Preventing Back Pain (In Humans)

ElphabaFae

ElphabaFae

Well-Known Member
Joined
3 January 2010
Messages
683
Location
In a house
Visit site
I'm going to go and see the doctor about this anyway but is there a way I can prevent lower back pain?

I seem to have knackered the muscles in my lower back, which is pretty impressive considering I'm only 17 :rolleyes: But in 2009 I fell off the pony I was riding and landed sat down, which at the time wasn't that painful and I was just greatful I didn't land on my head which is what I normally do! However a few months later whilst at a working pupil place, I had a lot of lower back pain to the point that I couldn't bend down to pick out feet or even sit down on a sofa without being in pain. I went to the doctor and they sent me for x-rays incase it was within the bones, however the x-rays were clear and it was diagnosed as muscular. They gave me some painkillers and a few months later I was ok again.

Anyway as of yesterday my back appears to have gone again :rolleyes: I was digging up ragwort at my work experience placement and 2 thirds of a field in, my back just went. So now I'm on pretty painkillers again and using Deep Heat Muscle Rub. But even sitting down is painful :(

So is there anything I can do to help? Maybe a back support if I am doing digging or something? Someone suggested acupucture, anyone have any success with that? Just to say again, I am going to the doctors again but I thought asking on here might also be helpful.
 
I was out hunting one day and fell off(too much port) I also landed sat down.
Like you at the time it didnt really hurt.Then for some reason it really started hurting,and i still get flare up now.
The physio gave me exercises to do,and the most useful one is when you are mucking out etc....make sure you make a consious effort to use your stomach muscles.It really does work
 
You need to utilise your abdominal muscles more - the best way to strengthen them is to take up pilates. I started 8 weeks ago and already I am getting relief in my lower back and I am considerably older than you are!!

I know it seems pilates is the flavour of the month but it really is effective!
 
I have had back problems since I was 14 due to lots of riding and trampolining - both are not good for your back. Pilates has worked best for me and although I still have a bit of pain after bending down lots, I'm ok the rest of the time. At one point I had pain all the time apart from when I was curled up in foetal!
 
Ha this ones drummed into us at work.

1/ Lift with legs. Bend your knees not your back

2/ keep your shoulders hips and feet inline before lifting

3/ keep the object close to your body

4/ If lifting something heavy like a bucket. Don't put your opposite arm out the side like most people do, but hold your palm on your thigh and imagine it's glued there. Your spine will be straight.

5/ Increase core body strength. (google for the best exercises)

6/ Don't twist while lifting.

Just remember to always bend your knees. Your back muscles are tiny compared with your thighs. I hope you get over this. I know lots of people with bad backs and it looks like misery.



PS a back support will weaken your back as you'll start to rely on it. Instead you need to built up strength and let your body support itself. A back support is very short term. It will probably stop you bending for a few days though. Have you seen a doctor? what did he/she say?
 
Last edited:
Pilates!! But you need to attend at least a couple of classes as there are right and wrong ways of doing the exercises, and if you do them wrong you are wasting your time

Does work though
 
I've done acupunture and didn't notice much difference. A side effect is tiredness - to the extent that as soon as the pins are out you want to go to bed!

I echo what others have said - you need to strengthen your stomach muscles. Exercise balls can help with this too. I use my Wii instead ;)
 
I've had lower back pain which was triggered from falling off I think about 2 years ago. I went/go to the chiropractor and found out that my hips/shoulders/back are all wonky and she put them back straight again. It really worked and the pain went for a long time after just a few sessions.

It was brilliant and whenever I get back pain again I book another appt and it seems to work although riding and poo picking are the worst for setting it off again. I have been told that my muscles are very weak which is half the problem and that if you have one the Wii is very good as said above.
 
I have had accupuncture on my back which I loved, but it only helped for 2-3 days, then I was hrting til the next session.
I now go to the osteopath who is putting my right. my muscle are all out of sync since my accident so she is working on them and I can defo feel a difference. I see her once a fortnight, and find it really worth while.
 
Thank you for all the replies :)

I will look into finding a pilates instructor around by me :) I do have a Wii Fit so I'll do a bit of yoga on there for the time being, once I'm in a little less pain as even sitting down hurts at the moment :(
 
regular sports massages (once every 6 weeks) have taken my lower back pain from 'i cant move' to 'hardly feel it at all, ever!'

they can really hurt, but in a good way!
 
Always_A_Moody_Mare said:
I've had lower back pain which was triggered from falling off I think about 2 years ago. I went/go to the chiropractor and found out that my hips/shoulders/back are all wonky and she put them back straight again. It really worked and the pain went for a long time after just a few sessions.

It was brilliant and whenever I get back pain again I book another appt and it seems to work although riding and poo picking are the worst for setting it off again. I have been told that my muscles are very weak which is half the problem and that if you have one the Wii is very good as said above.
Click to expand...

Ditto this. I go regularly, every 6 weeks i think but she will squeeze me in before if i'm really bad. I can actually feel when my back/pelvis etc is out now. She tests me now before she starts. hehe :D Core exercises very good too.
 
I feel your pain. Sometimes it just 'goes' (often bending to adjust the taps in my shower!) and then I'm in quite a lot of pain for the next few days/weeks. Yours might not be from the fall though - I don't think I had one thing in particular that triggered it, it's just dodgy then gets triggered either randomly or by a fall or too much poo picking - that's a killer! I've heard good and bad things about osteopaths, I've heard they're not really a long term solution so I just concentrate on good posture and very careful bending down. I think with these things prevention is better than cure if you can, just change your habits/methods. Hope you feel better soon!
 
I've been in pain for months from this, im always falling off so can see how I triggered it! It wasnt hurting me anymore but I wasnt very flexible at all so I had a shiatsu session and it feels wonderfull now! I'm only 17 too and after alot of older people who riding telling me to get it fixed now I made sure I did!
 
Def pilates - I've had a bad lower back for years and after years of chiro, Alexander technique and god knows what else pilates is the only thing that allows me to have some say over how my back feels day-to-day!

Find a good instructor who can pinpoint your particular problems, and one with small class sizes. Have an individual session as well to get a home programme designed that works for you specifically - makes you much more motivated to do it!
 
I have exactly the same problem - I've strengthened my core under professional advice and management, bend with my legs not my spine, and listen to the niggles. When I feel my back start to ache, that's when I stop volunteering to do heavy things like the hay and do the lighter work instead e.g. rugging up. Prevention is better than cure, but heat always works for me: ibruprofen and a hot water bottle, or deep heat if I'm out and about. There's also lower back heating packs you can get, which when I finally own horse I think I'll have to purchase, especially for the winter.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Top