r/germany • u/thecatsfighting • 3h ago
back pain because of the cold?
hi everyone, i recently came to germany to study and i was born and raised in a tropical country so ive never felt temperatures this cold before. starting late september ive been having really bad lower back pain which i think is from the temperature? my heater is already on to the highest setting and im still cold :( what else can i do to keep warm and decrease my back pain? is it worth investing in one of those electric heated blanket that you can wrap around your back/stomach?
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u/ClemensLode Nordrhein-Westfalen 2h ago
"Really bad pain" is usually a case for going to the doctor.
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u/george_gamow 3h ago
Maybe it's from a new mattress that doesn't fit you? It's not even that cold right now
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u/thecatsfighting 2h ago
i only started getting the back pain after like ~3 weeks of sleeping on it, and the feel of the mattress isnt so different to what im used to. i guess its a little softer than what i usually sleep on, but can that really cause back pain like this?
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u/george_gamow 2h ago
It might, sometimes it takes a couple of weeks for your body to start suffering from a prolonged discomfort. Or maybe it's your chair?
Unless you're 80 or had back surgery, the weather is very unlikely to blame
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u/thecatsfighting 2h ago
im barely 20 :( and ive never really had back problems before, even if i sleep on a hard couch
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u/george_gamow 2h ago
Have you been doing any new / intense sports lately?
Try a Wärmeflasche (Rossman definitely has them) to see if it helps
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u/thecatsfighting 2h ago
no i dislike sports, thank you for the suggestion
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u/Title_in_progress 2h ago
A lack of exercise can cause your muscles to weaken and your ligaments to shorten.
This can cause posture problems like lordosis, which can cause intense pain.
As the others already said, if the pain is so intense, go see a doctor.5
u/george_gamow 2h ago
As the others have suggested already though, go to a Hausarzt to check it out anyway. A "really bad" pain can mean a number of things, and it might get worse when heat is applied
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u/Ok_Expression6807 Germany 2h ago
Exactly the point. Harder often is no problem, but when the mattress is softer, your back suddenly has no support anymore.
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u/HG1998 Chinese looking, born and raised in Hamburg 2h ago
Yep.
Although putting on more of better clothes will probably be equally helpful. You can try one of these belts you mentioned, or use a disposable heating pad until the acute pain is resolved.
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u/thecatsfighting 2h ago
i use 2 blankets and use a hoodie on top of a normal shirt :')
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u/Competitive_Room3717 2h ago
For blankets, as I have mentioned in my other comment, sorry for spamming, wool is great on the couch, for sleeping I think a thick winter down duvet is the best. That's also what is mostly used in sleeping bags with comfort ranges to -10°C and below, it should keep you warm in your apartment!
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u/Ok_Expression6807 Germany 2h ago
Oooh yes, it can. Been there, done that. Bought a new mattress, felt great at first, but my back killed me after some weeks so that the hard couch felt like paradise and I switched there for a while. Thankfully moved together with my then- girlfriend now wife soon after, and fixed the problem.
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u/Illustrious-Wolf4857 1h ago
Putting your mattres or a thin foam mattress on the floor and sleep on that can help with back pain. Try it out, stop it if it does not work within a few days.
Orthopedic problems are awful because it can be anything and nothing. So, hopefully it's only the cold and keeping warm will fix it!
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u/sakasiru 2h ago
If it's really from the cold, you might have inflamed kidneys, so please go to the doctor to get that checked out. To keep them warm, you can use a hot water bottle, a cherry pit pillow or a heating vest.
But you should also consider other sources of your back pain due to lifestyle changes. Do you sit at a desk for prolonged times for example? Make sure to take breaks and do some sports to train your back muscles.
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u/thecatsfighting 2h ago
should i see a specialist or is a general doctor okay.. i do sit at a desk for long periods but on days where i dont and just lay in bed it still kinda hurts
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u/sakasiru 2h ago
Start with a general doctor, they can make some checks and rule some things out and if you need a specialist, they will send you there.
If you hurt your back in some other way the pain will not go away immediately when you don't sit for a day. Maybe after a few, but it will return if you strain your back further. If you don't want to do sports, at least go for a walk regularly, it helped my back pain immensely.
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u/Potential-Dance388 1h ago
Go See a doctor at first but only switching between sitting alg Laying is not good for your back. You need to get some movement. Have you been more active before you came to germany?
If I am are feeling cold i cramp, move less and feeling even colder. Movement is kind of a way out. ( And some warming stuff).
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u/Illustrious-Wolf4857 1h ago
Start with a general doctor.
They will give you some first level support, like "keep warm, don't sit still too long, take painkillers" (because the pain causes a vicious cycle).
If that does not help (give it a week or two, but don't take painkillers that long -- if pain is a self-enforcing problem it should be gone within three days of pain killers) go to the same doctor and say "it did not work" so you get to second level support which might be a check-up, or a specialist referral, or physical therapy.
Many people will doctor-hop if the first doctor did not solve the issue first try, which gets them stuck in first-level-support.
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u/Tierpfleg3r 2h ago
OP, first get a thermometer. Than go to a doctor. I'm also from a tropical country, but I really don't think it's just the cold weather in your case.
Schedule an appointment ASAP.
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u/thecatsfighting 2h ago
i dont feel sick or unwell other than the back pain, but i think i will try going to the doctor..
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u/valherquin 1h ago
Wait are you cold inside of the apartment with the heater on fully? Is the heater working? Is it warm when you touch it? Maybe you can get a room thermometer and check if the heating is working well. I'd understand being cold outside, but it gets very warm with the heating on, so I find that part odd.
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u/Title_in_progress 2h ago
Maybe you need a "Nierenwärmer". Apart from that, if you're already this cold, I'd stock up on undergarments like undershirts, t-shirts, thick socks, leggings or long underpants.
It's going to be much, much more in the winter.
ETA: And I recommend you get a "Wärmflasche". Much cheaper than a heat blanket.
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u/thecatsfighting 2h ago
how do you clean a wärmflasche? like the inside, or do i not need to? and thank you for the link, i didnt know that existed
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u/Title_in_progress 2h ago
"Wärmflaschen" (hot water bottle) are only filled with hot water. When I empty mine, I let it dry without the cap for a day or two. That's enough.
You fill them with fresh hot water every time you need them.
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u/Illustrious-Wolf4857 1h ago
It's likely the muscles which cause the pain. Keep your back warm. Use a heating pillow on your back (can be filled with plant material and heated in the microwave, or electric) when you go to sleep. There are soft wool undergarment that cover your midsection. Ensure that there is no draft in places where you sit. You can get heating patches to stick on your back in a pharmacy, follow the instructions, you can hurt yourself with them otherwise.
Also, do gentle gymnastics, stretching and strengthening exercises for your back. Done daily they can prevent a lot of trouble, also, moving warms you up. If you do not know where to start, check with your local VHS, they usually offer classes. Or talk to your doctor/GP/Hausarzt.
Another thing that can worsen muscle tension and mess up your back is stress, which is likely right after moving to another country.
Other ways to keep warm and save on heating at home: Warm blanket when you sit somewhere. Cover your head and wear a scarf and house shoes or thick socks. Put a mat under your feet when you sit at a table, if there is no carpet. Wear a cotton scarf around your neck. Drink hot spiced tea. Air the place enough to keep the humidity in your flat below 60% (cheap measuring devices are not very reliable, but this is not about precision, more about avoiding extremes). Take a walk or do some bicycling outside every day so you can slowly get used to the different climate.
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u/Inner-Loquat4717 2h ago
If you have other symptoms such as fever or trouble with your pee, get to a doctor. Feeling cold all the time can be a side effect of actual kidney trouble.
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u/CacklingFerret 2h ago
General safety information regarding hot water bottles:
Please don't use boiling water. Most water bottles are only safe up to certain temperatures, you can usually find the recommended temperture on the bottle or whatever leaflet that comes with it. Personally, I often go ~10°C hotter but still stay in a range that wouldn’t cause serious burns.
Don't fill the bottle to the brim, filling it 2/3 or maybe 3/4 is enough and makes the bottle more flexible.
Hot water bottles have an expiration date due to degradation of the material. Please get a new one after your old one expires.
When you fill the bottle and close it, test the seal in a sink by turning the bottle upside down. Sometimes you screw the lid on a tiny bit crooked and that's often enough for leaks.
Don't put too much pressure on the bottle by laying on it.
You don't need to clean the bottle if you always use fresh water and empty it after use. Keep the lid open for a while after emptying it. I usually just leave it on the kitchen counter over night or so.
Many people may probably tell you that they never adhered to these recommendations and nothing ever happened but from personal experience, you don't want to experiment with boiling hot water. I once filled up an old bottle and thankfully it gave out while I was carrying it, so only 3 toes got burned. The lower half just ripped open without any warning because the material had become brittle.
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u/Euristic_Elevator Italian in Bayern 1h ago
Just as a reference, the heating is still off in my house, there are 22°C and I am wearing socks, long trousers, tshirt and sweater. I am almost too warm. I use house shoes so that my feet don't get cold by walking on the floor. I have a really nice "four seasons" duvet and I just started using the lighter one a few days ago. I sleep with light cotton pajamas and the duvet. I know that it might not be obvious if you've never lived in a cold place, I remember that I had to explain to an Indian flatmate that he absolutely needed to buy a duvet when he first moved here. As other said, to keep yourself warm under the blankets/duvet if you are still cold you can use a hot water bottle
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u/Historical-Sort2480 19m ago
Do you drink enough water? Back pain is also a symptom if kidney issues. I am also from tropical region but my issue is feet . I gave leg and foot pain in winter because my blood circulation gets lower. I wear thick socks and two pants.
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u/Fluid-Quote-6006 2h ago
Try one of those sticky warm patches. I love them if I’m planing to be the whole day outside
Also, are you wearing the correct clothing? Layers? As little polyester as possible. Decathlon has some great merino wool underwear you could try. Just be sure to read about the materials so you don’t buy any polyester blend. That wont keep you warm
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u/Pure-Rose-Rainbow 2h ago
Old women wisedom here says to keep the kidney area warm. How you do it, is up to you but especially elders wear an undershirt. If you think it is already cold, you will need to prepare for the winter because most people here don't think it is really cold right now.