Anyone recovered fully from back pain after many, many months?

[buzzheath]

Just that really. Started in May, lasted through to August. Then with exercises etc it disappeared for a few months. Now it's back. Urgh.

Yes. Saw the physio twice a week, and did the exercises they gave religiously.

Pain reduced, got worse for a week or so, then completely disappeared.

Yes with exercise.

You probably do need to keep up the exercise long term

Couldn't tell you the timescale for recovery off hand but my DM had nasty sciatica and it went away fully. She's absolutely fine now many years later, does yoga regularly.

Kind of, yes. Had bouts of absolutely crippling back pain about once a year for a few years with chronic ache the rest of the time. At its worst I couldn’t even perform basic hygiene tasks. Finally got referred to a physio. Had about 6 sessions with her. Now I get a bit of a flare up pre-menstrual but I know what to do and it’s very short-lived. The rest of the time I’m blissfully pain-free

Another one saying yes, but with the exercises given by physio.

I just do them as a morning/ evening stretch routine... takes about 5 minutes!
If I stop, the pain will eventually come back. But I have been doing this now for nearly 14 months and not even had a twinge!
(That's after a really bad episode of sciatica.)

PS, it's worth finding out what the problem is first!

Depends what problem it is. Ruptured discs, nerve damage and long term inflammation can be irreparable. A slipped disc or pulled muscle can be fixed.

Yes, my DP. Earlier this year he was in constant pain despite quite strong painkillers. He saw a physio and religiously followed the exercises given even though it was really really difficult. Physio was certain it was an L5 slipped disc - apparently they can tell from examination/ responses to leg being moved in certain ways.
After 3 long months, he started to see some improvement. It has taken a further 3-4 months to regain strength and be completely pain free. He is now back doing everything he used to including hiking twice a week. After seeing the benefit of exercises, he agreed to come to pilates with me and is now a total convert.

Just to add, I agree about diagnosis but our experience was that nothing would be done on that score until at least 12 weeks. The reasoning being that something like 90% ( or maybe 95%?) of cases will get better in time. Plus NHS resources etc. We had to push even to get physio appointments but so glad we did.

Back pain can also be very much linked to stress and emotions. Might be worth looking at the context in which the original pain and the relapse have occurred- any similarities at all?

My OH did, after YEARS of suffering and high dose opiate based painkillers. All thanks to the book 'The Divided Mind' by John Sarno

Thanks everyone! To those saying it went away completely, how long did it take? I've had an MRI to rule anything serious out, and been told it's just muscular/mechanical pain, as opposed to a disc issue. Osteopath has also said this seems to be the case. It makes sense to me as there's no tingling or neurological sensations that you tend get with sciatica, etc, and it's not a sharp pain as such, just a constant, mild-moderate general ache.

I do need to be more disciplined with my pilates exercises. Just so gutted that the pain came back after being fine for 3 months...

Thanks! How long was the duration of your pain in total?

Thanks! Glad you're better now. How long did your pain last, in total?

I've been destroyed with back pain on and off for years. Also had an MRI which found some bulging discs etc but nothing catastrophic. For me it's 100% linked to stress which i carry in my jaw and eventually makes its way down my neck and back, resulting in crippling lower back spasms that take weeks to recover from.

Last year I saw a great PT with physio training who helped me cope better with pain when it happens and took much of the panic out of it for me.

I also quit a v high pressure job and have something more low key lined up for the NY.

Back still hurts/twinges but the epic spasms whereby i can't walk seem to be over for now!

Thanks and glad you're better now! As in, you didn't see a physio for many years, but when you did, it went away quite quickly?

I sort of have! MRI was normal, GP and osteo both said it's likely not a disc injury, so just muscular pain. But it started in May and I'm still having it, hence the worry!

Yes, me. It took ages for my slipped disc to recover. I diligently did the exercises and it got better over 6 months. I then bent over and lifted a cup of tea from a low table at full reach and did it again. Took another 6 months. It did feel that it would never happen but it did.
I'm afraid it was the exercises that worked for me. I still do them regularly 3 years later!

Mine goes in the summer and comes back with a vengeance when it gets cold. I find a heated body warmer during the day and sleeping with a hot water bottle helps. Thermal vests are your backs friend this time of year!

Yes treatment, following the exercises religiously helped initially. Then regular yoga and I also bought a home massager which really helps if I start to feel any early twinges that indicate things may be flaring up so I can head it off.

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I went to a physio ten years ago before taking up yoga who said that in her experience about eight in ten cases of back pain stem from stress and difficult emotional issues.

Yeah, I've had sciatica twice. Was told I'd never run or lift weights. I got better, don't know how, and took up running for a bit. Now doing weights. I know my limits, and there are some days that have mainly lower back pain, but it goes after an hour or so of using a hot water bottle

This is interesting, I've suffered with back pain for 15 years it got worse and worse and the past couple of years has become chronic. I do daily physio exercises, yoga and Pilates weekly , daily walking. I don't know what more I can do or how to reduce stress (I have a autistic child)

It's a vicious circle because the worse it gets the more stressed I get.