Sore back

[Octavius]

I have been working really hard in the garden this weekend and have strained the muscles in my back. I am walking around the office like a 90 year old man with something shoved up his behind.

I had a long hot bath and a massage from the missus and sprayed on some ralgex, but how can I make my back feel better today, and more importantly stop my colleagues taking the p?

[WaldoMcFroog]

Short answer re: making it feel better is you can't. And actually, it's better to feel the pain to some extent than it would be to block it out completely; you've created thousands of tiny tears in the muscles of your back. As we speak, they will be repairing themselves, but the pain will remind you not to do anything that might result in you damaging the fibres more.

As for the p*** taking, have you told them how you became so crook? Because if you haven't, I think you'll find that you and your partner spent all weekend in bed and *that's* why you're knackered and tired. Even better than that is just to say, 'well, you know...?' wink suggestively and let their imaginations run wild. You'll be surprised how filthy some of your colleagues will think you've been! ;-)

[Lollyhoney]

Ibruprofen can help, I was perscribed regular doses when I hurt my back. As it's an antinflamitory, it will make your back feel much better than analgesics such as paracetamol (although you can take both at once if its that bad!) Always take them with food,

[rescuer]

'Something up your behind' ?

Are you sure you didn't walk backwards onto the handle of the rake? That could be nasty -- spells etc.

[CLOWN TICKLE]

you could try the heat pads that are available and were very helpful when I had a broken back with pulled muscles

[WendyS]

Many sympathies from a current fellow sufferer, but I was only bending down to pick up a toffee paper from the carpet & have been laid low for 3 days! Heat & massage helps, but I've also found the maximum permitted dose (4 per day) of Extra Strength Ibruprofen which is an inflammatory has really reduced the pain level. Rest up as much as you can and before getting into bed tonight try laying flat out on the carpet for ten minutes to help straighten your spine out.