Constant Back Pain

D1Z · Mar 26, 2012

I've been toying with the idea of posting in here... I've held off for unknown reasons, but it's time.

For the last few years my physical fitness has declined, partly due to getting into a fairly inactive rut, party due to self worth and social issues. Physical fitness definitely plays a roll in my chronic back pain, and that's something that is going to take a long time to fix.

I get into a workout/stretching routine, but find it difficult to stay committed because my back just hurts so much most days. I basically have to force myself to endure more pain by working out and tiring my back more in order to get better (hopefully).

Not an hour I'm awake goes by where I am not in significant pain. I can somewhat manage it by varying what I am doing and not do the same thing, sit/stand/lay down, for extended periods of times.

Recently it has been getting to the point of to much pain. I'm not talking the point where I do something drastic, but the point where I get angry. I don't want to go there, it's not a good place to go.

Even though it's been years, I just don't know how to deal with debilitating pain most every waking hour. I am not expecting to wake up tomorrow and the pain to be gone, I know God can do that, but I also know that I need to develop habits and work towards this too.

I guess I am asking for praying for determination of mind, body and spirit. Most nights I come home and just lie on the couch... in tears, then go to bed, get up and do it all over again.

I've been to doctors, they say get used to it. I've tried medicine, it doesn't touch it. I need help.

drjean · Apr 14, 2012

I couldn't live without my physical therapy! What I've learned is tremendously helpful, but since I'm not strong enough to fully stretch my muscles to keep them from contracturing, I go to PT.

One thing I learned that made a huge difference is that those with back pain must keep their ham strings stretched. A second thing is to try and keep your stomach muscles taut, held in. Those two remedies help keep back pain down somewhat.

So.... if you can't do a big routine (and I can't... even a 15 minute stretching causes a near two hour rest!)... then stretch your ham strings, and work on tucking your belly in every time you think of it.

Be well.

Debby 24 · Apr 14, 2012

Hi , I am so sorry you are suffering, I so relate to you as hubby and I both have back problems over the years, my hubby used to do building work, he has a long back and so this meant extra strain when doing jobs, his back always hurts more at night.

I have had prolapsed dis-cs and was on my back for months at a time, this weakens and spasms the muscles and causes more pain, years ago doctors would encourage you to lay on the back for weeks and months, now they advise once over the initial injury resting for a few weeks that moving and walking, then gentle exercise is essential, there initial advise meant I was so bad with my back for years, and had to have lots of physiotherapy and help to get more mobile.

I eventually decided to learn about massage and natural essential oils to help relieve muscle pain, we both massage each other, this relaxes the muscles and helps soften tissue, if you could have massage therapy by someone qualified using essential oils, in between your exercises this would really help with pain and make you more supple and help you sleep at night.

Exercise is hard but I really encourage you to persevere with them, as Drjean said get those tummy muscles tight as this acts as a girdle for your back. I found that laying on my back and doing cycle exercise with my legs got my tummy tighter.

I will be praying for you. :prayer:

Take care of your self God bless you.

Menuet · Jun 11, 2012

I was also off my feet and literally on my back for 6 weeks. I tried acupuncture,chiro,massage therapy(which actually gets me up and moving). I have sciatica nerve damage. Time for me will tell if I will ever get back to where I was. Without my massage therapist I'd give up on all this.

pumanator · Jun 18, 2012

There comes a time when you may find yourself at the door of a pain management clinic. I know folks how suffered for decades that finally went and gave the old college try and they are anywhere from not any better to out of pain. Ask you doctors about that path.

Continue to watch your caloric intake...weight is an enemy I know all too well. As to PT...home PT should always be based on what the therapist recommend at the office as we can get in trouble trying "what works"...if they are good experienced qualified PTs then they will set you on a proper maintenance path.

TimAuthor · Feb 22, 2013

Every person and case is different, but I really believe the majority of pain sufferers could benefit to at least some degree by changing their diets.

Sugar causes inflammation. So keep sugar in your meals limited to what is in fruits and vegetables. No canned fruit, because it contains syrup and added sugar.

Take fish oil supplements or krill oil which lowers inflammation.

Exercise, get out and walk as much as possible. The more circulation the better.

Spices Cumin have been proven to lower inflammation.

Astaxanthin is a supplement that lowers inflammation. The famous internet doc, Doctor Mercola swears by it.

From my own personal experience, I've injured myself from time to time lifting weights and I can tell a huge difference from when I cut out sugar from my diet. I was addicted to sodas, and when I cut back I could see that almost every time I drank even one, I would feel aches and pains. Eventually, I realized from researching on the net, sugar really is as bad as they say.

But like I said everybody has different issues, and somethings might work better for some than others, but I do firmly believe everyone can benefit from ditching junk food and eating real food.

For a while everyone was worried about fat. They reduced the fat in food, and increased the sugar and it only made things worse. Obesity has sky rocketed and so have health concerns.

MIKEYROBERT · Apr 2, 2013

I'n chronic back and arthritic pain evey hour of every day, had my first back surgery in 1989, got diagosed with more herniated disks the last 3 years, suffer from bad sciatica, have degerative disk disease also, so i know and understand chronic severe pain well, get woke up every night by it. Been told to go on ssd for it but i'm still working. I see a pain specialist but what gets me thru everyday is prayer plain and simple. I'll never be without some kind of pain due the damage in my spine so have learned to live with with Gods help and the help from some drs. Above all you can't let the pain win. I remind myself everyday there are others worse off then me and i can give them hope. Hang in there, i'll be praying for you like others are.

You can do everthing right, eat the right diet, exercise right, lose weight and still suffer from chronic pain , it doesn't mean you did anything wrong. Some of us are going to suffer from chronic back or other pain the rest of our lives, i know i will but it doesn't define who i am or my capacity to love those around. God bless.

Two Scoops · May 2, 2013

I would advise you to to look up Dr. Scott Brady or John E Sarno. Scott Brady wrote a book called Pain Free For Life and Sarno wrote 3 books, one was Healing Back Pain. Just go to Amazon and read the reviews. These guys go against western medicine and say that a majority of back pain is caused by the spirit of a person and not by so called structural abnormalities.

There seems to be some common personality traits among chronic back pain sufferers, like fear, worry, anxiety, people pleasers, and perfectionists. The cure is knowledge. It reminds me of the bible verse where God said my people suffer from a lack of knowledge. Wisdom is better than any precious jewel. The bible says that a carnal mind is death, but a spiritual mind is life and peace. It also says that bodily exercise profits little but godliness is profitable unto all things.

You can heal. Please try and focus on Good and His greatness, His Word. Jesus is the Word in the flesh. He came to heal the brokenhearted and to set captives free. He does it to this day, because He is the same yesterday, today and always. He does not change.

ActionJ · Jun 1, 2013

D1Z said:
I've been toying with the idea of posting in here... I've held off for unknown reasons, but it's time.

For the last few years my physical fitness has declined, partly due to getting into a fairly inactive rut, party due to self worth and social issues. Physical fitness definitely plays a roll in my chronic back pain, and that's something that is going to take a long time to fix.

I get into a workout/stretching routine, but find it difficult to stay committed because my back just hurts so much most days. I basically have to force myself to endure more pain by working out and tiring my back more in order to get better (hopefully).

Not an hour I'm awake goes by where I am not in significant pain. I can somewhat manage it by varying what I am doing and not do the same thing, sit/stand/lay down, for extended periods of times.

Recently it has been getting to the point of to much pain. I'm not talking the point where I do something drastic, but the point where I get angry. I don't want to go there, it's not a good place to go.

Even though it's been years, I just don't know how to deal with debilitating pain most every waking hour. I am not expecting to wake up tomorrow and the pain to be gone, I know God can do that, but I also know that I need to develop habits and work towards this too.

I guess I am asking for praying for determination of mind, body and spirit. Most nights I come home and just lie on the couch... in tears, then go to bed, get up and do it all over again.

I've been to doctors, they say get used to it. I've tried medicine, it doesn't touch it. I need help.

Yup! I completely relate to what you're going through. I've been suffering with a bad back for many years but especially in the past 2 or 3 years. Unfortunately, I don't have any answers to your questions. I am planning on buying an inverter table which I've heard from many individuals helps significantly.

I'll send a prayer to Jesus on your behalf.

Bro in Christ · Jun 15, 2013

I had constant lower back pain... You name it I tried it

Had a car wreck and just blame that... But I found out I had food intolerance and my digestive system was so tied up it was cause the pain

Follower3 · Jun 15, 2013

I'm really, really, really sorry friend!

I will pray for you.

Stick to the therapy as much as you can, but don't strain your self, its better to keep at it as much as possible than to over do it and worsen your injury in one extreme session.
keep to anti-inflammatory foods/medicines.
I think there are surgeries they can do so you do not feel pain.
(do NOT do the one where they inject something into your spine do NOT do it)

Do as much research as possible on back pain therapy, and do those exercises (but not overdo them)

EbonNelumbo · Aug 19, 2013

Have you had an MRI? Do you know exactly what is wrong with your back?

For me, I have spondylosis with formainal narrowing, herniated discs at levels L4L5S1 and bulging discs at levels L2L3. And then there's all the symptoms (that's a long list!)

I recently underwent a foraminotomy to relieve pressure on my sciatic nerve in my right leg and it's helped immensely. I am still recovering from it, though it's been almost two months but it was well worth it. I'm able to walk now without having 'foot drop' and tripping or numbness and stumbling or not being able to walk.

As for the inversion table--it was a life saver! Truly, it's a $100-$200 (basic ones) well invested if you have back issues!

I hear you about the medicines not helping--I've been on opiates and whatnot for a few years now, and my meds have changed to try and counteract the debilitating pain, but it never really made it cease, sometimes it would ease it, but overall, it just slowed my own anger which developed from being physically unable to do things. Supposedly, the antidepressant, Cymbalta, is supposed to help with chronic, intractable pain...personally? I've been on that for years and never knew it was doing anything but helping with anxiety and depression.

Samaritan Woman · Nov 28, 2013

Dear D1Z,
If exercise makes your back hurt, then either it's not the right kind for your body or your form is incorrect. Have you sought the advice of a knowledgeable personal trainer?

I've worked out for twenty-some years and did some doozies on my low back which I now pay for; however, I get regular deep massage work done on my posterior thighs (hamstrings), glutes, and psoas ("Soaz") muscles which really, really helps. Just make sure you find a massage therapist who respects your pressure tolerance.

DannLeavitt · May 15, 2014

I was in an accident last year on the highway and my lower spine was shattered. Basically they did surgery to put in screws but that was only so I would be able to walk again, it didn't solve the constant pain I was going through.

After starting physio, they told me to try regular exercise. I've always been "in shape," just didn't spend any time doing scheduled exercise. I find that using one of the exercise bikes for a half hour and treadmill for the same really help. My physio lady advised me not to run because it jolts the back, but once muscle strength is up, it would be beneficial.

Now, those exercises will only be beneficial if this is a muscle related pain. If it is muscle related and you find the pain in your lower back, I could never imagine them not helping.

Because medication isn't helping, though... It could be a bone related pain. In that case, I would try to see a bone specialist. They should have better advice.

Prayers for you

God bless.

Samaritan Woman · May 19, 2014

As a massage therapist, I would HIGHLY encourage you to see someone certified in either Neuromuscular Therapy or sports massage who knows how to also do a competent postural assessment.

michaeldavis · Dec 9, 2014

Hi dear,
I feel really sad to hear about your pain. I understand that chronic pain is tough to deal with and depressing too. I was facing a similar situation some years back and then resorted to physical therapy as advised by the top orthopedic surgeon on north shore of long island. PT really helps me a lot. I would also recommend you to see an orthopedic who specializes in sports medicines.

Bro in Christ · Dec 9, 2014

Cranial schacrial (sp) is awesome for me

christopher morgan · May 10, 2015

Hi Diz, sorry to hear your in chronic pain it is so destructive first to our body then our mind. I had a crushed disc at L4/L5 when I was 24 years old and now at 58 the only way I survived the gradual disintegration of the disc and left lower back pain and glute pain it caused every day was to keep active. I avoided a fusion operation 5 years ago as it went through a final worsening stage. There is no disc left now.Walking is a simple but great way to keep it going. Different people are drawn to different things but I know tai Chi is very good as it builds leg strength while helping energy flow. But whatever you do keep the weight down and exercise as much as you can. I certainly pray the chronic pain does not effect your mind as I know about that with serious neck damage from an injury 4 years ago.

As Christians we must remember our spiritual life is why we are really here. Our physical bodies are just a temporary vessel and so please keep up your faith in Our Lord's teachings and deepen your faith and spiritual practice as much as you can. I believe in heaven and life after death and that no matter how much pain I am in I must prepare myself to be in the presence of Our Lord despite the pain often getting the better of me. May the grace of Our Lord be with you always, christopher Australia :wave:

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