My lower back arthritis pain is getting worse.

[CTyankee]

I have a doctor's appointment coming up but I may have to call him ahead of that. The pain was just terrible yesterday and I ended up being very angry and yelling at my husband last night. I apologized this a.m. but I am very concerned that this pain is going to make my life miserable.

I have started doing my exercises for back pain again and I am hoping that will help me out of such pain without drugs. I do take Aleve which is OTC but it is not doing much. He is still recovering from spinal stenosis surgery and will probably never be like he was before the spine surgery, so I have to be on my feet and active all day.

The arthritis seems to be limited to my lower back for which I am grateful. Any advice from my fellow arthritis sufferers would be welcome...

[Sanity Claws]

1. Are you sure it's arthritis?

I had back pain and it was a muscle issue. A lot of people develop back pain from sitting too much. Desk jobs require us to sit for hours at a time.

[CTyankee]

3. My doctor (now retired) diagnosed it.

He also recommended physical therapy, which I went to. I learned some simple exercises I can do at home so I am doing them twice a day. He also recommended that I take Aleve which is OTC.

I have a new doctor now who is just wonderful. I will call him on Tuesday.

I try not to sit for long periods of time. I am a caregiver for my husband which keeps me on my feet so I don't become a couch potato. However, I do tend to rest on the bed after doing those exercises...

[Ohiogal]

2. I'm so sorry for your pain and misery

Have you tried seeing a chiropractor? I have had back and leg pain before, and my chiropractor fixed me right up. It didn't happen overnight, though. Do you know anyone who could recommend a good one?

Also ..... and I don't know if you're able to do this .... but the community swim club where I swim laps has daily arthritis classes for those so afflicted .... I see many older folks coming to the class, some in walkers and many with canes. All of them I've talked to say it makes them feel so good. Maybe a Y near you might have something like this?

Good luck and I am sorry you're going through this. I can understand no wanting to get hooked on pain killers. But that back pain is a monster, isn't it?

[CTyankee]

5. I can get a reduced rate at my college's gym pool. It's an olympic sized pool and I used to

swim there three times a week. That and Jazzercise three times a week was helpful. I could see about going back. As an alumnae I get a discount on my membership.

Thanks for reminding me about a chiropractor. I will look for one.

[CountAllVotes]

4. Get a new bed

Please, do it. I did and it has made a HUGE difference in my pain level in my spine!

It wasn't horribly expensive either. I just bought the mattress, not the whole thing.

Best of luck!

[CTyankee]

6. My mattress seems to be OK (I put a lot of money into it because I wanted the best mattress

I could find).

[CountAllVotes]

9. Cost is not the issue

I tried this out in the store and went awwwww !!!!!!!!

I could hardly wait for them to deliver it so I could get some rest.

As for the old bed, it was not old. It was just not any good and yeah, I paid too much for it.

I buy a new bed every few years because I spend a lot of time in bed.

This one is grrreat!!!

Your bed could be a major problem and you are simply not aware of it. I was shocked tell you, shocked! Well worth the $500.00 I paid for it!

[DURHAM D]

7. Find a massage therapist who does SMRT and MYK. nt

SMRT - http://www.massageprofessionals.com/group/dawn-lewis-spontaneous-muscle-release

MYK - https://www.myokinesthetic.com/menu/about/about-us.html

[Polly Hennessey]

8. Me, too.

I have spinal stenosis, arthritic lower back, arthritic knees—let me tell you what I do. I live on five acres in Northern California and have a Corgi, a Golden Retriever, and three cats. The critters make sure I walk each day. We go down the hill and up the hill. Does wonders for me. When I first started it was difficult. Now I am in much better shape. When I lived in Las Vegas, I had a twice monthly massage. It sure made me feel better. I use a walking stick when I walk. More and more I find I don’t really need it. The only OTC I take is Excedrin Extra Strentgh. It is the only thing that works for me. Have been taking it for years. Also, take turmeric for inflammation (not sure it works but what the heck). I live in a small town and have created what I call my bubble - grocery store, veterinarian, doctor, dentist, hairdresser, etc. I try for as little stress as possible. Also, helps that one of my sisters is an ICU nurse. When she tells me what her days are like, I have no complaints. Take care and remember be kind to yourself, we are all precious.

[safeinOhio]

10. Got a painful hip and

TED's pain cream works great. About $20 on Amazon.

[Nictuku]

11. Inflamation

Some foods add to inflammation (sugar, for instance). https://www.arthritis.org/living-with-arthritis/arthritis-diet/foods-to-avoid-limit/food-ingredients-and-inflammation.php

Ibuprofen is what works best for me. I never could tolerate Aleive.

The back exercises (core exercises) is a good thing.

A good night sleep and a good bed is also good advice.

[CTyankee]

12. The exercises are a real help.

Plus, I limit the amount of time I spend in the supermarket so I am not on my feet more than a half hour doing shopping.

I look forward to hearing what my new doctor has to say. My former doc just recommended the Aleve. I have stronger stuff, Tramadol, but I have yet to resort to that because it could be a problem as they make me feel all drugged up.

[Nictuku]

13. I've heard bad things about Tramadol

Do some internet research before starting on that one. (withdrawals and other terrible side effects)

[CTyankee]

14. I will check with my doctor before I start with any opiod....it was not prescribed for my

arthritis but for neuralgia by my pain management doctor.

[Nictuku]

16. I don't think it is an opioid

... it may be worse.

[CTyankee]

17. I'll check with the pharmacy that filled the prescription...

[CTyankee]

21. I just looked it up online. It is an opiod.

It sounds scary.

[Nictuku]

22. My bad, I thought it was used to replace opioids, (thus not an opioid)

[mitch96]

15. I have the same problem

40 years of moving beached whales across a x-ray table will do that. I do yoga back stretches every morning. When it flares I use aleve or a prescribed anti inflammatory drug that is non opioid. I also got one of those teeter inversion tables.. Gravity pushes the bones down on the nerve and inversion pulls them apart. It's basically traction.
You don't have to go full inverted either. I just go about 45º and take a nap.. YMMV and it works for me... No drugs and no surgery..
As the doc explained it to me is the bone squishes the nerve that causes pain and it gets inflamed which causes more pain ad nauseam.. You have to break the cycle of pain/inflammation/pain. When the nerve swelling goes down, the pain goes down also..
Kinda sorta made sense..
m

[CTyankee]

18. My husband has a chair that provides much the same support. It's huge and it plugs in.

He can watch TV that way. After his spinal stenosis surgery we got the chair and it was very
expensive. He also does exercises to strengthen his back each morning but he still walks with a walker.

[mitch96]

20. "we got the chair and it was very "

The teeter thing is only about $400 new. I got mine off of Craigs list for $100. It was almost brand new.. Like a treadmill they become a clothes rack if not used..

Does the chair provide traction?? that's the trick. The other thing I do is when I go to bed I hook my heels over the bottom of the bed, get up on my elbows and pull myself toward the head of the bed not moving my heels.
Again, traction <---> to relieve the pressure on the nerve.

Good luck with your journey..
m

[question everything]

19. You may want to give Voltaren gel a try

The pill has been around for many years for inflammation.

I always preferred any topical cream or a patch over a pill that goes through the digestive system.

https://www.mailmyprescriptions.com/diclofenac-sodium-1-gel-1-gram-generic-65162083366.html

Hope you find some reprieve.

[rami999]

23. good

I still suffer from muscle pain