Bad back?

Bad back? Yes. Many years and still suffering. Started at age 23 when my sit Ups went wrong. The worst of the pain was the sciatica is caused, literally could not sit in a chair- lost my job, had to leave uni, went back twice only for my problem to resurface. Spent 5 years and only managed to do 2 years of the course....

Back on track a little better now, to the point I can play football and referee matches when I have time.

The key thing for me is to make sure I don't get slack on myself. Physio helps. But don't stop just because it feels better. Look up core exercises on YouTube. Start basic, work up from there. Better posture will relieve so much pain.

CW, my mate hurt his back, getting up off the couch. It developed, through aches and pains, to the point 4 years, and one operation, later, where he is in the process of being medically retired, all at the grand old age of 47. He made only one or two dubious decisions about exercise, when he thought he was getting better, but other than that he couldn't help it or stop it getting worse. He went through all the stages you have, but is now about to enter the last phase, whereby he is attending a pain management course, for about 3 months.
The only advice I would recommend is to always think of yourself in stressful, or physically demanding  situations, and always keep the long-term prognosis in mind.

Get a decent chair. Sitting looking at a screen even for short periods has a negative effect on the back. I got one of these,and it was well worth it.http://www.losethebackpain.com/bestchairforbackpain.html

BB, I just looked at the advert, and it seems pretty good. Where did you get yours, and at what cost ?

Brother brought it back from Canada,cost me £300 . You might struggle to get one over here,but I'm sure there are places that do similar chairs. These might be OK.http://www.back2.co.uk/Office-Chairs-c10/

As you can see Glos,the only problem with these chairs is the inflated price tag. But what price a pain free back? Hope you find something suitable.

I saw a really good spinal clinic guy. Can't remember his name but he teaches at Bolton uni in the spinal clinic there. He worked wonders. And it wasn't too expensive.

This might sound a bit daft CW but how old is your bed mattress? Anything over ten years old and you could find a change may give you some relief. I am speaking from experience on this one. A third of your life is spent in bed!?! Good luck.

Cheers BB, I shall bear this in mind, but am rolling along reasonably well with visits to the chiro just now. I've sent the info onto my mate.

Sk, you're right about the mattress too, but make sure its a memory foam one.  

Soul Kitchen wrote:This might sound a bit daft CW but how old is your bed mattress? Anything over ten years old and you could find a change may give you some relief. I am speaking from experience on this one. A third of your life is spent in bed!?! Good luck.

We have a pocket sprung mattress, it's okay. I was going to buy one of those Tempur memory foam mattresses, until I saw the price tag!

Dreams or any bed specialist can sort you out with a mattress for dodgy back. The firmer the better I've been led to believe.

That's the ld way of thinking SK, (apparently). You can still get firm, but the memory foam allows for your body shape as well.

Groomer

Always like to be well groomed  

Culcheth_White wrote:Okay, I'm not getting any younger,(43) but I tore a ligament in my lower back (sacroiliac joint) around 20 years ago and it's given me nothing but trouble.

Back ache, sciatica etc. I don't really want to have surgery, but has anybody suffered with a chronic back injury? I have tried Physios's, Chriropractors and Osteopaths, but nothing works.

Any advice, would be much appreciated!  

* Urrgh, think I posted this on the wrong board, because of my back!

Breast reduction would help.

Are you dead Culcheth?

CW - Try sleeping on your back on a very firm matress. Took some getting used to and not a quick fix but worked for me.

CW spent all my adult life with a bad back,spent fortunes on Chiropractors etc etc but got diagnosed in Thailand while I was living there ( no jokes please ) and the Thai Doc said it all stemmed from the Piriformis Muscle. This holds lower back, hips etc in place and if for any reason this is damaged , inflamed etc etc  agony results. I now stretch lower back,tops of thighs etc etc as much as possible,daft as it sounds running up stairs works wonders,it pulls all the muscles connected to the lower back,back of thighs and buttocks all at the same time. Touchwood since I have used this as my principle exercise regarding stretching etc etc I have not suffered pain or discomfort to any great degree,bearing in mind I used to go to the Chiropractor at 85 euro a chuck in Portugal every 2 or 3 weeks. Might be something totally different in your case but ????