Back Pain.....?

Question

I am having really bad back pain in my middle back. I am going to a chiropractor and cant get back in there till next thursday. I was wondering if it is better to put ice or heat on my back to help the pain go away. Ive heard several different things and just want to see what is the best way to go about it. Anything would be helpful

Now it seems when i take any kind of medicine for it, I really dont see any kind of differance. And as for the girl who said go to a doctor... I have and he didnt do much to help me, he just sent me to physical therapy. And the person who said watch out for the chiropractor, I have only gone a few times and still not too sure if that is what I want to do. But thanks to those so far who have answered me. I really appreciate it!

Now it seems when i take any kind of medicine for it, I really dont see any kind of differance. And as for the girl who said go to a doctor... I have and he didnt do much to help me, he just sent me to physical therapy. And the person who said watch out for the chiropractor, I have only gone a few times and still not too sure if that is what I want to do. But thanks to those so far who have answered me. I really appreciate it!

Answer 1

Back pain had many many cause, usually it is located between the L4 L5 vertebra, but it really depends on age, what you were doing and if you have a history of osteoarthritis or calcium deficiency in your family. If you doctor is not giving you answers you need to see a specialist. i don't recommend a chiropractor if the cause is NOT muscular.

Answer 2

I get back pain as well, however mine is at the SI joint. But it does travel to the middle upwards to the top of my back. Until you can get to your Chiropractor, I would use heat in 15 minute increments. If 15 minutes is too short, them use the heat for longer, just don't fall asleep with the heating pad on or - Walgreens has a GREAT heating pad that automatically shuts itself off after about 30-45 minutes. I would highly recommend this one. Use Alieve and see if that helps alleviate your pain along with the heat. If heat does work try ice, though in my experience, ice has always made my back pain worse (but I don't respond to ice well - so try both see which you respond to the best).

Also try taking a soothing bath in warm-hot water. There's nothing I can suggest to place in the water to help with the back pain, except perhaps some relaxing lavender scent which will calm any stress you have. Reason I suggest this, is sometimes stress makes my husband's back hurt in the same area.

If nothing else fails, there are lotions out there that are like icy-hot. Wal-Mart sells an off brand that I absolutely love but I haven't been able to find it now since the move. All I can tell you is it's a green lotion with a green label and a black spout. It has a lotion with it usually for headaches. A lotion like this (or try icy/hot) massaged into the back gives the benefit of the coldness and heat with icy hot, (the lotion I described never turned hot on me but do note, icy hot never goes hot on me it stays cold) but you also get the benefit of getting the area massaged. Make sure you ask someone else to do the massaging, doing it yourself is harder to accomplish as most people cannot reach behind their backs (My joints are limber so I can).

If you continue to have chronic pain in your back even after seeing your chiropractor, your might need to see a different doctor. I sometimes get the nerves of my SI joint burned so I don't feel the pain, it lasts for nine months, but this is for more extreme cases. A steroid injection might be needed to loosen up the muscles.

Try the above ideas first and good luck, hope it get's better!

Answer 3

Muscles can have knots (trigger points) that make them tight which in turn put pressure on nerves and other things.

Molasses - a couple of swigs or Bananas 1 or 2 - both contain magnesium and potassium for muscles.
Try working with the principles taught in The Trigger Point Therapy Workbook by Davies.
I use a chiropractor and massage therapist with it.

Answer 4

I've had sort of the same pains...

I got "Biofreeze" ... I got the spray, but now I hear the gel is better. But eaither way, the spray I got works great! It smells a little funky, but if feels really nice. It's like an ice pack on your back, but better! I stongly reccomend Biofreeze for whatever pains you have, I had shoulder pains too from working out and used it there, and they went away!

Heat hardly works for pains... that's more for long term things
Cooling works a lot better, and this stuff is great

I got mine at www.amazon.com, but you can also get it from www.biofreeze.com and order a free sample I think

good luck!

Answer 5

Hey, if you can, find a bar or something that you can hang from.

make sure that you get your feet off the ground and just hang by your hands for about 3 or 4 minutes if you can. This will strech your back and let whatever is pinching a nerve. This should relive the pressure on the pinched nerve. If that is the problem.

Answer 6

I went through some really bad back pain last year and this guy I knew came over to me and told me he can stop it! He took his two thumbs and put pressure on the lower back on my spine. He had his fingers rested on my waist as he applied pressure for one minute. When he stopped it was a miracle, it was gone!

Till this day, I do this to people who have bad back pain and I really can't believe it, but it works! I am truely amazed!

Answer 7

If your back is swollen use ice. If it's spasming use heat. Motrin will help because it's an anti-inflammatory. Use some stretching exercises also. Just minor ones, you don't want to injure yourself anymore than you are.

Answer 8

I suffer with back pain and found a nice long soak in hot bath tub usually helps.
If you put ice on it, it'll only tense you up making any back pain worse.

Answer 9

i think heat works better and i have experience because i was in car accident and my back is really messed up i also think that you should stop going to the chiropractor because when he is cracking your bones they are getting use to it and as the years go by your back will become worse and i heard that when you crack you bones that they decay faster i hope i have helped if you come up with something better please let me know cause i think i need help in this area as well

Answer 10

try whatever feels best...sometimes a nice hot bath and you can stretch ur muscles out is all you need!!! have u tried ibprophen? i can upset some peoples tums so watxh b4 taking it!!! try to relax, get someone to rub it...have a bath...take the tablets and try a vodka or two (only if you are aged) sometimes all you need is to loosen up!!!