What are some home remedies to relieve back pain? I've been having a lot of back pain this week..it's mostly lower back pain but sometimes the upper back hurts as well. I even woke up once during the night bc of it :/

[Sabra]

Hi,

If you aren't seeing a doc, you can try Nsaids. They help with inflamation and pain. You could try sleeping with a pillow betwen your knees if yoy sleep on your side.

Sabra

[avlady]

i have degenerative disc disorer, and sciatica pain. I was in pain for years but it got so bad i had to have it checked out, MRI, CAT scan x rays, that is how i found out about the problem i was having. I was prescribed hydrocodone, and i can't move to get out of bed i the morning unless i keep a pill next to my bed and take it half an hour before i can move slightly to get out of bed. Sometimes i wake up in the middle of the night and am in extreme pain, until i can get back to sleep if possible, and if not i'm up at 4 in the morning, take my pill then and am not in extreme pain as usual, but the pain is still there but less.I wonder if plain aspirin would help you, if it's not extreme pain.

thank you sabra and avlady. aspirin didn't help..i will see if an anti inflammatory med will help. thanks again for your help

[Leed]

Hi Chocmouse ~ Be careful with Nsaids -- make sure you have something on your stomach.

If this doesn't work, and the pain doesn't go away within another day or so, go to the doctor and ask him to do an MRI of your lower back. You could have some disc issues which CANNOT be seen by X-ray. So make sure he runs an MRI with and without contrast material. That will show everything -- both the bone and the soft tissues, which an X-ray cannot show.

Let us know what happens, ok? Best of luck & God bless. Hugs, Lee

PS -- you can get a copy of the report too of the MRI. If you want to post it here, I can help decipher it for you.

[(JD)]

From what I've learned (through my own injury/accident) is that my back pain (from a myriad of physical damage) is increased if I fail to keep the hamstrings stretched! It also increases if I don't maintain a "neutral" spine position (good posture). Work on those, keeping chin tucked in, a slight pelvic tilt and not leaning on one leg or the other.... and lie on your back and stretch your legs one at a time til you feel the hamstring stretch a bit... take time and over time work it so you can bring your leg closer and closer to your face (or at least 90 degrees from your back???)

I have a full typed page of things I do to help me manage my pain; not all is from the lumbar issue though.

Ice or heat. But only apply for 15 minutes at a time, and then off at least 15 minutes. Otherwise the body builds up a tolerance to where it won't help at all.

stretching, as I said.

use a tennis ball between you and the wall as you stand and massage your trigger points...for the low back you can begin at the dimples above your buttocks (that's where the horizontal ilia bones are....and they can cause real aches.)

Breathe. Clear your mind or think on nice fun things. Stress tightens muscles, which can pull bones out of place!

I have a TENS unit for some pains.

I also use herbal remedies... such as calming herbs valerian, passion flower or other assistive herbs like ashwagandha (all MD approved for me and use)
Ginger also helps ease pains (even migraines)...ginger in any form!

Thank you so much for your help.
@Lee, I am not a fan of MRI :} I'm scared of being in small spaces. I had one done once and..it was enough for a lifetime : )) But thanks so much for your advice. I will make sure I eat sth before taking NSAIDS.
@(JD) Thank you very much. I will try out some exercises once I can move more. I slept with a hot water bottle yesterday night and I feel better today. Still can't bend down or turn to the side..I'm starting to think I'm doing weird contortions when I'm asleep..Otherwise I can't explain why I get these backaches every now and then. I also get some backache from moving furniture or carrying heavy stuff but that is usually tolerable. A few months ago I woke up and I couldn't move at all and I ended up staying 3 days in bed. Maybe I need to move around more during the day so I stop moving during my sleep :} Again thank you for all your great advice.

[Mah1028]

I have been saddled with lower back pain for years and only recently have been able to control my pain. All along I knew, in the back of my mind, that it was a stress induced pain.

The hardest part about tackling the back pain, for me, was getting to the point where I was willing to try anything, but didn’t want to go under the knife. Then I read Dr. Sarno’s books on tension myositis syndrome. It changed my life.
I have been able to help 3 of my friends and realized I could help more.

Thanks and love this board

[hamster-bamster]

Use your computer on the floor. Park far away from the destination. Do other such things to limit the time spent sitting. Do some web searches for prolonged sitting and backpain.

[yellowted]

I have degenerative disk issues throughout my whole spine, a prolapsed one an two herniated ones too causing three nerves to be impinged sligtly and some muscles around my spine to be weakened too, as my legs don't work i have no choice but prolonged sitting, i find co-codamol 30/500 along with a high setting tens machine to be the best relief from the pain. swimming also helps even though it is just my arms propelling me

[Shiny Things]

I get relief with epsom salt soaks and drinking lots of water.

Thanks for all your useful answers (hug)