In the post here, http://chiffboard.mati.ca/viewtopic.php?t=14564, I noticed that Lixnaw posted a link to a site that shows a back support type pillow. My question is, has anyone ever used this, or a similar one and do they work?- hey, that’s two questions.
Quite some number of years ago, while still in the Navy I herniated a disk in my lower back. After I healed it really didn’t bother me all that much, only on occassion. Unfortunately, as I gracefully age, I notice that the occassions occur more frequently, particularly sitting at home, or my car- yeah, I know, cars are terrible for backs.
I find that the little pillows they give you on the airplane are perfect for back relief while driving. I believe my current one is Continental brand.
I also got a reinforced-frame-with-beads support dealie (straps onto the lower part of the seat back) from an auto care shop in NY last May, which is OK but it tends to shift down into the thin gap at the seat’s hinge point. Overall I think I prefer the little pillow.
i can’t tell for sure if this seat will be any good to you. if one of your back bones is out of place, then it would be better to see a chiropractor or osteopath.
i also believe this pillow will beat any knee chair. the material was invented by nasa first. the flat type is commonly used in wheel chairs now, to releave any preasure.
i use the wedge type. i can keep my shoulders very low and my back as straight as a pine, while doing pure belly breathing.
I’m biased, but If you have low back pain on a regular basis, seeing a chiropractor would be a good idea. And they can help you with finding the right back support while in the car, or wherever.
Well, I did see a chiropractor but I really didn’t like her. I do think it helped “some” but not enough to justify continuing to go. Also, the pain is fairly neglible now, just mostly some soreness/stiffness from sitting, etc. Although I did not ask her about cushions, etc., I did say several times that my back hurt mor in the car, etc., but nothing was suggested about a pillow, or whatever.
I’m not saying I’m against chiropractors or anything, I do think them useful, just didn’t work out in this instance. I know, I know, I could find another, and if I need to, I probably would do that, but for now, I don’t think that’s the way that I need to go, at this point.
I dunno about the pillows but I know one thing for sure: regular workouts at the YMCA on their back machine have prevented me from having periodic “back-outs” and when I slack off, I start getting them again. Same with knees. Interested in hearing about pillows. Right now, my right shoulder blade hurts from whistlin so much and hunching at practice. Dawned on me the other day.
As someone who has required an operation to correct an L4/L5 prolapse, this is exactly what I would recommend that you do not do. In my experience chiros tend to assume that your problems are relatively minor until your symptoms are so overwhelming that they are forced to refer you on. By that stage, you might well need an operation; I did.
Get your GP to have an MRI straight away so you know how serious the problem is. If the problem is not too serious, you will be able to manage it with good posture, stretching exercises and lots of swiming, in particular kick board work. A good physio will help you here as well as a chiro will, if not better.
Chiros have a holistic approach to back problems and to a certain extent they are right—once one thing goes wrong, problem start appearing everywhere else. If the root cause isn’t very serious, they can help. Best to find out first though and not when it is too late, as I did.
These days, very regular swimming and walking have kept my back trouble free for about 6 years. I use pillows for back support sometimes but not pillows of any special kind .. anything malleable will do. I might be a tiny bit stiff if I m forced to drive for, say, 12 hours, but nothing that 50 laps in the pool won’t fix.
Most low back problems are minor. From what I understand, on average only about 5% or so are really serious. I doubt they’ll want to do an mri if all he has is some soreness/mild discomfort, but who knows.
Posture is a big issue, so is strengthening those lumbar paraspinals, all in all its pretty common stuff.
Its usually a good idea to go less invasive to more invasive as the circumstances demand.
I agree entirely about less invasive treatments being preferable to more invasive treatments. I also hope my post didn’t come across as an anti-chiro rant which it wasn’t intended to be, even though I do have issues with how I was treated.
My symptoms were much more serious than Toms by the time I sought help and there was documented evidence from several years earlier of the beginings of arthritis in that disc. That being the case, to assume that my problems were likely muscular in origin strikes me as, well, negligent. Also, my back soreness and stiffness was spasmodic and the first symptoms were rather like those Tom reports. But if I were Tom, I’d get the kickboard and flippers and get in the pool on a regular basis. Not only will it strengthen the lumbar area, you get a good cardio-vascular workout and some gentle traction. Works for me.
BTW, 5% sounds very low for the number of people I talk to with back problems. How serious do you have to be to count? Many of my friends at the pool are only just managing conditions that they’ve been offered operations for. That said, the worst basket cases I’ve seen had operations that went wrong (as well as the wrong attitude.)
Thanks everyone for the suggestions. As a bit of a better explanation, I have seen my GP, I’m confident that it is mostly muscular at this point. Earlier in my life, when I herniated my disk, I had lots of treatment/tests and I think at this point I’m able to associate the difference in the pain.
Lots of good suggestions about exercise, chiropractors, back supports, etc. Actually, over the last couple of years I’ve gotten lazy about diet and exercise. Over the last couple of months, I’ve gotten back on track and lost 23lbs so far.
Thanks for your thoughts and suggestions. Great bunch of folks here.
