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.

I was in a car accident, nothing too serious for me but my did get back pain, DR just said soft tissue damage, the initial pain lasted a couple of weeks but then it would flare up if I stood for long periods of time, or when the weather changed, or if I carried anything heavy. It was about 6 years afterwards that I no longer had any of those issues.

My husband hurt his back March 2023 (the day after his 50th!). He was in excruciating pain, and at one point I thought I would need to take him to A&E. We didn't go through our GP, as we weren't sure how long it would take for him to see a chiropractor or physiotherapist. He was in so much pain, waiting wasn't an option. My husband went to a local chiropractor, and paid. The chiropractor has been fantastic, lots of exercises to do but also lots of back massages, corrections in his neck/back etc. My husband also managed to get 8 sessions free with a physiotherapist via his employer benefits portal too. Again, extremely helpful. He has kept up with his exercises, lost 3 stone in weight and sees the chiropractor once every 3 months, just to keep on top of things.

I started to get pain in my left lower back which got worse and worse over lockdown sometimes I could barly stand in the morning or bend over. Sometomes it would spasm or I couldn't bend round to wipe myself on the toilet.

Saw a physio who said it was a problem with my piriformis muscle and was given exercises. 3 years later with regular physio exercises, daily yoga and weekly pilates it is pretty much gone.

Can anyone link to back strengthening exercises? I've had bouts of sciatica since my late 30's. My last bout ended up with a 111 call as I couldn't feel my legs. All my doctors want to do is throw painkillers at me - apparently there's no point in investigating as it's 'an age thing'. I'm bloody 42.

my back used to go regularly, a slipped disk. I worked at a desk for 15 years. I changed jobs and it hasn’t gone in over two years.

Yes. I’d been seeing a chiropractor for years but it never seemed to get better. The physio seemed to sort it very quickly.

I slipped 2 discs 7 years ago.
It’s gone again properly once since then. I’m able to keep myself ticking over with daily walking (at least 10,000 steps and I never ever miss a day) and regular visits to a physio and slightly less visits to a chiropractor/osteopaths but I’ve been in pain daily ever since!
I live with it and usually manage without painkillers or anti inflammatories of any kind, but every now and then I cave and take them. And I hate it.

Pilates. A strong core protects your back. Mine originally took over a year to heal (disc prolapse). Last time it went fully was about 15 years ago - sciatic pain down to ankle and lost control of right foot - needed extensive physio - another year or so to heal although I never regained sensation fully. Since then I've been doing Pilates. I do four classes a week now. Last time my back spasmed, it recovered in five days. You need to be consistent with your rehab.

Yes, I had lower back pain for 10 years and it was awful. Then someone told me it's because I had a weak core. Once I strengthened that i never had back pain again, not even in a niggle.

I did this every morning, it took 5 minutes

10 x knees to forehead while lying on back
10 x cobras
10 x cat cows
10 x hip raises lying on back
1x downward dog - 30 seconds
1x plank - 30 seconds
1x child pose 30 seconds

I never had back pain again after doing this for about 2 months

PP I get some of your references. There's a few I'll need to google.

What's a cat cow or a cobra?

Yes I did, I think it was losing weight that sorted it for me (I wasn’t hugely overweight but went from 12+ stone to 10+ stone). No issues now for well over a year.

I was in a bad cycle where my back would go and I would go to the physio, do the exercises, the pain would go away and then I would get lazy and stop doing them. I'd be fine for a while and then it would go again.

Last year, I did my back on the first day of my four-week summer holidays, with a side of sciatica. I spent my whole time off in pain, no beach trips or anything nice. Since then, I've been doing physio-led Pilates twice a week. Yesterday was a year since I last did my back! I still get the occasional twinge but that's it.

@Neilsfavouritechilli Pilates - preferably a teacher guided class so you start off in a safe way.

It really is a miracle exercise in terms of back pain.

Yes ... with surgery.

Yes a tens machine was more effective than codeine for reducing the pain.
Then once pain free keep on top of triggers.
Limit text neck position, walk daily, yoga.
start the tens at the slightest sign of the pain coming back.
I guess it depends what you mean by fully recovered. I would say I have the pain well under control and no longer take any prescription meds.

@Ginmonkeyagain thank you. I'll start scouting for classes nearby.

Yes but it took a lot of physio. I also had to do exercises the physio didn't suggest to build even more core strength.

I have stopped eating wheat because it causes inflammation in my sacriolac joint. I had no idea this was even possible but then proof is when I eat pasta or bread I can hardly stand up.