I too have a prolapsed disc, I've had nerve blocks into my back for the sciatica but as I have a 1 hour plus commute to work my back is often painful. I do wear a brace for riding/skiing when my back is bad but as others have said it's more about warmth and the feel of being supported more than real help.

If I'm really 'locked' in my back I do find a hack sorts it for me, that's my excuse when I still insist on riding when I look like I'm struggling to walk!
 
I chipped a vertabrae in a silly fall many years ago and general wear and tear, plus a kick a couple of years ago......has left my back in tatters. I really rate the lower back support especially jumping downward banks!!!! It also reminds you to sit properly, well worth £30 in my opinion!
 
caileag said:
Something else suggested to me is to work on your core muscles so that these are taking on much of the effort of holding you up and not just letting your spine do all the work. Not easy to do exercises if you are in pain though. Standing for long periods kills me - I try to keep thinking "bellybutton towards spine at all times " helps keep everything properly aligned : )
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I think this will help, and I think things like riding are pretty good for the back as long as you are careful and your horse is quite sensible (sudden spins and jolts not helpful) Maybe some horseback pilates will be up your street, probably when you are feeling a bit stronger?

P.s. I almost posted horseback pirates, they'll be no help at all!
 
Post a couple of nasty back injuring falls I occasionally use a back support - sometimes for riding but always if I have to stand or walk for prolonged periods; it helps me no end.
 
I have ongoing lower back issues - a combination of locking facet joint, sacro iliac and sciatica - brought about by my general hyper mobility and a few crashing falls.

I spent a couple of years pretty much in permenant pain killers and wearing back support (prolite I found best). For the last 6 months or so I have been pretty stable, no painkillers and only occasional use of the support.

I've reached this stage by a combination approach. NHS spinal Physio, a Chiro who uses a variety of techniques (manipulation, fascia release, deep massage, acupuncture). Regular Pilates and really being aware of core stability the entire time. Also addressing my sitting position when driving (a change of car has made a noticeable difference) and investing in a decent office chair.
 
OP, i'm guessing your physio will tell you not to use a support. Using one will make you reliant on it, when what you probably need to be doing is building up your core strength.

I suffered from a bulging disc recently and was able to get over it pretty quickly by religiously doing the stretches and exercises that the physio gave me, taking glucosamine/msm supplements and moving around a lot.

I did buy a support (Professional's choice) and wear it every now and again (when i know i will be doing a lot of riding mainly) but I don't really think it has benefited me much.

As previous posters have said, look in to doing pilates or yoga, it will help a lot.
 
A lower back brace can be an effective element of a comprehensive treatment plan for certain spinal conditions and can provide support for the spine as it heals following back surgery. Also called a lumbosacral orthosis, or LSO, a back brace may be prescribed by a doctor

well if you have lower back pain then you can try a dry needling technique you don't need a lower back brace support dry needling therapy to remove your back pain forever.

Dry needling (DN) is a unique treatment option for low back pain. DN is a procedure in which filiform needles—needles commonly used in acupuncture—are used to deactivate myofascial trigger points (MTrPs). These trigger points are discrete, focal, hyperirritable spots located in a taut band of skeletal muscle. The spots are painful on compression, and they can produce referred pain, referred tenderness, motor dysfunction, and autonomic phenomena. you can check out more about dry needling treatment and their video here dry needling Perth and try it by yourself or concern with the specialist.
 
BrentRadford said:
A lower back brace can be an effective element of a comprehensive treatment plan for certain spinal conditions and can provide support for the spine as it heals following back surgery. Also called a lumbosacral orthosis, or LSO, a back brace may be prescribed by a doctor

well if you have lower back pain then you can try a dry needling technique you don't need a lower back brace support dry needling therapy to remove your back pain forever.

Dry needling (DN) is a unique treatment option for low back pain. DN is a procedure in which filiform needles—needles commonly used in acupuncture—are used to deactivate myofascial trigger points (MTrPs). These trigger points are discrete, focal, hyperirritable spots located in a taut band of skeletal muscle. The spots are painful on compression, and they can produce referred pain, referred tenderness, motor dysfunction, and autonomic phenomena. you can check out more about dry needling treatment and their video here dry needling Perth and try it by yourself or concern with the specialist.
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This is a 7 year old thread.
 
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