h2g2 The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy: Earth Edition

So there I was, in the supermarket, doing my shopping.

I pushed the trolley to the checkout, stopped then...

Back gone. Not unloading the trolley. Not loading the conveyor belt. Not loading my bags. Not lifting the bags.

Just stopping my trolley.

Now I cannot stand straight, or walk faster than a shuffle. .

Yet I have work tomorrow, including the joys of drivers who know nothing of clutch control, lurching from stop to stop, climbing and descending the step of the , getting down the stairs to work.

But worse! I have to start packing all my belongings, but that includes carrying empty cardboard boxes home and for that I need my back back.

So!!! How do I start? What do I do?

Any suggestions? Please?

In anticipation.

MMF

Get thee to your GP, and get him to refer you to an osteopath. Does your medical insurance cover osteopathy?

RF

I don't know . I can only offer sympathy

It's happened me before, so I know what a bugger it is!

Painkillers can take the edge off it, but in the end I just had to stretch out on a hard, flat floor until it wore off. I've no idea how you would speed the process up. Is there any way you could postpone the move (and work) for a day or two?

If it's a muscle spasm, a long hot bath, or a heated pad, will help relax the muscles.

RF

RF. Done the bath thing.
Had great trying to get out. Undid all the good it did.

Worst part is I'm trying to save my job, which becomes redundant in Feb. and my health level is above average. Not to my advantage, so trying to avoid time off.

Thank you for your assistance. Really hope something comes up. Have a gig on Saturday, just to complicate things!

MMF

Some times the old cures are the best, make a mustard poultice but be careful not to burn your skin (most often used for chest congestion but a real muscle burner). Or go to the pharmacy/chemist and get one of the commercial *hot patches* (the bigger, the better).

http://www.yogawiz.com/blog/home-remedies/mustard-poultice-recipes-how-do-you.html

http://www.amazon.com/b?ie=UTF8&node=3763861

Otherwise, hot, cold, hot, cold with the cold lasting no more than 5 minutes and the hot no more than 10.

Good luck!

Sounds like you might have a touch of lumbago - it happens to me sometimes, so I know how painful it is.

I use this stuff (in spray form) http://tinyurl.com/38rtzyb , with mixed results.

Have you considered popping in to your local casualty department? They are likely to have you drop your pants, though...

I sometimes suffer from a frozen shoulder and got a TENS machine from the local chemist, not too expensive and extremely useful at relieving the pain and tension. I've used it on other areas (back, legs, elbows- I know, I'm falling apart!!). It's small enough to have in your pocket and you can hide it under your clothes. Definitely worth thinking about.

Hope you feel better soon. Back pain is really debillitating.

Doctor and an osteopath referral is a VERY good idea. Mine is private and costs me £38 a shot It's useful though.

I've ben recomended a TENS machine as well.

I found laying on my back on the floor with my legs up so my thighs were near enough vertical and my lower legs resting on a dining chair hurt initially but really really helped my back stop hurting when it was agonising the rest of the time. It was a position I could actually relax in and gave me some relief.

Hope yours clears up quicker than mine. Mine had me hobbling around like I had an invisible zimmer frame for a while!

Had a bad back (L5 vertebra is half the thickness it should be...)

All I can offer is:

1. Possibly don't waste your time and money on an osteopath.
2. Don't waste your time and money on a chiropractor.

Both the above will say they're doing something. In my personal experience they're both just relying on it getting better on its own. The osteopath I went to recommended/"prescribed" some homeopathic remedies for the pain. I didn't go back after that.

GP first. If they do refer you to an osteopath, that one might be better. But ultimately, there's hardly ever a quick fix. We feel your pain.

Mine assesses my posture, does some deep massage to ease the spasming muscles and prescribes some stretches and exercises that will help me to repair my own back and help to maintain it well.

Yes, some are woolier than others, but if it's a muscle spasm rather than skeletal, then there's no reason not to go. Afterwards, I find I have some mild bruising pain, but because my muscles aren't in such tight spasm, it's a small price to pay for being able to move again!

Go to a doc, get them to assess you. They will be able to advise whether it's clearly muscular or needs further investigation.

Oh, and get a sack truck for the move. Dont try to pick things up, you'll do yourself more damage.

Thanks Folks. Phoned who has prescribed painkillers, anti-inflammatories...

And walking. 15 hours on my back, in bed has helped. She believes it is a trapped nerve and will resolve itself (it had better!!!) or I'm to go back in a week. I have a seated job.

Robyn, I still have to pack, but will have three sack trucks by Saturday. I don't want to my helpers...

And I'll try out the cream, or nearest equivalent.

all.

MMF

Hi MMF. Sorry to hear about the back pain

If you're free on 22-23 October, then you could get yourself down to Olympia:

http://www.backshowexpo.co.uk/

My lower back spasmed around two months ago and trapped the smaller nerves in my hips (the ones that go into your thighs, not the sciatic nerve which runs to the ankle). I was prescribed much the same as you. Not too much sitting, rest and gentle exercise along with painkillers and a prescription for Diclofenac...

I went to the Osteopath after a few weeks of it not clearing up and he has really helped. It's not a miracle cure, but it helps and that's what's important and because they are trained specialists, they can see what might help in terms of strengthening your back against future injury as well as helping you to achieve mobility and hopefully less pain. I was able to come off the diclofenac after seeing the Osteopath, which was great because it was playing havoc with my internals!

Hot water bottle and Ibruleve gel. Or just the hot water bottle.

I use Movelat gel, it doesn't get rid of the pain completely but it really helps. If you were 'round the corner I'd drop some by.

I hope you improve for Saturday. No heavy lifting, mind. Leave that to your helpers, I'm sure they won't mind. Gentle

Nice one Maggie!
I think I still have some movelat somewhere... Maybe that'll take the edge of this. The pain killers and muscle relaxants, not so much right now

Another thing we use here, Jack, is Arnica gel. Hubby has MS and finds it really helps with his pain. We tend to buy it from QVC - the shopping channel* (don't ask, I don't ever watch it - hubby's mum used to when she was alive)


*other shopping channels are available

This thread caught my eye because I thought "Great - just what I could do with!"

As awkward as it is in your case, MMF, avoiding too much sitting, and walking around a lot instead, does help. But you have to be able to move first! Sorry I can't help with the flat-moving. I hope you have lots of nice strong people coming to help. It never rains, eh?

This slipped disc or whatever it was - it wasn't a result of all this stress by any chance, was it?