QuestionCharles; I'm so glad you're still here!
We have a long driveway that is so steep it's quite unusual. A few months ago I thought, "if I can make that driveway at sixty without stopping I've accomplished something." So after a week of trying I made it. Then the backaches started.
Each morning starting before sunup it feels So heavy and stiff in the extreme lower portion. When I turn over, it's an effort and hurts. When I get up it aches. The pain goes all the way around. But after I start walking around the house it goes away. It doesn't start hurting again until the middle of the night; it's ok all day.
I bought one of those "memory foam" mattress pads. It's incredibly soft. Not sure if that's exacerbating it or not. If I've walked downtown a lot during the day the pain will be worse, not better.
I am so glad we have a hot tub on the deck. I also have one of those heat and vibration mats you lay down on. But it isn't powerful enough.
How can I strengthen my back? Did I damage it walking up the driveway? It has hurt for months.
Why does it hurt More if I walk a lot? Can a new mattress "heal" a bad back? thanks, susan
AnswerHi Susan,
You might have tried too much to quickly. Back pain that is worse in the morning or after a day of activity, is usually mechanical in nature and should respond well to a gentle but persistent exercise program. The jury is still out on those memory foam mattresses. They don't offer support and allow the back to "sink in" and that may perpetuate back problems. Walking is good exercise and should be done with comfortable shoes on a level surface.
If the pain persists, I'd recommend X-rays of your back to assess that structural elements.
