Lower Back Pain

abff

Apologies if this is not the right forum for this enquiry.

I have a recurring problem with lower back pain. Every so often, it flares up and I end up hobbling around the place like a ninety year old. It's often accompanied by a sharp pain down my left leg and sometimes by pain in my upper arms. I do quite a lot of exercise and I'm not particularly overweight, although I could lose maybe half a stone or thereabouts.

I came across an ad the other day for a program called "back pain relief 4 life". It was the usual lengthy video with loads of testimonials from people whose lives have been transformed by following this program and then a link to purchase the program with a whole lot of extra goodies thrown in for free.

It's not particularly expensive at $37, although I don't go to checkout, so there may be VAT on top of that. But I decided I would investigate the program online to see if it is worth getting.

I've tried all sorts of combinations, many of them including the word scam and every single one of them leads to a supposedly independently review which goes on to say how great the program is and ends up with a link inviting you to purchase the program. I would be very grateful for any unbiased feedback on the program or any suggestions as to how I might find an unbiased review.

By the way, it hasn't escaped my attention that if the exercises they suggest are as wonderful as they say they are, they probably would have gained the attention of physiotherapists and would have become more widely known and not just available as a 'secret' program.

fro9etb8j5qsl2

Have you been to a doctor/had an mri/had your back pain diagnosed? If not then I wouldn't be trying any programs like this. Back pain is a very general term and can be caused by any number of things/injuries in different parts of the back. For instance, I suffer constantly with a facet joint injury and occasionally with a bulging disc and both pains are very different in manner from each other. I don't see how one program could supposedly cure all types of back problems.

_Brian

Long term sufferer here. Degenerated discs, compounded with road traffic accident damage.

I'd wager this secret is core strengthening exercises and stretching.

It's not a big spend OP so may be worth a look but you could go onto YouTube for free and get similar core strengthening stuff for free.

You should definitely go and get a proper diagnosis and advice before starting any regime of focused exercise.

I have back and neck pain every day
And likely to have it for the remainder if my life. It's unseen and I don't have a physical deformity so most people don't understand just how debalating something like back pain really is. I've had to change jobs and lost about half of my earning potential, it affects family life and leads to serious bouts of anxiety and depression.

abff

Thanks folks. I was with the doctor recently for a different problem and I mentioned the recurring lower back pain in passing. He didn't seem to be too concerned about it, but then again, this was probably based on me not placing too much emphasis on it.

It probably is just a series of core strengthening and stretching exercises, but it might be worth the relatively small expenditure if it provides a good clear guide and saves a lot of time researching. Both of these are areas I tend to neglect, so maybe spending money on a program might incentivise me to actually do something about it. (I know that's slightly skewed reasoning, but sometimes we need an extra push to get started.)

But I would like to be able to read an independent review before purchasing the program. If nothing else, it might indicate whether anyone had issues with additional follow up charges, etc.

_Brian

abff wrote: »

Thanks folks. I was with the doctor recently for a different problem and I mentioned the recurring lower back pain in passing. He didn't seem to be too concerned about it, but then again, this was probably based on me not placing too much emphasis on it.

It probably is just a series of core strengthening and stretching exercises, but it might be worth the relatively small expenditure if it provides a good clear guide and saves a lot of time researching. Both of these are areas I tend to neglect, so maybe spending money on a program might incentivise me to actually do something about it. (I know that's slightly skewed reasoning, but sometimes we need an extra push to get started.)

But I would like to be able to read an independent review before purchasing the program. If nothing else, it might indicate whether anyone had issues with additional follow up charges, etc.

I can speak for myself..
I've spent alot of time with physio and a plethora of consultants and the mantra is always the same.. Core strength, stretching, general exercise when your well enough.

I have a set of exercises I do, learned from the physio sessions, stretches too. Takes 20-30 minutes daily, I do it just before bed as I'm wasted after and only fit to lie down.. But overall I'm better when I stick to this routine and do plenty of walking. It is very hard to spend the time though and I find myself letting it go and go and then get a bout of pain, when this recedes I go back to the exercises and so the cycle starts again - human nature I suppose..

owen85

I'd be in a similar boat to Brian. But I just wanted to confirm what others say.

An online video or a pilates class that you attend may be do more harm than good. Depending on your problem you, some exercises or stretches may aggravate the thing.

What I did: Found a good Physio , got diagnosed, went for a few sessions with the physio, eventually went for a mri scan.
The physio said I could go and get the MRI done at the beginning to confirm physios thoughts and find any hidden problems, but going private would cost 200euro, going public would take months to year(s) to get seen.

Continued with physio and a short spell of pilates. Finished all. Went back to my old ways and stopped doing exercises and stretches the physio gave me to do.

A year later,,,,,back and neck pain again. My fault as I wasn't exercising and stretching. I was sitting in some awful positions, watching movies in bed with my neck pushed forward etc and sitting at a desk that was too low etc.

Phsyio does the same things again. I tell the physio that I guess that this problem will be a life long thing and that Ill be seeing them in a year I guess. The repsonse: perhaps but if you keep on top of the stretches, and do some exercise. Watch your posture while you sit at the desk and get up and move about every so often when youre at work, even do some quick stretches while you sit at your desk (this really helps no matter where I sit, once I feel my back getting a bit sore I sit forward for a while and my I automatically start to fix my posture and move more.) When you feel back pain, the physio said you dont need to think uh oh time to go back to the physio, do some stretches, do some exercise and youll find yourself feeling better, but the worst thing to do if you have a sore back is just to try and sit still or lie down. I have had to lie down once before when the pain was too much.
Since then I joined a gym and have finally started to look after my posture and try to avoid watching movies in bed, fix my table etc etc. My neck still plays up but I finally feel that I can fix myself and know how to do it. I just need to stop being so lazy sometimes, its very easy to stop doing your daily stretches.

My mum went to see a doctor about her sore lower back 2 days ago. doctor said what was wrong with her, gave her some stretches to do on a daily basis, and told her to go see a physio. Physio confirmed the problem but said dont do some of the stretches the doctor gave her. Mums feeling better since doing the stretches and doing some extra exercises.

Sorry about the long message and laziness to edit it..... but you may get something from it.
I am not sure if i can leave the name of the physio i use..remove the name please if its not meant to be here....
Aidan in Pearse street Physiotherapy

Dubs1990

Was in a very similar situation as yourself , picking up a bottle in work and BAAM could hardly walk , eating valume like no tomorrow ! Pain shooting down my leg etc , I went to a physio and they found I had no core strength what so ever also no power in my glutes , all this combined was making me use my back for things it shouldn't of been used for , Also if the physio thinks you've done any significant damage they will refer you to get an Mri . Hope this helps !

piperh

My suggestion would be to get an mri. Drs are often quick to dismiss back pain and therefore it gets worse. An mri gives you a good indication and will help with any physio needed.