Can lower back pain cause shingles? I have had heated pads on my strained muscle.

Lower back pain can't cause shingles as it is cause by a reactivation of the chicken pox virus.

You may read about Postherpetic neuralgia but that describes nerve pain left behind after a shingles infection.

However, the tense muscles that cause a painful back can interfere with blood supply to the legs and the nerves that carry the messages to the muscles, resulting in tingling, numbness or painful sensations.

Gentle mobility exercises are your best friend here.

Don't let the muscles remain locked in one position for too long. Here are some to try that take just 5 minutes a day:

  -   sit-ups need only involve raising the shoulders off the floor, not the entire upper body. 10-20 a day to begin should really help. To help work the lower abdominal muscles, leave the shoulders on the floor, place you hand palms-down on the floor beside your hips and raise a leg 6" from the floor. Hold for a count of 5. Repeat 5-10 times and improve to both legs raised over time.

  -  hamstring stretches are important if you've noticed that you bend from the middle of the back rather than the lower. Tight hamstrings pull on the lower spine and don't let it bend. Sit on the floor with one leg outstretched and grab hold of some part of the leg below the knee. Hold for a count of 10. Relax a little and try to hold the leg a little lower, perhaps just an inch. Hold for 10 again. To stretch the lower hamstring, point the toes of the outstretched leg towards you. Repeat on the other side.

  -  just like Jane Fonda, stand well and swivel from the hips from side to side, looking somewhat rearward each time. Try this for a minute at a time unless you get dizzy, in which case, try a succession of 30 seconds.

Don't perform any of the exercises to the point where they themselves cause pain. A slight pulling sensation on the stretched muscle is all that needs to be held for the count.

When sitting for long periods, pop a rolled towel behind your lower back to prevent it slumping.

The mineral magnesium is helpful for tight muscles and reducing pain perception and our Devils Claw tablets are licensed for lower back pain.
I hope this all helps

Best wishes

Earle