Back pain

[Cream Soda]

I'm a US citizen, so getting healthcare isn't really an option.

Basically, snapped my shit up (lower back) doing squats Tuesday evening, and tried to sleep it off, but here we are Thursday and it's as bad/worse now than it was then.

Uninsured, etc. Been getting by on pain killers that my friend had left-over. Any options that I may have that I may be oblivious to? Difficult enough to get up to piss yet alone get on the bike and get something to eat; which I'm sure I'll have to do at some point today (or at the longest, tomorrow, since I haven't eaten today etc.)

[Myrrh_Quetz]

Been where you are. Things that have helped the pain with me over the years are long hot baths. I'm talking an hour +, or heating pads. Also, have you tried being Canadian? Works for me and my back problems

[Xantavia]

I found an item called Tiger Balm can work wonders for a sore back. And as much as it sucks, staying on your feet has been the best option for me. It is uncomfortable, but sitting or laying down results in a lot more pain when you do have to finally get up. When I threw out my back, getting up in the morning could turn into a 30 minute process because any movement would cause intense pain so I would have to stop, wait for it to subside, then mentally prepare myself for more pain that I knew was coming.

[Manako]

Also going to recommend the long hot bath, that's what I do when my back gives me problems.

[Cliron]

Can you describe the type of pain and where (e.g. sharp pain in a small area near the spine), the intensity (10 being the most imaginable pain, also describe the change in intensity since accident and time of day), the frequency and duration of pain (5 minutes every hour etc). It might help better trained persons than I help advise.

I'd also advise against opioid pain killers, because, they are only masking the pain, and you'll be at risk of hyperalgesia (increased sensitivity to pain because of the opioids) and whereas other drugs might provide some effective relief pre-opioids, apres opioids it would be hard to have the same effect (e.g. Try getting drunk on Smirnoff Ice after getting used to Bourbon).

Not to mention the host of other opioid related issues (addiction, sexual dysfunction, constipation etc)

I know New York state has some free clinics that are incredibly busy, but provide free or incredibly reduced fees. Does Florida provide this service? Also, aren't you a student? Doesn't your school have a clinic or doctors office you can avail of for free/ reduced fee?

Other than that perhaps a physical therapist or physotherapist might be able to offer some help without having to go to a doctor (thats me assuming that physiotherapists work like they do in Ireland, e.g. super cheap)

[Cream Soda]

Sharp pain all across the lower back. 6-7/10 on the hurts, frequency is whenever I move it into 90% of the positions my back can possibly go, leaving me a very small no pain movement window.

The pain killers are the only reason I'm able to get up and use the restroom. Pretty much pain city otherwise.

St. Pete has one of the highest homeless rates in the state. The free clinic opens at 8am; the line for is half a block long starting at 4am. As for the school, community college. No clinic/doctor service.

[arus2001]

How your back is hurt exactly is a factor, too. Pulls are one thing, a tear is another. Heck, I wouldn't even rule spine impaction.

When I first hurt my back junior year in football, I just tried to man up and fight through it. All seemed to be going okay until a month later I just went to hit someone and that pain returned at near-paralyzing levels. Not long after that, I had what felt like a bunch of little marbles in my lower back where the muscles knotted up. There was nothing that could really be done to cure the problem, only some topical treatments like heating pads and ointments to ideally minimize the pain, with just lots of rest and some periodic gentle stretching. It probably took me about 8 weeks to get back to normal, with the last 4 being more okayish until I started exerting myself more. I just had to respect my limits.

So, while this kind of scenario might not be good news, if you take anything from it, it's not to try and force shit. Do the basics like get your food and go to school, sure, but no weights.

[Cream Soda]

School is going to be the biggest problem in this condition to be honest. I've been hit by 3 cars, so my lower back in general would get sore just riding too/from school lol

no weights. There goes my gains

[arus2001]

The marked area is where the brunt of my pain and subsequent knotting resided, granted the latter took a few days to develop. The only semi-comfortable positions were flat on my back or perfectly upright while sitting back on something, because any tension on the abs pretty much risked tugging at it all.

It's a bitch since a lot of this is connected one way or another. Even something you do with your leg can affect your back or even if just over-stretching your arm. I never did use crutches during my time, but that could also be something to consider depending on how rough walking feels. I have no doubt biking will agitate things, though, especially if your ride has a lot of hills.

[Ddz]

Make sure to have someone ensure you're using proper form when doing squats! Sorry you're hurting. Hard to give advice when we don't know exactly what happened to your back.

[Cream Soda]

What pisses me off is I was using warm up weight @.@; wasn't even shooting for a PR or anything like that

[mallister]

I broke L4 and L5 under similar circumstances. Do not fuck around with this.

[BaneTheBrawler]

Chiropractor or massage therapist. They claim to be able to solve a shitton of problems that they can't, but back/joint/muscle pain they can actually do something about. I had a pinched nerve, he popped my back a few times and its almost as good as new.

[Lucavi]

What pisses me off is I was using warm up weight @.@; wasn't even shooting for a PR or anything like that

As buff as you are, not being able to keep that form due to a back injury must be the worst.

Get it fixed sooner than later!

[FNH]

Probably just a lower lumbar strain. Hurts like hell to stand up after sitting. Resting is the worst thing you can do, stay as active as you can tolerate. When sleeping on your back have your legs elevated. If sleeping on your side, place a pillow between your legs.

[Fhqwghads]

Could be a herniated and/or slipped disk. Anti-inflammatory meds are your best friend. That and keep off your feet. That's the only option besides surgery if that's what happened.

[Kalmado]

I have back pain as well and was recommended to do a lot of stretching. I take store brand aleve occasionally. It helps, but as mentioned it's really just masking it.

[Jefe]

Wtf are you talking about. Go to the county hospital and a med student will patch your ass up along w/ the hundreds of homeless peeps. Don't be ignorant. Oh yeah, I also suffered from a minor injury to my lower back and it was no joke; I was fucking useless for a week. Just getting out of bed was an endeavour.

[Kohan]

Fool, didn't you get advice on Facebook from a neurosurgeon? What the fuck is this shit for? That's better than going to a doctor—you got a full-fledged specialist's opinion. Be good and listen to what you were told.

(Coincidentally, I sympathize—I was in the full swing of exercising again, and have been forced by my doctor to stop cold. I can't resume again for another week or two. It's ass, but, it is what it is.)

[Cream Soda]

Oh trust me I'm taking all these pain pills