back pain (1 Viewer)

[mark]

never had it before. just inside my left shoulder blade (spine side). started about 2/3 weeks ago. it's not stopping me from doing anything, but it is getting gradually worse. in these situations does one go to the doctor or head straight for a specialist?
ta.

 

[RSJ]

I was out of work two days last week with something similar, went to move a long trolley at work by pulling one side and pushing the other (moving the trolley broadside if that makes sense) and something went in my back, just to the right of my spine, and couldn't do anything with my left arm without it going off. Went to a doc and she said i'd bruised the muscle in my back and she gave me medication and stuff. Might not be a bad idea to go get it checked out at the local cheapo doc (we've one here that'll charge you e20 and give you sample packs instead of writing a prescription).

 

[snap-apple]

never had it before. just inside my left shoulder blade (spine side). started about 2/3 weeks ago. it's not stopping me from doing anything, but it is getting gradually worse. in these situations does one go to the doctor or head straight for a specialist?
ta.

I had something similar, went to the doc who reckoned it was muscle related but it never cleared up even though I took it extremely easy for a few weeks. Went to the chiropractor who immediately said it was a trapped nerve caused mainly by bad posture, particularly when under stress. Not something that was fixed straight away, I've had to go back about 6 times maybe with bigger gaps between each visit. Flared up in a big way after the first few times i.e. got worse before it got better.

 

[JohnnyRaz]

I had something similar, went to the doc who reckoned it was muscle related but it never cleared up even though I took it extremely easy for a few weeks. Went to the chiropractor who immediately said it was a trapped nerve caused mainly by bad posture, particularly when under stress. Not something that was fixed straight away, I've had to go back about 6 times maybe with bigger gaps between each visit. Flared up in a big way after the first few times i.e. got worse before it got better.

once youve damgaed your back once your pretty much fucked, it'll never be right, and surgery is a big big gamble.
it all come down to the fact that were not desinged to live past 40 dontcha know

 

[Catwoman]

never had it before. just inside my left shoulder blade (spine side). started about 2/3 weeks ago. it's not stopping me from doing anything, but it is getting gradually worse. in these situations does one go to the doctor or head straight for a specialist?
ta.

I can recommend a good chiropractor. I have had back pain for years, doctors did nowt for me but give me anti-inflammatories which fixed it temporarily, but it got worse in the long term. I've been going to chiro for the past couple of months and felt vast improvements.

It's very expensive though.

 

[pete]

Might not be a bad idea to go get it checked out at the local cheapo doc (we've one here that'll charge you e20 and give you sample packs instead of writing a prescription).

Have you seen The Constant Gardener?

 

[pete]

It's very expensive though.

You can claim back 50% from Bupa.

 

[RSJ]

Have you seen The Constant Gardener?

Yes, but i was rather asleep at the time...?

 

[ernesto]

You can claim back 50% from Bupa.

 

[Lord Damian]

once youve damgaed your back once your pretty much fucked, it'll never be right, and surgery is a big big gamble.
it all come down to the fact that were not desinged to live past 40 dontcha know

this is sad but i tend to think it's true...ravaged my back working in factories when i was a strapping lad of 20, went to a chiropractor cuz i was an idiot and they fucked it even more. now every once in a while it acts up so bad that i can barely walk. it's depressing, but surgery scares the holy hell outta me. old before my time.

EDIT - that said, i never had UPPER back pain, which i believe must be less insidious that lower back pain...could be wrong though. i'd suggest deep massage, but be prepared for it to hurt like hell. folks who go on about massages being great fun don't have back pain to begin with. pricks.

 

[Anthony]

my shoulder thing is acting up again. bastard thing.

 

[mackle]

Jesus, I'm 17 and I have already fucked my back up. Mainly due to bad posture I reckon and sitting in stupid positions etc. Though I usually find that if I do a bit of exercise it loosens up a tad

 

[Lord Damian]

stretching is good too, but can only effectively be done preventatively...it hurts too much and could be detrimental if you're currently experiencing the pain.

i've heard yoga is good for the back, must stop fucking about and try it.

 

[ICUH8N]

Pilates, too.

 

[Lord Damian]

Pilates, too.

what does that Jesus-killer have to do with anything...?

 

[Rachel666]

I ruined my back when i was 6 due to a head over heals extravaganza gone wrong. Usually I get it at work or school from standing for a long time or having a messenger bag (they look savage but they will eventually kill you). I find that even walking swiftly, with nothing on your back or sitting down for about 5 minutes lessens it a lot.

 

[Space]

I'd recommnd some back specific exercises, go see a physio for the right ones. Exercising the right muscles will naturally reallign your back and also build up these muscles so there is less likelihood of it happening again.

If you go to a chiropractor you'll end up going pretty much the rest of your life as when they push your bones back into place they leave a track mark which makes it alot easier for the bones to move out of place again.

Pilates sounds good as it builds up your core stability, I've not tried it though so can't really comment.

 

[HMD]

Massage could be the way forward for this. Get a combination of deep tissue and sports massage. The Deep tissue will loosen up the muscle(s) and the sports massage will strengthen/stretch out the muscle(s) and you should be given exercises to help rehabilitation.

If you need the name of a good massage therapist PM me

 

[Space]

Forgot to mention swimming too, excellant al over exercise.

Must go for a massage again soon cheers for reminding me HMD.

 

[snap-apple]

Yeah, as said above, the right stretching exercises and posture make a big preventative difference. My original point was that to diagnose the problem I would trust a chiropractor or a physio more than a doctor.

As well as the recent problem I had which the doctor misdiagnosed as a strain, about 15 years ago I slipped and landed hard on my lower back, really bloody painful for a couple of weeks, could barely move at all. The doc (different doc) diagnosed a muscle strain (which there was) but it took a long long time to clear up fully and every now and then it would get worse again if there was any impact. Anyways, the current chircopractor, completely unprompted by me, immediately recognised that there had been a small fracture in that spot which exaplained why it took so long to clear up.

I can well believe the thing about having to go back to the chiropractor regularly though. I don't think I had much choice with the trapped nerve thing - it wasn't going to work itself back into place.