Lower back pain?

Sarah- You will get a different opinion from every poster on the forum, and I see Rich chimed in with the "rest & meds" side of things, so I'm going to give an alternative to that. About a year ago I injured my back at an amusement park. The pain was severe at first, but after resting it felt better. As I resumed regular activities, the pain would return. After exhausting doctor prescribed meds, I was feeling desperate so I sought out a chiropractor. Honestly, it was the best thing I have ever done! He took X-rays and did a mobility exam, explained the causes of my pain and worked with me to keep up with my need to swim. I have been pain free for the past 10 months, but from time-to-time there is tension (not pain) in my lower back and/or neck. I still see the chiro 1 - 2 times per month to keep everything aligned, even when everything feels good. Recently, I learned that tension in the lower back area often indicates that the glutes are tight. Although I was skeptical, a deep tissue massage that included the glutes (I didn't feel like that area needed massage when it was scheduled) did relieve the tension in the low back area. Given that you've recently started back to swimming, your glutes may be causing your back pain. Lots of kicking, especially if you're using a board could be stressing out the muscles and they are taking it out on your back. It could also signify a weakness in your core muscles that is being exagerated by less than perfect form (just a guess, since it's only been a few weeks back). Good luck, Dana

*Dana's version of treatment* Do not disagree with any of your points Dana, although I've been suffering for 20 years. My version was the start off light and easy method of treatment, then if it doesn't go away...etc. Much like you...yours didn't go away and you took action. Resting and drugs cure very little but just relieve the sypmtomns. Stretching, monitoring your actioins and butt cheek massage all help to avoid pain! ;)

I have the occasional back pain, mostly my sacroiliac. One thing I've changed is that during my warmup I rarely do flip turns, using open turns to make sure my lower back is loosened up properly. Also, I've worked the past couple of months to improve my flip turns, getting my knees bent more so there's not as much strain on my back. Skip Montanaro

Thanks for everyone's help!

Can you still swim with your back pain?

Can you still swim with your back pain? I find it helps me but I do go a little easier and listen to my body. It helps lossen out the spasm. If your swimming makes it hurt then relax for a week or so.

As another swimmer with a bulged disk, I am always on the lookout for articles about back pain. The Webmaster will get mad at me if I post the entire article, so here are a few excerpts. If you want a copy of the entire article, send me an e-mail. -------- When It’s O.K. to Run Hurt By GINA KOLATA Published: January 11, 2007 The New York Times JUST before the end of last year, a prominent orthopedic surgeon was stretching to lift a heavy box and twisted his back. The pain was agonizing. He could not sit, and when he lay down he could barely get up. So the surgeon, Dr. James Weinstein of Dartmouth College, decided to go out for a run. “I took an anti-inflammatory, iced up, and off I went,” Dr. Weinstein recalled. When he returned, he said, he felt “pretty good.” It sounds almost like heresy. The usual advice in treating injuries is to rest until the pain goes away. But Dr. Weinstein and a number of leading sports medicine specialists say that is outdated and counterproductive. In fact, Dr. Weinstein says, when active people consult him, he usually tells them to keep exercising. The idea, these orthopedists and exercise specialists say, is to use common sense. If you’ve got tendinitis or sprained a muscle or tendon by doing too much, don’t go right back to exercising at the same level. The specific advice can differ from specialist to specialist. Some, like Dr. Weinstein, say most people can continue with the sport they love although they may need to cut back a bit, running shorter distances or going more slowly. Others say to cross-train at least some of the time and others say the safest thing to do is to cross-train all the time until the pain is gone. You might end up cycling instead of running, or swimming instead of playing tennis. But unless it’s something as serious as a broken bone or a ripped ligament or muscle, stopping altogether may be the worst thing to do. “We want to keep you moving,” said Dr. William Roberts, a sports medicine specialist at the University of Minnesota and a past president of the American College of Sports Medicine. “Injured tissue heals better if it’s under some sort of stress.” He and others acknowledge that the advice to keep moving may come as a surprise and that some doctors feel uncomfortable giving it, worried that their patients will do too much, make things worse and then blame their doctor. “I’m not convinced this is part of every doctor’s training or that everyone is ready to make it part of mainstream medicine,” Dr. Roberts said. “You have to work with athletes a while to figure out how to do it and how to do it well.” “The easy way out is to say, ‘Don’t exercise,’ ” said Dr. Richard Steadman, an orthopedic surgeon in Vail, Colo., and founder of the Steadman Hawkins Research Foundation, which studies the origins and treatment of sports injuries. That advice, he added, “is safe and you probably will have healing over time.” But, he said, “if the injury is not severe, resting it will probably prolong recovery.....” But medical experts caution that people have to be careful if they try to exercise when they are injured..... Dr. Weinstein’s advice for injured patients is among the boldest — he said it’s based on his basic research and his own experience with sports injuries, like knee pain and tendinitis of the Achilles and hamstring. Before exercise, he said, take one anti-inflammatory pill, like an aspirin. Ice the area for 20 minutes. Then start your usual exercise, the one that resulted in your injury, possibly reducing the intensity or time you would have spent. When you finish, ice the injured area again. The advice involving an anti-inflammatory pill, Dr. Weinstein said, is based on something surgeons know — in most cases, a single anti-inflammatory pill before surgery results in less pain and swelling afterward. It also is consistent with Dr. Wang’s research because, at least in theory, it should forestall new inflammation from the exercise that is about to occur. The icing is to constrict blood vessels before and after exercise, thereby preventing some of the inflammatory white blood cells from reaching the injured tissue.....

Hi Everyone, My name is Sarah and I just recently came back to swimming (about 3 weeks ago) after a couple years break. (I am 27). After the first week of swimming in the local Masters program, I started to develop lower back pain. The pain got so bad that I can no longer swim...I saw my doctor and they told me that it is a muscle strain... Has anyone else delt with lower back pain? How long was it before you started to feel better?:confused: LOL Sarah, I'm in full spasm due to disc issues right now! I feel your pain! I would reccomend resting up, taking some pain meds and maybe muscle relaxers or NSAIDS. Heat the area to ease tension then Ice to take down inflammation. Always end with Ice. You should be up and going soon...just work in gently. Question did you use a pull buoy in your masters class? I found this adds pressure to the lower back and so I don't over do it with a pull buoy. Lastly if resting doesn't help get a sports or back doc to check it out...Feel better soon. Rich

Thanks for your reply. I think my major problem is that I thought that I could just start swimming workouts with no problem...like I did when I was 18. :) The research that I did suggested that most minor back injuries (about 90%) heal within 6 weeks. I am just hoping that my pain is minor, and not major.

Thanks everyone for your responces! I have made another doctor's appointment for Tuesday because my pain seems to be getting worse and not better. Its so frustrating when you really don't know whats wrong with your back...:) :rolleyes: