Anyone know what do do with a strained back?

[ShinerTX]

I made the classic mistake today: I lifted a box that was too heavy the wrong way, and I think I seriously strained the muscles in my lower back. Dumb! This is the first time anything like this has ever happened to me.

Does anyone know how you normally treat it? Right now, I'm wanting the pain to go away, but I'm afraid that I won't be able to walk tomorrow if it gets really sore tonight.

What are your favorite remedies for a strained back?

[KitchenWitch]

1. Ice it for 20 minutes every hour

for 4 hours, then use a heating pad. If you are inclined, take 400 mg of ibuprofen every 6 hours.

[hippiechick]

2. Muscle relaxers.

Drugs, man. :)
Or a warm bath/heating pad - to keep the muscles loosened up.

Then go see a chiro in a couple days to make sure you haven't squished any discs.


:hippie:

[Vincardog]

3. Get thee to a registered Massage Therapist. Then a HOT soak

then to bed.

[seriousstan]

4. Percocet

COOOOOOL

[merwin]

5. Masage therapy combined with chriopractor n/t

[Mr.Green93]

6. Flexeril

The wonder drug.

[Dora]

7. Arnica and acupuncture

Arnica gel, ointment, or homeopathic tablets. I swear by it, it's an amazing remedy for muscle aches and pains. If you have a store that sells herbal medicines you should be able to find it. I use Boiron brand gel, and I've also seen Arniflora brand on the shelves. Boiron also makes the tablets, and those are great too, especially if you can't reach the sore sport to rub the gel on.

If your back does go out, the arnica will help with the pain, but don't push it. I also recommend acupuncture. My husband's back went out a couple of years ago, and after three months of chiropractic treatment, he was still having problems. He visited an acupuncturist, and after three visits his back had dramatically improved. He also used the arnica tablets, especially when he was on a gig (he's a drummer) and they helped a lot. He's given the tablets to other back-suffering musicians, and they always come back wanting to know, "what was that stuff again?"

Alternating heating pads and ice packs can help too.

[bettyellen]

8. you do the heat first, then any massage and/ or stretching,,,

initially this should just be massage, or lacking that, a good soak with lots of epsom salts or an epsome soaked rag rapped on a heating pad.
then after that, you do the ice/ ibuprophren for 20 minutes to keep from getting too swelled up and stiff. repeat every few hours, the ice is important. it's awful, but you need to.

[MikeDuffy]

9. You probably dislocated your sacroiliac joint! Easy fix if so!

You need to have someone pull your legs (one at a time, alternately, about 4 times each to be sure) at the knee while you lie on your back, with the pulled leg about a 45 degree angle from the floor. Pull hard enough until you begin to slide (but not so hard that it hurts). I know a lot about problems of the SI joint, because I have had the condition myself. For more technical info that you may care to read, see especially http://www.kalindra.com/rounds.pdf and http://www.kalindra.com/faq.htm.

Please let me know if this seems to have corrected your problem. If this is your problem, correcting it NOW rather than months later (like what happened to me) will likely prevent it from becoming a chronic problem.

For others reading this, please REMEMBER this and the fix, in case it happens to you or someone you know...

[ShinerTX]

10. I just bought some of those Ben Gay sticky pads

That's putting some heat on the area that's hurt. I've heard good things about acupuncture, and there is a place near my house. I might have to try it if this doesn't clear up quickly. Just about every move I make hurts like hell.

More drugs....

[MikeDuffy]

13. Where is the pain located?

If it is no higher than your hips, then my previous post (9) may apply.

[Bertha Venation]

11. REST. And see a doctor.

Rest -- preferably in bed. It's the only thing that works for me.

:hug: It's miserable, I know.

You should probably go see a doctor, too.

[hangemhigh]

12. After 3 back surgeries from doing the same thing once....

Here's my top advice:

Use ice and pain medications

Walk some, but not if it worsens the pain

Rest

Do not have chiropractic manipulation done (this can exacerbate a herniated disk)

Keep your body hydrated.

Don't rule out that a more serious injury may have occurred. If your pain continues and increases, by all means, get to a neuro surgeon for an evaluation. Surgery is not the first step in treating a bad disk and there is relief available. Many friends have successfully treated the pain from this type of injury with holistic foods and medicines and acupuncture. I don't rule it out at all. And none of them have a back full of titanium rods like I do now, I might add.

Just pay attention. The pain from a strained back can last for some time but if you are paying attention to supporting its recovery, it will decrease and diminish over time. If it doesn't, you may have just learned to lift with your knees the hard way, like me. I'm counting on that not being the case for you. Now go and rest!

[Moderator]

14. Locking.

DU is not really the best place to get advice for a potentially serious musculoskeletal injury. Please seek out a qualified medical professional, like a chiropractic physician or a medical doctor, or go to an urgent-care facilty or your local emergency room for acurate diagnosis and treatment.

I am sorry you're in pain, however.

:hug: