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

hello young humanoid. hows the back? have u been using this site long? had many conversations yet? i havent - so please reply!!!

My back is okay thankyou, sorry about the timewarp.

My, what a quiet corner this is.

Funny the things you turn up when you're looking for some advice about a bad back...

~A~

My advise to you if you have a recurring bad back is to make sure that you actually do have a bad back, in my case, I didn't, I had somthing with similar pain and I spent five years in agony until someone thought to question the diagnosis.

In my case I had other symptoms such as the pain growing forward from my back and down that was put down by my doctor as pressure on the nerves by the back problem as it turns out I had "classic" kidney problem symptoms, one kidney removal later and I only have the odd twinge like everyone else.

Unfortunately, my back problem is a 'classic case for prolotherapy' according to my back doctor. It all makes sense... horrible, painful, long needles in the back-ligaments type sense.

But at least there is hope now.

~A~

Good luck with your treatment!

During the course of my "back problem" I seen 2 GP's,2 physiotheapists (1 NHS the other state-of-the-art private), 2 chiropractors and a chinese medcine practitioner.

I had all kind of potions and lotions, various kinds of needles in my back (some with a current accross them, one even had some burning herbs attached to it)

I been twisted pulled and streched in evry direction and even had some electric pads attached to me that moved the muscles deep inside my back.

Still I'm almost pain-free now!!!

Good you're feeling somewhat better.

I really hope this treatment will work, cos it won't be fun. The prognosis is supposedly good, but we'll see.

Right now, I'm sat here in so much discomfort, and I've been sleeping really badly too, which is making me a bit , then you have the lovely BBC treat you like dirt, and you wonder why you bother...

~A~ Depressed Winged Equine

One thing that may help you out is an over-the-counter non-prescription tablet called cuprafen its just a really high dose of ibuprofen that lasts for eight hours (word of warning make sure theres somthing in your stomach when you takes it, otherwise your stomach could hurt as much as your back).

Ibuprofen is good because it reduces inflamation which is usually involved in the pain of bad backs.

Of course as anyone can read this I must say that I am not medically qualifyed and therefore cannot be held resposable for my advice, so feel free to ignore me etc. etc. etc..

Have you always worked for the BBC or were you with h2g2 when it was independant.

I get high dose Ibuprofen on prescription, although I do try to confine it's use to times when my back is noticeably inflamed (which seems to be happening more frequently again over the last month or so) The last thing I need is a stomach ulcer too, and I do ALWAYS make sure I eat something before/with the Ibuprofen, which can be difficult at times.

When you say 'work' for the BBC, I assume you are referring to my 'voluntary' capacity? I've been with h2g2 for... well, a long time. Wait! I've just checked, and I've been here since August 1999! ...about four months after the site started up... and as soon as I found out about it's existence! A lot of water (amongst other things) has flowed under the bridge since then.

Recent events have made me question my decisions. Of course, if I was actually employed (in a fiscal way) by the BBC, I suppose I would just have to 'grin and bare it'!



~A~

Typical me,

two and two equals five.

I understand you frustration I've been lurking here for a long time and at the moment it feels like they are trying to turn a chorus of colourfull voices into a safe monotone drawl.

I guess all we can do is subvert them by creating quirky little articals that'll never be accepted but just might add a little flavor.

Whilst we do our back excerises, eat veggie burgers and enjoy odd brit sci-fi about a bemused human in a universe very alien to him!!

I've always felt very akin to Arthur Dent... and I didn't even have to leave this planet to do it.

~A~

Ditto, my friend, ditto.

PS Have you tried combining codine with the ibuprofen?

Very very rarely. I have been given Cocodamol by someone else, when the Ibuprofen didn't hit the spot, but I don't generally buy it myself.

Excuse my poor memory, but are you a member of HVS? You mentioned veggie burgers. Please do join our party to celebrate National Vegetarian week, over at HVS: http://www.bbc.co.uk/h2g2/guide/U144422