(no subject)

[boosette_archive]

Lower back pain, in the muscle directly over by butt, right side. Presumably from almost but not quite slipping on ice 4+ times this weekend.

Feels tight and inflamed -- raised compared to the muscle group on the other side.

Any idea what I can do about this? Have applied hot, cold, meds (ibuprofin, robaxin).

Am continuing to try to gently stretch &c.

Comments

[carlyinrome.livejournal.com]

Try Biofreeze (http://www.biofreeze.com/)? That's what I use for most muscle-achey things.

[aj.livejournal.com]

Cold is best and you need aspirin. Ibprofen doesn't work the same (I went through this fight with The Mother, and HOLY SHIT, ASPIRIN WORKS.) Second, if it's within 72 hours of the initial injury, ice only. If it's past that, continue as you will. If your insurance covers chiropractic and you're in OMGCANNOTMOVE pain, go. Chiro's are musculo-skeletal, not just bones. Acupuncture also works, and Lincoln Square Acupuncture (http://www.squarenergy.com/) is awesome and has a copay-like sliding scale.

As for stretches, stand, sideways, an arm's length from a wall, enough so your hand is flat against it. (Your arm is shoulder-length sideways.) Now, make a fist with your other hand and push (GENTLY) against your hip so that it goes towards the wall. Do this SLOWLY and until you can't. Go back to original pose, then wait a second before doing it again (GENTLY!!!). You should be able to move a little more each time. Do 5-6 times each side.

Hard-won knowledge from the pre-Christmas injury here!

(TAKE MY ADVICE ON THE ASIRIN. If you do nothing else, do that. SERIOUSLY.)

[spacefiend.livejournal.com]

www.paddling.net/guidelines/showArticle.html?552

This is a good hamstring and hip stretch that helps me a bunch when I have pain very low in my back. I often do it before or after kayaking,because sitting in my boat for a couple hours makes me stiffen up.

Hope you feel better soon!

[karaokegal.livejournal.com]

Flexeril? I'm trying not to depend on it for my own back issues, which I think are muscle spasms caused by the piriformis kicking in because I'm not good at isolating when I'm doing abdominal exercises.