More thoughts on back pain
Thanks for all the comments and suggestions about my back pain. Lots of people suggested working on the abs, and I’m very certain is has alot to do with my core muscles. I’m also certain the abs are doing pretty good, and here’s why:
That’s me on the floor. And that’s someone standing on my abs. This is kind of a brag but it makes my point. By the way: just a friend and the angle of the picture only makes it look like I am looking up her dress. Be nice.
Here’s my other thinking, what if its my obliques? Can I have strong “middle belly” abs, but weak obliques? I do Captain’s Chair leg lifts with my legs straight for ab workouts. Does that do anything for my obliques? I think obliques help stabilize you from side to side, and if they are weak, will my back muscles (ie lower back) make up the difference?
I noticed last night walking around with my hands on my lower back that if I don’t make a conscious effort to walk very upright (not so that I look like I have a wedgie), my back muscles tense alot with each stride. Maybe I am hunching forward and I should be leaning back more (but not backwards) and let my abs take up more of the balance. Maybe I have bad posture in walking from years of weak abs. Maybe?
Last night I got 5 hours sleep. I took an ibuprofin and did stretches and stuff before bed.
Thoughts?
January 11th, 2005 09:23
Man, you really do let women walk all over you. :-)
January 11th, 2005 10:14
Is she wearing heels? I’m surprised she didn’t puncture those abs if those are heels. Hope the back is feeling better. I wish I could send that abs/back/stretch class your way. I would probably help some.
January 11th, 2005 10:53
Are you sure your back pain is entirely muscular? Have you seen a doctor to rule out any internal problems? Some *serious* internal problems manifest themselves as back pain - go see a doctor and have it ruled out, eh?
January 11th, 2005 11:09
Hopefully she was wearing flat shoes. Maybe you have a hip problem instead?.. that is causing the back pain.
January 11th, 2005 11:16
LOL…I’m trying to envision the whole conversation that got you into this position. Glad you got some sleep.
January 11th, 2005 13:23
You stud. ;)
Guess what? I joined a gym yesterday! I’m going to start exercising! Woo! (I quit smokng and want to avoid gaining weight.)
January 11th, 2005 14:51
Jon, I just bought a book based on recommendations on the ultrarunning listserv:
7 Steps to a Pain-Free Life: How to Rapidly Relieve Back and Neck Pain by Robin McKenzie, Craig Kubey.
This book is also recommended by Dean Edell, an MD who does a radio talk show. I really respect his down-to-earth opinions. The basis of the book is that only *you* can solve your back pain, not a doc, chiro, etc. And this book lays out the plan to do so.
I’ve got disk problems and was pretty much told I’d just be putting up with it until I have surgery. Well, I know 5 people who have had back surgery and NONE of them stopped having pain after the surgery. So it seems to be an exercise and lifestyle modification plan would be a lot healthier, cheaper and more likely to help.
I just got the book from Amazon yesterday…I’ll let you know how it goes.
Hope your back is feeling better soon!
January 11th, 2005 16:03
Your instinct is right Jon. It is not the EXTERNAL abs you need to work on. It is the INTERNAL core muscles.
January 11th, 2005 16:05
One more thing. If your back is in spasm, take Robaxacet or Robaxacil. I take one and a half of those to relax the spasms.
January 11th, 2005 16:36
Jon, what about checking out your psoas? Sometimes, if that is all tight, your whole spine can get stressed out. There is a great book called The Pain Free Runner, from julsro.com that I would recommend. She has a lot about trigger points in there, as well as stretches to help with back pain. One other thought - tight hamstrings? That can do my back in. Maybe try some time in the Downward Dog (yoga) pose?
January 11th, 2005 16:53
I need to know the backgourd…where were you? What made you decide to LAY ON THE FLOOR and invite this woman (in VERY purple shoes possibly wearing pantyhose in OPEN TOES!!!GAH!) to stand upon you? (and if it were me? I WOULD TOTALLY look up her dress!)
I need to know this. I truly do.
January 11th, 2005 18:40
Back pain can also be related to muscle imbalance between the abs and the hamstrings. Tight Quads, or even tight hammys can also contribute to it.
January 11th, 2005 19:23
Yeah, I was going to sugggest something similar. How much ab work have you been doing? You said you quit the weights a year ago when the back pain started, but did you continue with ab exs?
Just a thought. Maybe your super-dooper purple-dress-woman-supporting abs are affecting yr lower back . . . ?
And, uh, my surname doesn’t end with MD, so woddoweyeno.
January 12th, 2005 08:58
I’m with Pam - what the heck is going on there?? I’m thinking wedding reception, open bar, things that seem like a good idea at the time…
I don’t have anything constructive to say about your back pain execpt that I hope you are able to get to the bottom of it soon.
January 13th, 2005 21:50
I, too, am curious about the circumstances surrounding this picture.
I don’t know much about back pain (crunches solved mine back in the day), but I hope one of the suggestions the others have given you work out.