Will my back EVER get better??

I slipped on some ice a week ago and messed up my back.  Constantly in pain...went to the dr, but my options are limited due to other health issues.  Muscle relaxants take the edge off, but leave me dopey.  Really hoping I start feeling some improvements soon.  I need to get back to work and I have some events planned in the spring that require a bit of training.    

I'm suffering now too.  I was doing speed drills last Wednesday and decided to cool down with jumping rope.  One jump later and snap.  My lower back is screaming and I can't do much of anything 5 days later I'm still in pain.

Went to the doc and they say it's muscular.  They gave me a steroid and vicaden and sent me on my way.  Not much explaination but plenty of good luck wishes.  So with that, any helpful hints to get back to my normal routing would be very helpful.

I had a day where I was out and about driving around town and going to meetings.  I didn't do anything that was physically demanding, but the next day I was in incredible pain and could barely move. 

I am starting to see some progress, but if I sit poorly for a little while in front of my computer my back locks up again.  Any driving more than a quick trip also leaves me in pain.

Best wishes!

Found this resource in a different thread...

http://www.athletestreatingathletes.com/body-resource-map/low-back/

I would suggest you see a ART Chiropractor to get checked out instead of a regular Chiro. I am an ART doc in Dallas, Tx and treat Ultra Distance Marathoners to weekend warriors and would suggest the doctor to look at your Hip Flexors or (Psoas Muscle) and hip joints. This muscle connets to your spine and your hips and is a huge underlooked reason for persistant low back pain. Find a doc to get the adhesions out of the muscle and your Facet Joint or Low back pain will get much better. Also look at your feet, are you an over-pronator? If so this is a huge cause of low back, hip, and knee pain while running. Go to Biocorrect.com and get some true custom orthotics made to allow you to run with less or no pain... If none of this helps, then see a pain management doctor (PM&R) to get a MRI to possibly get a Lumbar Facet Block or Epidural Steroid Injection to get the inflammation out of the spine itself....

Dr. Jeff Eidsvig, DC, ART,TPI-CGFI              (www.activereleasetechnique.com)

THANKS a bunch.  Great stuff on the net --  I'm learning more and more every day.  I slowly started to swim today - 7 days later.  I hope another couple days and I'll be in a position for a slow - short jog

I could have written the title to this thread - sigh.  I'm 48.   I've been a devout believer in exercise all my life and then started having back pain.  

Three years ago my back went out and has never totally healed.  At the time I was involved in a BT ab challenge, doing yoga and some swimming.  For some years after that ANY type of exercise made it worse.  It is better now and I keep experimenting to see what I can do.  So far I can do some types of yoga, swimming and biking.  Running is mostly bad and weight lifting not so good.

From what I can tell, back pain seems to come from a variety of causes.  Core strength didn't save me so I wonder where to go from here.  I have seen a chiropractor but it was so incredibly expensive that I didn't last long.  Also it seems like you have to keep going to a chiropractor and I want to be able do exercises or something to make it better.  Regular MDs seem to be able to treat the pain but not the cause.  Everything I've heard about back surgery (even a surgical nurse said this) implies this should be an absolutly LAST resort.

The few things I've found that help are a youtube video for low back yoga by Esther Ekhart.  Also lying on the floor on my back with my legs bent at the knees and feet and calves resting on a chair or sofa.  This doesn't cure it but makes it feel better in the short run.

Well, I'm off to check the suggestions that you all made - thanks

Have you gotten a diagnosis from a spine specialist (not a chiro, not a GP, but a doctor with a fellowship in treating spines)?  Do you know what is causing your back pain?  3 years is a long time to suffer with back pain...trust me, I know because I've had a chronic back condition for most of my 45 years.  But I know the cause of my pain.  And yes, I totally agree that surgery should be the last resort, and more conservative methods should be tried first.  Have you had an MRI done?  I realize they are costly but at least you would have a better idea of what you're dealing with.