How to fix my aching back by friday

[megah0]

Folks I go away on holiday on friday.

Today after soldering for about half an hour hunched over my workbench I stand up only to collapse on the floor again as my lower back gave way.

The pain is.......excruciating, enough to stop me walking more than about 10 yards without grunting in pain and I have a high pain tolerance.

So, I need back pain remedies, please no drug advice as that kind of advice can be dangerous and I will ignore it.

[lynni]

rest, hot bath and pain killers

[Big RICHARD]

The lovin' of a good woman and a little deep heat afterwards will sort you out nee bother!

[megah0]

Things like deep heat are no use to me as I am allergic to some of the ingredients

[lynni]

Things like deep heat are no use to me as I am allergic to some of the ingredients

even sport muscle rubs?

[Big RICHARD]

I know you said no drug advice, but ibuprofen with paracetamol (which is totally safe taken together) will help. Ibuprofen to take away any inflammation and paracetamol as an extra painkiller.

One of the best combinations recommended to me by my doctor when I've had a bad back.

That is...unless you are allergic to either of these.....

[Jiff Lemon]

warm bath to help relax the muscles and reverse the arch. As you've been haunched over a bench, you may find it helps to lie face down on the floor, then arch your back up - hold your chin up with your hands and rest on your elbows - Classic TV watching position. Stay like that for an hour or so.

[megah0]

sprays, rubs, lotions, gels.

All make me go lobster red and in the case of deep heat my airways constrict and I then generally fall over whilst pointing at my kitbag which all my team mates knew contained anti-histamines.

Also violently allergic to Aspirin and I think its the salicylates in muscle rubs that set me off

[lynni]

I know you said no drug advice, but ibuprofen with paracetamol (which is totally safe taken together) will help. Ibuprofen to take away any inflammation and paracetamol as an extra painkiller.

One of the best combinations recommended to me by my doctor when I've had a bad back.

That is...unless you are allergic to either of these.....

You do need some kind of pain relief esph since u have said that you normally have a high pain threshold.... but i wouldnt use a chiropractor heard too many stories about how they make matters worse instead of better

Rest as much as u can, get a really hot bath with some pain relief that should help

[nichomach]

Go see the quack; I had a back flare-up last year (couldn't walk, basically), doc diagnosed sciatica (don't laugh) and got me some anti-inflammatories plus decent painkillers. I was pretty much OK in a couple of days.

[Stoo]

Are there any sports therapy places anywhere near you? (Yellow Pages?) They tend to be quite good

[megah0]

I had a nice long hot bath and took some pain relief. Feels somwhat better but still achey.

Thanks for the suggestions

[Devilbod]

Your best bet is to book an emergency apoint and see thge doc quick explain the pain and the holiday and he/she should give some pain control.
Other than that cold shower/bath then a hot shower/bath, one after the other might help a bit, ibuprofen is about the strongest over the counter pain relief for back problems.

If you have a freind that can give a massage then get them too it will help a lot.

But overall you best bet is the doctors, if it hurts a lot after walking then it could be one of the muscles in your bum, I pulled one after playing american football and it was very painfull and after a couple of days of not getting enough sleep and being in constant pain I final went to the doctors who gave me some rather good pain killers and then I had to do a couple of weeks physio at hospital who gave me some exercises that I still use today.

[Iain]

If it's a back injury then you shouldn't take pain killers as masking any pain there may make matters worse. The only thing that you can do is relegate yourself to complete bed rest (on a solid surface, spongy mattresses are a no no) for at least 3 days and then start to work on increasing your movement again

[megah0]

Othopeadic (sp?) mattress which is very firm.

Going to take it very easy now until friday.

[menthel]

Please don't take any notice of people saying 'don't take painkillers they only mask the problem'. That is the whole idea, to take the pain away! A doctor likes to see a well medicated patient! Keep up with the drugs and hot baths. If it doesn't clear soon pop along to your GP and get something stronger.