Question
I had a fall a week ago getting out of my car.  I had an xray done and there is no broken bones, etc.  it must be a muscle pull/sprain.
I am 74 years old and know I won't heal as fast as if I were younger. I have been taking it easy, putting a heating pad on my back a few times a day and had been taking a strong narcotic pain pill(Tramacet) for the pain but am weaning myself off of them now. I still have a lot of low back pain especially when I have been sitting and go to get up. I tried to call my doctor for advice but he is away until Monday the 13th. What do I do now?? Do I continue to rest and take it easy or should I be going for walks or using the muscles???????  Please advise.  Thank you so much.

Answer

Hanna Somatic Educatio   Hi, Dianne,

I'm going to explain the situation and give you a way to get started clearing up your pain.  I'm also doing to show you where you can get more, if you need it.

The universal response to injury is to tighten up.  That has happened with your low back muscles.  The result: muscle fatigue -- burning pain.  A muscle/movement memory forms at the time of injury that makes the tightening up continue.

Narcotic/pain meds are a temporary measure until you reverse the tightening up -- which doesn't happen by rest and taking it easy.  It happens when you dispel the muscle/movement memory of the injury.

The following two articles are relevant:

http://somatics.com/recovery_from_injury.htm
http://somatics.com/back_pain.htm

The second article gives you a way to free those tight back muscles.  It also contains a link to an entire back pain program, if you need it.