Weird Problem

[Guest Dancing Angel]

Just last night, I was having my regular ballet class. Nothing had hurted or bothered me. When I came home my back started to hurt for some weird reason. One my back is straight it doesn't hurt. But when I bend my back it somewhat hurts, which is really weird. Because I thought if your back hurts, then it would hurt when sitting up straight. Any advice would be greatly appreciated. Thanks.

[Victoria Leigh]

No, it is definitely more common for it to hurt when bending. We cannot diagnose here, of course, however, if you tell us a bit more about where exactly the pain is, and what bending, in what direction, causes the pain, perhaps we can have an idea about it. Most likely just a muscle pull, however, more information would help us direct you to proper care.

[Guest Dancing Angel]

Well, its when I bend forward or when I twist to the side. It hurts on the top and middle part.

[Victoria Leigh]

Hmmm, still somewhat vague, however, try some Icy Hot or Ben Gay, or some topical analgesic on the areas and see if that helps. Don't bend of twist for today, and see if it is gone by tommorrow. Most likely just a bit of muscle spasm from twisting too far or something like that. If the pain is really severe, and you have trouble moving in other ways, then of course you should see a doctor immediately. One of the things dancers have to learn is when pain is "nuisance pain", like muscles which have just worked a bit harder than usual or perhaps been pulled a bit too far, or "serious pain", meaning injury. You will have many, many "nuisance pains" in your life as a dancer, but they usually go a way in a day or two. Most of these one can work through. But an INJURY is a different story. When something is really severe, and does not improve with normal rest, ice, compression, elevation, or, in this case just rest and ice or rest and heat, then it is time for the doc. Ice should be used immediately after an acute injury, but if this is just sore muscles then I would try heat. Do not do the topical analgesic and heat at the same time though! :eek:

[Guest Dancing Angel]

Thank you so much!! Today is a little better but I'll wait till tomorrow and I'll see what will happen till then. Thanks again!

[Guest goingforsatin]

You might be straining your back by bending over. Sometimes when a muscle isn't stretched enough you can pull it. When your back feels better you should ask your teacher for some appropriate back-stretching excercises you can do to improve flexibility.

[Guest Peregrin Took]

I experience back pain as well, although this may not be attributed to ballet. It's mainly in the lower back and when it occurs, I am unable to stretch my back to a decent backbend. I'm guessing it may be due to the fact that I trained myself to perform a bridge while I couldn't do it previously, when I was 11 years old. I've always had back problems though.

[Guest Dancing Angel]

No, goingforsatin, its not that reason. I was talking to my teacher today and she said she noticed me stretching a lot lately and especailly with my back. She gave me the exact same answer as Ms. Leigh did and said it was nuisance pain. Actually, the pain is almost gone. Plus, I don't have ballet tonight because of the awful snow storm in Toronto and no school.I'm just going to relax and take it easy for today.