Lower back pain relief

I have had lower back pains since 1979, and have tried everything on the list, and nothing has really worked. Anything that sort of worked was temporary! And the pain continues to persist.

You are not alone. That is a frustration that many of us deal with every day.

Just a bandaid.

I have had a nerve block- this has different results for different people.
Mine worked great for about three months. Putting heat on it- I use
a hand-help shower head that I can direct to my back, awesome
relief!! A heating pad, especially in the winter. The use of proper supports
in your shoes, good supportive shoes are hard to find. I use an OTC
creme called "Sports Creme", with very good results for long-lasting
relief. Look at drug stores for this, it is inexpensive, doesn't stink-
burn- but has a pleasant smell. I also use a "tens unit" stimulator
for relief of pain & spasms. I would never use one of those vertical
boards as it could actually do more harm than good for some people.
Hugs, marieanne

Dealing with a new diagnosis myself… Scoliosis…lower back area near tailbone!…painful but not debilitating yet. Any helpful hints to keep the pain to mimimum when im on my feet a lot at work and lift heavy objects (animals) all day?

ACO410, Hi Dear1, the best thing I found to help myself with a lot of standing/walking is a good supportive pair of shoes! If you have a high
arch- get proper support! Even flat feet need support, many people don't
think so, but all feet need proper support. Ligaments break down in
the feet as we age & because of the weight of the whole body
resting on them. If you need to, get inserts (Walgreen's stores)-
they carry a good selection. This will ease the pain in your back &
keep the feet properly aligned to support you. This lower back stuff
gets real bad bc it is the weakest part of our backs & thus we need
all the help we can get. Hugs, marieanne

I love it when the possible answers are simple and inexpensive!!

I found that a good pair of shoes with orthotics help . Especially if you work on a floor that has no give to it like cement or tile over a cement foundation. That is a killer to the low back. If your lucky enough to be working outside on the ground or on a wood floor base it gives a little and doesn't cause as much pain. I would use good body mechanics and ask for help when lifting heavy animals and move around a lot.You may want to wear a back brace to help your low back but when off the job take it off and do exercises to build up your corp strength " abs. " Always squat and lift with your legs and try to push your belly button into the back of your spine . By doing that your tightening your abdominal corp and keeping your back straight and stable
Peace and let me know how you make out

The best advice I can give is to protect your back as much as you can. Get a brace for when you have to lift things. Lift correctly and carefully. Listen to your body about when you are getting tired and worn out. That is when injuries and further damage mostly likely will occur. Try and avoid the lifting as much as you can.

Here is a link to an artilce that has several different remedies for lower back pain relief. Perhaps there is something helpful in there.
http://www.backpainconnect.com/news-articles/...

Three things…knee pillow (goes in between your knees - shocking how much this helps), laying flat with your feet and knees elevated, and one thing completely eliminated my back pain…teva ossagon shoes. Unfortunately they dont make them anymore but they were a miracle. I have three degenerated discs and quite severe pain, but these tricks help a ton and also lead me to believe my issues are postural. Good luck!

Well, if they don't make the shoes anymore, can you still get them? If not, have you found something else that works as well or maybe not as well but still better than nothing?

I tried a tanning bed, the deep heat was so nice but now the Dr.s are saying that's bad for you also. I use a tens machine but I sweat so much from the pain that it's hard to keep the pads on my back. The rest of your list I've tried except for surgery, which everyone I've talked to that's had surgery said their pain is worse. So I really don't have any more ideas.

Nice start to the list. From personal experience, I have only a couple of things that I can add, but I will.

13. Sauna- kinda like the hot bath, but for me it goes deeper.
14. Exercise-maybe it is just the endorphins, but I usually feel better when I walk for a half hour. I know I feel better about myself. I go straight to the sauna when I am finished to help relax the muscles.
15. Vitamins

There are sure to be others. What else do you have out there.

I should walk more ,but I also exercise sometimes to much but Physical therapists tell me the more you can strengthen your corp "abdomen, hips, pelvis and all back muscles and work on trying to stay in proper alignment " inversion table " helps me a lot.Plus, I forgot one more important thing, is stretching before you do anything. Especially when you first get out of bed in the morning.

That is why I don't try and exercise in the mornings. My wife wants me to get up and go walking with her, but I just can't. It takes me half the day just to get all the muscles working. I still stretch when I walk on the treadmill and I cool down in the sauna and I have had no problems with that. Mornings are the worst times for me.