Lower back trouble

matthewwhitton · 23 Aug 2011 at 08:58

Hi, i suffer from lower back trouble, i play loads of football and work as a farmer.... Not a good combo. Any tips or advise to help my pain? I get a shooting pain down my right leg, have slipped a disk a few times, also get trapped nerves on my right lower back

kefkef · 23 Aug 2011 at 10:12

See a decent sports physio (i.e. one that works/consults for a local high level rugby/football team). They should be able to assist with rehabilitation and fitness/stretching programs. (I've got problems down there too, and the sports Physio i see has been invaluable getting me back going again)

Other than that, medical threads arent allowed so cant give any specifics.

LiE · 23 Aug 2011 at 10:23

Physio.

Participant · 23 Aug 2011 at 11:00

Deadlifts. Strengthening my back muscles helped my lower back pain no end, in fact it removed it entirely. Ask a pro whether this is suitable for you first though!

Xire · 23 Aug 2011 at 11:10

See a physio, will end up giving you a massage every week which will always be a +

Participant · 23 Aug 2011 at 11:12

Unless you have a guy physio.

Paul11 · 23 Aug 2011 at 12:48

Robbie G said:
Unless you have a guy physio.

he might like that kind of thing

Jonny69 · 23 Aug 2011 at 13:35

You've probably got disc damage, which does not repair itself according to my doctor. Essentially you're stuck with it now. I find pilates helps.

icecold · 23 Aug 2011 at 14:57

Go and see a specialist.

This will cost money, but it's the only way of addressing the problem.

More than likely you'll have several movement problems or postural dysfunctions (anterior hip tilt, lordosis etc.) which is putting pressure on your disks. Unless you've done serious damage to one you absolutely CAN fix the problem, but you're going to have to stop moving/loading your spine in the way you currently do.

matthewwhitton · 24 Aug 2011 at 11:55

Booked in for friday, thanks guys

Edinho · 8 Sep 2011 at 11:09

Please see a good physio. I've been there with backs - the tears the despair the fear. Horrible.

Jonny69 said:
You've probably got disc damage, which does not repair itself according to my doctor. Essentially you're stuck with it now. I find pilates helps.

These the same doctors that prescribe painkillers and rest and tell you to come back in 6 months. I honestly wonder how most doctors end up in being doctors.

Jonny69 · 8 Sep 2011 at 12:29

Pretty much. Cortisone shots in the spine for me every 6 months, if it doesn't work then they operate as a last resort, but it causes further complications later on in life. Which may be so, but I'm not 100% convinced.

Unfortunately though, physio can't fix a herniated disc. Once it's split, it's split, and only surgery can fix it.

kefkef · 8 Sep 2011 at 14:18

Could be a number of things. They originally thought i had a herniated disc, it wasnt, it was two fractured and displaced vertebrae. Try a physio initally to reduce the pain, get you on your feet, and also go see a GP and get referred to a decent respected specialist.

ristac · 8 Sep 2011 at 19:22

Latex mattress worked wonders for me.

richjs · 8 Sep 2011 at 19:27

As RobbieG said - deadlifts helped my lower back no end but you need to make sure you wont be injuring yourself further.

The other thing that helped massively was becoming concious of my posture, using my core to take some of the pressure off my lower back - especially for 9h+ shifts which I was standing still (euurrrgghhhh retail)

jordan282 · 8 Sep 2011 at 22:03

see a chiropractor had back trouble for a year. A physio made it worse. A good chiro can fix in 2/3 months if you keep up the exercises

robotSocks · 9 Sep 2011 at 08:43

sounds like disc damage - and as stated previously, you're stuck with it

you either have to pro-actively manage it through strengthening, stretching, pilates, yoga, massage etc or it will get progressively worse and you'll have to start thinking - in the long term - about surgery

i speak from experience - i "slipped" 2 discs in my back at 26 and have been living with the after-effects for 9 years now

robotSocks · 9 Sep 2011 at 08:46

Jonny69 said:
Unfortunately though, physio can't fix a herniated disc. Once it's split, it's split, and only surgery can fix it.

a herniated disc is not "split" - it just "bulges" out and causes pressure on the sciatic nerve, hence referred pain elsewhere (eg. the lower back, leg etc)

it's a prolapsed disc that is "split" - and you're right, it needs surgery to fix

WantoN · 9 Sep 2011 at 13:57

Stretch hamstrings, hipflexors, glutes (use a swan or pigeon stretch) calves, chest and lats.

Strengthen Transverse Abdominus and Multifidus.

Youtube or a good pt / physio will be able to help. Look up the Williams technique.

Ant :cool:

EDIT : Do not deadlift or squat under any circumstances. Personally I wouldn't bother with a crack doctor either.

matthewwhitton · 11 Sep 2011 at 23:57

Been to the physio, i have trouble with my right glute, been stretching, its helped loads, i am using a foam roller as well...