back update. Got on the total gym gizmo again, trying to do some kind of "alignment", get the back to snap/crackle/pop out of pain. The pain really does feel like when your knuckles need cracking... but on a large scale. So I get on the gizmo, and realized, whoa! Thighs are super tight. Like Ow tight. Then I remembered, what prompted me to write first post, was when I tried to put my feet up at my desk, and the pain triggered, as if I stood up. So I spent about an hour stretching front and back of thighs. And the pain is about 80% less (no meds!). Clearly, I need to spend the rest of the week doing stretches. Lordy, I hope I don't slip/fall with my muscles this tight. I could do some serious damge.

All this reminds me of "backbone connected to the hip bone. Hip bone connected to the...". It's not the back that is at fault. It's what's connected.

Hot damn! Had the theory, typed it in to the internet, and found something. Granted, can't believe everything you find on the internet, but, it sounds about right. [link]

Another key structure in low back pain is the hamstring muscles, the large muscles in the back of the thighs. Patients with tight hamstrings tend to develop low back pain, and those with lower back pain tend to develop tight hamstrings.

The theory is that tight hamstrings limit motion in the pelvis, so the motion gets transferred to the bottom lumbar motion segments and increases the stress in the low back. Rehabilitation focuses on strengthening the muscles and stretching the hamstring muscles.

bonny,

FWIW, Aleve doesn't do one goddamn shit for me. It is so ineffective, I give it the side eye when I pass it in grocery stores.

It's either Advil or Tylenol (or when I was in a bad way, I was prescribed BOTH).

My doc says two Tylenol (or generic acetomenaphine) and two ibu. Twice a day usually does me, one dose on waking and another dose before bed. On really bad days, another dose midday. I don't need it every day, but when I do, there's no point dicking around with either-or. Both together gets it done, and I haven't noticed any kickbacks or side effects.

All best luck on the house, Aims. And all best relief and healing on the shoulder, bonny.

omnis, I'm really glad you sorted that out--it's great when you can benefit from cause and effect.

Any suggestions for how to keep the advil from burning up my stomach?

Take it with some food containing fat. Whole milk or cheese is what I usually do, and I've never had any stomach problems with Advil. Peanut butter would probably work. Basically you need to buffer it.

FWIW, Aleve doesn't do one goddamn shit for me.

Me either! What's up with that, anyway.

Codeine Tylenol doesn't do anything for me. Found that out with my knee injury back in 2000.

Omnis, please go and see a doctor if this will continue to bug you. And good luck with your new neighbor.

Aims, fingers crosses. Also, I do not know how you don't kill your mother, but kudos for restraining that urge.

bonny, I'm sorry for the pain and discomfort, but I've got no advice.

Omnis, I'm glad you found something that stretching might help.

Bonny, my dad had rotator cuff problems, and surgery made it worse (anecdata, I know, and his surgeon did work on another family member with non-optimal results, so he may have been the problem) so I hope PT or acupuncture can help.

Aims, that house is adorable! I especially like the wee windows framing the larger one in what's probably the living room.

Gracious thanks to Steph for the dosage. For the first time in, I think, three months, the advil has finally touched the pain.

It's made me a bit paranoid though, because I know the pain is still there, I just can't feel it. So, I'm being super careful.

I'll begin slowly with the exercises and work hard not to cause any more damage.

Thanks also, Zen, for reminding me that I have almond butter in the house...and I will likely go get some kefir to swallow with the pills.

Calli, your dad's experience is precisely why I am going to avoid surgery at all costs. ALL costs. I know it has value for many, but I'll do anything to avoid it.

I want to think that my injury isn't surgery worthy, though I have no idea what the criteria might be.

Thanks all for the good wishes.

Gracious thanks to Steph for the dosage. For the first time in, I think, three months, the advil has finally touched the pain.

That's promising! Based on that, I would stick with that dosage for at least a week.

I want to think that my injury isn't surgery worthy, though I have no idea what the criteria might be.

You pretty much can't tell that without an MRI. But if you saw a doctor, he/she might tell you to do medication and physical therapy before they would even order an MRI. Mine did that with back pain a few years ago. So trying the higher dose of Advil and some exercises is a good first step, IMO.