I don't know if these are ok for a person with back problems but this is what I found:

http://www.thaifoodandtravel.com/features/crackcoc.html

http://www.thaifoodandtravel.com/features/crackcocsh.html

http://www.bestplaceshawaii.com/tips/big_kahuna/coconut.html

http://wiki.ehow.com/Cut-Open-a-Coconut

Each coconut has 3 brown circles on the top - One of these is always soft and you can pierce it with scissors to get the water out. To smash the shell, put the coconut in a couple of plastic supermarket bags and drop onto a concrete floor. It breaks easily and safely.

I read an email from a woman who had GREAT health improvement from drinking coconut WATER whilst on holiday in Brazil. But after talking to a Brazilian friend last week I understand this is the water from GREEN (unripe) coconuts (which are mostly water as the flesh is undeveloped) and these provide the greatest boost to health.

I found my local supermarket sold the brown ones so I bought lots - drank the water, ate the flesh and made coconut milk. Delicious! and made me feel fantastic. Coconuts are full of nutrients plus the bonus of caprylic acid (against candida). I did this for 2 months.

Problem was I developed a food sensitivity to them. I started to get excema at the backs of my knees. Then I got a sore on my Bum ( I thought it was piles but it didn't make sense as I was doing normal BMs at the time). I stopped eating coconut and the sore went immediately.

Would be interested to know if anyone else has a reaction to coconut?? It's a great shame because eating it made me feel energetic and happy!!