# Why does my back hurt so much?

**URL:** <https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-does-my-back-hurt-so-much/752641>\
**Category:** In My Humble Opinion\
**Created:** [April 19, 2016, 1:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-does-my-back-hurt-so-much/752641 "2016-04-19T13:38:27Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 4\
**Page:** 2

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**Author:** ![Nava](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/da6949/32.png) [@Nava](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Nava)\
**Post date:** [April 20, 2016, 8:01am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-does-my-back-hurt-so-much/752641/21 "2016-04-20T08:01:37Z")

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> [@Zsofia](#):
>
> I am no longer breastfeeding (one day ask me about exclusive pumping when you’re ready).

If you’re pumping, your hormones act as if you were breastfeeding. It’s not the suckling, it’s the milkmaking.

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**Author:** ![Zsofia](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/7bcc69/32.png) [@Zsofia](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Zsofia)\
**Post date:** [April 20, 2016, 1:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-does-my-back-hurt-so-much/752641/22 "2016-04-20T13:44:09Z")

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No, I mean, I quit pumping also a long time ago. God what a nightmare.

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**Author:** ![Chicken\_Fingers](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/51bf81/32.png) [@Chicken\_Fingers](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chicken_Fingers)\
**Post date:** [April 20, 2016, 2:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-does-my-back-hurt-so-much/752641/23 "2016-04-20T14:29:14Z")

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I had this issue when my first kid hit a certain age/weight. You’re moving fast, you tend to pick them up and twist at the same time, without realizing. It’s the twisting while picking them up that’s probably straining one side. Try changing how you pick him up.

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**Author:** ![Lightray](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lightray/32/391_2.png) [@Lightray](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lightray)\
**Post date:** [April 20, 2016, 4:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-does-my-back-hurt-so-much/752641/24 "2016-04-20T16:25:59Z")

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In addition to your poor mattress, do you have a job that requires sitting for extended periods of time? It sounds like lower back pain from muscular issues. Poor posture and lack of movement/exercise can cause your muscles and tendons to shorten and tight. This is experienced as pain, usually in the lower back, often on one side.

You can talk to your doctor for exercises that should help; yoga and swimming are also good recommendations. Getting up and moving around regularly during the day it also a good thing.

For quick relief from the discomfort, go out to Walgreens or someplace similar, and buy one of the cold-packs that’s packed with little gel balls, and one of the hot packs that’s filled with sand-like stuff. Make sure they come with some sort of strap to hold them on. Chuck the cold pack into your freezer\*, and strap it on as you’re going about your morning routine. In between waiting for it to get cold again, warm up the hot pack in the microwave\*\*, and strap that on.

- The freezer will eventually embrittle the plastic that the cold pack is made from, and those little gel balls will leak out and get _everywhere_. I just wrap the damn things in duct tape from day one.

\*\* Be cautious, as microwaves vary, and if you get the hot pack too hot it’ll burn and leave you with blisters. If you put it on and it’s uncomfortably hot, _take it off_ to cool it down, and microwave for less next time.

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