Question
I have mild to severe lower back pain, and I am unsure how I did it.  I think it had to do with an exercise machine I used at the gym curling down, like for doing stomach crunches this was in March of 09, so since then I have had this pain, that when I had insurance for I went to the Dr, but they prescribed me pain meds, which helped a little, then physical therapy, which I could not afford to go to.  It its now almost September and I am unsure what is going on.  I am only 27, and my back makes me feel like I am a 100 years older.  It mainly is in the middle of my lower back but on some other days is it in my lower right lumber area and kind of wraps around my right hip.  I can't bend over, or it hurts when I am sitting or working and it is just ruining my life.  Please help me, I do not have insurance now, or any medicine except over the counter things.  I don't want to go to the ER as they will probably just write a prescription, I need answers that will actually help me to heal.

Thank you

Answer
Heather,

It sounds like you put yourself into muscle spasm by your way of training.

No medication can help that, nor can you stretch or strengthen your way out of it -- you have to train yourself out of it by improving your muscular control (so you can relax, again).

May I recommend some brief write-ups of mine:

http://www.somatics.com/back_pain.htm  (first aid for back pain)
http://www.somatics.com/chronic_back_pain.htm
http://www.somatics.com/back_pain_terms.htm

They explain more and provide leads for getting help.

I can provide a recommendation for self-help resources, if you wish.