Ways to relieve upper back pain that don't cost money?

[Yarrawin]

Hi all,

For the last week or so I have been having the most horrible upper back pain - sort of between my shoulder blades but to the left.

It's getting worse and worse by the day and NOTHING relieves it... hot showers, warm baths, heat packs, panadol... nothing even takes the edge off.

I'm quite honestly at my wits end with it but DH and I hit hard times financially and although he hates seeing me in pain like this there is simply no way around the fact that I can't get a massage or see an osteo or chiro.

Does anyone have some suggestions of something I can do that might help this pain? I've found swimming and floating around in the pool helps my lower back but doesn't even touch this pain so I'm really quite lost!

[AndiE]

Is your hubby any good at massage? Get some lavendar oil and let him loose - gently. He might help if you're knotted up, particularly through stress.
But hun, if somethings just not right with your back, you may have no choice but to see a professional. Could family loan you some $$ just to tide you over?
Sorry, I'm not much help. Hope you feel better soon.

[Early Kids]

Are you booked into a hospital? They usually have physios to help with that sort of thing, might be worth ringing them?

I had some physio done after Tristan's birth and it only cost me my time

Hope it eases soon x

[little_mrs]

I usually get DH to stand in front of me and link his hands behind my back between my shoulder blades and hold tight, then i push backwards off him and crunch! More comfortable for me than him pushing on it trying to crack it coz he's quite strong and this way i have all the control. BUT remember if theres something not sitting right you dont want to do more damage, this way works for me but might or might not for you... maybe try it but stop if it hurts? His hands need to be linked at the base of where the pain starts so as you lean back his hands roll up into it. Sorry cant be anymore help!

[UntoldAngel]

Does it feel muscular or bone? This is a big factor in determining how to best treat it
Is your movement affected i.e sitting up, straight arms crossed across your chest, can you rotate 90 degrees left and right without pain? does turning one way hurt more than the other and how far can you get?
Sorry about the questions, but just trying to determine which would be the best advice for you

[delphmoon]

Hows your blood pressure? Had it done recently?

[~Stoked~]

My chiropractor told me to roll a towel or two (one on top of the other) very tightly lengthways then secure tightly with twine (we used cable ties) so it resembles a snake, lay it on the ground and then lay down on it with your spine running along the length of the towel. It is so good for upper back pain and kept me sane between visits. Goodluck