Back pain

gym. strenghten back muscles. swim.

http://www.londonfgss.com/thread14458.html
http://www.londonfgss.com/thread10719.html
http://www.londonfgss.com/thread8304.html

Thanks, that's exactly whay I was after.

O.k., well - with my professional hat on, i would have to submise that since the age of 11, when you indicate that you had the beginnings of chronic back pain, your growth pattern has been affected by something. Gymnastics? Too much impact sports? Congenital complications?
13 - 14 years with this problem is pretty serious mate, and the answers from this forum are not to be taken as gospel. Does your condition resond to heat?

possibly cyclefit and a cycling physio

but this would all come out if you UTFS

It's from growing up playing the 'cello and gymnastics (as well as other less girly things). Lots of mountain biking too although can't see how that would affect it. Heat helps a little. Been told it's to do with tight ham strings & glutes, and weak core muscles, but i've been working loads in the gym and stretching 3 times a day and it only ever gets better to a point.

Hello all.

I've had chronic lower back pain for about 13-14 years now.
Was thinking I can't be the only one, and might learn some new ways of dealing with it...
Thanks.

Get a LoPro

Alexander Technique http://www.stat.org.uk/

God i'm good. *blows imaginary trumpet"

Seriously, gymnastics can be the route of many conditions later on in life, and if you do indeed have some imbalances and structural differences - then it will take a while to protect and correct them. Whilst typing this, i spotted greasyboy adding info on the Alexander Technique. This is a big winner in my eyes, as is the Macenzie approach to back pain. Do a little research on these methods and see if you can get to a practitioner. I have used Alexander technique for quite a lot of rehab - and its very good (but maybe not the solution - I've never met you!!)

I imagine you've already considered this, but I had back pain for years and spending some money on a decent matress was the best thing I ever did for it.

Alexander technique was something I did a little of in school. I'll definitely look it up again.

Thanks for the advice.

Tai Chi/ Chi Gong (or Qi Gong) as it is more commonly spelt is very good at promoting correct posture and core strength also, if you're not that interested in the gym, can work extremely well in conjunction with certain types of Yoga too.

Necro dredge, my bad back saga continues... Anyone had experience of this?

I'd been on Diclofenac for over a year and a half, went to my doctor for another repeat prescription and he was horrified... It shouldn't be taken for longer than 6 weeks at a time, I was getting asthma type side effects... He put me onto Naproxen, I've been using that for a month but now all my joints really ache... I keep waking up with throbbing knees and elbows, checked on Google and it looks like that may be a side-effect... Anyone else used Naproxen? It's freaking me out a bit, just had a rheumatoid arthritis scare...

Core muscle strengthening and giving yourself time off the bike and/or a bad position on the bike. Saddle angle? Go see a physiotherapist, could be sciatica. Try a different bike to see if it improves. Get a good mattress.

^ Doing/have done all of the above... Was more of a drug question tbh...

Naproxen is a lovely drug- I find it works better than the other NSAID's- for me, but drug efficacy and side effects tend to be highly individual. I have never taken a longer course than about 2 weeks and that after a BIG smash. It is available over the counter in various dosages in South Africa, Spain and the US. Not available over the counter AFAIK in the UK. The enterically (sp???) coated one is better if you are susceptible to stomach type problems with NSAID's.

it's a shame you are having to resort to drugs. Is there no one else you can get help from?

Joe - Can't you just get a little Thai bird to walk up and down on you?

A friend of mine has a pretty bad degenerative back problem, but now has been on Humira (active ingredient is adalimumab) for a while. This seems to have sorted his pain problems properly.

Anybody got more info on this type of drug, experiences etc?

^ I'll ask my GP about that... My condition's improved a little, stopped taking Naproxen so only taking Solpadol for the pain now, I feel a lot better so I'm hoping the throbbing in my joints was a side-effect from the NSAID... Blood results should come back tomorrow/Friday so I'll have more info on what the problem is then...
crosses fingers

Whow, sounds like your GP actually does do something. Mine just sent me to an xray, then lost the pictures, and that was that.
By that time I really couldn't be off work, so I never managed to even give them shit about it.

95% of back pain resolves within 6-12 weeks so for the majority of cases a 'wait and see' approach is employed by GP's with symptom management (pain killers for pain for example) implemented. However during this time there can be significant fear avoidance and functional loss which can be minimised with the help of Physio / Osteo / Chiro.

TS - throbbing in your joints would be an uncommon side-effect but a plausable one. Hopefully your bloods are clear for rheumatological / inflammatory markers. The fact that you've stopped nsaids and your symptoms are actually improving is positive.

Good luck with your results.

Wow, it's been a while since I've seen this thread.

An update on me - turns out I've got a condition called ankylosing spondilitis - it's a hereditary auto-immune disease that causes inflammation of the spine, particularly in the lower back and pelvis. It flares up from time to time and I can't ride when it's bad (the most recent one has lasted about 4 months so far, which is killing me). It's a pretty rare condition but a blood test would show it up.

Unfortunately they don't seem to understand much about it and there's currently no cure; for some it just goes away after a while. I've found regular stretching/core strengthening to be the best way to deal with it. I massively recommend finding a decent, intense pilates class and going to it. Seeing an osteopath from time-to-time does wonders, also swimming is meant to be good too but I have trouble fitting it in.

TS - I've been on Diclofenac for about 2 years now, although I also take Lansoprazole which gives some gastric protection. I tried Naproxin but didn't find it as effective. Never had any trouble with swollen joints from it though. I'm currently trying to get off it and onto another course of treatment, but the docs don't seem terrified that I'ves been that long on NSAIDs. Let us know how you get on.

If anyone else has any experience with AS it'd be great to hear from you...

T

Now you have a diagnosis and an answer you can take it from there. Being in the dark is the worst.

Blood test came back normal...
collapses with relief

Still in craploads of pain but at least I know the condition's treatable... :)

Wow, it's been a while since I've seen this thread.

An update on me - turns out I've got a condition called ankylosing spondilitis - it's a hereditary auto-immune disease that causes inflammation of the spine, particularly in the lower back and pelvis. It flares up from time to time and I can't ride when it's bad (the most recent one has lasted about 4 months so far, which is killing me). It's a pretty rare condition but a blood test would show it up.

Sorry to hear you have been diagnosed with this. I have been doing a bit of reading up on it as my GP thought I may be suffering from it and I read that reducing starch intake in the diet can help reduce the symptoms as the bacteria that feed on it multiply and increase the auto-immune response.

I have just had my bloods and MRI results back and fortunately I have the all clear for any disease.
I do have however, two bulging discs at L5-S1 , a disc tear at L4 and some dehydration in some of the other discs. So not a great deal can be done other than physio, yoga and strengthening exercises.

I am relieved that there is nothing seriously wrong with me and the consultant said I can carry on cycling but I need to manage it properly. I hope to get some physio on the NHS as £60 per session is a little pricey.

But at least I know the cause of the problem and the fact that the serious pain I get is probably coming from the torn disc which can take years to heal :$
maybe I will be back down the track kicking arse next season, or maybe I will do something less explosive and more leisurely