How can I get rid of back pain without forking out money for a masseuse?

If you played a lot of sports in high school, especially contact sports, you can have disc problems that may require surgery. Age is not a factor in back problems. However, if your muscles are that hard, it’s likely that it’s caused by something that you are doing.

If you spend a lot of time at the computer, odds are your chair and the height/placement of your computer is wrong for your frame size. I have one chair in my kitchen that when I sit on it and work at the computer, when I stand up, I physically cannot walk for about 45 seconds until my frame adjusts to being upright. Like trying to run in running shoes that are broken down, poor or wrong equipment will cause physical pain.

I would suggest taking a yoga class, concentrating on core exercises, and look at getting an ergometric chair if you spend a lot of time on the computer. Hot showers should help with the tight muscles, as well as spending some time away from the computer.

Some doctors believe that you should work on strengthening your core muscles. (Abs, Lower Back) I have had terrible back pain ever since I was young and the best thing I can tell you to strenthen you lower back is the Superman Stretch. Lie on your stomach and raise you hands and feet off the ground like superman and hold it there. Then turn over and do six inches… both are an easy way to strengthen core muscles. Plus what Pandora said above Yoga is the BEST and HARDEST workout I have ever done, But the payoff is huge.

I would consider (even though it costs money) seeing chiropractor. They will give you exercises for your back plus analyze why you are having the problems in the first place.

You should check with a doctor first, but I started to have back pain when I was around 24 too. (middle to lower back) and I started to practice yoga. I never had done yoga before, but after a few months my back pain went away. I think it strengthened and stretched my back muscles….No more back pain- and probably the greatest thing I could have done, cause yoga is now such an important part of my life and I credit it to helping me being as healthy as I am now. I am in better shape now than I was in high school!

But yoga is not for everyone or for every pain——and remember that if you try it- yoga is just as much doing as not doing if it hurts don’t push it

Oh, and as far as expense- I bought yoga DVDs from a used book store (although I would recommend taking a class so that someone can help you with the basics if you’re a newbie)

I just Googled “back exercise techniques” and several good sites came up. This was one of the better ones. I was given many of these same exercises by a chiropractor and I think you could try them safely without a doctor.

I think there’s free yoga on-base here, it couldn’t hurt to try (so to speak), but i’ll talk to a doctor first.

Yoga and flexibility will help you age well. Which is a weird thing to say to a 24 year old, but if you cultivate good flexibility habits in your 20’s, it’s a whole lot easier to maintain them than to try to cultivate them for the first time in your 50’s. “The days are long, but the years are short.”

Exercise is a good idea, depending on exactly what issues you have, but you really should speak to an expert.

DO NOT TAKE MEDICAL ADVICE FROM THE INTERNET

In a country where most of us do not even cut our own hair, why do we expect free competent advice from other amateurs on the internet? Every suggestion on here has worked for someone. The question is, will it work for you? The issue is not WHAT WILL WORK? The issue is WHAT IS WRONG?

I started using a chiropractor when I was 30 and have used many since then, usually with superb results. But I don’t have a bulging disk or other serious disk problem. I would try the chiropractor first, but get a full explanation first of what is wrong. It’s going to cost something. What is your back worth? If he wants to put you on a long term regimen, go to another one. Get a referral if you can.

I’m in the Navy, so seeing a doctor isn’t a question of money. I scheduled an appt. for Tuesday.

@plethora I cut my own hair…

@bolwerk & @plethora I agree to some extent that you shouldn’t rely on medical info on the internet, but it helps to use it to supplement medical advice. My husband has been to several doctors lately who made major mistakes in the amount of prednisone that they prescribed. (one just called it in to the pharmacy wrong- and another had him taking too much of it for too long) I caught the mistakes b/c of internet research that I did on my own. Yes, go to a doctor, but I m so frustrated with the way the medical field is going (lack of concern,carelessness and treating people like objects) that I will not just take their word for anything, nor will I soley rely on the internet. Good common sense and doing my own research is the way to go.

@unused_bagels glad you scheduled an appointment. Hope you feel better soon!

@KhiaKarma I“m with you. Unless or until the medical professionals have as much to lose as I do if they f*ck up, I’ll stay on top of my own medical treatment. And that includes a butt load of internet research for me.

Maybe you could get a script for muscle relaxers? That’s happened to me in the past, but after a couple of days on muscle relaxers it finally went away.

I’m glad that you are seeing a Dr. soon.
A comfort measure that I often use is to sit in a recliner, with it all the way reclined. Then stretch and raise your arms up over your head and relax them there on the chair and try to relax your back as well. This seems to take some of the pressure off of my aching back.
Good luck

@unused_bagels Good for you…my son is a Naval Officer and he tells me Navy medicine is not the greatest in the world. He is always cautious with the Navy docs and asks them every question 4 different ways to squeeze out an answer he feels is halfway right. Don’t let them dismiss you or mishandle your complaint just because they are a doc or an officer (if you are not) Best of luck.

@KhiaKarma You’re right. I mis-spoke. Internet research is a good starting point and even our advice can give some guidance as to where to look. Sorry. Thanks for the correction.

I am going to throw my yoga hat in the ring here too! Sitting at a computer all day and tie your whole body in a knot particularly because of the tension in the shoulders. I am sorry I don not have the time to go into detail but take a yoga class or at the very least do these simple exercises on this link Not the most informative but it hits the nail on the head as far as what you can do yourself to counteract the stresses we inflict upon ourselves.

I know if you try any of these you will see for yourself the tightness in your muscles and ligaments and these yoga moves will help you unwind all this tension! Good luck!

Trouble is, I work at a computer, in a space that isn’t mine. I can’t buy a chair, it’ll get wrecked by everyone else.

@plethora I usually don’t have trouble with hospital corpsmen, and rarely see actual medical officers. While they have sick senses of humor, and are rather irreverent, I usually can get what I need from them, and if you seem cool, sometimes they hook you up with stronger (or just more) meds.

I think people don’t ask enough questions when it comes to medicine. Doctors aren’t gods, and aren’t always right. This is usually why I hit up the internet first, to get at least a feel for what might be going on.

Put a towel down on the floor and lay down on your back. Bend your knees and pull them slowly to your chest as comfortably as you can. Shift your weight from side to side, slowly. Release your knees from your hand or arms and slowly roll your back down, straightening your legs. Push your stomach muscles towards the floor, scoot around if you need to feel the small of your back feel as close to the floor as possible. Repeat a few times and if you can do this after a bath soak or at least a shower then it will feel even better.

@unused_bagels Great,,,good luck

Get yourself a date with this lady.

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