 Poster: A snowHead
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shovelling snow today, and my back has really let me know (laying on floor typing this )
hopefully amonsgt the masses of knowledge out there will be a fantastic sollution that will have me fit and raring to go with in 2 weeks so that i enjoy my holiday ??
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Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
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Sorry for your pain
I am no expert but I always bring DIPHENE on my ski hols (I have suffered a lot with my back),You need to take a 2 week course so I would get some now at the docs and then only if needed bring another course with you.
I don't know why but I also find if I drink loads of water my back improves,
Also... Glucosamine and chondroitin , cod liver oil supplements
Good luck
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Well, the person's real but it's just a made up name, see?
Well, the person's real but it's just a made up name, see?
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Chiropracter or osteopath, depending on local recommendations!
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You need to Login to know who's really who.
You need to Login to know who's really who.
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Hi,
Deep muscle massage.
Cold compress tonight, then hot compress tomorrow.
See osteopath.
is it your lumber or higher up? - do you have pains in your legs?
Dave
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Anyway, snowHeads is much more fun if you do.
Anyway, snowHeads is much more fun if you do.
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Another vote for seeing Osteopath. A good one really can work miracles.
Assuming you haven't done anything serious, you've got plenty of time to get it sorted ... 
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You'll need to Register first of course.
You'll need to Register first of course.
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Drugs
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Where do you live?
If you live in London or even not and can travel then look no further than Torben Hersborg @ http://www.london-osteopath.com/
Absolutely incredible bloke. Don't worry about the fact that he sees celebs / major sports stars. He sees "normal" people too !!
Having seen many different ones the moment I had a session with Torben then all others were rendered terrible !
He's about £50-55 a session.
Alex
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You'll get to see more forums and be part of the best ski club on the net.
You'll get to see more forums and be part of the best ski club on the net.
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Last time my back went, Doc prescribed Diazapam and Cocodomol. (my back tends to go into spasm in the lower back muscles). Drugs worked a treat, and the Diazapam ensured i had one of the least stressful weeks at work for a long while ! ( I have both left and will be taking them away with me boarding in case of problems !)
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I had the same problem in October, the week before a mega expensive corporate golf weekend in Portugal.
A friend gave me a TENS machine and it worked brilliantly. I even played golf wearing it and had no pain at all with full movement. I hadn't believed these things would work beforehand but they are really good.
That said, they are no alternative to getting seen by a professional.
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snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
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sev112, drugs + physio or maybe osteo - chiropractic has no recognized mechanism of acting
maybe you need to strengthen those muscles to prevent probs in future?
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And love to help out and answer questions and of course, read each other's snow reports.
And love to help out and answer questions and of course, read each other's snow reports.
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For short term relief, my GP prescribed Diclofenac Sodium, a strong anti inflamatory (pain killer?). I've never tried it yet but I am about to buy Voltorol which I can buy over the counter, some say it's better than Nurofen/Ibuprofen/paracetamol.
I don't like taking "drugs" but I don't like missing my skiing.
I found pysio only relieved the situation for a very short time. You should try and get advice from a back specialist.
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Pain killers, Anti inflams (poss stomach drugs to counter effect of Anti Inflams), physio and gentle exercise (walking, swimming).
Probably best to see your GP to get the full strength smack!
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You know it makes sense.
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Diclofenac Sodium can upset your stomach that's why you have to have them prescribed and follow the dosage instructions.
Having read the posting from "bar shaker" I have just ordered a Tens machine from Lloyds Pharmacy which are on special offer, I think it is worth a try.
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Otherwise you'll just go on seeing the one name:
Otherwise you'll just go on seeing the one name:
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Something that works for me is pressure (and I mean REALLY HARD pressure) on the muscles around the point on the back where it has seized. You need an assistant for this, preferably of a burly or sadistic persuasion (eg wife), and get them to put ALL their weight on the spot using their elbow or thumb. This releases the muscles which have gone into tension because of your fear of movement. It is only a temporary fix, but it is instantaneous, and will get you off the floor and moving again so you can hit the medicine cupboard. Other things are ibroprufen/anti-inflam gels and heat pads (you can get bags of wheat/maize (?) which you can heat up in the microwave that are great for this).
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Poster: A snowHead
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This book has had some good recommendations on here.
Product Description
Synopsis
This easy-to-follow patient handbook which has sold over 3 million copies and has been translated into 17 different languages provides the reader with an active self-treatment plan to resolve and manage back pain. Now in its 6th edition, Treat Your Own Back has probably helped more people achieve freedom from back pain than any other publication. Several scientific studies show that after reading and complying with information provided in Treat Your Own Back, patients experienced great pain reduction, reduced rates of recurrence of painful episodes and were able to prevent the onset of back pain. The programme of care described in Treat Your Own Back provides all the recommended low back pain treatment protocols as suggested in current international guidelines. Treat Your Own Back & Treat Your Own Neck have been awarded Gold Bestseller status in the Premier New Zealand Bestsellers Awards, accredited by Booksellers New Zealand.
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Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
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When lying on your back, bend your knees up to about 90 degrees or whatever is comfortable, and put about 3" of books under your head. It puts you in a much better position to reduce the stress on your back muscles.
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Well, the person's real but it's just a made up name, see?
Well, the person's real but it's just a made up name, see?
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First things first, is it muscular or skeletal? You may not know this without visiting a doctor/osteopath, and until you know which then I wouldn't dive into any particular exercises because the treatment and preventative measures will differ, and you may make it worse if you take the wrong action. If skeletal (slipped/herniated disk) then it will need specialist treatment, but if treated quickly and it's not too severe you might be OK for skiing, a similar thing happened to me a few years ago and I was OK after a few treatments in the 3 weeks before I went skiing. In the meantime, ibuprofen is your friend.
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You need to Login to know who's really who.
You need to Login to know who's really who.
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| Quote: |
I wouldn't dive into any particular exercises
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+1
With no offence intended to the other posters, I agree 100% with Dr John. Unless you know exactly what you're doing / what the problem is, personally I wouldn't start any self-diagnosis or treatment (apart from painkillers / anti-inflamatory drugs).
I always keep a stash of this stuff. Works pretty well for muscular strains/sprains.
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Anyway, snowHeads is much more fun if you do.
Anyway, snowHeads is much more fun if you do.
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I suffer muscular pain in my lower lumber region as well as sciatica. I've found that a good deep tissue massage works a treat for the muscular pain.....
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You'll need to Register first of course.
You'll need to Register first of course.
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Dr John, and others
Many thanks - it is muscular, as i have had it on and off over quite afew years now - working from hom thsi week from a crappy chair probably doesnt help it
Just exacerbated by shovelling snow
I've used many of the suggestions you have all made over the years - thanks for reminding me
In fact i bought one of theose wheat filled microwave bags this Xmas and i've just put it on ! Very good !
And teh "Treat your own back" book that kitenski, mentions is great : very interesting that the passive rest position that he recommends (on your front) differs from that which gryfon, (and many others) suggests
I guess the numbert of responses on this subject show that this is a common scenario - i just dont ever recall having it go into spasm so close to a skiing holiday before;
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Also, try and get a good recommendation for an osteo or physio where you're going, in case of annoyance while you're out there...
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I've just bought some Voltarol Pain-eze tablets from the chemist. The active ingredient is Diclofenac Potassium, basically the same as the Diclofenac Sodium which my GP prescribed last year. The Votarol is a 1/4 strength of the prescribed drug and comes in packs of 18 for £6. The prescribed drug came in a pack of 84 tablets and therefore was far cheaper when prescribed by a GP.
When my back is playing up I also use a "Microskin" Back Support which I bought from Snow and Rock, it cost about £50 but really helps.
I also use Cura Heat packs on my back/neck which helps ease some of the stiffness/pain.
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You'll get to see more forums and be part of the best ski club on the net.
You'll get to see more forums and be part of the best ski club on the net.
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If it is muscular then I would recommend a good personal trainer with a sports science degree.
For years I suffered with lower back back which would very, very occasionaly go into spasm. I treated myself to a course with a good personal trainer not in to sort my back but to improve my fitness and honestly I never have any pain at all in my back now, plus he sorted out my niggly hip which I just thought was wear and tear and something I had to live with. Much better than the nhs physio appointments I had which were absolutely useless and I did all the exercises she gave me!
Obviously go for the drugs now but it might help in the longterm.
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jo123,
youre not wrong ! this all started when i hit my 30s , i had stopped running/rugby/squash etc, at eth same time as the midriff started expanding. So weaker core muscles at teh same time as putting an increased eccentric load on my spine !
Trouble is that involves excercise, time, mental commitment etc etc etc which is why i like skiing - all teh excitement courtesy of gravity rather than exercise 
good point though
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snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
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sev112, as a regular practitioner of the rest position on one's back with legs at 90 degrees I am very curious about the rest position on one's front that you mentioned, could you please describe it.
Many years ago I bought a self massaging tool called the Backnobber II for my back, I find it very helpful. I always take it with me when I go skiing.
http://bit.ly/8DaIzQ
There is no easy cure for back pain....exercising (use it or loose it) is really the best long term solution, especially focusing on the core muscles. Pilates is very good for that.
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And love to help out and answer questions and of course, read each other's snow reports.
And love to help out and answer questions and of course, read each other's snow reports.
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sev112, Would echo the suggestion to see an osteopath or similar. I hurt my back a month or so ago and was in agony for over a week. Two sessions of deep tissue massage and some manipulation (with an osteopath) has fixed it.
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sev112, Would echo the suggestion to see an osteopath or similar. I hurt my back a month or so ago and was in agony for over a week. Two sessions of deep tissue massage and some manipulation (with an osteopath) has fixed it.
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You know it makes sense.
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some low back pain is linked to "trigger points" in the big muscles in your backside. get a tennis ball and try rolling it round against the wall, with your backside, using your body weight to get in really deep (a good masseur will do this, but costs a bomb). You might find very sensitive points, probably worse in one cheek than the other. Keep massaging them, several times a day, till the sensitivity decreases.
If you don't find any sensitive points then it's something else - but meanwhile you have spent no money, taken no drugs and done yourself no damage at all. It's worth a go (I find this usually does the trick with my bad backs, along with ibuprofen for the immediate pain).
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Otherwise you'll just go on seeing the one name:
Otherwise you'll just go on seeing the one name:
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pam w,
WOW !! You are brilliant - absolutely spot on - i got my wife to help out a couple of nights ago , and found a sensitive spot in teh middle of teh left buttock !!!
i will concentrate my efforts therefore on massagin my buttocks
snowman,
Came from the book "Treat your own back" as referenced above by kitenski, : it's aimed at keeping you back in its natural lumber position at rest, rather than sagging
Much improved today and yesterday - thanks all
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Poster: A snowHead
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sev112, I don't want to buy the book....a short description of the position would be appreciated. Thanks.
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Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
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snowman,
What the book works on in teh early sections is getting your lumbar position as natural and neutral as possible i recall
Resting position when in most pain, is to lie flat on your front with your head on its side; arms by your sides
Then after resting, the next position is to bring your arms underneath your chest, and rest on yoru forearms - this is an EXCELLENT position i find, because it allows you to read or watch TV (if you get teh angle right) and you can stay in this position for quite a while
The stretching and strenghthening exercises all work from these basic positions
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FAQ
