pulled back muscle, how can I ease the pain?

[hulahoopsilove]

Bent down to pick something up and pulled/strained my side of my back. It's killing me could hardly walk this morning and it keeps spasming also pain has gone into my tummy feels like period pains.

I need to go to work tom other than painkillers and a hot water bottle is there anything else I can do?

Im sorry that this has happened to you. It happened to me a couple of months ago. The doctor said to take anti inflammatories, use deep heat or voltarol and try not to aggravate it but stay active.

It took a few weeks to ease but it has now gone. I hope it gets better soon.

Thank you, I've done it before ages ago but it wasn't as bad or painful as this. Have so much to do today like school uniform to get ready for the week etc so should be active just checked and only have paracetomol in the house :(

Ouch, I feel your pain. I have slipped disks which are playing up today.

Is there someone who can get ibuprofen for you?

If you have a wheat pack/hot water bottle, I've found it helps quite a bit. I use a dressing gown belt to tie a half filled hot water bottle to my back so that I can still move. It works much better for me than a heat patch and is much cheaper.

Anti inflammatories and ice. Ice cubes in a tea towel - 10 mins now, 10 mins after lunch, 10 mins mid afternoon, 10 mins after dinner and 10 mins before bed.

My husband is a massage therapist and this is is standard regime for an injury like this.

I hurt my back recently and have ended up taking 6 weeks to get back to work. It was quite bad before I really hurt it so much I couldn't get out of bed for a week. Be really careful you do not strain it any worse. I suggest you lie down till it eases and do the ice above. You can also use a heat pad. Don't push yourself and strain it worse. When people say keep active I think they should qualify this by saying be very careful and don't do anything that hurts even a bit until it is starting to improve. Its better to take a few days if you have to than make it worse and be bad for weeks.

Make sure you sit well, and consciously engage your tummy muscles to support your back when you are turning, lifting, bending etc. It's tempting to slump in order to rest sore back muscles but that only makes it worse ime. Poor you - hope it gets better soon.

I've been active this morning and the pain is definately easing than when I'm sat for long periods I think the water bottle has helped aswell I sat with it first thing on my back. The dressing gown is a great idea.

Don't think I can do the ice pack but if gets worse will give that a go.

Any ideas why I've got a dull period like tummy pain ..not due a period BTW

Like you I preferred heat to ice for obvious reasons but when I finally tried the ice it helped! The heat won't reduce the inflammation but the ice does. Try it - it's not as bad as you think it's going to be. Ibuprofen AND co-codamol too.

Yes you can combine the two by doing the 10 mins of ice 3 times a day as suggested and then using the heat pad at other times.

You can get a codeine based pain killer like cocodamol at the chemist and take ibuprofen as well to reduce inflamation.

I am not sure about the stomach pain, but could it be related to your back cramping? The cramp might go right through like when you feel period pain in your back. This is just a guess though.

Thanks everyone for your help and sympathy Im feeling sorry for myself but boy does it hurt! Will see what tomom brings

Yes, I'm a big believer in ice! I hope you feel better.

I'm also suffering from back spasms so you have my sympathy. I was in agony on Saturday and the OOH Dr gave me diazepam and Voltarol suppositories- it's really helped. I could barely walk on Saturday and today I can walk around relatively comfortably.
If you are still in pain I strongly suggest getting somediazepam from the Dr- once you can relieve the spasm you will move easier and help loosen up those muscles.
Take care.

I pull mine once or twice a year and although it isn't agony it is very painful and tiring. It normally clears in a week. However I did it again the week before Christmas, and although the back itself was better in a couple of days, I had a great deal of referred pain in the buttock/leg (piriformis nerve? - like sciatica but dull). Anyway I decided to get myself to a physio, rang around and found one who could see me the next day. Spent 90 minutes being treated and taught exercises and within 36 hours was totally pain free - £40 well spent. Might be worth a try?

Try to relax your muscles by gentle activity (walking), warm bath etc. Anti-inflammatories - ibuprofen or diclofenac (tablets or topical gel). A small dose of alcohol is good too.

Have ibuprofen by the bed to take the moment you wake up so it can start working. You'll be stiff in the morning.

Don't take ibuprofen on an empty stomach!

Will bump up the Back Story thread for lots of tips and ideas on managing back pain. Seems to be a lot of it about.