My backs been hurting bad! I am a vegetarian?

Question

So I drink a protein shake everyday and take a calcium pill and a multivitamin, and my back has been killing me lately. Are there other nutrients I am not getting in my diet because I am a vegetarian? I havent done anything to strain my back, nor have I slept wrong but I cant deal with this pain! Im not a big fan of tylenol and other pain relievers, I just like to assess the pain I am in and wait it out. Please help

Answer 1

I, too, suffer from a bad back so many years now, even before I became vegetarian. I have read that back pain is a fact of life because it's the result of our spine developing a complicated shape over the millennia of evolution. It is because the human race chose to be bipedal rather than walk on all fours like chimpanzees and other primates.

SO THIS PAIN IS NOT BEING CAUSED BY YOUR DIET.

I'd recommend you see a doctor because it could be a urinary tract infection; it could be lack of exercise, too. Abdominal crunches, surprisingly, have helped strengthen my back muscles to support my upper body weight. And don't sit too long! Walk around a bit after a couple of hours sitting down.

Answer 2

It sounds like you have some pressure in your back possibly from air in between the joints or calcification's. The chances of it having anything to do with your diet is very slim. It could also be muscle contractions from dehydration. I know from personal experience those can be very painful. Poor posture can be another cause. There are so many possible diagnosis here and your back is a very sensitive place that you really shouldn't gamble with solutions. Start by talking to your doctor. If the pain has lasted longer than a week it's serious and you should get a proper diagnosis. Make sure you are drinking plenty of water and limit your caffeine intake. It might also help to see a licensed massage therapist and chiropractor once every other month if it becomes a habitual problem. It's a smart choice by not using pain relievers. Only do so after you have seen the doctor or your symptoms could change and cause a misdiagnosis. If there is inflammation you could try applying ice for about 15 minutes three times a day. Ice is the best anti-inflammatory you can use. Good luck and I wish you the best.

Answer 3

There are lots of things your body needs. It's possible that you are missing something in your diet. Also, you do not seem to have a very healthy vegetarian diet if you feel it's necessary to take a protein shake, and calcium and vitamin pills every day. Do some research into vegetarian diet and find out what you're missing. Double check that the vitamins you're taking are complete. You may be lacking some of the mineral types. My dad had a Zinc deficiency some years ago, and it completely messed up his sense of taste. So make sure you're getting enough of everything. There are some things that humans primarily get from animal products, and only recently have alternatives become readily available.

I wish you luck.

Answer 4

Take the asprin... if not for the pain then for the anit-inflamation. your muscles have probably wrenched up tight because you either "pinched a nerve" or strained a muscle... It's your body's way of protecting the area while repairing the damage.
you didn't slip a disk because you were able to type this question.... and if you had you wouldn't have.

sorry, I didn't see the "lately"... it may well be what is listed in the top, if it is a sharp pain. if it is a dull aching pain that has gotten more severe as days go by... it could be a UTI and you will need to get and appointment with a doctor to clear it up. It is possible that your normal flora or immune system could have been compromised if you weren't getting the proper nutrition or starving yourself.... if what you have listed is "all" you consume in a day... no good.
As for your back... more info is needed but if it continues go to the doctor.

Answer 5

You could have a urinary tract infection or kidney or bladder stones. Check with a urologist if you suspect that .

If you do some repetitive motion (like chopping wood) then stop doing that.

Check with an orthopedic physician. If really bad, go to the ER, but you may have to wait a long time and pay a high bill with sometimes not much help (because they are on the lookout for people faking injuries to get narcotics).

Answer 6

We would not know what nutrients you may not be getting since we do not know what you eat but if you do follow a healthy diet plan, nutrients should not be a problem at all. Nobody here can diagnose you either..I really suggest seeing a doctor if it hurts that bad. It could be a pinched nerve or a strain if you moved the wrong way and did not even know it.

Answer 7

When you take calcium, you also need to take vitamin D, not D in a multivitamin, but one by itself. This helps the body absorb the calcium. Backs are nothing to fool with. If the pain is to the left or right, it could be kidney's. If it's in the mid section, there are all kinds of female things there. If it does not get any better, don't wait to see your Doctor.

Answer 8

You might try seeing a good doctor? Whatever part of it is hurting, maybe you have been using for lifting? Or maybe you need a more comfortable bed because of what you are doing to your back during the night?

I doubt vegetarianism has to do with it, but I figure vitamin B-12 is the most crucial vitamin for vegans.

Answer 9

The calcium pill could be your problem. Did you know some calcium pills are made from bone marrow? They extract the calcium from the bones. Avoid calcium pills and put arnica ointment and also drink arnica tea this should solve your back problem. If it don't there could be more of a problem and you should see a chiropractor!

Answer 10

I doubt your veggie diet has anything to do with your back ache.

A balanced veggie diet does not miss any protein or nutrients so going down the path of protein shakes and pills will not cure yor back ache ( as you are finding out )

See the doc for physio or other tests.

kidney infections can cause back ache but to be honest its likely to be muscular, you may not even be ware of when you pulled it.