Weightlifting/strength training filter: what exercises do you recommend to strengthen/build up the trapezius muscle? [more inside]
posted by dfriedman on Oct 30, 2009 - 14 answers

Can you tell me about your experiences with pilates or yoga in regards to lower back pain? DVD or CD recommendations especially helpful. [more inside]
posted by rosethorn on Oct 26, 2009 - 18 answers

How do I stop sleeping on my stomach? [more inside]
posted by Thrillhouse on Oct 11, 2009 - 12 answers

MattressHackingFilter: I recently upgraded from a fairly firm queen sized mattress to a king-sized soft pillow-top (Simmons Beautyrest). While laying down feels noticeably different (and pretty damn comfy), I do wake up with some back pain, most notable a tightness in my upper back and in the shoulders towards the neck. Are there any quick-and-cheap solutions (besides returning it) that can alleviate the pain? Is this just my body adjusting or am I S.O.L.?
posted by miasma on Aug 24, 2009 - 10 answers

The AC of my Mercedes Benz 2002 stopped working so we took it to a well known Used Car Dealership for a check up. They charge me $150.00 just for the check up and gave me an estimate of about $3,000 to fix it (basically they said all the system had to be replace it). I didn’t want to spend that kind of money so we took it one of those ‘basic repair shop’ chains and they fixed it by changing a $25.00 sensor. I want my $150.00 back, I live in Florida and don't know if I am entitled to a refund? If I am, what is the best way to ask for it? I’m pissed at them but I want to behave civilized and effective.
posted by 3dd on Aug 24, 2009 - 24 answers

Why does my back always hurt when doing the dishes? [more inside]
posted by bdoop21 on Aug 8, 2009 - 24 answers

For the past few months, I've been experiencing a lot of back pain during sleep and when I wake up. I've tried many solutions - sleeping on top of a bunch of blankets (to make my firm mattress softer), sleeping with a pillow between my legs (helps a little but not much, it seems), putting a towel under my hips, sleeping on my back, sleeping on my stomach, sleeping on my side. In a nutshell, I'm losing it and really could use some help. Anyone with a super-sensitive back who has found a comfortable way to sleep??? I have scoliosis, so that's one thing to keep in mind. Also, if one of the strategies I mentioned above worked for you, pleae don't hesitate to mention it - maybe you tried it in a different way than I did! THANK YOU SO MUCH!!!!
posted by bross12 on Aug 7, 2009 - 22 answers

How do I nurse a wounded shoulder back to health? [more inside]
posted by Eudaimonia on Jul 29, 2009 - 17 answers

Hard medical evidence about sleeping on a hard, flat surface? [more inside]
posted by KMH on Jun 29, 2009 - 2 answers

lower back pain after lifting legs in the gym. [more inside]
posted by l2yangop on May 26, 2009 - 12 answers

My backpack is crushing my sciatic nerve. I'd like that to stop. [more inside]
posted by a robot made out of meat on Apr 11, 2009 - 3 answers

I've had sharp, upper back pain for about a week. I just woke up one morning and there it was. Do I need a chiropractor, massage, doctor or should I just man up? [more inside]
posted by scaryblackdeath on Apr 6, 2009 - 16 answers

Buy the Canon 450Xsi or wait for the 500TSi? [more inside]
posted by DrAlbin on Apr 1, 2009 - 12 answers

I'm having a hell of a time with Acronis True Image Home 2009. My OS is VISTA. I have emailed Acronis twice with no response and have read through their support FAQ. I have a 1TB USB drive partitioned into two 500 MBs. The back up works perfectly on one partition but... [more inside]
posted by Carbolic on Mar 25, 2009 - 10 answers

How does a ruptured disk benefit from an epidural? [more inside]
posted by boo_radley on Mar 12, 2009 - 12 answers

What neat ideas could I print on the back of business card for a Technology Consulting company? My customers are small to medium business that have little or no onsite tech support. [more inside]
posted by bleucube on Mar 8, 2009 - 7 answers

what is going on with my shoulder blade and neck muscles? [more inside]
posted by figTree on Feb 26, 2009 - 5 answers

Camping spot near Savannah, GA that isn't populated by RVs? Looking to head out 2-3 hours north or south to find a primitive camp site with a group of 5 friends. Any suggestions? [more inside]
posted by apipameme on Feb 19, 2009 - 13 answers

Where should I start - a chiropractor, a sports massage, an orthopedist, acupuncture or what? [more inside]
posted by bunnycup on Feb 19, 2009 - 11 answers

Your favourite 'Back' and 'Return' songs. Music fans - hit me! [more inside]
posted by Cantdosleepy on Feb 19, 2009 - 49 answers

Is the "hip pocket" the front pocket or the back pocket? [more inside]
posted by exceptinsects on Feb 15, 2009 - 53 answers

Hoping someone can help diagnose what my lower back pain is. [more inside]
posted by Christ, what an asshole on Feb 7, 2009 - 5 answers

I need ideas and inspirational stories on finding a new way to make a living. [more inside]
posted by anonymous on Feb 4, 2009 - 12 answers

My four year old desktop has started crashing on a semi regular basis and now I belatedly want to start backing up the things I have on it... help me choose an external hard drive [more inside]
posted by chickaboo on Dec 30, 2008 - 7 answers

My boyfriend wants to return to school and get a degree in psychology, but isn't sure of the best way to do so, especially considering the caliber of schools he is targeting. [more inside]
posted by anonymous on Dec 19, 2008 - 13 answers

Cars that have seats like minivans? [more inside]
posted by abdulf on Nov 22, 2008 - 20 answers

Advice for sudden back problem? [more inside]
posted by hermitosis on Nov 11, 2008 - 10 answers

My fiancée has been experiencing severe upper back and neck pain for about the last two months. Our GP is finally going to refer her to a rheumatologist. How can we work best with the rheumatologist to diagnose and resolve this pain as quickly as possible? Way more details inside. [more inside]
posted by Nelsormensch on Oct 23, 2008 - 10 answers

"Pop!" goes... my entire body? [more inside]
posted by np312 on Oct 9, 2008 - 9 answers

Have a slightly fickle lower back after a car wreck (have had phys therapy etc) and tweaked it moving furniture this weekend. Does anyone have a good massage therapist in the Downtown Los Angeles or East Hollywood area that specializes in massaging that kind of issue?
posted by guruguy9 on Oct 5, 2008 - 1 answer

I often lose text that I've written in a web page by accidentally hitting a link and page changes (instead of in a new tab). Is there anything I can do to always save the text on the previous page? [more inside]
posted by JakeLL on Sep 27, 2008 - 13 answers

To get back together or not to get back together....that is the question....(of course it's a lot messier than that.........) [more inside]
posted by Waterbear on Aug 18, 2008 - 40 answers

Cash back? Why? [more inside]
posted by zap rowsdower on Jul 26, 2008 - 21 answers

How best to support my back and feet? [more inside]
posted by Melismata on Jun 19, 2008 - 4 answers

The left side of my upper back and neck are consistently crick-y, cracky and tight. Once in a while it's painful, but at all hours of the day, I can stretch the muscles and bones in the area and get some clicky sounds. Can you recommend ways that I can alleviate this? [more inside]
posted by k7lim on Jun 6, 2008 - 11 answers

Sometimes when I stretch my back, it kind of pops and hurts sharply, what's up with that? [more inside]
posted by T.D. Strange on May 22, 2008 - 3 answers

A friend has a serious back injury and I want to help him negotiate the maze of advice he will face. [more inside]
posted by mecran01 on May 16, 2008 - 8 answers

Are there alternatives to the lotus position for classic meditation that don't leave the back unsupported? I've found that sitting in an unsupported position, or in a chair that doesn't have a seat back, ends up making my back ache rather strongly. I've thought about investigating meditation (and looking into the more classical, early practices), but have wondered if there's a "kosher" (accepted in the discipline) way of doing the more classical meditations while having your back completely supported (by lying on the ground, or doing it in a chair, or what have you).
posted by WCityMike on Apr 24, 2008 - 17 answers

Where has my Google Apps IMAP gone? [more inside]
posted by gergtreble on Apr 16, 2008 - 9 answers

Intense lower back pain on the left side. It's also painful down the side of my left leg. After being stiff and mostly inactive this winter I was doing some deep knee beds and intense hamstring stretches, now I'm in a huge amount of pain. My health insurance has a hefty deductible and am hoping to avoid the doctor's office. Any ideas on what to do to relieve the pain?
posted by huxley on Apr 14, 2008 - 19 answers

Webbrowsing/Internet Explorer 6 Filter: When reading a long webpage(usually several screen lengths), I often click on a link that's part way down. IE goes to that webpage in the same window(as it should). However, when I click back, I often find that I am at the top of the first page. I'm pretty sure it always used to scroll down to where I was before I clicked on the link. Now it only does that sometimes. I know this is minor, but it bugs me sometimes. Is there anything I can do to fix this?
posted by newatom on Apr 9, 2008 - 7 answers

For school, we are required to have this bumper sticker on either our back bumpers or back windshield. I am highly anti-bumper sticker, so I have not even considered placing the sticker on my bumper, thats out of the question. Is there an "easy" way or method or trick to place the sticker on the inside of my back windshield that can be easily removed?
posted by shabazosu on Mar 11, 2008 - 19 answers

My mother recently traded in a 2004 Subrau Outback and bought a 2007 model of the same car a few weeks ago. She loved the car when test driving and was very happy with it for the first few weeks. Now she is finding that it is aggravating her back problems and causing her extreme amounts of pain. She has tried adjusting the seat in all ways and even called her doctor (who wasn't much help, so she's going to try to talk to someone else) [more inside]
posted by kfs27 on Mar 5, 2008 - 12 answers

My husband has a huge knot in the muscles at the small of his back (right where his spine meets his pelvis, very close to the spine). He's clearly in a great deal of discomfort, and wants me to massage the area (which I'm happy to do), but what else can he try? (He's already refused to go to the doctor or use a stick-on heat pack, and we don't own a heating pad.) Suggestions as to stretches, massage techniques, and other things we haven't thought of are welcome.
posted by anastasiav on Mar 4, 2008 - 31 answers

Is intense back pain when I sneeze an indicator of a serious spinal problem? [more inside]
posted by high0nfire on Mar 4, 2008 - 9 answers

Mid-back pain when seated-----help! [more inside]
posted by otherwordlyglow on Feb 20, 2008 - 5 answers

How do I straighten up my back? [more inside]
posted by segatakai on Feb 8, 2008 - 15 answers

Accidentally split a twenty dollar bill in half. What's the best way to put it back together?
posted by dkleinst on Feb 2, 2008 - 17 answers

What is, and how useful is, if at all, interferential electrotherapy? [more inside]
posted by Smedleyman on Jan 15, 2008 - 8 answers

Does anyone have any experience using inversion tables to treat back pain? Do they work? Bonus: any credible studies you know about or can find discussing the use/pros/cons of inversion tables? [more inside]
posted by leahwrenn on Dec 19, 2007 - 8 answers