Muscle relaxers?

Ok a week later, my back is still out. I have been taking lots of muscle relaxers and retaining water like crazy. Usually I am to the bathroom about four times around 10am while at work with that amount of water in me. I ask a dr friend of mine if this is normal because usually I can't wait to go to the washroom when I get to work, she stated I have to be careful cause it can damage my kidneys as well. I can't function without taking them, I can barely sit for too long due to the pain, I sure hope I feel better soon. My guts feel horrible and I feel today like I am getting buzzed or a duh feeling from taking them so long, I really don't want to take them. They are a over the counter back relaxer, the dr told me just tylenol or advil but they werent even touching the pain, nothing is really helping but the heating pad and laying down. If I am not better by next week I will go see my dr again and ask for chiropractor referral or physio. I am doing some stretches but my work involves sitting most of the day which hurts more then anything.

Is there anything else I could take?

Even though it probably wont touch the pain i would suggest ibuprofen or naproxen. Its an anti inflammatory that will calm all the muscles down without giving you a buzzed feeling. Itll also help speed up the recovery time. Im not sure what kind of muscle relaxer you can get over the counter. There are stronger ones a physician can prescribe but will make you feel more buzzed. Your surgeon probably told you to stay away from NSAID's, but that is more like long term use.

Good luck,
i hope you feel better soon
Sara

Oh and please double check with you doctor before you take anything. it could interact with other meds or damage your liver (so dont take if you have any problems with you liver).

Yes I know to be careful with taking anything long term. My dr didn't give me anything for the pain, like I said tylenol or advil. Ibuprofen is pretty much the same thing as motrin to reduce the inflammation. I just hope the pain dies down some this weekend where I can lay down more and enjoy the heating pad and not sit so much, it seems to make it worse.

I have lifelong back issues, so I can sympathize.. it's torture.

I need to take 800-1000mg ibuprofen 3x a day, plus if really bad a rx muscle relaxer- Flexeril. The Flexeril makes me sleepy though, but only for the first day or two.. Normally I need this regimen for only 4-5 days. But the Ibuprofen in the normal 400mg range will not reduce inflammation the way it needs to be reduced.. so the higher (rx strength) doses are what I require. Goes without saying, but be on a PPI if you are going to need this treatment for more than a couple days.. I hope you start feeling better soon.

Me too on the feeling better, it has been a week now with not much improvement. I will go out and speak with the pharmacist. I can't be sleepy that is why I can't take the prescribed muscle relaxers they knock me out. We are heading into a long weekend and I just want to be able to enjoy it but looks like I might be stuck on my back if not out walking around.

I took ibuprofen like that years ago and emergency said to me, did you realize you are overdosing on that amount and I said well I am in pain and I feel fine with that amount. I was heavier too at the time so it didn't even touch me. But I was taking it about every 3 hrs at the time, when they asked me to rate my pain out of 10 I asked if it was ok to say 15!!!! I think they knew then that I wasn't joking about the amount of pain. I can tolerate this but it is painful, I know my guts are horrible feeling and probably should be taking something to calm them down the last few days. Fingers are crossed that the weekend helps and I get to enjoy some of it.

Funny not all Drs agree (what else is new?)
My rx for ibuprofen is 800mg 4x a day (3200mg/day max).. No one ever suggested at that level I was ODing! Now, I don't bother with getting it filled, I just use the OTC at the same dose when needed.

Edited: I have spinal arthritis in neck & back, and have had herniated discs.. fun times. Worst episode had me laid out for about 3mo..

Has anyone suggested a spinal stimulator? I have one and it has helped tremendously. If you are interested PM me and I'll tell you about my experience with it. I had horrendous pain for years from arthritis and degenerating discs. I'd be in tears just having to walk to the bathroom. Pain sux!!!

No, thankfully it's not something that is always an issue- granted I have a hard time looking upwards towards the sky due to spurs on the neck vertebra and bad changes there. Mostly it's something I tolerate until I do something stupid (like cough too hard..) then I hurt for a few weeks. I don't look forward to the future with it, so hopefully taking the weight off will delay the worse parts.. My mom has bad degenerative changes and spinal stenosis and lives in pain.. must run in the family. The 3mo downtime was right when I herniated the L4-L5, I was 17! I sound like an old bitty comparing aches and pains.. 

Im sorry, i mustve read over the part where it said you were taking ibuprofen.

i hope the pain dies down soon!

I agree with the posters above, the prescription strength for Ibuprofen is 800mg up to 4x a day. This will help you drastically. Use your prescription muscle relaxer at night and the 800mg Ibuprofen in the daytime. and I hope you feel better!