My back is killing me. I'm too young to have back problems.

[ncrainbowgrrl]

This is seriously ridiculous. I'm 24 years old, have a part-time desk job, don't have to do any strenuous physical labor... Yet I'm lying here on my couch for the second time in 3 weeks waiting for the Advil to kick in before I can think about going in to work. I'd go see a doctor, but even with health insurance, I can't afford for anything to be really 'wrong.'

Sorry for whining. Just could use some sympathy/ good wishes right now!

[HereSince1628]

1. To the doctor you must go...

Buck it up guy.

No/low exercise desk jobs do nothing to keep your back in shape.

[Loonman]

2. Make sure your work posture is correct, chair is not broken

Back pain is a disadvantage to walking upright.

[La Lioness Priyanka]

3. do a few simple yoga positions

there are several that help the lower back...

[liberalhistorian]

4. There is NO such thing as being

"too young to have back problems!" I started having problems at age 15, and finally had to have laser surgery on two discs ten years ago. That made it a lot better, but I will always have problems for the rest of my life. I'm able to keep it in check by exercises, sitting in chairs and sleeping on mattresses with good supports, regular visits to my chiropractor, etc., etc., but it's really only a matter of time. Back problems in many cases have NOTHING to do with age!

[BiggJawn]

6. Ditto.

I started having problems when I was 21. exercise and PT got me back to normal.
I'm 47 and pretty much pain-free now.

[VelmaD]

8. Me too

I had awful back problems when I was in high school. Mostly due to bad posture combined with the strain being "top-heavy" put on my back.

Go to the doctor. They figured out what was wrong with me (my bad posture started all the way down in my feet) and gave me exercises to help alleviate the problem.

[mastein]

5. Back pain and doctors

The only reason to go to the doc for back pain is to date the problem. Lower back pain is by far the most common complaint across the board for patients of general practicioners. Unfortunately, there is little they can do to fix the problem. Most say come back in 3-4 weeks if it keeps up and then again after that second appointment, in the meantime they give you exercises for your back to loosen and stregthen it. If the pain doesn't go away after 6-8 weeks, then they start looking at more severe possibilities both in terms of source and treatment. Sorry, this isn't the answer you may have wanted. Feel free to contact me offline if you want.

[Beaker]

7. GO. TO. THE. DOCTOR.

and don't take any crap-
my ankylosing spondylitis went un/mis-diagnosed for 20 years, while I suffered and suffered myself into a physical/emotional/financial pit.

[chookie]

9. Sit up straight!

I have had chronic back problems since I was a teenager.

I had the good fortune to realize that I could minimize it by paying attention to my posture -- habitually sitting up straight. By training yourself to make your bones bear the weight, instead of your muscles and joints, you actually rest your back. It may seem like effort while you are learning it, but in reality, it is far less straining to sit up straight than it is to slouch.

Also -- I have to sleep on a very hard mattress.

Also, try to be conscious of how you sit at work, and make sure you have the ergonomics correct. There are many small, simple little things to try that will ease the strain.

As some one suggested above -- find a good yoga teacher. A good one will train you about good, strong posture, and build the strength you need to avoid this pain.

"Back trouble" is one of the things that modern medicine has no real cure for. It is VERY unlikely you have a "serious" problem that medicine can correct. A lot of people want to think that medicine has an easy answer for them -- ironically, even if it means thousands of dollars in tests and painful debilitating operations -- and get stuck in victim mode, and never find relief!

But you *can* help yourself by finding new ways to do things -- like learning good posture, and body awareness.

Good luck! This is a miserable condition, but do know that there are simple things you can that can dramatically improve the health of your back!

[GoddessOfGuinness]

10. Is it lower back pain?

If so, here are 3 exercises that changed my life 15 years ago. Do these exercises even if your back hurts, in fact if you are in pain, do them a few times during the day. They're based on the premise that the fist step to a healthy back is strong abdominal muscles. Hold each position no longer than 1 minute.

1) Lying on the floor, knees bent and arms at sides, slowly lift your head and arms and hold the position up to one minute. This exercise is sometimes referred to as "scrunchies", but repetition is not the object here...sustaining the position is.

2) Lying on the floor, knees bent and arms at your sides, slowly raise your legs, drawing them as close to your chest as you can. Hold the position up to one minute.

3) Lying on the floor, knees bent and arms at your sides, slowly lift your buttocks off the floor, and hold the position for up to one minute.

I hope you feel better soon! :hug:

[radwriter0555]

11. It sounds like you NEED to do something, like MOVING ABOUT..

You're too inactive.

Get up, walk, dance, hop, skip, move, exercize, lift weights, jog, yoga, pilates. Join a health club and get MOVING.

And work on your hips of all things.

Hips, in poor condition, even at your age, have a HUGE impact on your structure and definitely lead to sciatica.