Physiotherapist - that is the clue.  Usually for me it is heat that does
help so I relax and don't get the spasms.  Don't stay in bed - move about
gently during the day. Sitting with heat can help.  When driving stop
regularly to stretch and don't ignore those muscle relaxers.  Gentle
exercise will eventually be the clue but they will want the spasms to ease
before it is much more than range of motion and walking around a bit.

Truly if you can afford it physio will help immensely.  Usually she can get
me under control in the worst condition within a week or so and then the
exercise regime takes me from there.  I have been in a job (with special
needs children) that has caused back problems suddenly and violently many
times.

Hang in there - i know that pain.

Kelly

Have any of you ever thrown your back out?

I threw my back out for the first time ever, about a week ago and am
really having a huge problem with spasms and such.

Since I have really never dealt much with back issues, I'm not sure what
the best way of handling this is. If any of you have experience with
this type of stuff and have suggestions, I would be mighty grateful if
you would share them with me.

I do have muscle relaxants and pain meds from my doctor, but I hate
taking that kind of stuff all the time. Some one told me to ice it,
while some one else told me use heat?

My doctor also told me to drink some gatorade to make sure that the
muscles and tissues were well hydrated with electrolytes to help calm
down the spasms.

Is this normal when you throw your back out for it to take more than a
week to get better???

Ouch, sure is painful and gives me a whole new respect for people who
have chronic back problems!

Thanks in advance for any help or suggestions you might have!!!

Donna G

(who is supposed to leave on friday to go up north for a few days for my
nephews high school graduation party and it is a 5 hour drive!
Uggggh!)

Hi Donna G,,,,,   Its good to hear from you and yes, I have thrown my back
out and it took two years to get over it.   If you have had just a minor
strain, you could be alright in a couple of weeks.  If you have done
something major to your back,,,, a doctor is going to have to tell you how
bad it is.
    Travel well,,,,, enjoy,,,
    Harv

Have any of you ever thrown your back out?

I threw my back out for the first time ever, about a week ago and am
really having a huge problem with spasms and such.

Since I have really never dealt much with back issues, I'm not sure what
the best way of handling this is. If any of you have experience with
this type of stuff and have suggestions, I would be mighty grateful if
you would share them with me.

I do have muscle relaxants and pain meds from my doctor, but I hate
taking that kind of stuff all the time. Some one told me to ice it,
while some one else told me use heat?

My doctor also told me to drink some gatorade to make sure that the
muscles and tissues were well hydrated with electrolytes to help calm
down the spasms.

Is this normal when you throw your back out for it to take more than a
week to get better???

Ouch, sure is painful and gives me a whole new respect for people who
have chronic back problems!

Thanks in advance for any help or suggestions you might have!!!

Donna G

(who is supposed to leave on friday to go up north for a few days for my
nephews high school graduation party and it is a 5 hour drive!
Uggggh!)

Donna, I've only thrown out my lower back once - thank goodness!  I couldn't
stand to sit for 24 hours - had to stand or lie.  In my case, I actually
threw out a disc, but was already under a chiro's care for upper back stuff
at the time and got in the next day.  If things are truly thrown out to the
point that you are severely out of alignment, you might want to find a good
chiro.  Otherwise, I agree with what Kelly and Angela said - rest, gentle
movement and PT if possible.

Have any of you ever thrown your back out?

I threw my back out for the first time ever, about a week ago and am
really having a huge problem with spasms and such.

Since I have really never dealt much with back issues, I'm not sure what
the best way of handling this is. If any of you have experience with
this type of stuff and have suggestions, I would be mighty grateful if
you would share them with me.

I do have muscle relaxants and pain meds from my doctor, but I hate
taking that kind of stuff all the time. Some one told me to ice it,
while some one else told me use heat?

My doctor also told me to drink some gatorade to make sure that the
muscles and tissues were well hydrated with electrolytes to help calm
down the spasms.

Is this normal when you throw your back out for it to take more than a
week to get better???

Ouch, sure is painful and gives me a whole new respect for people who
have chronic back problems!

Thanks in advance for any help or suggestions you might have!!!

Yuppers - when my dad passed, while we were vacationing in PA and going to
umpteen amusement parks, after a hard sneeze...

Found that taking the muscle relaxants and pain meds on a schedule and just
walking helped most. Was walking around the park with my son while hubby
took daughter on all the roller coasters. The more I walked, the better it
felt - until the ride home when it stiffened up again.

Didn't have much access to heating or icing it. Gentle stretching (like just
standing straight w/knees slightly bent, hold onto back of chair, and tilt
pelvic bone forward). And massage, from hubby when I couldn't get to a
professional.

If you can stay upright while taking them, take both the pain meds and the
muscle relaxants. It makes a huge difference. Oh and time. A week or two for
mild strain.

Adelle

Hi Donna,

With DDD I've wanted to throw it out often, but the trash haulers
wouldn't take it. :-)

You 'threw your back out' is a generic term used by GP's, you need to
be evaluated by an Orthopedic doctor to determine if you just pulled a
muscle or if a disk has bulged.

Take the muscle relaxants and pain meds they will help you heal
faster. Ice helps reduce swelling in tissue, while heat increases
blood flow to damaged tissue so both are good. Alternating 15 minuets
of heat & cold on/off is usually recommended. My problem is always
bulged or blown disks so only traction helps me.

Pulled or torn muscles can take months to heal, bulged disks can take
years to heal if they ever do.

None of the stuff that falls under the heading of arthritis is much
fun. ^_^

Good luck. ;-)

Sending Good Thoughts,
{{{{Donna G}}}}

GramPaHugs,
Alex,

Ouch!!
Donna,
Be very careful with your back, they take a long time to heal and are easily
reinjured while they are healing.
I have used both ice and heat effectively for back pain. Spasms in my case
are treated with ice. I have also been told to
alternate heat and ice. If you have ever watched any basketball on tv you
may have seen players laying on the sidelines
with huge bags of ice on their backs. That was to try to control the spasms.
When I have soreness after or during golfing
these days I apply a heating pad that attaches right to my skin (only
certain ones can do this). They last about 8hrs. per pad.
Painkillers are a bit dangerous as you can hurt your back worse without even
knowing it. Of course, one the meds wear off you
will find out this has happened.
Good luck with it and take it VERY easy for the next few weeks...no joking.
GaryZ

Have any of you ever thrown your back out?

I threw my back out for the first time ever, about a week ago and am
really having a huge problem with spasms and such.

Since I have really never dealt much with back issues, I'm not sure what
the best way of handling this is. If any of you have experience with
this type of stuff and have suggestions, I would be mighty grateful if
you would share them with me.

I do have muscle relaxants and pain meds from my doctor, but I hate
taking that kind of stuff all the time. Some one told me to ice it,
while some one else told me use heat?

My doctor also told me to drink some gatorade to make sure that the
muscles and tissues were well hydrated with electrolytes to help calm
down the spasms.

Is this normal when you throw your back out for it to take more than a
week to get better???

Ouch, sure is painful and gives me a whole new respect for people who
have chronic back problems!

Thanks in advance for any help or suggestions you might have!!!

Donna G

(who is supposed to leave on friday to go up north for a few days for my
nephews high school graduation party and it is a 5 hour drive!
Uggggh!)

Ice at night, heat in the morning.

Yes.  It can take months.

Do you know how you threw it out?  
TRy to lie flat on your back as much as possible.
Be careful which chairs and couches you use.  Some may feel comfy to
sit in and kill your back the next day.

Consider a Chiropractor.  I heard all the horror stories about them
and finally tried one as an almost last resort when the surgeons
started hinting about operating without a firm diagnosis.  He had me
almost pain free in one week after suffering for 8 months.  I swear by
them now.
Thumper

Donna,

you have gotten some good suggestions.
Back Brace, massage, even a tennis ball against the wall and backing up to
it, alternating heat and ice, maybe something like icy hot or bengay might
help. But if you can do take the muscle relaxers.

God has a wonderful sense of humor. You have to specify what you are asking
for. One time I was at wits end and told God, I need a vacation. I was
really talking about a vacation in Hawaii or something like that. But didn't
specify. Well the next day I got my vacation for a month. My back went out
and I was flat on my back in bed for a month. I had to wear a back brace.
Even with the back brace my one son would have to crawl up in bed behind me
and hold my back, just so I could get up out of the bed, so I could go
potty. I couldn't move to get out of bed the pain was that bad even with a
back brace on.

So I do sympathize with you greatly in the back being out.

My back goes out more than I do.  LOL ;-)

As the others have said, discuss this at length with your RD.

I have back problems (what would you expect with AS) and I use heat and rest.
Your RD may also increase NSAIDS or use a pred pack, etc. (my RD sometimes ups
the meds if the problem is serious enough).

I can't take cold (it HURTS) so I keep warm (sometimes until I sweat) and stand
in a hot shower and bend and flex slowly as long as I can.

Also remember that, if you're anything like me, you'll be more likely to repeat
the problem until long after it seems healed.