Lower back is killing me...

[5v3d3b0]

My dissertation deadline is very close so I've been sitting down working for long hours every day for the past couple of weeks. My lower back has been getting progressively more painful for the last week and it is now almost unbearable...
After my deadline I've got a solid month of work ahead of me for exams and I don't see how I'm gonna handle it if it doesn't get better, and it's not like I can work lying down so I don't know what to do!
I'll go to the doc at some point this week but I thought I'd ask if anyone else has had this problem and managed to sort it out.
It's a muscular pain in the whole lower back region and if I try to stretch it at all it absolutely kills

[recman]

My lower back problems have been successfully managed over the years by initial physio sessions and subsequent regular excersises.

Sounds boring but believe me, it helps no end.

[Boris the spider]

I suffer from lower spine problem.
I use a hot water bottle every morning.
Sit upright with it at my back for half hour. Makes a huge difference.
Tho it sounds like your posture might be an issue
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[doggone]

Exercise will almost certainly be more beneficial than trying to 'rest' it.

[5v3d3b0]

Yeah I used to get this to a lesser extent a few years ago, and it went away when I started strengthening my lower back and abs in the gym. I then stopped going to the gym for about 18 months because of a very persistent tennis elbow which is now mostly sorted.
I need to get back on those lower back exercises but I wonder if I should do them while I'm actually in pain Loughborough's student physio is always ridiculously busy with about 2-3 weeks waiting time cause of the large number of athletes here...

[stinkwheel]

Yes. I now practice Tai-chi Huang style using Partick Kellys system and rarely get a major muscle injury now.

If it is being taught properly, it will help with your mind as well as your body. Just the ticket for exams.

Be warned, all styles of Tai-chi are not the same so pick your class well, some are more a form of dance. If the practice involves nothing but choreography and doesn't involve internal sensation, stretched muscles and deepening of the concentration, it's not going to help.

I do a 2 hour session and come home feeling nicely stretched, relaxed and envigorated. It will take time though.

If you want something slightly less esoteric, try pilates.
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“Rule one: Always stick around for one more drink. That's when things happen. That's when you find out everything you want to know.”
I did the 2010 Round Britain Rally on my 350 Bullet. 89 landmarks, 3 months, 9,500 miles.

[temeluchus]

my back pain largely disappeared once I started going for regular long walks.
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[Nexus Icon]

You need to be on your feet, moving around, for 15 mins out of every hour. I know it'll balls your schedule but things won't improve by ignoring it. Try minimising the impact of lost time by being on your feet to have cups of coffee, sandwiches, smokes, etc. in fact anything which would slow your output down if you were seated anyway.
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[stinkwheel]

Or just set up your desk so you can stand up and type.
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“Rule one: Always stick around for one more drink. That's when things happen. That's when you find out everything you want to know.”
I did the 2010 Round Britain Rally on my 350 Bullet. 89 landmarks, 3 months, 9,500 miles.

[G]

For me:
Losing weight.
Exercising more (though initially it made it worse).
Moving around more - a weekend motorcycle would sort it, then back sat at a desk and it'd be painful by the end of the week again.

[orac]

this maybe a posture issue too.
at the minuite i have the miss-fortune of having to use a patio chair (those plastic things) when at either my desks. The other week i spent the better part of 8 hours solid with only 2 toilet breaks with no issue of my back.

I almost always sit upright without leaning back, lower arms on the desk so that they are suported and feet gernerally flat on the floor.
the exception to these constants are when i hit a coding snag and lean back with my feet resting on the top of the sub under my desk. or the other position is leant forward banging my head quite hard on the desk.

however my job means i am constantly moving, i walk alot too. and my job interjects doing the sat at the desk for that long thing quite often (the most i did was 3 time in a row)

the only time get issues is when i spend alot of time sat the desk where i solder, because i am normally soldering there which mostly forces the leant over posture, but i dont get issue unless i am doing it for more than a couple of hours. then 30 mins of doing something else (not sitting) resolves any issues
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[FriendlyEllis]

Insist your doctor refers you to a physio.

There's always a waiting list but privately they are about £50/hour.

They'll give you simple exercises normally 10 minutes 3 times a day.
Boring but it will help.

YouTube the McKenzie method which helps with trapped nerves that cause muscular back pain.
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[Wonko The Sane]

I alter the adjustment of my chair every other day (slight alteration of height and backrest), alters the position I sit in slightly which seems to help
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[G]

I had a physio referral. Didn't help at all.
"Your mileage may vary."

[Nexus Icon]

I had the "Keep exercising" advice from the docs, the drugs and even standing to use the PC at work rather than sitting down. Finally, when the only position I could adopt was face down on the floor, I was ambulanced to the hospital and had a double discectomy. That certainly worked in the short term but now, 6 months later, I'm getting nagging pains again.

The only way to avoid the pain is to keep changing position and not remain either seated or standing for more than 30-60mins at a time.
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Greetings from Shitsville!

[Bat]

Exercise and improving core strength should definitely help.

Something simple you could start doing right away is the plank position:

https://lovemyyoga.com/images/plank2.jpg

Do that daily, starting with say 30-45 seconds a couple of times.

[Bendy]

Good chair and desk posture is worth a lot too. What's your setup?

[Baffler186]

+1 for googling lower back exercises and working standing up. if it's that bad then you could probably get some anti-inflammatories from the GP - explain the situation and they might prescribe some pain killers but the good strength ones will make you drowsy so not much good for you. Prevention is better than cure. Oh, and make sure you do this long-term. I work in an office and neglected my back for years, and had 2 years of suffering before I got it sorted out.
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Current: 2009 SV650 S, 1990 Kawasaki GT550
Previous: 2009 CBF125, 1998 GSF600, 2004 FZ6 Fazer, 1978 CB400a Hondamatic

[Ratty]

Developed back trouble years ago----physical work for 50 years,started wearing a weight-lifters belt years ago---works like a treat-- some have said you get to rely on it, but I don't wear it 'till I'm doing strenuous stuff.

Anyways----'tis better than the agony of backache, and no pain killers needed since using it..

I rest my case.. you please yerself

[Robster]

I quite literally feel your pain!

I'm on a nice cocktail of Co-Codamol, Naproxen, and Diazepam, which is slowly helping to ease it off. Oh and floor stretches seem to help a bit. But i've found with this recent pain that I just need to keep off my feet for as long as possible.

Dissertation writing, been there, done that, 20,000 words of drivel, you get so sick of fucking harvard referencing and backing up every word you say it drives you up the wall.

Best of luck