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Pheace: Really depends. I get pain in my upper back/neck/shoulder shooting through my right arm sometimes. From what I can find it's probably due to a disc in my back there, so I've resorted to doing some back exercises at the gym, got a new pillow (one of those curved ones to support the neck), and sit up straight where I can and it seems to be happening less.

Losing weight would obviously help back problems. If you're going to the gym I'd suggest some back exercises as well as stomach exercises. Only doing one won't help back problems, you need to be supported from both ends.
Just be mindful to do your stretching. A couple of months into it, I consistently experienced back pains the following days after my workouts and doing proper stretching exercises (especially those targeting the lower back) greatly alleviated the problem.

Apparently, muscles have a propensity to contract (and I'm sure you can imagine what marvel that does to your back when you workout your back muscles) when worked a lot so they need some stretching to counter that.
Post edited May 23, 2014 by Magnitus
too much booze and a full night of rough sex.

the universal panacea

take two an call me in the morning (late afternoon, really)
Ah yes, when I first hit my "early 30s and I can no longer pass out on just about any flat surface" moment it was a realization that yes, I am getting older. Not the "I'm walking around in my underwear, drooling with no clue where I am" old, but my first step on that path ;) My solution - a new mattress and a pillow that elevated my neck a bit. I'm still in my early 30s, work out and STILL lament the fact that I have to worry about shit like this now ;)
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EnforcerSunWoo: I hope that I am just too tired, because I was trying to figure out why you were asking strangers about treating your Back Acne.
Lol! This is what I saw as well.... xD
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EnforcerSunWoo: I hope that I am just too tired, because I was trying to figure out why you were asking strangers about treating your Back Acne.
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Neverfree: Lol! This is what I saw as well.... xD
Come on ya'll (y'all? I don't know anymore) are better than this! I've spent my night drinking and slumming it and even I know it wasn't about spots on the back! ;)
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darthspudius: I'm currently seeing a doctor about my back but it's currently driving me nuts. Has anyone got any recommendations that is not a cocktail of painkillers or booze (I'll leave that til last!)?

No harm in asking! :P
Sleep on the floor for some days or on another very flat hard surface. This has helped me in the past, many times
Of course, this wont be comfortable and you probably won't sleep much.
Post edited May 24, 2014 by monkeydelarge
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DarrkPhoenix: Get a proper diagnosis from a professional to figure out what the actual problem is.
This cannot be emphasized enough. I struggled with medical condition for over five years that drastically limited how far and fast I could run and left me in chronic (through not severe) pain. I was misdiagnosed with various maladies and participated in a slew of useless treatments, got poked and prodded numerous times in addition to several different sets of x-rays and an full MRI. Finally after seeing more than six doctors I found a medical professional with extensive experience treating running injuries and he correctly diagnosed my condition in less than ten minutes. He didn't even need to look at the MRI. It may be that I never run again without pain--even surgery may not help--but at least now I know what is going on down there.

In hindsight I blame myself. I was far too accepting of medical opinions and I wasn't aggressive enough in pursing my condition even though I knew the solutions offered were not helping or that the diagnosis didn't make any sense. I realize that you are in the UK and not the USA but I cannot emphasize enough the importance of being your own advocate. Back pain can be caused by ANYTHING and until one gets a CORRECT diagnosis the only relief you will achieve is from the placebo effect. Use the internet to your advantage--force your doctor to give you a differential diagnosis. That is to say, force your doctor to not only explain you what your condition is but why your condition cannot be X. Y, or Z. Get more than one opinion, if possible. This might seem like a PITA but in the long-run you will thank me for this advice. Even if your condition isn't perfectly resolvable you will feel much better mentally when you are convinced that the doctor has got it correct and you are on the right path to improvement.
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darthspudius: I'm currently seeing a doctor about my back but it's currently driving me nuts. Has anyone got any recommendations that is not a cocktail of painkillers or booze (I'll leave that til last!)?

No harm in asking! :P
Try this: http://www.kobobooks.com/ebook/7-Steps-Pain-Free-Life/book-xbw6xOgjO0uzzCa4yIMXnQ/page1.html . It's what my physical therapist recommended for me.

I'd definitely recommend getting examined if you already haven't. Once the pain has subsided, you'll probably want to learn how to do back bridges. Obviously, you'll want to make sure that in your case it's safe, but that's the only thing that's likely to keep back pain away over the long term. It will make sure that the spinal erector muscles are strong, the vertebrae are in alignment and the discs are well nourished.

Now, you might not ever be able to do full bridges if your back is in particularly bad shape, but you're likely to be able to do half bridges which should help a bit.
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Ixamyakxim: Ah yes, when I first hit my "early 30s and I can no longer pass out on just about any flat surface" moment it was a realization that yes, I am getting older. Not the "I'm walking around in my underwear, drooling with no clue where I am" old, but my first step on that path ;) My solution - a new mattress and a pillow that elevated my neck a bit. I'm still in my early 30s, work out and STILL lament the fact that I have to worry about shit like this now ;)
That's usually the result of not taking care of your spine. I used to have back problems and still do if I'm stupid enough to not exercise my back several times a week. You'd be surprised how much improvement a typical person can have doing Russian twists and full back bridges.

There's basically no excuse for being in ones 30s and having back pain that doesn't involve an unfortunate car accident or similar. Or, I suppose larger than usual breasts.
Post edited May 24, 2014 by hedwards
If physical therapy can work and it's just weight like you said, then you pretty much just have to do this:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ar6uGpleACw - The idea
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qX9FSZJu448 - The idea put into practice

Or whatever works for you. Just make sure your doctor says you're set to start a program. Heart issues and those checks cause you gotta keep it safe. And proper eating is important. ^^
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MaximumBunny: If physical therapy can work and it's just weight like you said, then you pretty much just have to do this:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ar6uGpleACw - The idea
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qX9FSZJu448 - The idea put into practice

Or whatever works for you. Just make sure your doctor says you're set to start a program. Heart issues and those checks cause you gotta keep it safe. And proper eating is important. ^^
Its not weight. turns out the doctor was using it as an easy way out. Lots of great ideas. Thanks :)