Suggestions please—lower back pain interrupting sleep
I’m hoping for suggestions from fellow sufferers who can’t sleep or keep waking up from lower back pain caused by arthritis. I can’t take nsaids, and Tylenol doesn’t help at all. Tried otc sleep aids that don’t work. Will be having hip replacement soon and doc says that may help with back pain but seems contrary to his diagnosis of arthritis in lower back. Stretching and chiropractic have not helped. I have an adjustable bed frame and use that to change position but that’s not helping any more. I use pillows under or between legs to relieve pressure but that lasts only a minute or two. Just bought some Salon Pas to try on lower back and hoping I’ll get some decent sleep. I wake up at least 6-7 times a night in pain and have a hard time getting back to sleep. Thanks in advance for any suggestions you might have.
Interested in more discussions like this? Go to the Bones, Joints & Muscles Support Group.
I understand. I do some exercises but with prolapse surgeries you have to be careful. All my female organs are pulled up. Stitched in etc. I am trying to do my walks and PT stretches and exercises. What is MFR?
I see …. Myofascial release. I have done that and can go. Could you tell me a little about ur exercises? I have to be careful because of the prolapse surgeries. TY for ur comment.
I have been in rehab, rehabilitation and physical therapy on and off for 30 years. I also was fairly athletic in my younger years, but had retinal detachment and had to restrict my movement to gentle walking and yoga. I purchased a stationary bike from Amazon for $129 and had my neighbor set it up for me. It sat without use for three years. I do light resistance exercise exercises with suits or exercise rubber bands, or just graceful movements having had ballet when I was a kid. I walked the dog and I try to keep a decent pace or walk without him. I answer all the Mayo Clinic forum stuff for an hour while I ride the stationary bike at a gentle pace. If I get the least little pains, I double check the area where I have the pain. For example, like in my knee and it’s usually because I’m not exerting pressure through my foot. I refocus on my foot applying pressure and not through my knee. So suffice to say I self correct before I damage something. Since I don’t work at a really high cardiac or cardio rate, I have to put in more time. So 20 minutes isn’t good enough for me. The hour or hour and a half of gentle continuous exercise is good. When I had so much pain I couldn’t stand it. I started back on some exercise. First day it was five minutes second day it was 30 minutes and then I found myself up to an hour and today it was 100 minutes after four weeks And then two gentle walks morning and afternoon. I think exercise is best when you find modalities that you can stick with and don’t feel like it’s boring or damaging. When I found things I could do during my stationary bike ride like Reed answer Mayo Clinic posts and read the morning Reuters news the hour went by without a thought. I am now sleeping really well at night with constant insomnia over 30 years. For me it’s intuitive because I’ve had a lot of input over the years from medical industry that is knowledgeable and also negligent so I have a good intuition about what might work for me. I listen closely to my doctors, but I don’t give them authority over me if I want more information. I either research it or I go to another doctor. We have to advocate for our self needs. I’ve had many joint replacements and I’m very happy with all of them. I’ve selected my doctors really carefully from lots of references reviews, and talking to people. I chose my medical care doctors at a teaching hospital because that’s where advanced medicine is. I met Ucsd San Diego. However, their bureaucracy for medical care does not make me happy so I take the good with the bad and I just advocate when I need to. but that’s why I have good intuition because I’ve had a lot of experience. Never give up never give in, however, do you take days weeks months off and get reinspired again. Find out what inspires you. I happen to like books a lot. Best wishes for a good outcome.
I have some physical issues to one is the two retinal detachments I have that limit. It’s my ability to do any aggressive exercising. Another thing is when I do too much exertion. I have an inflammatory reaction and my body goes stiff and I feel like I have a flu. We walk a fine line as we get older Between what we can do and what we have to to be careful of and what we can’t do. MFR is deep my facial tissue release. There is an entire section here that you can read up on. What I kind of call it is aThere is an entire section here that you can read up on. What I kinda call it is a painful massage that I have to pay for. There is there is some kind of coverage if you can get a permanent diagnosis of nerve pain exiting your spine. However, I use a guy who’s really good and he doesn’t take insurance and it’s not worth the nightmare to have to find somebody else that might not be as good but does take insurance. It really helps my muscles stretch where I can’t stretch them myself. I have a lot of fusions, which means I have a lot of hardware which means there are muscles that I can no longer exercise that need to be exercise and stimulated by someone else. Acupuncture is a great thing if you can can’t really move which increases circulation, which might help you. I did acupuncture for 25 years and it was really helpful to bring stimulation and circulation to where I need it and couldn’t get it because I was in such deterioration and pain. I like to go to acupuncture colleges for treatment because they are cheaper and spend longer time with you. Please search here for MFR and also on the Internet and please be sure that you try a variety of therapist before you settle on the one that you feel is best for you and see if that helps.
I thank you for this information. I am going to check on myofascial release and am hoping to increase my exercise ea dY with more repetitions and increase my walking. I wish u the best and will update you . TY!
I am doing exercises but again my pelvic prolapse surgeries have to be considered. I am very lean . 5ft 2.. 125. I carry no extra weight. Not saying you do. I am only allowed certain exercises to keep from damaging my surgeries. TY fot ur reply. I am impressed with ur exercises. I am working up my reps of ea allowed exercise. Do u walk or do any exercise like that? Ty
TY for ur replies.