Actually, I've lived with this for quite a long time, fibrogirl...and I've used many things. I do take opiod analgesics (morphine, percocet) however, the doctor puts me on steriods for a week every three months. That worked for a while, then it stopped.

Now, I'm scheduled to have 3 lumbar steriod epidural injections. I'm not really looking forward to this, but surgery ain't an option. NO CAN DO!

Maybe a prescription, anti-inflammatory is what you need...just a thought.
Also, I've used Lidocaine patches and they work pretty well....for a while.

Ask your doctor about some of these possibilities. I wouldn't jump right into the epis though. I'm not sure I'm even going to do it.

Wish you the best! Hang in there!
Love, Morus

OR HOW ABOUT THOSE THERMA CARE PADS I KNOW THE ONES FOR PELVIC PAIN I USE AND THEY ARE WONDERFUL FOR IT.
LOVE TRISH

Heat is a good idea but if you leave it on for two long it makes the problem worse. I would get one of those heating patvhes and try that, next get down on the floor and put your legs up on the couch for awhile with knees bent for suppot, try rocking gently side to side. Stretching the muscles in the lower back can be helpful. If you can take it Motrin can be helpful, it is an anti inflamatory, but for it to work you need to take it regularly for two or three days. If you go to the dr. They should start you on a medrol dose pack, to kick the inflammation, a muscle relaxer, and possibly something more for pain. They are also going to suggest physical therapy and possibly back x-rays, if all those things don not work, the next step would be a pain clinic for an injection. And injections are a whole different topic. Hope this helps, I would try the , heat, stretching and motrin before going to the dr, then you can tell them what you tried at home.

I always have alot of low back pain...my husband keeps his hand right there anytime he is around...the heat from his hand helps alot...but you cannot borrow that....so i would just go with one of those heat wraps....those are the bomb !!!...second only to my hubbys hand !!

Hi, I am new here, but what works for me is the therma heat pads (buy in bulk as they are expensive), water therapy feels so good, and when it it really excruciating like yesterday, my dr will give me a shot in the trigger points on each side of lower back. The injection was a mix of lidocaine and Dupo-Medrol. It helped alot. Didn't take away all the pain, but made it tolerable.

As usual, my response is to suggest acupuncture and/or chiropractor. They do me a world of good. BUT then again, that's me. Doesn't always work for everyone.

Do any of you carry extra weight in the very very low back/aka upper toosh? I do and wonder if that is putting even more strain on the muscles.

Thank u all very much! i now have tons of ideas of what to try out. i've been thinking about looking into seeing a chiropractor and i've heard getting injections in the trigger points. i'll have to keep you all updated on what works in the end- or what i end up doing. i'm going to go home and try some stretches and then i'll prolly do some research and look into making a dr. appt. incase it doesnt seem to get better. thanks everyone so much! wish me luck (*fingers crossed)