A Backpain After Situps

Updated on October 07, 2008
M.A. asks from West Hartford, CT
16 answers

Hi moms
i hurt my lower back doing situps.It was my first exercise after delivery my third baby. I know, i did something wrong, i forced myself very quickly and got that pain.It was 3 weeks ago, after i felt better for some days, but now it started even worse. I barely can stand up, hard to pick up my son,etc.Please, any advice, what to do, do i need to see a doctor and what kind of? I put an electrical pad, when i have time to do it, because the baby.Is that pain forever?

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So What Happened?

I want to thank everyone for your help
Definitly I'm going to see my doc next week. I'll see what he's going to say. If there is something serious like a surgery, I'll go to see a chiropractor. Many of you recommended to see a chiro. Thank you all again and be healthy.
E.

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T.K.

answers from Boston on

Def. go see a doctor!!!! You might have done something and then made it worse by picking up the baby. ICE because it's prob swollen and ib profin is a muscle relaxer and helps with swollen muscles. I have a bulding disc and a perferated disc. So I had to go through a lot to feel better.

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J.M.

answers from Boston on

Chiropractor. Your back will be better in know time.
Jen...

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L.L.

answers from Boston on

Hi Elen,
So sorry you hurt your back. I had similiar issue with the upper back. I received Physical Therapy which helped. You should try to take ibuprofin and use a heating pad to help ease the pain. Hot showers help and continue to stretch (slowly) while in the shower. If you are in the Worcester area there is Hands On Therapy (massage therapist) which I have spoken to a few times. You may want to try this route as well. If it is a pulled muscle it takes weeks and some tlc to mend but you will eventually feel better. If you must pick up the kids, be sure to bend your legs and keep them close to your body as you make the movement.
Maybe make an appointment to see your doctor if you don't see results soon.
Best to you.

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S.M.

answers from Boston on

I am a Physical Therapist and my best advice is to go to the MD and get a referral (he/she may even be willing to do it over the phone). There is NO reason why you should have to live with this pain. It won't go away over night, but with the proper care it will get better. I know that some people are in love with chiropractors. The good old pop and crack may initially feel a bit better, but very, very few do anything to teach you to maintain your new alignment and you end up having the same problem over and over again. The choice is yours but you in no way need to suffer with this. Best of luck with a speedy recovery.

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M.H.

answers from Boston on

Ahh, your question brings back memories! I would be heading straight to a physical therapist. Sounds like a disc may have popped out. They'll probably give you exercises to move the "other way", ie not situps but lie on your stomach and push up by straighening your arms, to help the lower back discs go back to where the belong. Situps are not a good idea until the stabilizers and muscles surrounding the spine are strong. Anyways, off to the doctors you go.

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C.G.

answers from New York on

Elen,

It sounds like you pulled your back. I would suggest starting with putting an ice pack on it for 15 min every hr as much as you can over the day. I did this on the advice of a chiropractor and noticed a huge difference. If I couldn't lay down to do th eice pack. I would shove it in my waistband while I was doing things. If the pain doesn't go away in a few days I would say call a chiropractor.

C.

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N.S.

answers from Hartford on

See a chiropracter...it will change your life!

D.B.

answers from Boston on

You could consider a chiropractor, but definitely look for someone who does applied kinesiology or a very similar, gentle treatment. You do NOT want to see someone who will do something sudden with a lot of cracking or wrenching. It's dangerous. I know people who call those "pop and pray" docs - they just pop you and pray that it works. Be careful.

With any doctor, if you are not making SIGNIFICANT progress after a couple of treatments, something is wrong. Do not get locked into months of treatments - whether chiropractic, physical therapy, or whatever - with no end in sight.

I would also highly recommend that you look at Reliv International's nutrition products - they support the immune system and allow the body to do some major healing without drugs. The products are patented, which is very rare for food products, so you know they are unique. They are highly absorbable so there is no waste like there is with most supplements in pill form. There are no warning labels on anything - and even Flintstones vitamins have a warnings!

Many people haven't heard of Reliv, although they've been around for 20 years and have been highly honored by both the Vatican (for humanitarian work), the Direct Selling Association (for ethical business practices) and major business magazines like Forbes & Fortune (for strong growth and management). The products are sold through a fabulous network of caring people (many of them SAHMs) and there are so many opportunities to talk with others who have similar health issues. It would be very easy to connect you by phone with others who have had great results with back pain, for example.

Reliv's relative low profile is going to change dramatically in the next month with a new product roll-out. Apparently it is going to make medical and nutrition history, and make Reliv a household word. This is not a company that advertises, so it's going to be HUGE.

Reliv can be combined with any medical path you choose - the products are pure food so they will not conflict with any meds you may be prescribed or which you may already be taking. They are safe as a prenatal too! The kids product is phenomenal too and safe for infants on up.

I'd LOVE to see you get relief! Good luck whatever you choose!

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L.E.

answers from Hartford on

find yourself a good chiropractor!! i myself herniated a disc about ten years ago adn even my husband couldn't stand me up, it was that bad. conventional dr's wanted me to go on pain meds which i try to stay away from, then they suggested surgery , which again i wasn't going for, so i decided to go to the chiropractor. they are someone who can actually FIX the problem and put your body back to where it should be. i'm pain free now and can do everything. sounds like you may have slipped a disc. good luck.

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S.W.

answers from Burlington on

This would send me strait to a chiropractor!

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K.J.

answers from Boston on

Hi Elen,
If it were just muscular it would most likely have resoved by now, although handling the baby could have re-injured your back. I would recommend seeing your primary care Dr. and asking for a referral to Physical Therapy. Most insurance covers treatment in outpatient facilities with only your usual co-pay. If you are near Mansfield, I work at Mansfield Physical Therapy and I specialize in back injuries. If not there, look in the phone book for places near you. I am sure a few weeks of therapy would find you feeling much better! Goos luck!
A little about me:
I am a wife of 23 years and mom to 2 teen girls, I own a paint-your-own pottery studio in Mansfield where I also offer art classes and my watercolor paintings. I am a part-time physical therapist assistant.

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Z.G.

answers from Boston on

Hi Elen,
So sorry to hear about your pain. Please don't delay in seeking help; the back is so important!
First step (for me) would be to see a chiropractor. I see Dr. Karen Kolarik at Newton Center Chiropractic (both before and during pregnancy). She is very knowledgable and warm and they take all kinds of insurance. The number is ###-###-####.

Best wishes and speedy healing,
~Z.

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N.A.

answers from Boston on

I put heat on my back when I had injured it and the weekend doctor I ended up seeing flew off his nut at me! He said that heat is the worst thing for an injured back, and that it actually makes things worse (even though it helps your back feel SO much better!). He told me to take a prescription dosage of ibuprofen, and gave me some codine for a few days. I know it's near impossible when you have kids, but try to rest your back whenever you can. Don't assume that being flat on your back on the floor is the best position for resting either - find what is most comfortable for you so that you can actually relax the muscles for a while (for me it was actually laying on my stomach). I hope you recover soon!

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D.H.

answers from Lewiston on

No! It is not normal and not forever! I would suggest seeing your doctor or a chiropractor. Does it feel like a muscle spasm? More than likely you pulled something and it needs to get looked at before it gets any worse. Three weeks is a long time for it not to get any better. Call your doctor! Sometimes an anti-inflammatory medication is all you need to relax it and let the swelling go down.

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M.F.

answers from New London on

Hi Elen,

Slipped disk is my first thought. My husband has one on occasion. For him, it's something that's recurring. He's very tall, and has recently gained weight, which exacerbates the problem. He went to the Chiro for a few weeks, and felt better, but ultimately, his best bet, to keep it at bay, is to do a lot of purposeful stretching and strengthening exercises. He has to work out his lower back and his abs doing specific exercises (abs to keep and carry his back straight, back to keep the disk in). When he loses muscle on his back, and then sits for a long time, the disk just pops out. He walks crooked for a week or two. His Chiro gave him a few sheets with pictures and directions on exercise routines. You should definitely go see someone, so that they could get you going on the right direction…even if it means that maybe you’ve just pulled a muscle, and not popped a disk. :o) ON another note…no more sit-ups! They are extremely bad for your back (as you definitely know). A variety of crunches and leg lifts are much better, and work out the core muscles faster.

Good Luck!

Mari

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C.K.

answers from Boston on

Sit ups are very bad for you back!! Plus they really don't work anyway, other correct forms of exercise will get your stomach in shape. I would suggest seeing a chiropractor.

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