Aleve or Advil (or Tylenol)

[badger]

I get frequent headaches and hated taking OTC for them. I wanted to take "natural" remedies as much as possible, so I found white willow bark and a combination of guarana and feverfew to be quite effective in alleviating most of the headaches.

Just because they're herbal doesn't mean they're harmless, but they have not given me any side effects, even on an empty stomach. They do take longer to take all the pain away, but I've been very happy with the results.

Advil makes my GI hurt, even with food, and they don't do anything for my headaches.

[Dogmama]

I just read a research article that said 3 grams of fish oil daily decreased inflammation. It was in the Journal of Sport Science (I think) September edition.

[badger]

I just read a research article that said 3 grams of fish oil daily decreased inflammation. It was in the Journal of Sport Science (I think) September edition.

I started taking fish oil last month, and had a noticeably easier PMS last cycle. Maybe a coincidence, I'll find out in a couple of weeks if it has indeed made a difference.

[skywalkerbeth]

Hi everyone

Thank you everyone for the information. I have tried to keep it to a minimum this week but I am heating my back morning and night. Right now, as a matter of fact. I filled a tube sock with rice and nuked it. That works pretty well actually!

I can't find the paper with the exercises the doc gave me though, darn it.

Fish oil, huh? I wonder if that can be in a capsule to avoid the fishy flavor.

NbyNW, what happened? How did you get injured?

I don't think I'm going to use Aleve again, I really felt like crap. Advil didn't do that to me ever, and I was popping two every four hours years ago.

Jess, how big is a pilates ball? I need to get to the gym, maybe someone there can help me out.

[Dogmama]

Hi everyone

Thank you everyone for the information. I have tried to keep it to a minimum this week but I am heating my back morning and night. Right now, as a matter of fact. I filled a tube sock with rice and nuked it. That works pretty well actually!

I can't find the paper with the exercises the doc gave me though, darn it.

Fish oil, huh? I wonder if that can be in a capsule to avoid the fishy flavor.

NbyNW, what happened? How did you get injured?

I don't think I'm going to use Aleve again, I really felt like crap. Advil didn't do that to me ever, and I was popping two every four hours years ago.

Jess, how big is a pilates ball? I need to get to the gym, maybe someone there can help me out.

You should be icing, not heating. Ice will quell the inflammation.

Yes, fish oil is in a capsule.

[nscrbug]

I have chronic back pain...not really SI-related, though. I have spondylolisthesis (slipped vertebra) at my L5/S1. I wake up every morning with back pain. For the most part, stretching and using my inversion table first thing out of bed, gets me to the point where I can at least stand up straight and be mobile. Then by the time I get to the gym, my back has loosened up enough where I'm good to go...until I sit down again for a long period of time (like at my desk at work). I have found OTC NSAIDS to not be very helpful for my particular situation...and Lord knows, I've tried 'em all at some point. I will occasionally pop an Aleve or Advil after a particularly long and grueling ride, but I have to be honest and say that I don't notice much (if any) pain relief from it. What did work for me, was taking Celebrex (which is a prescription NSAID marketed for arthritis). It was prescribed to me by my foot doctor last year when she thought I might have arthritis in my some of my toes. She wrote the script for a 1-month suppy and told me to give it a try and see if my toe pain improved. I took 1 Celebrex pill per day...it didn't do much for my toe pain, but my lower back felt wonderful...so that was an unexpected bonus. Of course, since I was only taking it on a "trial" basis, she didn't specify refills, so once I finished the bottle....no more Celebrex. I suppose I could always ask my primary doc to write me a script for it, but I manage okay without it...for now.

[jessmarimba]

I'm not sure if I have a 55cm or 65cm ball. The medium sized one. When I lay on my stomach I kinda of roll over it, and if something hurts a LOT I back up bit and relax there until I can keep going.

My back pain is from breaking it, but I don't know if it's muscle or bone or nerve pain or what. I know the upper back muscles tense up and the ball helps those relax, but I think the lower back pain is from an increased arch in the upper back caused by the angle the break healed at. It sort of relieves the pressure on those vertebra when I can lay over the ball. Similar to an inversion table, without the head rush (I can't afford one of those, anyway).

I have found that pilates helps me a lot, but I am working individually and in small classes with a specific teacher who knows how to deal with injuries. I have one "spot" that I can't seem to fix and on days it's acting up she helps me to modify things to benefit without aggravating it.

The other thing that has helped me is that I pretty much don't wear shoes with any heel. Not running shoes, not dress shoes, not sandals, not boots - pretty much nothing. Even normal-soled running shoes can aggravate the pressure in your back if it is already sensitive.

[NbyNW]

...
Fish oil, huh? I wonder if that can be in a capsule to avoid the fishy flavor.

NbyNW, what happened? How did you get injured?
...
Jess, how big is a pilates ball? I need to get to the gym, maybe someone there can help me out.

If you can find Nordic Naturals, it doesn't taste terribly fishy. I'm especially fond of the peach flavor.

My injury: construction site accident in a developing country, related to my graduate studies. I was struck on the hip by a falling gate and the impact fractured my sacrum through the nerve exits on the rights side at S1-S2. Luckily it was not displaced so I didn't need surgery. Just lots of bedrest and PT. And Pilates, which I had been doing prior to the injury. (Jess, sounds like you found a really good instructor. Hooray!) I went to the osteopath at the recommendation of my TMJ specialist, and it turned out to be a good move. I still get massages, and lately my MT has been helping me focus on trying to relax the muscles around the injured area that are still guarding.

Exercise balls come in several different sizes. I'm 5'1" and use a 55cm ball. I can use a 65cm ball if it's a bit deflated. If you do a search for exercise balls, swiss balls or pilates balls they'll usually tell you what size they recommend for your height.

[skywalkerbeth]

WHOA! That sounds awful! I am so sorry.

My back isn't too bad after 61 miles this wkd. Not fantastic/superb, but not bad. In fact the weird thing was that what pain I was getting on the ride was in a different spot/different kind of back pain. Not bad, just uncomfortable.

I'm not taking Aleve again. That was a really funky experience.

If you can find Nordic Naturals, it doesn't taste terribly fishy. I'm especially fond of the peach flavor.

My injury: construction site accident in a developing country, related to my graduate studies. I was struck on the hip by a falling gate and the impact fractured my sacrum through the nerve exits on the rights side at S1-S2. Luckily it was not displaced so I didn't need surgery. Just lots of bedrest and PT. And Pilates, which I had been doing prior to the injury. (Jess, sounds like you found a really good instructor. Hooray!) I went to the osteopath at the recommendation of my TMJ specialist, and it turned out to be a good move. I still get massages, and lately my MT has been helping me focus on trying to relax the muscles around the injured area that are still guarding.

Exercise balls come in several different sizes. I'm 5'1" and use a 55cm ball. I can use a 65cm ball if it's a bit deflated. If you do a search for exercise balls, swiss balls or pilates balls they'll usually tell you what size they recommend for your height.

[NbyNW]

WHOA! That sounds awful! I am so sorry.

My back isn't too bad after 61 miles this wkd. Not fantastic/superb, but not bad. In fact the weird thing was that what pain I was getting on the ride was in a different spot/different kind of back pain. Not bad, just uncomfortable.

I'm not taking Aleve again. That was a really funky experience.

Meh. It was years ago, and I rarely think about it anymore except for the regular maintenance my body needs. I even forgot my injury "anniversary" this year, for the first time, realized it later that week.

There are many other regulars on this board who have been through far worse, and live to ride another day! If you dig around you will find some amazing stories of recovery, healing, and adapting.

I'm glad the fitting seems to have helped. Take care --

[NbyNW]

Hi everyone

I can't find the paper with the exercises the doc gave me though, darn it.

You might be able to call your doctor's office and ask if they have a copy of the prescribed exercises in your file. My PT always made copies of my "homework" as I got stronger.

The exercises are probably boring, possibly uncomfortable. But you should do them and see how your body responds.