Poor Joel,

Yep! Chronic pain is a bummer, but there are ways to cope. As an RN, I want to reassure you that REST is the best for your back. No heavy lifting greater than a fork, and staying in bed with a laptop with gentle stretching is my idea of healing.

BTW, I like beards and 'stashes just fine, but I agree with Aldric. You've got no need to hide jowls so enjoy the shaven look while you're young.

Best wishes for a speedy recuperation,
Brennan

A chiropractor works wonders. I see mine at least once per month. Bloggers and publishers are at a higher risk of lower back pain due to the long hours of sitting. The natural tendency to slouch in your chair while working is usually a cause.

What typically happens is exactly what happened to you. You ended up working certain muscles that normally don't get worked too often causing your lower back to pick up the slack.

Find a trusted chiropractor and visit him often. They help a lot. Many cases of back pain can also stem from your neck. The good ol' chiropractor will take care of that too by practically twisting your head off. LOL!!!

Things you can do at home to stay loose are simple exercises such as toe touches, twists and leg lifts. Walking and other forms are exercise help too.

I say all this, but I don't practice what I am preaching here. LOL!!!

Hi Joel -

I have had many painful back problems and I get help using a heating pad.

Most times the fastest and best remedy is a visit to a good chiropractor. Mine ususally fixes me with one or two visits 2 days apart. He leaves it up to you and doesn't push you to keep coming back if you don't need it. Sometimes more than one visit is requried. If I wait a long time after the injury before I go I usually need a second visit.

I haven't ever had much luck using topicals until I found a product called Deep Tissue Oil. This works like a miracle for me. You rub it in for 10 minutes or so and within about a half hour a miracle happens. It works great on the back and other injuries too. I was out one day collecting walnuts for there husks for hours on steep rocky hillsides in sneakers and bruised up my heels really bad - black and blue barely walk bad. I knew I wasn't going to be able to stand let alone walk in a few hours. The next few days would be agony. I rubbed this oil on my heels and ankles and in about a half hour could walk again with out problems. I put more on before bed and as soon as I got up. Never thought it would work so well but it did. The bruises went away fast also. Now I always keep a bottle on hand and it has got me through times I wouldn't have been able to function.

You can't get it in local stores only from them. Here's the site - and how to get to the oil - American Botanical Pharmacy Dr Richard Schulze

http://herbdoc.com/

Click on Herbal Products

Click - I agree

Click on Herbal Products Catalog

(On this page is the order phone number)
Scroll down to External Formulae

And click on Deep Tissue Oil

You can read about what's in it here, what it does and how to use it.
It's $20 for 1 oz and best to order by phone.
They also have rush delivery

I use most of his stuff and it always works. I wrote on my blog how I use his stuff for my mother with Alzhiemer's when she gets a full blown can't go rocking in pain urinary infection. Normal way - Call doctor, go to hospital, catheter, lab to identify infection, prescription, big bill, end of forth day start to feel better.
vs
Dr Schulze Kidney Bladder formula way - 2 droppers full in 1 oz. water giving 3 doses a half hour apart - 2 hours from first dose no more problem. Even the worst infection gone and body function 100 percent perfect. 2 hours start to finish every time.

A bad back isn't as bad a urinary infection but I'd still check out the oil Joel.

John

Now you have the perfect excuse next time your wife asks for your help in cleaning out closets, the garage or any other chore you want to weasel out of. *grin* "Oh, my achin' back! I think I just pulled something."

Deb Gallardo

Aw Joel... so sad to hear the news. You're always on the go. This must really be throwing a wrench in the fan. My Mom is suffering from lower back pain too and trying a chiropractor, along with lots of ice. She uses a cream on her back called "Bio-Freeze". You can buy it at most chiropractor's offices and it helps numb the area if you absolutely HAVE TO go out and do something. I'll keep you in my prayers and hope it passes soon. Please keep us posted

"KC" Colvin

Hi Joel -

I have a exercise for you that may give some relief. My family doctor recommended it to me decades ago and it does help a little. You lay on your back. You can do it on your bed or the floor. You slowly slide one of your feet on the surface you are on toward your butt. When your are as far as you can go grab your thigh with both hands and pull your leg with knee still bent toward your chest with slow even pressure. If you can cup both hands in front of the knee and with light pressure pull toward you chest. This should just be enough to cause a gentle stretch with out yanking or tugging or bouncing. Hold this position for a minute and slowly let your leg back down until your foot return to the surface your on. Continue to slide your foot away until your leg is fully extended. Relax for a half a minute and then do the same with the other foot. Once you have done that repeat a third time but do both legs at the same time. This time since you have both knees to your chest you should find it easier to ease the knees closer to you chest. When you feel you are getting a stretch hold for a minute and return both legs back to the floor. Try to do this three times each time you do it.

You can do this any time during the day whenever you want. If your have repeating back problems you can do this when you are well and it will reduce the number of outages you get.

I have had so many back problems I know what helps the back. Usually all I use is a heating pad. If it's really bad I might go for alternating heat and cold. I never use just cold. They tell you to apply ice and this reduces swelling. But everything contracts. The muscles will start to pull and the last thing you want is more tension in you back. Your blood vessels get smaller and carry less blood and it delivers what you need to heal and it carries away the waste and toxins created.

The two together heal the fastest. Get into the shower and spray water on the area as hot a you can stand it for a minute and the turn back the heat until it is as cold as you can stand it. Try to repeat that cycle seven times and add one more hot application at the end. So you start with heat and end with heat. Try to do this three times a day or more.

Ice can be a very powerful pain reliever but it can also damage cells. As for pain relief from pills I don't use them any more. Never take NSAIDs (NonSteroidal Anti-Inflammatory Drug) like Advil or Aleve and especially the higher strength prescription versions no matter what name they go by. Every one you take does liver damage. They say don't take aspirin because it may cause you stomach to bleed and it may but it won't be near as bad as the bleeding NSAIDs can cause. NSAIDS can cause bleeding in every organ in your body including your brain. You can with out notice bleed out so fast your dead before you get to the hospital. Even if you get there alive they may not be able to save you. If you want to know what it feels like ask me I'll tell you. I was lucky the doctors didn't kill me. I could aways take anything with out complications and never took over what I was told and often less. Then one day BAM. To this day one pill will cause a life threatening reaction.

If your liver is effected enough by NSAIDs and can't remove toxins they stay in you blood. The blood wants to dump these toxins so often the person get venous stasis ulcers on the lower leg but I've also seen these on the hand and fingers. These open sores may be small as a dime or involve several square inches of skin. The skin in that area becomes very thin and fragile even in area that tries to heal. There is an almost constant discharge that maybe a tan to dark brown in color. If gives off a displeasing odor and it small very similar to feces. Good luck getting a doctor to fix that.

You may be lucky and just end up with reduced liver function or the may say you will need a transplant or you'll die. I don't like any of those scenarios. So every body keep popping you harmless little pills and good luck with that.

John

Hi Joel,

I have to run out for an appointment so I have to be quick.

I see you are aware of "posture"and how important it is to your body functioning the way it is designed.

I am an Exercise Therapist specializing in Egoscue Postural Therapy.
I came to this after 30 yrs as a professional Martial Arts Instructor who basically got crippled from all the high impact training and could baely walk afterward.

This Postural Therapy -Egoscue Method is how I rehabbed myself and have helped thousands of others heal their problem. We go after the CAUSE of the problem rather than just the symptoms

I am not really sure where to email you directly but I am more than happy to send you some things to do that will address the muscular imbalance that is probably the "cause" of your problem and you will feel better right away most of the time. It is truly amazing stuff and is something you do for yourself as opposed to an "expert" doing it to you.

You do it at home.. ok, enough said, if you are interested, email me and I will send you a menu of ecises to go after the cause of the problem.

thanks for your time.. Glad you are feeling better.

you can go to www.MyPosture.com for some info.

Joel,
Let's face it...your back pain is a result of your lifestyle. During the last Joel Comm Live broadcast you even admitted that you are out of shape. I've read a lot of comments about going to see a chiropractor and have them "fix" your back. Well, that's great, but that just puts you back into alignment.
If your muscles are weak and inactive, you are just going to continually keep seeing that same chiropractor time after time after time.
My advice would be to seek out a fitness professional (personal trainer), in your area who has experience, knowledge, and the educational background to strengthen your muscular system, encourage you to be more aware of what you eat, and also provide a motivating force to help you continue those habits when you travel.
Change your habits now or you will continually be complaining of these problems for years to come.

Hello Joel,

I hope your doctor managed to relieve your suffering with your aching back. If not, you might be interested to look into a Back2Life 12 minute back pain solution. Just lay back and relax while this incredible machine aligns the spine, releases the pressure and relieves the pain! I have seen an infomercial recently for this product and I marked down their web address to recommend the product to people that suffer with lower back pain and do not get relief with traditional medications. Check out http://www.back2life.tv/ and let us know what preventive treatment solution you chose.

To your good health,

Tiberius

Hey Joel, I'm a yoga teacher and I would like to offer some great stretches to do while sitting at your desk. We all need them. Read below.

How to Do Some Easy Chair Stretches
At Your Desk, or at the Office.
By Katheryn Hoban-also known as Yoga Kat.

We are under the gun and deal with more stress each and every day. More deadlines keep us confined to our desk chair and much of the day to day activities of business are being conducted via e-mail, the computer-fax, the palm pilot, texting via phone, or blackberry, video conferencing, telecommuting, there are various updates, and a constant exchange of data and very little time for breaks and then many of us are eating our lunch without ever leaving our desk.

It's no wonder that we have more complaints than ever about poor circulation, aching back, stiff neck, tired legs, and the lack of mobility, flexibility, and an unfocused mind. We never leave our desk or that office chair!

Well good news for you. I have a few great stretches that can be done in the chair or in and around the chair. It takes anywhere from 3-7 minutes of your time. Do you think you can spare a few minutes? Great! Let's get started. Over the next few weeks I'm going to show you many easy stretches that you can do right at your desk. Let's start with some:

easy and good ones for the back:

Easy back stretches:
(Spinal Twist)

Step One: Push your chair back from your desk for the time of stretching.

Step Two: Uncross your legs and sit with your legs slightly open, which is chair or hip width. Put your feet solidly on the ground. Your hands can rest on the tops of your thighs for now. During the stretching please breathe in and out through your nose only.

Step Three: Take your LEFT hand and cross it to your right knee. Now take your right hand and hold firmly to the back of the chair. Push your left hand against your right knee, and twist your body. You will look over your right shoulder. Hold for approximately 5-15 seconds. Breath in and out only through your nose. Release and put your hands back on your legs

Switch Sides--
Step Four: Take your RIGHT hand and cross it to your Left knee. Now take your Left hand and hold firmly to the back of the chair. Push your right hand against your left knee, and twist your body. You will look over your left shoulder. Hold for approximately 5-15 seconds. Breath in and out only through your nose as you can. Release and put your hands back on your legs. You can repeat for as long as you need to. It helps to release the spine and back.

New Stretch:
(Bending to the Side)

Step One: Sit with your legs slightly open, which is chair or hip width. Put your feet solidly on the ground

Step Two: Take your RIGHT hand and place it on the chair seat beside your leg. Hold on to what you find there. You may have to shift in your seat to get some chair space on the side of you.

Step Three: Take your Left hand and arm, and bring it over your head towards your right side. Bending now to the right, and extending your arm and palm of your hand down towards the floor near your RIGHT side. You are stretching the left side of your body and back with this stretch by bending over to the right. Hold for approximately 5-15 seconds. Breath in and out only through your nose. Release and put your hands back on your legs. You can repeat for as long as you need to.

Switch Sides--
Step Four: Take your LEFT hand and place it on the chair seat beside your leg. Hold on to what you find there. You may have to shift in your seat to get some chair space on the side of you.

Step Five: Take your Right hand and arm, and bring it over your head towards your left side. Bending now to the left, and extending your arm and palm of your hand down towards the floor near your LEFT side. You are stretching the right side of your body and back with this stretch by bending over to the left. Hold for approximately 5-15 seconds. Breath in and out only through your nose as you can. Release and put your hands back on your legs. You can repeat for as long as you need to.

Let's proceed with one more stretch for today. We will maintain and use the same sitting position.

New Stretch--
(Stretch your arms upward and interlock your hands over your head)

Step One: Lift your arms over your head and extend them upward as far as you can. Interlock your fingers. With your fingers clasped stretch from side to side as you breathe in and out through the nose. As you can. Do that several times back and forth from the right to left.

Step Two: Now stop your arms in the middle (arms still upward with your fingers still interlocked above your head.) Lean your arms and hands backward and push your chest slightly forward. Hold for a few seconds. Release.

Ahhh!! Doesn't that feel better already?! By now with these simple stretches you got some blood flowing. That is one of the key points. It's very important to leave your desk once and awhile too. Continue breathing and get that oxygen to your belly if you can.
Until next time.

You can find many more of these type articles if you subscribe to my newsletter by sending an e-mail to circleofpeace@aweber.com and remember to confirm your link. And visit me at www.thecircleofpeace.com

Hi Joel,
I am a professional masseur, have done massage for 21 years now. The post before me by Yoga Kat is spot on, your muscle are tight in your lower back (cramping/spasming). Especially your Quadratus Lumborum here are some good youtube videos to watch; http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2cjfepXJaXk , also your Gluteus and Psoas: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IVEtXb3ijn4&feature=related

Many of my client's have a "desk job" and they same muscle groups become tight and causes bad pain in for the client in the end.
2 ~ 3 visit to a good massage therapist will help you out, regular exercise is also great to build up your strength, in your back and abdominals to prevent severe back pain in the future. Once a month visit to a massage therapist will keep you in good trim :).

Keep well, Regards Tom.

Sorry for the pain! It will soon be over

Hope you make a speedy recovery!