back specialists

[Jackrat]

Hey JR (or anyone else with a similar problem), were your weak trunk muscles a side effect of a desk-bound job (and general lack of excersice outside of business hours)? I put my back out playing squash a year or so after I got a desk job, but hopefully have learned my lesson. A negative function of modern society?

Yes,I went from working on a farm and being a part time fencing contractor to sitting pushing buttons in a steel mill.My back started giving me trouble after about twelve months of it.
My doctor calls it natures revenge for walking up right.

[Skyryder]

"They can fly a man to the moon, but they can't fix a back!"

Progress in modern medicine is simply this - they can make your pain easier to bear if you've got the money to pay for it!

I knew you and I would finaly agree on something.

Skyryder

[Skyryder]

Take up Yoga.

Skyryder

[erik]

I've tried going to the gym already for about 2 years. I kind of slacked off last year though, and then stopped this year. I only made really slow, or no, strength increases. I guess I wasn't eating enough protein and calories in general, I've got a fast metabolism and it's hard to put on weight/muscle. I did enjoy working out though, if a doc said it was a good thing to do, I'd start again. I was just a bit worried that I might've been making my back worse.

The osteopath that I went to see ages ago (2001) was worried that one of the vertebra or disks might've moved forwards (spondylolitis[?]) and I got an x-ray, but it showed nothing wrong. I can't remember what else the osteopath said. I remember one said to keep away from weightlifting because it's not good for my body type or something (tall non-muscular).

I've had a look at the "Treat your own Back" book and tried some of the exercises. It kind of helped, but I'm not sure if it was much better than just lying down every now and then. I think one of the osteopaths didn't think much of it (the book/exercises) though.

I've tried several things already (weights, osteopaths, accupuncture, yoga, stretching, massage), some that make more sense to me than others. Strangely the one thing I haven't done is gone to an orthodox back specialist, I guess because it's expensive and my parents are leaned towards alternative therapy.

Zed, I think I share your lack of faith in modern medicine. But I've gotta give it a shot anyway, having tried several other things and not getting anywhere.

So I think I'll write some stuff down to ask the guy/tell him and try to make the most out of the $195...

I'll just have to hope my bike doesn't break down any time soon...

Anyway, thanks for all your posts, humorous and otherwise

[MadDuck]

Well Erik I know back pain like many of the others. I ruptured my lower disc years ago playing sport which means I will always have a weak back from the bottom up so as to speak. Went to a chiropractor for 2 years every 2nd week then finally thought...heck this cant really be that good for me as I heard the crunch and crack.
Finally I found an orthobyonomist (spelling) that does relatively the same type of action as a chiro but with not the same cracking. Its more muscular and an alternative treatment as only 2 in NZ do it from what I understand. His name is Neville H (something dammit) and last time I saw him he was in Pakuranga in the tall plaza building near the local cop.

Damn if he is still there someone let me know. After two sessions with him I was pain free for 2 or 3 years. Then I fell on my lovely drive and twisted my pelvis. :sneaky2: Best if you can get it sorted at your age as it only gets worse.

[El Dopa]

Have you tried a conventional physio? I know you lean towards alternative stuff, but I kinda lean the other way, for lots of good reasons that are better saved for another thread.

Try the guys in the Dingwall building on Queen Street (Queen St Physio I think its called). $45 a session, and they're straight shooters, so they won't piss you about and take your money indefinitely.

I agree with all the comments about exercise, but make sure your back has settled down first before doing anything too strenuous, otherwise you're just adding injury to injury.

[erik]

Have you tried a conventional physio? I know you lean towards alternative stuff, but I kinda lean the other way, for lots of good reasons that are better saved for another thread.

Try the guys in the Dingwall building on Queen Street (Queen St Physio I think its called). $45 a session, and they're straight shooters, so they won't piss you about and take your money indefinitely.

I agree with all the comments about exercise, but make sure your back has settled down first before doing anything too strenuous, otherwise you're just adding injury to injury.

Nope I haven't tried conventional physio. I guess I wasn't clear before, it's my parents that have been into alternative stuff, which has led me to try that stuff first. But I think I prefer conventional medicine, even though it does seem pretty limited (maybe I've been watching too much star trek... ). I mean I think there is a great deal of knowledge out there, but it seems to me that there is still a hell of a lot that they just don't understand yet.

I think I'll try to find out more about what physiotherapists do, and then maybe go see one.

[MikeL]

Best if you can get it sorted at your age as it only gets worse.

Not true. Provided you understand what causes the problem and avoid the situations which damage your back it will repair itself over time. Fifteen years ago I was immobilized (and depressed) by a lower back (disc) problem and consequent severe sciatica. Now I run, swim, work out and enjoy life.
Here's what I have learned:
1. Physiotherapy is of very limited use.
2. A chiropracter is of no use at all.
3. Traditional treatment is crap. The medical textbook I consulted advised a minimum of 6 weeks' confinement to bed without even being allowed to get up to go to the toilet. As if!!
4. The injury can never be completely reversed, but it can heal itself sufficiently to give you back a reasonably normal life.
5. The repair will be slow, and there will be setbacks, but long-term the prognosis is good, provided you follow a few simple rules, the most important of which is to avoid lifting situations which put strain on the lower back ("bend ze knees...").
6. The more active you are the better. Rest is not necessary. Exercises to strengthen abdominal and back muscles are vital.
In the past too many people have taken the well-meaning but misguided advice of "health professionals" and ended up ruining their lives. Don't trust these people! They don't know everything! It's your body and your life...

[MadDuck]

ok point taken MikeL.

I guess I was trying to say (and not very well) is dont ignore it. The day I woke up and could not move was pretty scary and I was all of 20 something. They key is to keep moving and strengthen slowly.

Last time I went to my physio he said that digging trenches and laying retaining walls was not really the best kinda therapy for a crook back. Having said that if I listened to him the bike would stay in the gargre for the next 10 years.

Once the back is weakened it just takes managing. Everyone is different and everyone needs different treatment. Find what suits you and stay with it.

[Zed]

...Zed, I think I share your lack of faith in modern medicine. But I've gotta give it a shot anyway, having tried several other things and not getting anywhere...

Of course you do erik...the comment I made about medicine was very general and it wasn't my intention to put you off it necessarily. I really do hope you can get it sorted out. Your riding experience will suffer if you don't!!


Zed

[Posh Tourer :P]

I think you need to look at getting a good training schedule and perhaps a personal trainer. Tell them you want to focus solely on core strength and ignore their pleas for you to do your arms/legs/neck etc etc. Focus on core strength and get someone there to drive you. I also have a fast metabolism and similar physique and I've managed to do some serious strengthening work without resort to protein bars and protein shakes and all that rubbish.

[FROSTY:Me]

i agree with PT here eric. A good regeme to get stronger lower back muscles will help heaps.
One thing I was told that I thought was stupid was -loosen your belt.
Lots of guys have belts way too tight and it gives you a sore back

[Slim]

Everything is connected. Quite a few people have mentioned back & ab exercises for strength, which is absolutely true, but no one has mentioned stretching ham strings, which is also a big contributor to lower back pain (although I notice you've tried Yoga, Erik).

There is an absolutely brilliant Physio/acupuncturist/osteo guy down here in Hamilton that I see for various back-related problems, and my Man has found a really great woman in Mount Maunganui too (and he's got Scheuermann's Disease, so he's seen all sorts of back people over the years!) but they're probably both a bit of a hike to go see.

You need to find someone who knows how the whole body works together, and possibly someone who has more than one medical discipline in their arsenal, and someone who will help you come up with a plan to assist recovery.

As the ACC's been advertising a lot lately, we know that doing nothing is not the way to fix back problems! Good luck in your search.

[spudchucka]

Erik,

Not knowing your age or physical condition its a little hard to offer relevant advice. However I see that you have tried the gym in the past. Good idea in my opinion, strengthening your lower back and abdominal will really help your lower back pain. Especially the abs, if you work out your lower back you should also be working on your abs for balance and its the stronger abs that will really help. Also stretching your hamstrings will help. Can you touch your toes?? I used to suffer lower back pain regularly and the upshot of the problem was that with age my hamstrings had the elasticity of number 8 wire. So an exercise and stretching programme made the world of difference and my back seldom bothers me anymore.

[El Dopa]

Nope I haven't tried conventional physio. I guess I wasn't clear before, it's my parents that have been into alternative stuff, which has led me to try that stuff first. But I think I prefer conventional medicine, even though it does seem pretty limited (maybe I've been watching too much star trek... ). I mean I think there is a great deal of knowledge out there, but it seems to me that there is still a hell of a lot that they just don't understand yet.

I think I'll try to find out more about what physiotherapists do, and then maybe go see one.

Hey Erik, sorry for the delay in replying.

Yeah, modern medicine has a long way to go, and I have the injuries and horror stories to prove it. Sometimes it's better at blowing it's own trumpet than curing you, but I'd stll take it over the alternative stuff (although I think there's aspects of that stuff that western medicine dismisses too easily), simply because the implied contract is that the western stuff has been tried and tested from first principles before it reaches you via the doctor or whoever. You therefore have a reasonable expectation that you're getting what you asked for, and if you don't your complaints are supposed to be listened to and resolved. A lot of the alterative stuff is unregulated, so if it goes wrong or doesn't work like you were told it was going to (or makes you worse or gives you a new problem), well, tough s***.