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Posted 8/19/2009 11:16 PM (GMT 0)
Hi, I'm new to this area of the HW. Kitt knows me from GERD forum.

20 years ago I was sideswipped in a car accident and ever since then I've suffered from back pain that will suddenly pop in and out. I'm tight all the time and can't bend over some days.

Today is a stormy day and I'm suffering again. mad

I went to a doctor 6 years ago for spasms that would not stop after I stepped into a small hole and fell. She said I had ostoarthritis in my last two disks in my lower back. shocked

I want to know what do you do to ease the spasms on a bad day? cry

I'm tired of popping advail (that don't help), expensive heat wraps, and smelly BenGay. mad

Joy yeah (I wish I could do the dance he's doing today)

Posted 8/20/2009 3:50 AM (GMT 0)
Fill a sock with rice, then pop it in the microwave until it's warm. Because of the moisture in the rice, you'll get nice moist heat. Takes the place of the expensive heat wraps.

Also, if you don't have a firm lumbar cushion, try one of those. You can carry it with you for whatever chair you sit in. The firm support may help prevent the muscle spasms.

If you're having muscle spasms, talk to your doctor about prescribing a muscle relaxant for bad days.
Posted 8/20/2009 4:31 AM (GMT 0)
Hey mate

When AS is really giving my back a flogging (and its a hard flogging it is by crickey!) I find the following non med methods to be pretty good:

Hot water bottle as opposed to a heat pack or wheat sack. I use them all but the hot water bottle holds the heat for a lot longer and is a bit softer so I prefer it

TENS unit helps for certain 'flavors' of pain, though for me it also depends on where in my back the pain is

Unfortunately I still have not found a good way to relax the muscles all the way when they contract and spasm besides valium, but a good hot bath with some tee tree oil helps a bit (if you don't mind smelling like a tea tree)

Hope that helps!
Posted 8/20/2009 10:55 AM (GMT 0)
Sounds like we're on the same couch tater. I too have muscle spasms across my lower back and right side of lower back from my hip to my rib cage. I've tried several muscle relaxers but all they do is make me sleepy but spasm relief. I've got a rice bag, tried warm baths but still the muscle spasms continue. I've lived with them for so long now that they've become a part of my life and I wouldn't know what it would be like without them. If you find something that works please let me know.
Posted 8/20/2009 4:23 PM (GMT 0)

Hello Joy,

It is great to see you here. I have a hernaited disk at L5-S1 and Tuesday I woke up at 4:00 AM in nasty pain.  I also have something now causing me severe pain in my Right leg which the Doctor feels is caused by a pinched nerve in my back.

I have a Rice Bag but it does not fit the lumbar area of my back.  I also have lidocaine patches which I try to use rarely but did have my hubby put one on my back on Tuesday and it helped some.  I use Aleve as the narcotics make my head spin. 

Also a nice back rub form my hubby helps sometimes. 

I am glad to see you met some of the members here and received some sound advice.

Hope you get a handle on these spasms.  I do have Valium which works as a muscles relaxant and I will use that as needed.

Gentle Hugs to you,

Kitt

Posted 8/20/2009 10:17 PM (GMT 0)
I'm just tired of the drugs, plus I have many drug allergies and am limited in what kind of medications I can have. I have a flax seed bag that I do sleep with some nights.

Kitt, I went through those same pains down my leg after both my accident and later fall. My doc said it was siadica(?). Unfortunately I have no hubby or companion to give me back rubs. The last time my back felt wonderful I got to sit in a large jacuzzi with steaming hot water shooting down my back.

After a long day on my feet bending over 6 year olds I'm so stoved up I just want to relax in my recliner and not move. Then when morning comes it takes a hot shower to loosen me up enough to survive the day. I live with heat wraps almost everyday that I can afford it. If I could wear my flax seed bag to school everyday I would.



Joy
Posted 8/20/2009 10:32 PM (GMT 0)
Isn't there some kind of anesthetic patch that you could put over the area that hurts/spasms to numb it? if there is not there should be.

I would really like to find a better way other than just nailing it with valium. TENS works ok sometimes, but other times it can really make the problem worse
Posted 8/20/2009 11:09 PM (GMT 0)

Hey there,

There is a lidocaine patch (Lidoderm) that you can use for lumbar pain.  You may put up to 3 patches or less on to cover the area.  You can only use them once in 24 hours.

They are by RX only.

I have no idea of cost of these patches.

Kitt

Posted 8/21/2009 12:53 AM (GMT 0)
I thought there would be. My initial interest in the patches was because I thought they might be topical in nature and focus on the area as opposed to just being absorbed through the skin and running around your system.

I hear all patches of those nature are quite abit costly on the pocket
Posted 8/21/2009 11:19 AM (GMT 0)
I used lidoderm patches for shingle pain and they did help but they are quite expensive. My co-pay was $45.00 for a 30 day supply with insurance. I'm not sure if the numbing medicine would go deep enough for back muscle spasms.

Regarding the rice bag. I had a friend with a sewing machine make me one out of a dish towel folded in half. It is nice and big, I lay it down on the bed then I lay my sore area on top of it. You can make them any size.
Posted 8/21/2009 11:21 PM (GMT 0)
Hey, I've got an idea! idea

Let's buy all the rice in China. tongue

We can make a jumbo size rice bag bed. smilewinkgrin

It would really help on those achy days. turn turn turn turn turn turn

Now if we could only find a microwave big enough. smhair

Joy yeah

Posted 8/22/2009 1:04 PM (GMT 0)
couch

With the money the chinese make from us buying all the rice they could then afford to build the worlds biggest microwave :)
Posted 8/22/2009 1:31 PM (GMT 0)
With the money they make from us buying all that rice, they probably would buy the rest of the US. (The part they don't already own.)
Posted 8/22/2009 4:55 PM (GMT 0)
turn   turn turn turn turn turn turn turn turn turn turn turn

They say laughter is the best medicine! Ya'll just gave me a big dose!

I stayed too long in bed this morning and can feel the pain. I had to sleep with my little friend last night (flaxseed bag heated to nuclear level). I think I'll go heat it up again and read these last posts again, surely it will help me more.

Ya'll have a good day..... microwave.... smilewinkgrin .....what they don't own already..... smilewinkgrin

 

 

Joy yeah

Posted 8/24/2009 2:23 AM (GMT 0)
Dont forget to 'Have a chat with your pain/joints' or as ive said before, send in mr {insert painkiller/anti inflammatory here], joints stop being nasty when he is around
Posted 8/24/2009 9:38 PM (GMT 0)
My pain gets so sporatic.

I'm tight all the time, but I'll be standing, walking, or leaning slightly over a child's desk and then - ouch! smhair

My back will spasm so bad I have to freeze whatever I'm doing and stand still until it stops.

It's extremely frustrating. mad


Joy yeah

Post Edited (couchtater) : 8/24/2009 4:01:17 PM (GMT-6)

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