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Thread: Back problems

  1. #1
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    Back problems

    Just after some general advice really.

    Nackered my back in the gym about 3 weeks ago. No signs of any problems, had been squatting & OHPing fairly heavy without any issue. Then was warming up on bent over rows, bent down to lift weight from floor (I'm conciosu of keeping good form, so no rounding), as I arched my back and went to pull I got some sort of pop/crack in my back.

    Stiffened right up after that, struggled to bend over, pull on socks, shoes, etc.

    Got worse next day so went to a Physio. She said released all of the muscles that had gone into protection mode, said I was pretty inflexible (hamstrings mainly), gave me some exercises, etc.

    After a few days I felt a lot better, not too much pain bending down, etc. Went back for another session and found that I only really had pain when sitting/bending, and trying to lift one leg. She did a little more release work, gave me another exercise and that was that.

    Then, Friday, I was bending down in garden adjusting gears on a bike, and my back crapped out. Very sharp nervy pain. Since then, it's getting worse again.

    If I'm sitting and lift one leg I get a very sharp pain. Yesterday at work, I was just crouching working on a machine, and I started to get the sharp pains again. Same later that night crouching.

    Now I'm left with a back that feels generally uncomfortable all the time.

    I'm now in a wonder of who I should continue to see to get it sorted. Initially I felt it was muscular, so went to see the Physio. She sorted out my stiffness, but now I feel like I'm left with the initial problem, whatever that may be.

    The sharp shooting pains are causing me to think it's misalignment (Physio said I had a step at base of spine, but said it wasn't uncommon) and that really I need to see a Vhiro or Osteopath.

    Part of me says go back to the Physio again, explain it's getting worse and does she feel I need to see someone else. Or, just bite the bullet and go to a chiro or osteopath.

    Trouble is, I can't afford to keep throwing money at it without getting any better.

    Anyone got any advice?

  2. #2
    Guest scrapchallenge's Avatar
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    if you have the money then a chiropractor or osteopath is MUCH better than a physio. NHS "Physio" actually made my back WORSE (and he couldn't care less about it), for a while I was seeing a chiropractor but as it's not NHS, and I'm skint on incapacity benefit, and my compensation STILL hasn't been sorted out over 2 years on from the accident, I couldn't afford to carry on seeing him. (Or I should clarify, Matt was paying for me to see the chiropractor, and he can't afford to carry on paying for me) It WAS helping, but of course since I had to stop going I've just got worse again.

    You could see your doctor too about pain relief. I'm on codeine phosphate, paracetamol (being asthmatic I shouldn't have ibuprofen), and robaxin methocarbamol, which is a muscle relaxant, which is the main thing which provides relief when my back goes into spasm - the codeine on it's own won't fix the pain.

    Once you've seen your doctor to find out what is going on then get onto a chiropractor or osteopath, but make sure they take spinal x-rays to identify exactly WHAT has happened in there. Mine showed up a step in my lower back, scoliosis (which WASN'T there before the accident) - a left curve in my lower back and a right curve in my upper back, plus the whiplash had straightened out the natural curve of my neck, which puts pressure on the spinal cord.

    Once they've worked on you for a few months they will re-Xray you and you'll be able to see visibly what improvement has been made to your spinal curves.

    Don't let a lazy doctor tell you your spinal curves are normal without an x-ray because honestly they can't actually tell without one. I've seen my x-rays for my self from my chiropractor and can SEE the faults, whereas 3 idiotic doctors (2 of them government DWP ones) have taken a quick glance at me, fully clothed and stated that my spinal curves are "normal" when they are quite clearly not Yup, I'm sure they have x-ray vision

    Anyhow, hope you get it sorted and don't end up like me, time is of the essence - the longer you let your back stay misaligned, the harder it will be to correct, you need to get the muscles and ligaments back in alignment asap before they set where they are, which is pretty much what has happened to me thanks to useless NHS GP's, who just tell me it's tough luck and I'll just have to put up with being on painkillers for the rest of my life because they can't be bothered to refer me to an expert.

    Kirsty

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    Sorry, should have said - this isn't an NHS physio.

    I have no real interest in going to a GP and waiting weeks & weeks.

    This is a sports injury clinic that was recommended to me by a friend.

    She did say that the misalignment could only be confirmed by an x-ray, and even then, an unweighted x-ray.

    I agree that I need to get some x-rays or MRI scan sorted, just not sure how to go about it. Can private physio/chiro/osteopaths refer you for scans?

    I had a similar issue last year (same are, slightly different symptoms) and I didn't see anyone, but it played me up for a long time (at least 6 months). I'm pretty active, play football, gym, cycling, etc so this time I didn't want to be out of action for too long.

    Trouble is, 3 weeks on and I'm really getting down about it now, as I can't handle bending down without a weight, let alone getting in the gym and squatting & deadlifting again
    Last edited by Hallsy; 30-06-2010 at 10:26.

  4. #4
    Guest frisbee's Avatar
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    I would go to the GP, yes they may not be able to do much but you should be able to get a referral to a specialist.

  5. #5
    Guest scrapchallenge's Avatar
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    I was fortunate that my chiropractor (back to health chirporactic in Ealing) does his own radiolgy and they have x-ray equipment on site, so you don't have to wait for a referral.

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    I see you are not too far away from me so I can thoroughly recommend Braintree Chiropractic and Back Pain Clinic.
    I had a problem with my shoulder which has been sorted completely with a course of treatment.
    Bubble himself, is an on going patient with a neck problem caused by whiplash injuries. He will tell you that his condition improves after a visit to the clinic.

    I can recommend you ask for Dr Marcel Morelli who knows exactly what he is doing and the surgery is thoroughly equipped.

    If you are intersted, tell them Sharon and Geoff Boston recommended the clinic to you.

    Braintree: 01376 349400
    Colchester: 01206 577000
    Stansted: 01279 815336

    www.greatback.co.uk

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    i got whiplash -

    ignored it then one day simply couldnt get outta bed and could barely move or walk.

    i went to a chiropract who worked wonders although sadly is still a problem. sleeping can be uncomortable and it goes very still if i lean over the engine bay for exampl... im 22 and may go backk from more treatments.

    get it sorted as soon as poss. deffo go to uyour GP

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    As you said, you are not interested in going to the GP and waiting, I know I didn't want to wait in pain.
    Go ahead and book yourself into a clinic with a Chiropractor and not an Osteopath.
    If you ask nicely, some clinics may give you a card which allows you your first consultation free.
    I know both Bubble and myself did not pay for our first visit. It included a complimentary initial assessment which lasted over half an hour.

  9. #9
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    Quote Originally Posted by HoneyB View Post
    I see you are not too far away from me so I can thoroughly recommend Braintree Chiropractic and Back Pain Clinic.
    I had a problem with my shoulder which has been sorted completely with a course of treatment.
    Bubble himself, is an on going patient with a neck problem caused by whiplash injuries. He will tell you that his condition improves after a visit to the clinic.

    I can recommend you ask for Dr Marcel Morelli who knows exactly what he is doing and the surgery is thoroughly equipped.

    If you are intersted, tell them Sharon and Geoff Boston recommended the clinic to you.

    Braintree: 01376 349400
    Colchester: 01206 577000
    Stansted: 01279 815336

    www.greatback.co.uk
    THE BRAINTREE ONE

    thats who i went too i think!!!1


    +1 on recommendation - amazing stuff

  10. #10
    Guest Rude Dog's Avatar
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    I have back problems and if you have an alternative line of treatment then take it.
    I've seen 2 G.P.'s, 3 physiotherapists and 2 specialists.
    The 1st G.P. told me to pull myself together and be a man.
    The second referred me to a physio. The physio wasn't interested so after 10 weeks I went back to the G.P. and he referred me to a pain management specialist who then referred me to another physiotherapist. 2nd course of physio later, back to the specialist who said he couldn't do anything for me. After kicking up a stink he eventually agreed to give me spinal injections so I had 2 in my spine and one in my neck, which didn't help as they were all in the wrong place. he again told me he couldn't help so sent me back to physio.
    The physio took one look at my records and couldn't believe i'd been sent back to them!
    So back to the specialist and I insisted on a second opinion. The surgeon decided to send me for X rays and an MRI scan and after 3 years found out the problem. He offered me a spinal injection in the right spots which helped but has since worn off and he promised if the injections didn't do much this time he'd fuse my spine. Went to see him last week (exactly a week ago), explained that the injections helped short term but that was all and was told to come back in 3 months and if it hasn't improved he'll give me another injection! Seriously the NHS is shit! My back makes me so miserable some times and i've been on painkillers for so long they hardly work now and have to take sleeping tablets just to sleep or drink heavily in the evening either of which leaves me feeling tired, grumpy and awful next day. I get no enjoyment much from life as I'm very limited as to what I can do, can't get a job as no one wants to employ me with all my problems, and don't really have a passion for anything anymore. Sometimes i'm amazed my wife has stayed with me!
    If you have a bad back and can beg borrow or steal the money to fix it then do it! What really pisses me off is my Mum and Dad are pretty well off and have never offered any help at all. If one of my kids was ill and I could help I would! Its taken me three and a half years just to decorate my house and I still haven't finished due to my shit back.

  11. #11
    Guest scrapchallenge's Avatar
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    Quote Originally Posted by Rude Dog View Post
    I get no enjoyment much from life as I'm very limited as to what I can do, can't get a job as no one wants to employ me with all my problems, and don't really have a passion for anything anymore. Sometimes i'm amazed my wife has stayed with me!
    +1 HUG for rudedog, I know exactly how you feel. I can't get damn work either, stuck on incapacity benefit but I hate it, I WANT to work but it's so difficult trying to find something I can physically do which I am also qualified to do. I've tried to improve the situation by doing extra training and qualifications but it still isn't enough, I still need extra qualifications which I need to be physically fit to do - I'm not, so I can't, so I can't get a job. And yes I HAVE been trying. It's bloody depressing. I can't do so much stuff myself and have to ask for help for the simplest things that I used to do no problem - I used to be VERY physically fit and extremely strong (I'd out arm-wrestle most guys ), used to literally lug bales of hay and sacks of horse feed around two at a time with no problems, but now I feel as helpless as a damn kitten

    If I do overdo it by lifting something I shouldn't do, or doing too much physical stuff like bending and stretching, or stay still for too long, I'm in agony, have to take my medication (I try not to unless I REALLY have to because it's unbearable, to try to keep them effective, but also because I have to pay for my prescriptions because I'm on incapacity not jobseeker's or disability allowance), and I have to try to make them last as long as possible as I just can't afford to buy the medication all the time. Once I've taken them their effect means that I can't drive so get stuck at home, and as I live in a remote village where public transport is just about non existent it gets damn lonely. I can either drive, or have pain releif, not both.

    So, we're in the same boat together rude dog, don't despair, you're not alone, I'm sure you'll manage to get something eventually, we've just got to find out what! PM me if you ever want to have a whinge or rant, I don't mind hearing you out.

    Kirsty

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    Thanks for all the advice guys

    I'm in nowhere near the amount of pain/trouble that Kirsty & RudeDog are in - at the moment it's just stopping me doing things I enjoy, fortunately I'm not in enough pain throughout the day to turn to painkillers, although I very rarely take anything anyway. I guess all I can say is hang in there, I hope things improve for you both.

    I've got another session with the Physio in morning as my back felt terrible earlier today (eased up throughout the day though).

    HoneyB - what sort of cost per session is the clinic you mention? I'm definitely interested

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    Hallsy if you first click the link I posted above, then click on the yellow Braintree practise tab you should see clinic tariff just below the pictures. The first consultation fee is about £50, treatment fee will obviously be dependant on what you need done.

    www.greatback.co.uk

  14. #14
    Banned bobbitt's Avatar
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    plenty of rest.. get massages and no gym!!!

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    Flamethrower SteA's Avatar
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    Find a decent practioner (Sports Rehab / Sports Physio / Chiro with an exercise rehab approach or who works with someone like that) who not only provides manual therapy but also exercise rehabilitation. The long term outcome is the most important, so make sure you understand exactly what the practitioner is doing and why. I would would also suggest, that excepting very specific indications, scans / X-rays will be a waste of time... more than 80 percent of the spinal patients we treat are failed patients that have come from a variety of practitioners, the thing they tend to have in common is a narrow, frequently dogmatic, focus with a poor diagnosis and an emphasis on immediate symptomatic relief and not long term outcomes. The practioner should also care a great deal about every aspect of your life including the exact details of your exercise (including checking form etc), social and work history.
    Currently scrabble powered - Leon Cupra 280

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    Banned sideways14a's Avatar
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    I hope the OPs back is better after all this time. Mine aint though :-)

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    Flamethrower def's Avatar
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    I do like a good squat now and again
    Last edited by def; 11-09-2020 at 12:11.

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    Banned sideways14a's Avatar
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    Yeah i doo like a good shit

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