OK, first, stop lifting heavy boxes. Then... OK I know, quit being a smartarse.. LOL
Have you tried one of those icy/Hot patches, that are supposed to dull the pain then relax your sprained muscles? Just a thought, can't vouch for their claims.

Hugs. (gentle ones)
~theGuardian

NDY;
I use the pain patches all the time. I have salon pas which just work on the area that is hurting. They smell like bengay. The other ones IcyHot work well too. or just a simple heating pad or hot water bottle alternating with cold compress. I keep a bag of frozen peas to use...its just as effective and costs lots less.

Hope you feel better soon.

HEAT (heating pad) Hot baths, showers, patches

Hey Marciainak, I used frozen vegs when I had a cataract , the first one my head hurt something awful, used one on my head, the second cataract i did not have a headache

That is agreat idea.

My mom used to work for a pain doc, she heard to use HOT then COLD then back again, that breaks up the pain sometimes
AW, I feel for you, hope you get some relief

Once I yawned, lifted my arms back, my back, shoulders, neck, hurt for 2 weeks, I have had sciatic nerve pain, in legs too (or so doc said)
When I was a motel housekeeper, making beds, I would twist my back.

I also had a back massager gizmo that worked well

12:pm Update:
I insisted (someone who was in pain) take my heating pad... Can't remember WHO it was - to borrow it. Have 1 ice pak that works while it is cold... will try hot water bottle I have here. Sounds good..

Meanwhile Back Dr. won't be back till Wed - made appt.- Will probably prescribe rehab heat treatments with stretching which work great...

My caregiver couldn't come in she had sewer back up in basement - Was going to have her help me "soak in tub" but i could never get back out by myself!

Don't think the massager would work as it hurts just to touch my skin!

I appreciate y'all'a helping me to think - You know when you are in pain it is hard to think...

TG if i don't already have it here I ain't gonna get it.. I can't drive anymore since my stroke.. All my children that are speaking to me are at their in laws for Christmas (out of state) except for my youngest son whose wife is "popping out" my 13th grandchild any second...) The other two are "in their own little worlds". (And I don't want o bother him..)

Have an appt with the hot shower though THAT is doable! am supposed to go to store tomorrow with Access - Maybe I can pick up something there... WHAT do yinz recommend?

Anybody else got a good idea .. yinz have been really great so far ...

NDY

NEVER LOAN YOUR HEATING PAD! I did that once, never got it back!

Can you tolerate Ibuprofin? Like Advil etc or generic works just as well. I take that. It seems to help, does not upset my stomach

Tylenol, I used to use but stopped because I took it when I had my first cataract, my head hurt, and the Tylenol messed up my stomach, I think, I had horrible stomach pain after taking it, it never used to bother me before, but sure did then, I stopped it altogether

I think you're down to chicken soup, Advil~then 2 1/2 hours later Tylenol.

if you can have someone roll a cold can over your back for five minutes, that feels awesome. After that have them put warm towels soaked in Epsom salt over your back. I'll say a little silent prayer for you, we all want you better :)

NDY, you probably already know this, but daughter says Tylenol, no advil, no aspirin, and nothing in gell or caplets. She says it really sux, but Tylenol is your only real choice. She's had the GBS too. Pissed that this is the one area they "forgot" to tell her about. LOL.

Hugs, and Heat for you my dear.
~theGuardian.

Wll not to be too much of an alarmist, but my dad was cleaning a shelf in the fridge about two months ago and felt a pain in his back that didn't go away...took forever for him to get in with the back doctor too and in the meantime his pain started to go down his leg to the point that his knee was giving out at times while he was walking. Finally got to see the doctor and had to have an MRI - turned out he has a couple of bulging discs, one in particular in his lower back was pushing on the nerves that go down his leg which was why he was having trouble with the leg too. He had to have surgery which he was lucky enough to schedule quickly due to someone else cancelling. Two weeks removed from surgery and he's walking better and starting to feel less pain but the doctor told him it could be a couple of months before he's really back to normal. Had to have the surgery though or else it could've done long term physical damage to him. All from one small movement. Nothing was helping him to relieve the pain prior to the surgery.
To be safe, I would recommend not doing too much movement until you see the doctor and they clear you for it. Meaning, try to limit your activity - but do make sure you alternate sitting and standing frequently enough that you are not staying in one spot too long because that can make you stiffen up. Don't raise your arms above your head, don't bend at the waist, and don't twist. Try the heat and see if it helps reduce your pain. That's about the only other option you may have since you can't take too many pain meds - which is what my dad had to do prior to the surgery. If you can take a bath - do be careful getting in and out of the tub so you're not hurting yourself further - try using some epsom salts in the bath beause they can help with muscle aches. Best of luck with that aching back. Hope you start to feel some relief soon.

A pulled back muscle can take over a month 2 feel better. Baby your back or u will re-strain the muscle. That, rest, Aleve (naproxyn sodium/naprosyn) wil will help a lot. Take Aleve every 4 hrs. if u need them.l

A pulled back muscle can take over a month 2 feel better. Baby your back or u will re-strain the muscle. That, rest, Aleve (naproxyn sodium/naprosyn) will help a lot. Take Aleve every 4 hrs. if u need them them that often.

A pulled back muscle can take over a month 2 feel better. Baby your back or u will re-strain the muscle. That, rest, Aleve (naproxyn sodium/naprosyn) will help a lot. Take Aleve every 4 hrs. if u need them that often.

NDY, what I do is get in a V position. Put pillows under your knees and prop up your head. Then, lay on ice or heat, which ever works. The best is to switch between the two, but stay down. That is orders I had from my back surgeon. It works too

Mert

If you have dried beans or rice in the house and a microwave you can make a homemade heating compress by placing rice/beans in a clean sock or other flexable microwavable container and nuke for a minute or two and check temp and place on area of pain. d

Mert's suggestion is really good, if you put the pillow under your knees it will take the pressure off your back. I do that for my fibro all the time. Hope you feel better soon.

Angel