Absolutely. I have a wonderful massage therapist and excellent chiropractor. They always get me on the right track.

Go see a physical therapist. You should never take back pain laying down. You'll make it worse.

Ooh the thought of someone touching me right now makes me cringe. I'll have to wait until the inflammation goes down.

I think physical therapy will be helpful. Maybe not for this flare up but maybe for preventative measures. I'll check out insurance options.

Have you tried alternating heat and cold? It works well for me. ( Nobody likes the ice but it is great )

Chi, my saving grace for flare ups has been lidocaine - either patches, gel or roll-on. Salonpas has a good one. It’s over the counter now and really helps me. I also use a TENS unit and that seems to sometimes relax the spasms enough I can get moving again. And as soon as I can I start stretching those muscles out, the longer I can’t move the longer the muscles seem to spasm.

Oh, that's awful, Chi! Back pain sucks. I had episodes like that when I was younger, and my chiropractor helped enormously. These days I'm not younger (haha), and thanks to scoliosis and a hyper-mobile sacroiliac my back pain is chronic. But most of the time it's not intense, thank heavens. I have no advice for you, but I do have sympathy!

PS: I just read An's post, and second her suggestion of Salonpas. Get the big patches.

Anyone have similar experiences? - OP Of needing a pity party? Oh you bet :)

I hope you're feeling better soon.

oh yes, you have my sympathies. Get well soon. I know it's no longer recommended but sometimes a little R&R is a good thing.

Thanks everyone. Is Salonpas like Biofreeze? That's what the doctor had me buy. I can't tell if it helps or not but it feels nice, haha.

Chi, I think the ingredients in a lot of those are very similar, menthol, eucalyptus, peppermint. The ones with added lidocaine seem to help me the most. I’ve got some essential oils that seem to help a lot too.

Ok, thanks An. I'll take a look at the pharmacy when I get my muscle relaxers. I like the idea of a patch. This Biofreeze doesn't last long and I can only use it 4x a day.

I use Biofreeze.......I've also used Salon Pas.

I second or third the SalonPas patches. However I find that the small original ones work where the larger ones and the ones with lidocaine do little. I think it may be that they act like a pressure point.

A word of caution if you have a cat like one of mine you loves the taste do not allow them to lick the inside of the patch so fold in half and dispose of immediately. OC goes crazy and will lick the bedding for the taste when I use one. I was concerned because I knew menthol was harmful to cats but the small amount is supposedly not dangerous while licking the inside of the patch could be.

I strongly urge that you ask around for recommendations for a chiropractor. Mine is the only person allowed near my back (or shoulder) when I have a problem. Did your doctor take x-rays?

No, Biofreeze is nothing like Salonpas, which is a lidocaine product. I find that lidocaine is much more helpful than menthol (Biofreeze).

I have a twisted pelvis. With specific exercises, occasional visits to my chiropractor, and assorted topical analgesics I can manage the problems associated with my situation. For me, the daily exercises are what keeps me relatively pain free.

Chiropractic treatment saved my back as well. I had similar symptoms onset in my mid 30s, and was lucky to find a very good chiropractor. Mine was trained in the Palmer method.

One important thing he taught me was that trying to alleviate the pain w/ pharmaceuticals can lead to further aggravation of the problem, not to mention the rebound effect when meds wear off.

Ice for inflammation.

"to alleviate the pain w/ pharmaceuticals can lead to further aggravation of the problem"

This is nonsense. I expect that chiropractors would say that drugs can cause problems to hide the fact that under the law, they're not permitted to write prescriptions. In most states, even nurse practitioners and physicians assistants can write prescriptions. Does that tell you anything?

Did you know that chiropractors are also not permitted to admit patients to hospitals or be on staff at hospitals? Does that mean that you should never go to a hospital?

They're permitted to practice under the law so long as they do little or nothing.

Im sorry youre in such pain and discomfort, Chi. Hope you start feeling better soon.

Tens machine, my wonderful chiropractor, spinal decompression which is my true miracle. It is often available at physical therapy facilities and some special chiropractor facilities. Your doctor can prescribe Lidocaine patches in a strength that is really helpful, the over the counter ones are not the same and don't last as long. For me massage was not helpful and in some cases made it worse. Ice and heating pad alternating is helpful for me.

Good luck finding some relief from your pain. Hope you find your best source of relief for you.

Good wishes for relief ASAP, Chi.

(((((Chi)))))

ole joyful

There may be some rebound, because the meds are treating the symptom (pain, spasm) but not the root cause in most cases. But how could an anti-inflammatory or muscle relaxant will aggravate the problem? Will either of them increase a muscle strain, disc bulging, or vertebral collapse, fracture or misalignment? No they will not.

Neither will the supplements that many chiros sell do much if anything.

ETA: spinal decompression does help. That combined with physical therapy has made my chronic neck pain from an assault much less of a problem.

Not only did cranial sacral therapy ease my back pain, but also lessened the frequency of episodes. I highly recommend, but check credentials. Not all physical therapists have taken the specialized training. I am sorry you are in so much pain.

I'm with Elmer. Find a good physiatrist and, what worked wonders for me, change your posture. I used to slouch a lot, as well as sleep on my stomach; both are terrible for your back. I got a better desk chair, paid attention to how I stand and sit, and started sleeping on my side with a pillow between my knees. My back problems have been reduced by 95%.

Chi, I too suffer the exact same pain under the same circumstances and I really feel for you. Mine has been like this since the mid-nineties. My problem is that no-one (speaking of primary care Drs.) seems to want to do an MRI which is the only way to find out for sure if it's a disc problem. X-rays don't show herniated or bulging discs. I would never let a chiropractor touch me until it was determined whether it was a bad disc or not. When it happens to me (anywhere from 1 to 4 times a year) the first thing I do is put ice on it and take muscle relaxers and ibuprofen. I hate the way muscle relaxers make me feel but I've learned that they force me to just not do anything and rest the back. Way back when I first injured it the first time, I was given some exercises to do when the back healed up and when I did the exercises I put my back out again. And since the pain is excruciating I hesitate to do anything anymore. I've actually put my back out while simply leaning forward slightly to brush my teeth. What's weird is, if I hold on to something to support my weight I can bend all the way forward to touch the ground with absolutely no pain but if I lean forward even a slight bit with no support that's when it goes out. I guess I'm going to have to beg for a referral to a specialist to order an MRI but I tell you - if it turns out to be a damaged disc I would rather do anything than to have surgery or go on pain meds - that's only going to happen if I'm down completely and can't get up at all.

I sympathize. In the last three weeks, I've spent four sleepless nights walking the floor with pain. I have pain in my right back, groin, thigh and knee that is a form of arthritis. I was also diagnosed with multiple myeloma at the end of May.

For two years before diagnosis, I was taking two Tylenol #3 and using the 4% lidocaine patches made by Salonpas (8-hour) and Aspercreme (12-hour). (Prescription patches are only 5% lidocaine.)

I still use the patches, but I sometimes need the lowest dose morphine pill plus a regular Tylenol. This was what they gave me at the ER last month, when I also had sciatic pain on my left side. (Be glad you can use an NSAID. Aspirin is superior to Tylenol.)

In three weeks I will see an anesthesiologist at my hospital's pain clinic. My internist has given me a 'backup' of 3-day morphine patches that I have not tried.

Might you make an appointment to be assessed by an MD at a pain clinic? As an established patient, you should then be able to get in quickly if you have a flare-up. I also agree with advice from Elmer and Bookwoman.

Have chronic back pain, so can truly empathize with you, Chi. The only thing I can take for it is Tylenol. Am allergic to anything containing opioids (make me feel as if thousand of bugs/ants are crawling directly beneath my skin) and cannot take NSAIDs. Cannot take asprins. Wish a non-opiod/aspirin pain reliever would be developed. Oh, cannot take muscle relaxers either.

Chi do you know what's wrong with your back? Has imaging been done? If not I encourage you to try to discover the source of the pain.

I sure hope you find relief soon.

rhizo you are wrong about all Salon Pas being a lidocaine products. The small patches I mentioned do not contain it. From the box Camphor 3.1%, Menthol 6.0%, Methyl Salicylate 10.0% with no lidocaine mentioned. The newer products do contain lidocaine but not the original ones. Lidocaine other than large amounts do nothing for me but these do.

It was just an urgent care doctor. I've gone to several doctors but they only give me pills and tell me to lose weight/exercise.

I have not had imaging done. I usually just ride this out since it doesn't happen too often and I find doctors won't order an MRI when it doesn't hurt.

The doctor said it was a muscle problem because a spinal problem would have further pain down the legs and this is a very small pain location (about a 4 inch circle right on my spine in my lower back). I'm not sure if I agree with that so I'd like to get an MRI.

I know if it's a spinal issue, that each of these flare-ups is causing some permenent scarring and damage and I'm only 35 so I worry what my back will be like in 30-40 years.

Rita, it's amazing how such small movements can do this! I was carrying around my 10 pound cat on Tuesday and leaned back slightly when adjusting her in my arms and felt a stabbing pain and I think that is what set off this episode.

Thanks for everyone's advice and sympathy!

I empathize and sometimes have just excruciating pain from my lower back. A combo of ibuprofen, heat and cold packs (the chiropractor has large and weighty ice pads that stay put rather than slide off), tens machine and chiropractic. I have a couple of bulging disks in my lumbar spine. I did go through physical therapy after the initial injury years ago and it took much longer to feel better for me.

I hope you find the combo that helps you soon!

I hope you have a chance to be seen by the right kind of physician. They're certainly available at UCI Med and as good or maybe even better ones are likely in various practices in your area too. Good luck.

I suffer from back pain as well. I injured my back when I lifted my dog up off the floor a few years ago and made it worse taking care of my sister. Some days are worse than others and I have gained weight because I can no longer go for long walks. I get out as often as I can shopping especially at Costco where I can use the support of the grocery cart and I walk the entire store a few times. I did the same thing to my back years ago from the years caring for my Mom. I only take over the counter x strength Ibuprofen when I go out, not when I am at home. With the arthritis in my knee where I broke it and now back pain some days I just don't want to move which just makes everything worse because I am not moving. My niece is a physio therapist and I should ask her to give me some exercises to do. I have to get moving again. I hope you get relief from your pain

I have chronic back pain for many years. Have had good success using a gel mat that I keep in the freezer . I wrap the mat in a thin hand towel and use it for 30 minutes. Usually helps remove a lot of discomfort. Also 5 % lidocaine patches work quickly and can stay on 12 hours. One % stronger then salonpas .They need a script, but some insurance plans will cover a box of 30 per month for a small copay. Have had the injections into spine many times over the years. I never had relief for more then a month, so have stopped trying that treatment. You might want to see if your DR would recomend the arthritis strength tylenol. It is stronger then xstrength tylenol and lasts 8 hours. I know pain wears you down. Hope you feel better quickly.

In many instances, back surgery is nothing like it used to be. Many are same day procedures, with the patient able to walk around within a few hours and sleep at home that night. My husband has a one inch scar at the bottom of his spine. He suffered for years with complicated disc issues until his back surgery.

One needs to have excellent neurosurgeons who are up to date in the newest technology, but it's pretty common these days.

My comments are just to acknowledge that spinal surgery doesn't need to be scary.

Chi, I'm so sorry for your pain and that you had to go to work, though congrats on a new job. :) I too have spent the last three weeks with back pain, though this time mine is centered around my tailbone--old injury. It's VERY frustrating not to be able move much, and certainly not quickly. I take slow, ambling walks some days that make me look like I'm scouting out houses for robbery. Yes, a little stretching is helpful but be verrrrry careful about starting back exercises too early so you don't exacerbate your pain. I do think most people don't realize how debilitating back pain is! Yes, my tummy is too big which pulls on my back, but I have to exercise slowly and carefully. I take a pilates class weekly and moderate what I do--the teacher is understanding and helpful. It's all frustrating and you have my sympathy! Off to put my hair up and get to work.

Thanks everyone. I'm feeling a bit better today. One thing that I've been doing differently is taking Advil regularly. Normally I don't like to take more than the bare minimum, but I have to remember that it's not just pain medicine but also helping the inflammation so that the muscles can heal.