Back pain

ProudTexan

ProudTexan

New member
I've been taking about 3,000MG of Ibuprofen a day because I have some pain in my lower back. I think sometimes that's it's kind of learned and I got addicted to it. Maybe my back really doesn't hurt and I think it does so I take more Ibuprofen. I've tried to stop taking Ibuprofen, but I can't. The most I can go is about a day. I went to the doctor and he gave me a list of exercises to try. Does anyone know if these really work? About how long it takes to start working? I know that if I keep on this 3,000MG a day pill popping escapade, then I'll have liver failer later in life. But I can't stop taking them. :confused:

Any ideas?
 
ProudTexan said:
Maybe my back really doesn't hurt and I think it does so I take more Ibuprofen...
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That is what I would explore further, were I you. The fact that you say it shows me that you have an inkling that the problem is more than just a physical dependency.

I went to the doctor and he gave me a list of exercises to try. Does anyone know if these really work? About how long it takes to start working?
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I have suffered from lower back pain periodically all of my life (since age 12 - 13). When I am in better physical condition I do not have problems, it nearly always happens when I am out of shape. I suspect that slack core musculature, bad posture and bad lifting or working habits are to blame. So that would suggest that exercising in general is beneficial. But a few isolated exercises may not be enough. Strengthening yourself in general is probably a better idea. But I'd get some professional advise on that.

In the past 10 years I have been seeing a Chiropractor when I have an episode, and he has helped immensly. You might try that.

You don't mention the nature of the pain. Is it related to an injury or a condition like scoliosis, or degenerativesomethingorother?

I hope you find your way out of it, it can be debilitating and drugs are not the answer.

David C
 
I wonder if they sell a patch to help you quit Ibuprofens... That'd be cool. :jump:

Tomorrow I'm going to try not taking any until I'm very much in pain and I can't stand it anymore. See where it goes from there. :confused:
 
DCarr10760 said:
You don't mention the nature of the pain. Is it related to an injury or a condition like scoliosis, or degenerativesomethingorother?
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No, neither of those. It's only happened since I got fat. I suspect that's the problem. :rolleyes: Maybe when I'm back down to around 215-220 things won't be so bad anymore. :)
 
in my opinion thats seems like quite a high dose to me. if you cant quit cold turkey, try reducing the amount you take slowly. i know thats what they do with other addictive pills. whether its right for brufen i dont know,you need to ask a professional.
exercises may help if done correctly, but it will take time.a physiotherapist maybe the right person to show you. as you mentioned losing weight will help (im a nurse with chronic back problems and it has for me)
years ago i really hurt my back and saw a osteopath/acupuncturist. sorted me out really well, probably better than my own doctor could have done.but i guess it all depends on what actually is wrong with your back.slim
 
Doses above 400 mg/kg are considered an overdose and can result into any of the above consequences.
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Consequences of Ibuprofen overdose: According to research institutes, Ibuprofen overdose damages your internal organs like liver. While in some cases it has been reported that it has result in a permanent liver damage, in other cases where the victim was taking the dose for a long and continued period it has resulted in organ failure one by one.

Some more side effects are unsteadiness, blurred vision, ringing in the ears, gastrointestinal, nausea plus vomiting, diarrhea, stomach pain, probable loss of blood in intestinal areas or stomach or both, headache, agitation, drowsiness, incoherence and confusion etc. Sometimes more serious symptoms are also noticed in some victims though very rare such as seizure, gastrointestinal bleeding, metabolic acidosis, respiratory depression, hyperkalaemia, tachycardia, atrial fibrillation, coma, hepatic dysfunction, renal failure, cyanosis, and cardiac arrest etc. Until and unless the victim is allergic to ibuprofen, there is a slim chance that the victim would die from Ibuprofen Overdose.
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Try the exercises that the doctor gave you - you'll probably be strenghtening the abdominal muscles, which help support the back...

I've never held a high opinion of chiroquackers, but it's gotta be a better alternative than popping pills...
 
maleficent said:
I've never held a high opinion of chiroquackers, but it's gotta be a better alternative than popping pills...
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Yeah, I didn't either before I went to one. I suppose it was because they aren't real Doctors or because they require multiple visits that are often not covered by insurance and because I'd heard stories about bad experiences by others.

But my regular Doctor wasn't helping, I got the sheet of exercises along with an admonition to lose weight and the offer of painkillers that I was not interested in.

I gave the exercises a go, and you're right they were essentially abdominal exercises. But in the absence of a more wholistic, total body approach, the exercises did little good. So on a friends suggestion I went to see a Chiropractor. He showed me (by X-ray) how my big fat belly hanging off my frame was putting stress on the small of my back and my slack abdominal muscles were unable to help support the load.

He worked with me through the usual series of manipulations, which were expensive, but did leave me feeling temporarily relieved, the length of the relief after each visit increased until the pain was gone. Each visit he impressed upon me the idea that if I didn't want to go through this every time I injured myself, I should lose weight, work on correct posture and condition my body to better support the load I place on it. Not bad advice.

The initial consultation was an hour and each manipulation session was 15 - 20 minutes. During that time he really focused on me. Try getting that kind of attention from an MD.

Maybe I lucked out with a great guy, but I've been to others and they have all been good.

I hate to see the whole profession regarded as quackery, just because it isn't AMA based healthcare. But it certainly isn't the voodoo and snake oil some make it out to be. (Not you Maleficent). I think it is valuable as a more wholistic approach.

David C
 
I've had some back trouble for about five or six years. The best thing I've found:
1) Slow, lengthy stretching of the lower back, legs, and neck.
2) Sleeping with a pillow under my knees, lower back, and neck.
3) Try a heating pad on the pillow thats under your lower back. It'll do wonders for relaxing your muscles there.
4) A very firm mattress. (Actually in the worst of my back problems I'll sleep on the floor. I even got rid of my bed for about a year because I didn't sleep in it.) I know most people find this last one odd, and even people with back pain may think it's strange, but it worked for me.

Some other things to keep in mind: Your shoes- if they're not comfortable and you're on your feet a lot, it could be hurting you. Take a look at the chairs you spend a lot of time in. You may need to find one that's more comfortable, or consider using a small pillow to change your posture or support your lower back. I actually threw out every piece of furnature I owned and bought better stuff. (Office chairs and desk chairs are especially suspect here.)

And you might ask your doctor to refer you to a rehabilitative or sports medicine therapist. This really helped in my case as well.
 
I am no expert but I have suffered (a lot) with back pain in the past -I don't know if what I did helped or if it went away on it's own, but here is what I did & my advice to you....

1. Most likely the exercises your doctor gave you will help, so do them!
2. You're loosing weight, that's a good start, keep loosing! I'm sure you will notice an improvement in your back as you approach 200lbs.
3. If it is safe for you to do so, do some work on your abs, if you strenthen your abs it will take the pressure off your back a little. Pilates are excellent for this, or if you can't do that try sit ups & other exercises that work your abs & obliques.
4. If it feels really bad try sleeping on the floor for a night or two, I found it helped.
 
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I read somewhere once you should sleep on the floor once a week to prevent back problems but my bed is just too comfortable.

I agree with the others, do the workouts and try to come off of it slowly since your intake was so high. I know that I got addicted to Doan's back pills that were recommended to me for an urninary infection. I didn't realize how many I had taken until I realized the box of 20 was gone and that an infection should not have lasted that long. They didn't make my back hurt, but they did make me think I still had the infection even though it had cleared my system. The day after I stopped taking them the pain did too.
 
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