Health Issue: Back-Pain what to do?

[RobinVossen]

Well I have my backpain almost always.. From when I am in bed to the loo. Its terible. I am rather tall my self. About 1.85/1.90 meter.
Well I dont really mind how people think about me. I mean, I am used to 'sing' along Blackened Death Metal on the Bike.. (some time ago.. I (almost) dont do it anymore)
So I dont care how people think about me. Aslong as my Girlfriend still likes me

Normaly I am during my Compiling watching Simpsons.
When I am not at home or when my Girlfriend is around we take long walks. I like the outside. But If I dont have my girl next from me when I am outside I miss something even my Girl or my Code..

I also cant do nothing.
I like laying in bed even more I think ill reinstall LIRC and code while laying down in my bed or something. that cant be to bad for my back...

Well what kind of stretches do you do?


Thanks a lot everybody I really appriciate this..

Cheers,
Robin

[Freston]

Yeah... hiking alone isn't something that comes natural to many people. I love it, or I must say, I've learned to love it. I like it because it's quiet and I don't have to talk or even think for a while. Relaxing the gray muscle.


Stretching. The best I know to work for my back is also the easiest. It _is_ difficult to explain as it involves an Aikido lock put on your own hand and then just try to reach the ceiling. That creates a 'pull' all the way from my wrist to my upper legs. If done with bad intend you can rip someones arm off right then and there with that lock. If applied to yourself a bit more gentle you pull your muscles and connected joints back into place.

The lock is a wrist lock. It's easy once you understand it. Just grab the fingers of your right hand (with your left hand of course) by putting your l.thumb on the outside and your l.fingers on the inside of said r.fingers. And push as far as pain allows you.
You'll find your r.wrist comes in an angle and slightly rotated position. You may need to experiment before you know exactly how. Your r.elbow is now fixed in a straight position. Trying to bend your r.elbow causes incredible pain on the outside of your r.wrist.
Then, keeping this position, try to use your l.thumb to push your r.hand all the way to the ceiling while standing straight.
Be very careful though... it's a good sign if your muscles in your back tighten and you feel your joins 'pop' into place. It's a very very bad sign if there is any even mild pain involved. Stay away from that pain. Nothing good comes from it. Repeat while alternating the positions of your hands. If all goes well, you can reach further and further towards the ceiling with every pass.

Keep in mind that the lock is not meant to cause harm or even the slightest pain. It's just to get a significant enough pull on the muscles and joints so that they roll back into place. Standing like that creates a pull all the way from your wrist to your upper legs. It should feel like 'resetting'. Again, don't force your body but alternate your hand position and different exercises if necessary.

If my shoulders pose a problem in this (they can be a bit locked, preventing this exercise to work) I have to loosen them first.

[RobinVossen]

Well, I can walk alone with a MP3 Player that has a Podcast that goes about IT Security... (I mean, com'on Im a geek)..

But well Ill look into your exersiced tonight. Thanks

[neeraj.paranjpe]

well lets look at it like this. lets first decide whats the reason or reasons for getting u into this ......! and get rid of it. the only reason for this pain in the ....., i could gather from your posts is the work schedule u follow. if u work for 15 hrs a day u cant expect anything better from life.

so reduce ur working hours from 15 to lets say 10hrs and start doing some exercises like situps, yoga would be another good option. and no one is going to die if u work 5 hrs less everyday!!

[RobinVossen]

I only work 10 hours a day.
But I am for myself behind the pc for 5 hours a day.
I think I will give up my Saturday job.
So then Ill have atleast a weekend.

Thanks a lot everybody you are a great help

[cayalee]

i'm a physiotherapist in the uk and i've dealt with quite a few cases of back pain from people with sedentiary jobs. the answer usually lies in the patient having poor posture, or the ergonomics (how everything is laid out) of the work environment are poor.
go see a physio as they are much more practical than osteopaths and can arrange work visits to assess your working evironment and implement suitable changes.
please don't try and self-diagnose and use exercises/stretches recommended by other people as without knowing the cause of the pain you can make it much much worse.
in the meantime, try taking a rest 10 mins out of every hour ie make a cup of tea/coffee, go to toilet, check your post or something just to break up the routine of sitting all the time.
you could try getting a higher workstation and standing to work,
or small doses of anti-inflammatories such as ibuprofen (as directed by a qualified pharmacist or doctor)
check this link for more info on posture:
Office Chair, Posture and Driving ergonomics - Spine-Health.com
and this one:
Office Chair: How to Reduce Back Pain? - Spine-Health.com
usually the best way to target pain is to come at it from all angles; mobilise (exercise), pain killers, anti inflammatories, strengthen (exercise), postural re-education, and changing the ergonomics of your work environment.
but i really can't say this enough; go see a doctor or physio!

[bigtomrodney]

The answer here is that you should seek professional help on the matter. No one (with the notable exception of cayalee) here is qualified to give advice on the matter. I would hate to see someone taking anecdotal advice here in place of the correct advice from someone qualified in a professional environment. For that reason I'm locking this thread.