A physiatrist is my pick. They usually have an MD and DO both, and are good at osteomanipulation in ways that mere chiropractors can't begin to dream. Then again, you may need an X-ray to be sure you haven't any ruptured or slipped discs.

That aside? Home hot stone massage is possible, in a way. Socks full of rice, heated, positioned along your spine from neck to butt; focus on filling your lungs and expanding your ribs gently with your breath, then letting it out slowly, and completely. Repeat. You *never* lie on the socks.But if you can get your muscles loose, stand up, near something that you can grab for balance.

Reach your hands to the ceiling till you're as stretched as you can bear straight up. so your body looks like "H". Then dropyour shoulders with arms still pointed sky-ward. Bring your fingertips to rest on your head, along the part of your hair atop your head (imagine you have a lovely center part in your hair atop your head.) Rest there for a few breaths. Get the fingers touched down to your shoulders, repeat rest and breaths. Then let them drop naturally to your sides.

I've no idea if that'll help your lower back, but it works miracles on my upper back, to keep alignment and such where it should be. I have to do it thrice a day. Helps with my cranky costo, ribs, and upper spine.

And I was told to do Kegels for back pain. I do them daily anyway, so I've no idea if they have any effect....

Wishing you fast healing and a miracle back-in back!

Other than Leo's suggestions, I don't know. When my back locks up, I just take what meds I have (muscle relaxers and tylenol), bath soaks, hot pads and cool packs and rest and rest till the worst is over.

Do you have a next door neighbor who gets along with you? Push come to shove I would give them a heads up about your condition and maybe they won't mind popping their head in once a day to check in on you. My other suggestion is calling a church in the area. When my husband left me alone to go on a 3 week trip while in the middle of a move and we were new here and didn't know anyone, I walked into a church a stranger and asked for help. They brought trucks, vans, even donated pots pans and furniture lol.

I hope you can get some radiology done soon if the pain doesn't back off.

Oh, that is a good idea to find a physiatrist. That never occurred to me.

A very nice religious group helped me move a few years ago. Of course, I moved and have no idea where their phone number is.

Thanks for the ideas, Leo & Blue.

Hi AnnNY; If you're having run of the mill lower back pain, your back will heal itself in time. I've had 3-4 instances when I was in my late teens and 20s. Crawling to the bathroom while screaming.

It just takes time. Don't completely immobilize yourself, but your pain will be your guide. If you need groceries, yeah, ask someone to help you out. Or get pizza delivered (my fall back idea for bad fibro days).

Your body will heal on its own. Just do the best you can to take care of toileting, bathing, eating, etc. Nothing special is needed except time.

See what the health sites say about acute lower back injury. Some stretching may be helpful, but I'm not sure how early you should do the exercises. Take care.

Shakota, I did this once to my back in my early 40s and it did only take a few days to recover to my "regular" state. I guess being in my mid 60s is a different thing. But I guess I will probably continue with my slow recovery and start looking into to physiatrists, big rice socks, and availability of help to prepare in case I start loosing it.

Thanks much for all input.

I think that a physiatrist is an excellent idea. They've been very helpful to me in the past. I hope that you feel better soon!

So I did look up physiatrists in my area. I'm I just too old, but does this sound wacky:

radiofrequency ablation procedures, sacroiliac joint injection, peripheral joint injection, peripheral nerve hydrodissection, ultrasound guided office based injection, regenerative medicine injection i.e. platelet rich plasma injections, prolotherapy injection.

?????

Nope - not wacky at all. I have had injections - two sets so far. Looking at radiofrequency ablation as an option to reduce my back pain too. I may have to have my SI joint fused. Believe me, I'd rather try the minimally invasive stuff first before having to undergo major surgery....

Thanks for the feedback. I had one injection in my neck done by a neurology that didn't help at all, but I had to leave because of insurance before the whole series was done.

Hubby has had ultrasound guided office injection and it really did wonderse on his knee injury (as in, two weeks later, he wasn't complaining of it) and he went right into PT and was fine... FWIW.

I've had 7 injections: 5 in my back and 2 in my neck. Prior to that I had a lot of trouble walking and my legs would collapse. For me they did a good job of avoiding surgery. But I know what works for some may not work for others. I hope you find something, AnnNY.

So good to know.

I would suggest a low-tech thing: get some muscle relaxant pills (tizanidine is good) if you don't already have them and take a small dose.

Also, some time in a pool just walking or moving about, light stretching (if it doesn't hurt) and normalize function and perhaps speed your recovery.

Yeah, at our age, things take longer. Be patient but maybe give these two ideas a try. Sounds like you need a PCP who is closer!

Did the Urgent Care do a back xray?

I'm not sure whom you are asking about urgent care doing an xray. A doc (do you have one?) should be able to rule in or out the need for an xray. Generally though, if you have numbness in your legs or feet, that might indicate a need for an xray. Google acute back pain and xrays and see what is said. Take care