Somehow I have tweaked my lower back. It was doing better, but after some beer and baseball on the beach during our vacation last week, I re-injured it.

The problem is, I'm riding in the Great West MS150 this weekend.
I went out for a quick ride today and found that I can ride, but I'm worried about the later miles and the hills, which come in the final 30 miles of the day.

I have a couple of questions:
1. Are there any problems with taking ibuprofen and Doan's before and during a long 75 mile ride (considering I have another 75m the next day)?

2. Anyone have some recomendations as to how to get my back into as good a shape as I can before Saturday. I'd like to continue some training rides, but obviously don't want to do any further damage or keep it from healing.

Sorry for the rant, but I'm totaly frustrated after having trained all spring to ride this thing and now be faced with this problem.

Thanks for the help.
R

Hi,
DO NOT screw around with your back. See a Doc, tell him the situation, try to get evaluated manana. You are asking me, a person with no medical training to evaluate a back I have never seen. You need to talk to someone who knows what they're talking about. I have injured my back twice; both times were among the most miserable of my life.

I am not a medical professional and so am not able to give you medical advise. However, I agree with late that you should probably see a doctor about your back.

From my personal experience with joint pain and ibuprofen, I can say that I had no problem taking ibuprofen while riding. I would be very careful about combining drugs. The fact that you are considering doing so indicates to me that your back problem may be more serious than a strained muscle.

By the way, Doan's appears to be basically aspirin or an aspirin derivative. When I was looking up it's ingredients, I found an FTC order against them for unsubstantiated claims that their product is more effective than other over the counter drugs. You might save yourself a few bucks by using generic aspirin instead of Doan's. See http://www.ftc.gov/opa/1999/05/doans.htm for details.

Good luck and I hope your back heals up quickly.

Have called to see if I can get an appointment tomorrow.
I don't think it's anything more than a really good sprain.. Hopefully nothing like a tear!

Thanks for the heads up on the Doan's. I'm a Motrin fan. I understand it to be the cure of choice for the Army... Can't be all bad.

Still hoping to get out this week to at least keep the pedals turning... I guess we'll see what the Doc says.

Thanks