Back Problems (what do you do?)

Off-topic
1

So somehow and for whatever reason twice since November I have had back problems

The 1st was so bad i barely finished an 8 hour shift, yet Miraculously the next day I was basically 100% healed

The 2nd happened yesterday and I’m still dealing with it today

I have never had any back problems that were worse than just having an overly stiff and therefore painful back, but right now it feels like my back is almost locked in place

Any time I move too much one way or the other its painful unless I move in a very stiff way that allows the center of my back to not move too much

Are there any things I can do to loosen my back up and stop it from locking up in the future?

2

when it feels good, get regular exercise, gentle stretching practice good posture while standing and sitting.

When it is acutely sore, use ice and alternate with heat. Finish with heat.

see a Dr. if it keeps happening, he will most likely have you go to PT. They will have similar but better ideas.

3

You may want to get it looked at as I’ve had back surgeries. It could be a pinched nerve but you need to be examined by a neurologist not a GP

4

Properly hydrated? For many people, back muscles are among the first to sieze up when dehydrated. A long time ago, on a bike camping trip, I got behind on water intake during a 140 mile day. When I bent over to crawl in my tent, my back seized up. I couldn’t even crawl in the tent, so I spent the night outside on the ground. In the morning, I could move well enough to get to the water spigot. Once I had a few quarts in me, I was OK, and able to put in another long day in the saddle.

5

I dont think I was dehydrated as I have a 32 Ounce Water Bottle I refill sometimes 3 or 4 times a day

It was probably a combination from my employer starting up this pre-work stretching thing and too much moving around too quickly because they were cracking the whip for us to go and sort Rusty/Moldy cans in a hurry before they resumed production

6

See a doctor if you can.. I did not have a doctor believe me how bad i had issues till I had this done:

Discogram | Cincnnati, OH Mayfield Brain & Spine
A discogram is an invasive diagnostic test that uses x-rays to examine the intervertebral discs of your spine.

normal xrays don’t work well and MRI is not much better, though both can detect abnormalities, but you need the above to really get a full idea what is wrong. Back issues are def on and off and there is no “healing” from it.

other syntoms is pain streaming down your arm, leg, feeling awkward/numbness in hands/ feet/ toes, etc. What you get exactly is actually a clue what the bad area is. my bad l4-l5 causes pan to shoot down my legs at times and some weird numbness in my feet from the l5-s1 issue.

7

The only way I have been able to manage my back pain is Pilates. Find a good teacher either on the ‘reformer’ (youtube it) or mat classes. Wife isaddicted and I do 3 times a week, makes you feel good all over and you ’core’ being strong is what you need for every movement.