Woke before 6 to help hubby he has bad backache, and shocked to see the news but moreso NOTHING ON NEWS RIGHT NOW... SHEESH...
Hi Elisabeth. I can't do anything about the ME, but I do know about back pain. My wife has a spinal fusion and 4 herniated disks from an accident. She has managed a full recovery following surgery and with the known limitations (can't pick up heavy stuff or ride rough rides) lives a full life.
May I suggest that your husband take an epsom salt bath in hot water, starting around 102 degrees? He'll have to wait gradually until the water cools enough for comfort. After about 20 minutes his muscules will loosen up and unlock slightly. If possible, he should then attempt some light, very light stretching, like sitting on the floor and touching toes, if that will help stretch the area in question. There are more effective strethes, but this is a safe one that I can actually describe. If you have a theraputical massuese availabel today, it'd be ideal to see them. Only someone you trust. Finally, following the massage after the hot bath, an ice pack on the area afflicted for about 20 minutes, especially if massage is applied. the ice pack will help reduce the swelling of the irritated muscles and the cool will provide relief. Then he needs to rest and watch sports.
If your husband is reading this, pal, you owe me a beer for the part about sports. Just kidding folks. This is a regiment I go through for an area in the center of my spine, and the recommended regiment my wife goes through on difficult days. Except for the part about sports.
All the best and I hope he finds relief. It's certainly no fun...
Another back-pain therapy
(very similar to above advice, but with a twist):
Years ago I tore my trapezius muscle skiing. The doc at the resort clinic was from India or Pakistan. He asked if I wanted the "quick cure or the slow cure". Of course, I wanted the quick one. Then he asked "Do you use holistic medicine?". My eyes rolled, but after he explained I decided to try his "quick method"...no muscle relaxers or pain pills involved (I did take Advil).
Do these steps FIRST THING in the morning...meaning straight out of bed, not after a trip to the coffee pot. Stand in a warm shower and let the water run over the sore area. Keep turning up the temp until the water is as hot as you can stand it. Run it over the entire body to get thoroughly warmed up, but concentrate on the injury. After 5 minutes, start gently stretching...very very gently at first. Slowly work up to more vigorous stretches, twisting, and bending...all with the water running on the sore spot. Don't just concentrate on the sore area; stretch the neck, legs, arms, too. The entire process took me about 20 minutes.
Now that the muscles are warm and supple, have someone massage the sore spot with their thumb. Start gently. They will begin to feel the muscles/tendons and should try to rub the thumb down between those to get to the injured area...this will hurt a little and requires some effort. The idea is to get blood, and therefore oxygen, to the injury [the holistic part!].
Repeat these steps IMMEDIATELY before going to bed at night.
In a nutshell, I was skiing again in 10 days rather than the 2 months estimated under the muscle relaxer regime. I became a true believer. To this day I use the shower/stretching routine as a preventative when I face a day of hard labor, like when we installed the sprinkler system or laid a tile floor. I firmly believe it has saved me many back and neck injuries. Even without the massage, it still works well.
It still cracks me up that I, of all people, find myself recommending a holistic treatment...I'm really a very conventional type when it comes to medicine. But this one was so common-sensical that it only made sense to try it. I'm glad I did.
Best of luck.