see if a brace will help you out my friend....I used brace on knee and it really helped.....I think back braces are also known to help too....try finding doctor who will write script for you to go to a place to have brace made just for your back....

I have a couple of massagers that help. I've been using a TENS unit on my knee and that's helpful. I haven't tried it on my back yet but that might help.

Quinn

What kind of brace are you talking about Bill?

NYgirl, I've seen mention of a TENS unit on here before, but idk if it's good. I've mentioned it to my father, as it's pretty expensive and being out of work I'd be asking him to pay for it as my health insurance would not cover that. However not knowing or not whether it will actually help with my back pain, it's hard to just convince him to purchase one.

I though I posted to this earlier....I must be losing my mind, lol.

My back frequently hurts, I have 2 Vertabrae that I broke in a sledding accident a few years back. For the most part it healed okay but if I stay in certain positions too long or lift certain things or work it too hard/long, it reminds me that it was once broken.

One thing that helps when it gets stiff and the pain ramps up is to take a scalding hot bath or shower, then rub on a topical like Voltaren Gel which is Prescription and has diclofenac an NSAID
then take my BreakThru med and lay down on the bed. On my bed I keep a heating pad between the mattress and the mattress cover, that way its always warm and comfy and it stays where I put it no moving around.

It makes it much easier to fall asleep and stay that way! '

Strangely what helps for me first is correct my posture. Big difference. Stretching, particularly a stretch called Table Stretch.
Then it would be acupuncture and massage. But the massage must be gentle and not flare the back up.
When all else fails - Valium.

I have chronic lower back pain since I broke my back and had a spinal fusion 14 years ago. I can't take narcotics because they give me migraines. The three things that really help me are: heat, ice, and a tens unit. If I can't lay down with either ice or heat, I use the tens. It is really worth every penny to get one. And they are not all that expensive. I always use it around the holidays when I have to be standing around cooking, setting tables, etc. It really is a god send.

I have mentioned this product before, but I will once again. You may want to consider buying a "Quell". I have provided multiple links below for your information including; 1) Quell's website, 2) "Science Behind Quell" from the Clinician's section of their website, and 3) a link to Amazon's Quell site where you can read the reviews, which are mixed (the prices are the same BTW).

Note: I have no financial interest in this company, just passing on information and experience.

My wife and me have both been using our Quells for nearly a year if I remember correctly. We have mixed results, but still use them most days. We have no need to use them in bed even though they are FDA approved for 24x7 usage and has special sleep settings.

It may appear that the Quell is just another TENS; not true, very different in many ways. One thing that you will see on the first page of Quell's website is that the placement of the device is below the knee. This in no way implies that the Quell is only for knee pain. The material at the site, and the White Paper, explain why it is placed near the knee, again nothing to do with the knee.

There is a prescription version of the Quell called SENSUS. The two units are electrically identical, only the packaging is different. As explained in the White Paper, since the Quell is electrically identical to the Quell, the manufacturer did not have to go back to the FDA for new approvals.

It is expensive, but with a OTC prescription is tax deductible. We believe that anyone with chronic pain should really consider this device. It may really help and if it does not you can return it. There are no side effects and it may help you to reduce your medications.

https://www.quellrelief.com/

http://www.quellrelief.com/files/science-behind-quell.pdf

http://www.amazon.com/Quell-Wearable-Pain-Relief-Starter/dp/B0141A6EVS/ref=sr_1_2_a_it?ie=UTF8&qid=1464709537&sr=8-2&keywords=quell+pain+relief

I've been thinking about trying yoga to see if that helps at all, I've been told that some of my muscles are quite tight and that it might be a reason behind my pain. Has anyone here tried yoga before?

I do a combination yoga once a week. It is a mix of stretching and meditation. The stretching is great as long as I don't overdo it. Have to be gentle. And then the meditation helps to relax the body, everything in the body and to quiet the mind. I find it helpful. But, if I push too far I create a flare up in my back. So slow and gentle is key.

Ref: Enigmaticloner, I use the TENS unit. My PT introduced me to it, said I could buy a home version at a drug store for around $30. Which I did.

I don't use it daily, and it's not a permanent cure by any stretch, but when the pain is so bad I know I'll have trouble sleeping or concentrating 15-30 minutes (usually 15 minutes) on this thing stumps the pain long enough to get my head back together and relax a little.

I have the TENS 7000 unit, it's available on Amazon.com too. I also purchased the larger 4"/10cm electrodes, for around $14.

I just spoke again earlier with my father about a TENS unit, he decided to buy one for me to hopefully have some pain relief. Should be here sometime next week I hope, a bit anxious to see how it will go.

Glad you are giving TENS a try. You are young to have lower back pain but you also say you have scoliosis in your profile. Is your pain related to your scoliosis?

I've battled severe back pain since I was 11 and forced to help my teenaged brothers dig new septic system trenches for my father. Living in Canada, they had to be 48" deep and I was only about 4 1/2 feet tall. Permanently damaged my spine....on top of other injuries inflicted from beatings when younger. So I've hurt forever.

But this is what I've learned. Hurting is good when it comes to spines. It's when you stop hurting and numbness settles in that you are in trouble with possible major nerve damage. It takes a healthy, kicking and screaming nerve and cord to feel pain. Watch for losing that pain and developing numbness as signs that you need possible surgical intervention.

In the meantime, you start figuring out what helps that relentless pain. Try PT and learn the exercises to keep your back/ab muscles strong and then do them whenever you can. A lot of our pain comes from tired muscles in spasm from trying to hold the bones of the spine in the right places. New studies have shown that swimming in warm water to be more help than any other modality. The warmth of the water allows the blood flow to the muscles to remain unimpaired and so you can stretch and exercise without pain afterwards.My PT works in aqua therapy as well as land therapy and taught me the exercises to do in that therapeutic pool and it's wonderful!

Get a back brace. Start with the type in the drugstore and as they no longer help, go to the prescribed ones with rigid backs that mold to your back. For us women, go buy a panty girdle to wear....really helps a lot. I buy one that's about 1 size too small to really hold those loose abs in place and give the back muscles a break. Men....I've met men in the women's aisle buying them and then they cut out the crotch. Cheaper and better than a back brace and easily washable.

Try TENS ...but as my PT told me....you'll know how bad your pain is if it works because it doesn't help when the really bad pain kicks in. We all wonder...just how bad is my pain relative to others? This is one way to know. TENS won''t help when it gets b-a-d. And it's a reminder to keep yourself in good shape so it never gets that b-a-d.

Lose weight if you are overweight. At 5'2" and 250lbs for most of my adult life, I know where of I speak. I kept telling myself and anyone who would listen.......how can I lose weight when my back hurts so badly????? And so I didn't. But I've lost 80 pounds over the past 6 years....slowly but surely....and what a difference. I was an obstinate idiot who was just too lazy to do it. If I had tried to lose just 1 pound a month....pretty easy to do, then I would have lost most of my weight in 8 years and been in so much less pain. It really is worth doing. If you need some ideas on how, let me know and I'll share how I've been doing it despite T2 diabetes, RA, a broken neck and severe hypertension. If I can lose 80 pounds, anyone can.

Back to things to do or take. Muscle relaxers help but are as addictive as opiates. Try as much as possible to stay with NSAIDs like ibuprofen or even Tramadol for pain or low addictive muscle relaxers like Zanaflex. If you need to go up to opiates, find one that just takes enough of the edge off so you can function and if necessary, something stronger so you sleep well at night.

Ice or heat????? Try both and see which helps and when. You may find that initially you need ice followed by heat. Worse thing to do....not move. That allows the build up of chemicals in the muscles that cause even worse pain...move so you keep the blood flowing and it takes away the irritating chemicals.

Keep a back support or seat support in your car for your back. My hubby got a 2" thick gel seat that is designed for truckers(found it in HammacherSchlemmer catalog)and it helps him a whole lot. He is a trucker but has one in the car too and. Without it, he can only drive about 30 minutes. With one in the truck and the car, he can work his regular 12 hour days. I use a back support and I can drive a good 2-3 hours.

When sitting as something like a computer, put a foot stool under the desk and raise the foot of your worst leg up on it. Stretches the muscles. Same for standing at a counter.

Believe it or not, it's the tiny things that make the most difference when all put together.

And find a good spine surgeon who can guide you along the way until you need spine surgery. If you didn't exercise before surgery, you will be doing a ton of exercise after spine surgery. I'm 4 surgeries down and waiting on #5. Good news....it won't be this year! Thanks to good old mom and dad, my entire spine is slowly collapsing and will need to be fused from top to bottom before long. First 6 levels fused with another 6 levels coming soon. My 14 herniated disk have now expanded to 17. and my spine is now curving to both sides.

The joys of bad spines!

hugs to all..................Jen

I've had back pain since I was a teen and yes I have scoliosis but I don't know if it's related to it, it's surely possible though. I was diagnosed with scoliosis when I was 10 years old, and the pain started at first with the chest when I was like maybe 13 or 14 I believe. Then it progressed into back pain as well and other areas. I've heard that swimming can help with the back, but I'm really not a swimmer so I'm looking to do other things.

Is there any specific kind of back brace you're talking? My pain is mostly in the lower back and it's from like standing so I'm curious about if there's different types. I'm not overweight at all, I'm pretty close to being underweight actually so the weight on my spine or anything, it's good that you're managing to lose some weight though. I'm around 130 pounds or so and a few inches taller, so that's no issue here. I've tried muscle relaxers before but I don't think they helped really. I'm not really supposed to take NSAIDs because of my kidneys so I tend to stay away from medication whenever I can.

I don't have a car anymore so it's not an issue about driving pain for now now. I do sit at my computer pretty often but I do have one leg that is a bit longer due to my scoliosis apparently, so I'm not sure about using a foot stool really. I do have shoe lifts in my sneakers now to even out the leg discrepancy, it's a bit painful though the podiatrist says it could take months to get used to but I'm hoping it helps my back and knee pain eventually.

Good Morning:)
I have learned, first hand, the benefits of stretching from my massage/physical therapist. One day I went in so crippled with spasm and after working with him for 50 minutes, I could move! After massaging (nothing deep mind you, only enough to relax my muscles a bit), we went t work on my lower back. I was amazed at how much the glutes (muscles in the buttocks) and hamstrings affect my lower back. My therapist did not push but held my legs up straight and applied a bit of resistance pressure. Again, I was amazed! I do these exercises now against the wall and see my PT every other week. My range of motion has improved tremendously. I also agree wholeheartedly with 51Percent that aqua therapy is a God send. The water provides a natural resistance for strengthening the muscles but also takes the pressure off of the joints and allows you to move more comfortably. Be careful though...the first time I worked out in the water it went so smoothly that I double upped on my routine- I paid for it the next day!
I find that flexing my leg and glute muscles in bed before going to sleep helps me rest more comfortably as well. If in spasm, I can usually stretch it out and then use my hand held massager (a hand held hard plastic tool to apply pressure to the muscle in spasm) to rub out the spasm. I hope this was/is of help to you. With scoliosis in 3 areas of my spine, I'm pretty twisted and can go into spasm with a sneeze- yes, allergy season is a killer for me! Be well:) xoLyn

Sometimes Ice works better than heat. Give it a try. If you are able to work out, try to do some exercises that will strengthen your back. Chiropractors will give you relief if you are able to find one that isn't too gentle. Just don't stick with them for years and years...it causes arthritis eventually.