Please read all of it... 3 in 1 question... How long should I wait to go TO the !
Question: I slipped on 3 ICY concrete steps 1 week ago... & I am still having very bad back pain... My doc gave me a prescription of 20 Vicodin.
However, I've tried taking just 3 Ibuprofen the other day & it did not help very well. I did that, because I do not want to become addicted to the Vicodin...
Anyway, I actually have 3 questions... 1st, is there anything besides taking pain killers to help... meaning is it worth it to go into the doc's office just to have him say all he can do is give me more pain killers?
2nd... At what point should I start feeling better to where I'm not having to take pain killers to do anything?
3rd... Is it ok to lay against a heating pad to relax the muscles? (My mom says worse, but hubby says helps... see my dilemma? LOL)
I do have to say, my pain is not as bad as when it 1st happened. However, it's bad enough, I'm either laying down or sitting with pillows for support. Can't lift even a gallon of milk. Etc.
Thanks, LH.
Answers: I slipped on 3 ICY concrete steps 1 week ago... & I am still having very bad back pain... My doc gave me a prescription of 20 Vicodin.
However, I've tried taking just 3 Ibuprofen the other day & it did not help very well. I did that, because I do not want to become addicted to the Vicodin...
Anyway, I actually have 3 questions... 1st, is there anything besides taking pain killers to help... meaning is it worth it to go into the doc's office just to have him say all he can do is give me more pain killers?
2nd... At what point should I start feeling better to where I'm not having to take pain killers to do anything?
3rd... Is it ok to lay against a heating pad to relax the muscles? (My mom says worse, but hubby says helps... see my dilemma? LOL)
I do have to say, my pain is not as bad as when it 1st happened. However, it's bad enough, I'm either laying down or sitting with pillows for support. Can't lift even a gallon of milk. Etc.
Thanks, LH.
you won't become addicted to painkillers as long as you take them for pain. ask the doctor for physical therapy, they can do wonders with helping you heal up.
Edit: Ok,then do what the physical therapists would have you do: for twenty minutes every hour for three hours, lay on the floor with a pillow or two under your hips, put an ice pack on the area of your back that hurts. After twenty minutes of ice, roll off the pillow, onto your back, feet flat on the floor, knees bent. Raise one knee and pull it slowly to your chest. Then lower that knee and do the same with the other. Just gently pulling the knee to your chest, and slowly letting it down, no bouncing, no holding. Keep doing this for three hours of every day, and inside a week, your problem should be much better.
Call your doctor and ask to get X-rayed. When I had a bad fall, I went to after hrs clinic (it was on the weekend), they X-rayed my hip and said nothing was broken, only bruised, and not to baby it. Later in the week I moved the wrong way and was in excruciating pain - I had a hairline fracture which got ripped open further from normal movement. So you need to get an X-ray, but during the daytime or in the ER - not at an after hours clinic where they're rushed to get thru all the non-emergency patients.
i hurt my back in a snowmobile incident about two mos ago... it still hurts... i went to the doctors twice... i was told it's a common injury that can heal if you lay down and rest often. The second time I was told to get over it. My doctor is a bit of an asshole though. i'm currently considering a harrassment charge against him... so idk. heat works... icy hot....advil... aleve... exercize. exercize is the best for it.
slippy on anything like that will make you hurt really bad. if you dont want the pain pills i have done the 15 on 15 off method, meaning ice 15mintues then hot 15 mintues. (it helps) second if the doctor didnt give you an xray, tell him to do one just to make sure nothing is broken. you most likley bursed your back very bad, or maybe torn a ligament, fractered, or chipped something thats why an xray would be good ibuprofen 800mg, is good to take. it will take time to heal.
try a chriopractor no pills involved
If you aren't happy with taking the vicodin then I would at least 800 mg of Ibuprofen only as needed. If it doesn't help with the pain the I would go back to the doctor after trying it for at least three days. And heat does help ease the pain. Ice would only make you tense up more. If you have one of the homemedics heat and massage pads that might help as well. I have a bad back and it helps me when I have problems good luck.
I've had a lot of back injuries from dance, and they don't sound as serious as yours, but this is what I was told:
1. Other than pain killers, the only thing I can really imagine would help is getting plenty of rest, being careful, and perhaps a hot shower/bath. If you are worrieda bout the vicodin, why no talk to your doctor to see if there is something else you can take that isn't as strong but is better than the ibuprofen. That said, if the vicodin is a prespecription medication, you can't get refills unless prescribed by the doctor, so that would make it hard to get addicted to it if you are cut off.
2. It's hard to say when you'll start feeling better. Your age, general health and how you treat yourself right now will make a difference. Some of these type of injuries can become chronic. I've always found the first week is the worst, but it takes a good month befor eI feel like "me" again.
3. Whenever I've had a back injury, my coah always told me to apply heath and then ice alternating every 15 minutes or so. Both are beneficial she says.
The doctor will probably ask why you're not taking the medicine they prescribed! If you're still in pain after trying the Vicodin I would go back the to doctor. If you don't think you're getting the best advice get a second opinion from a different doctor.
I had an injury after being knocked off my motorbike and it took weeks to heal and many visits to a physiotherapist. It usually important to keep things mobile while you're healing. A physio can give you exercises that won't aggravate the injury.
I wouldn't use the heat pad without speaking to the doctor or physio first. It could make things worse depending on your injury.
In short follow the advice you've received so far and seek more if it doesn't work.
After a week...heat is typically acceptable...only use it for 20 minutes at a time...and wait an hour between uses. If you over do it, you will get more inflamed.
I'd say if after 2 weeks your not totally cured...see a chiro for treatment. To be safe I'd go now...but people understand how well chiros work after they suffer a little while and they change their whole lives around their pain...and then the pain goes away with treatment.
Cheers.
I was on vicodin for 6 months when I blew out my knee last year, and when the Dr. cut me off them, I was so happy. I had no problem with addiction from them at all. I only took 1 every 6 hrs. for pain and they did work great. Seeing as you have no insurance, I would just rest the back but if you are getting sharp pain in the back,you should at least get an x ray just to make sure you did not crack anything. I do not really think heat will help your back at this point. Back pain takes some time to heal, so all you can do is be patient, and rest.