To think once you develop back pain it never goes away?

[FairTurtle]

I've had this now for 6 weeks, out of NOWHERE. It's constant. I've seen a chiro and an osteo and it's still no better. GP isn't concerned. NO HISTORY of back problems whatsoever. I'm 28 and healthy besides this. Wtf??????? Yoga poses and core strength exercises aren't helping.

When was the last time you changed your mattress OP? Do you share a bed with someone heavier than you.?

Try sleeping on a very firm mattress, alone, for a week and see how you feel.

I guess it depends on the cause of the problem and the person really!
But I had a bulged disc when I was in my late twenties. Was in awful pain! I went to physio and made sure I did the exercises frequently, also took up yoga, swam more etc. to strengthen back/core. Pain went away and has never returned to the same extent.
I am now nearly 40 and have had a baby since then which I was worried would put pressure on my back but I was absolutely fine.
So in my case it has gone away! All I can say is keep at the physio, try and strengthen your core and take care of yourself! Hope it gets better for you!

Things that have helped mine:

Yoga
Pilates (especially reformer)
Walking
A really good sports massage from someone who understands anatomy
This balance chair for work
Generally moving around a lot - don't sit at desk for hours and hours

Dining chair and fancy adjustable office chair were both terrible for my back (and hip, but that's another story).

I had my first attack of back pain in 2015, a knock on from having a hip jammed forward due to an overflexible SI joint. I had bad pain for a year, and lesser pain for 5 more years, and some numbness for 2 years more, concomitant with the advent of menopause. Osteopathy for a summer helped when it first occurred, but the thing that did the most for me was a daily walk, 3 miles, first thing in the morning, a practice I continue for 6 days a week. Now I am through menopause, there is no more pain or numbness. It took a while, but I got there. I also suspect retiring and lowering stress and not being in front of a computer all day the past couple years has helped enormously.

If you feel up to it at all, a short walk will probably help a lot.

Thanks all! My mattress is really firm, and I sleep alone so I don't think that's the issue. I've been sitting on a hard dining chair to work, with a lumbar support pillow, as I assumed that was better than a sofa/comfy armchair. But maybe not?

If there's anyone who got over back pain without running or walking 10,000 steps a day, let me know?😪I wish I could exercise like this, but I'm quite limited to short walks, gentle yoga, and gentle strength exercises from supine position.

Sorry, I feel like I should have said in my original post that I can't really run or walk long distances. In fact, that's probably why I've developed back pain in the first place, tbh. But I really want to fix this.

I used to get a lot of back pain - doing strength and conditioning work and pilates has helped a lot. I also think I am the only person who hates office chairs and finds a dining chair with two cushions much better for my back!

My mum has had acupuncture for a bad back and found it helps a lot.

If you can do short walks, can you do more of them? For example, if you can't do a 20-30 minute walk, can you go out for three 5 minute walks a day?

I think you are being a bit optimistic if you think it should be fixed within 2 weeks if it is down to weak glutes/hips/core.

Also, it is not always helpful to keep stretching to the point where it is painful thinking that more is better. It could be that you are not allowing any small injuries to muscles, ligaments or tendons to heal if you keep overstretching them with yoga and other stretches.

@parkrun500club Yes, I can definitely try to do this. If not most days, at least a few times a week. I also make sure I'm moving around between wfh breaks and going for a potter around the house, do some yoga stretches, a few strength exercises for core, etc.

I think it depends on what had happened. My back has "gone" a number of times in my life. Its always got better. My DH has congenital back issues and has had back pain of varying severity throughout his life on and off and it always sorts itself. We do see a chiropractor monthly. That has kept my DH back pain free for the longest period in his life.

Chiropractors can sort back pain ime but it's not a one appt fix you need to go a number of times if the problem is acute and then dial it back to maintain (if you want to).

I also have a friend that slipped a disc and was off work for months and months unable to move get much. He's been absolutely fine since.

Thank you all. There's so many valuable comments and ideas on this thread that I hadn't considered. I am going to continue doing the physio, seeing my osteo (though not convinced it helps much!), and trying to walk a bit more when I can, even if for short bursts throughout the day.

I'm interested in the comments around massage, etc. I would have thought if my issue is weak surrounding muscle groups, then this wouldn't really help? Essentially I'm trying to see what else I can do in addition to the (very little) exercise I can manage!

I've had back problems since I was 16. So 16 years ago. Sometimes (rarer now then it was so maybe once every few months) it's so bad I can't put weight on my legs so if I stand i have to have help.
I can't walk for long periods of time otherwise the next day I'll be in agony. I've had MRI scans and physio and there's nothing obvious there apparently. I did go to a chiropractor and it helped for maybe a month but that was it. The doctor told me I have to live with chronic back pain. It's absolutely ridiculous. Just something I have to live with forever I guess.

Have you tried a TENS machine? For me, I find that it sort of overrides the pain and gives some relief

@WeeOrcadian Interesting. I'll look into this. Does it help long-term, or do you think it's more of an in the moment symptom relief type thing?

I damaged my back when I was 28 (by carrying shelves that were far too heavy for me from a shop.) The pain came and went until I was pregnant with my eldest at 33 oddly. Apparently because it changes your centre of gravity it puts any strain on a different part of your back than the damaged part. I did get back pain about 4 years later (probably from lugging a heavy toddler around - different child) but it's been OK since then. I'm now 52. So my experience is it doesn't have to be forever.

Massage won't help the underlying issues but it might help ease the pain which will make it easier for you to exercise.

Another suggesting a good physio. You'll probably have to go private as NHS waiting lists will be long (were 6 months and that was about 7 years ago).

Also, if its not getting better go back to the gp and push for a referral and further investigation and an MRI. GPs don't know much about backs or other musculoskeletal problems and ime you have to push to be seen by someone who does.

I had back pain for 6 years plus and it thought I’d never recover but I had. Glute med exercises for sure help as do squats and lunges for me. I guess it depends where your weakness are are.

I started with this every day…..

Go physio then do these exercises everyday, several times a day. Then once it's better take up Pilates do it twice a week

One thing I've not seen mentioned (apologies if it has) but one thing that really helped me other than exercise was watching my weight. I lost a about a stone (think larger size 12 to smaller size 12) and that also really helped. Apologies if this doesn't apply.

Also the vibrating/warming belts you can buy. If my back is bad at the end of the day, I put that on for a while and it really helps me. I'm sure they are not suitable to for all conditions, but even just the heat setting can really help the ache.

@FranticHare Thank you! Funnily enough, the GP did say this, to the horror of my sister. I'm about 5 foot 2 in height and weigh about 47kg and visibly look "slender".

Wow to your GP! I mean I maybe wrong, but wouldn't of thought your weight is an issue at all!!

Good luck with the exercises!

Not for me. Hurt my back bulged disks etc. private mri, private physio, sorted posture and core. Last mri no bulging although it requires maintenance keeping core good. No pain.

I have what I believe to be a bulging disc (never been diagnosed as NHS refuse to do an MRI unless I lose control of my bowels)
The last time my back went was 3 years ago, and the pain has never gone away from that episode. Usually it gets bad if I make sudden movements but this morning i woke up with severe pain and am struggling to move. Time to go private I think!