Skiing with lower back pain

Sound like you have tight hamstrings and hip flexors vs a back injury. Yoga and some serious massage from physio should fix within a few weeks.

Echo other comments re physio and also look for Swiss (gym) ball and or pilates classes run by professionals in your area; not only good for the back but also the core muscles which in turn take some of the strain from your back and also help with balance - apparently balance is good when skiing.

I have suffered back pain for 40 years, osteochondritis was identified when I was 11, mine too is aggravated by sitting at a pc and standing for too long also. I am prescribed Meloxiam (anti-inflammatory) and Co-Codamol) for use as and when needed.

My back actually went into spasm on one holiday due to a mattress that was too soft. After 3 days I was unable to stand. The local doctor had me skiing again within 2.5 hours! This was with pain relief (various), a muscle relaxant and anti-inflammatories. My concern was expressed that I wouldn't be able to drink for the rest of the trip. His response - "don't be so stupid! Alcohol will only help the muscles to relax!" LOL License!

Now, I am not condoning drinking on top of medication, however what I have learnt is that anti-inflammatories and paracetamol based pain relief belong to 2 different groups and can be taken together, in fact they are commonly given together as complimentary methods of pain relief. I have also learned that taking them BEFORE skiing seems to reduce inflammation and pain and increase my mobility drastically compared to trying to alleviate the symptoms AFTER everything is aggravated. Prevention is better than cure and all that... Oh, and alcohol really does help!

Now, I am no doctor and this is just my own personal experience so I cannot say this is right for you, only that it is right for my situation. You will need to make sure that anything you take like anti-inflammatories, are safe for you and that you have no other medical conditions that would be made worse if you take them, ask your doctor before you go buying ibuprofen or voltarol and paracetamol.

The above REALLY works for me and makes the impossible totally possible.

André

Funny, I find that some not-too-vigorous skiing actually eases my aching back.