Hi
Some suggestions that may help...
First of all I would recommend you see Brian Godfrey ITEC MIPTI
Light Touch Therapy (Spinal Touch) Swedish Massage, London N12
One to One Sessions Tel: 020 8445 6990
email: brian.godfrey2@btinternet.com
Please mention Sue Bailey recommended you so he knows where you got his details from. I can honestly say it is a great therapy for back problems. Alternatively see a good Chiropractor I never had much luck with Osteopaths myself, however I think I was just unlucky with who I saw. Depending on what area you are in? If you are in London I know an excellent one in Bromley or maybe go to your local health food shop and see if they can recommend someone good.
They helped me a great deal when I had a bad Whip Lash injury, they took an x-ray first to see what was going on (which was not even done in the hospital!). This really helped with their consultation and the type of work they had to do. Many things can slightly throw the spin out and the careful gentle manipulation they offer can really make a difference.
Also a good mattress makes a huge difference, if you have an old one or one too soft maybe an orthopaedic one may help. Also exercise is really important too, maybe something gentle to start off with like Yoga.
Also natural supplements with high active ingredients can help:
Alfalfa which is used for inflammation and also is an excellent natural blood purifier.
Also there is Black cohosh again acts as an anti-inflammatory for arthritic and rheumatic conditions, it acts as a mild analgesic (pain reliever) due to the presence of salicylic acid. Also helps with high blood pressure.
Next is Bromelain derived from Pineapples, is a protein-digesting enzyme that simultaneously kills worms in the gastrointestinal tract. It is considered an adjunctive treatment for inflammation and swelling and has been found to posses neuro-muscular relaxing properties that are beneficial for soothing vascular (blood vessel) linings.
Next Burdock which is well known as a blood purifier and also to soothe inflammation in both internal and external tissues.
Capsicum is a stimulant to increase circulation and cardiovascular activity also helping to lower blood pressure. This also soothes inflammation, enhances the removal of toxins from the body.
These are just a few of the herbs to be found in the product I suggest and there are ten more!
I finally recommend anyone reading this to go and have a look:
low back problems & Prolapsed disks under general health discussions by Anahata
It is well worth reading lots of really good information there.
If you would like further information or my free health newsletter please feel free to email me:
Thank you Mystic!
Hello!
Thank you Mystic for your help. I've read your post and will certainly try a few things. I truly believe that meds and surgery aren't the only solution. We may require them at times... but I think it can be really helpful to look into other avenues.
Again, thank you so much!
RE: Back Problems?
Hi Marie
You are more than welcome I am glad it was helpful.
Warm Wishes
Sue
x
RE: Back Problems?
Hi Marie
My Husband over the last 6 years has used Glucosamine Sulphate. He was on 400 ml Ibuprofen but was able to give those up. The body makes Glucosamine Sulphate itself. All I know is that David Wilkie the Gold Medalist swimmer noticed the Americans using it for the injured Athletes in the Olypics. He worked hard to get this over here for us. It is suposed to speed up recovery to joints. Used to be very expensive but it has now come down in price. My husband says you can now get it on perscription now.[sm=dogrun.gif]
Kemana best wishes for a speedy recovery.
Thank you Kemana!
Hello!
Thank you again Kemana for your advice and input. I really appreciate it!
Indeed, glucosamine seems to be the supplement to take. Everyone talks about it! I will try it.
Athletes also take hot baths with Epsom salts to get rid of aching muscles... and to relax them when they are sore. I have tried that when very much in pain and it did relax the muscles and gave me brief but yet appreciated relief from the pain.
Thank you again!
RE: Back Problems?
I posted some blub on 'Low Back Probs & Prolapsed disks in General Forums - General Health Discussions - that may be of help.
There's a bit more on Marie's Thread for info on Prolapsed disks on this forum & more on my websites.
It's relatively rare that surgery is needed and it doesn't have a very good track record. I'm not even sure if anyone has actually researched the outcomes. 🙁
There's been a small study to suggest that Glucosamine Sulphate helps maintain hieght in the vertebral disks. 😮
We all tend to lose hieght in our disks as time goes by because they gradually lose the ability to absorb & retain water. So take GS & drink plenty of water to future proof them!
And keep moving. Too much rest will cause a loss of strength & tone in the muscles, a build up of inflammation (that you may not feel until you do try & move) and stiffness that may become permanent if appropriate action isn't taken to mobilise the area.
RE: Back Problems?
Hi Anahata
I read your piece and would recommend anyone reading this to go and have a look:
low back problems & Prolapsed disks under general health discussions
It is well worth reading lots of really good information there.
Thank you for adding your info
Warm Wishes
Sue
x
RE: Back Problems?
Hello Kemana and Marie,
I am new to this forum. I posted a few queries and my experiences on Marie’s thread on “ “ Prolapsed disc and in lot of pain ”.
I am also suffering from Prolapsed disc and have started taking Glucosamine. It was suggested to me by my physcian but not by my ortho specialist. I am presently taking 1500 mg of Glucosamine per day. The doc says that I should take this for over 3 months. Please tell me the dosages being taken in your cases.
Kemana, is your husband taking Glucosamine for past 6 years continuosly. Any idea if it helps regenerate the damaged discs. The composition which I am taking is Glucosamine 1500 mg+ MSM 1500mg+Chondroitin 250 mg+ hosts of Vitamins n minerals. Its all clubed together in a sachet of 30 grams.
Best wishes.
Atul.
RE: Back Problems?
Hello Atul.
I simply take 600 mg of glucosamine every day. Been doing that for almost 6 months now. I'm always careful about supplements; I never go overboard. Most aren't stored by the body anyway and others may actually harm you if you take too much... so my humble opinion is to always follow the recommended dose. If your doc says it's ok to take 1500 mg for three months then, go ahead. Should always be under medical surveillance anyway. I was told 600 mg in my case was more than enough.
You must keep active too. As soon as I started to hobble around the house, the better I got. I was in excruciating pain... but things started to improve just then.
Good luck!
Marie
RE: Back Problems?
Thanks Marie.
I had read about your pain and recovery in the thread started by you. BTW, has your doc allowed you to bend forward. Has your pain gone totally? Could you please share the exercises recommended to you by your doc. I mentioned mine in your thread.
I will also consult some other orhto specialist about verification of the dosage in my case. I feel it embarrassing to ask my present ortho whether I should start it coz he might feel offended. Yes, moving about does help. Initially, lot of my friends suggested total rest but that didn't help much. The kind of pain as expressed you and others was felt by me 2 or 3 times about 10 years back over a period of say 2-3 years. Those days I use to play lots of tennis and badminton( about 2 hrs daily in the morning ). Taking rest for about 2- 3 days used to relieve the pain and then I used to start Tennis and all those forward bending exercises. It was only lately after I had stopped playing for past 10 years that this pain started in my left hip which got diagnosed as disc prolapse. Looking back and the kind of pain described by members here and also by some of my friends....I feel that the pains which I had experienced about 10 years back must have been due to disc prolapse.....had I not neglected that condion then...perhaps I would have been in better shape now( coz I could have avoided lifting heavy stuff, forward bending exercises, badmonton etc ). This present condition developed when recently I was packing and shifting my household items to another house....lots of forward bending and lifting heavy stuff must have taken its toll.
With my experience I would suggest to readers of this thread that please don't take back pains especially severe back pains casually even if they vanish after 2-3 days. Just a simple x-ray could reveal disc prolapse or any degeneartion there in( MRI only needed to see the extent of nerve pressings etc ). Timely precautions can help future pains to a large extent.
Also, as I read on the net that most of the disc prolapse( say >90% ) takes place between L4-L5 and between L5-S1. Most of the times it happens in the mornings....the reason not known. I feel that it may be coz since it is said that before playing in the morning one must do some warm up exercises........also not lift heavy stuff or do strenous work within an hour of waking up. Therefore, we must be careful in the mornings even if we are fit to avoid strenous works.
Just my thoughts.
Best wishes.
Atul.