Bad Back

[Scoop]

Anyone else have a bad back out there. Last year mine went out and I slept in a recliner for two months. My work was pretty good to me and let me work from home. After the first month, they wanted to take some more x-rays so I went into the doctor. It was so painful to walk that everyone in the clinic stared as I walked by. The nurse even tried to force me to use a wheel chair. That was last year. Unfortunately it is now a year later and I have already been to bed tonight and am back up. In a lot of pain and cannot sleep. The recliner I used last year was new and now is so broken down from living in it for two months that it does not help anymore. Every move I make, I wait for that one instant we all know about. The nerve pain. Last year it went out at 3:00 in the morning when I tried to get out of bed to go to the bathroom. I never did make it. I held it and kept trying to get out of bed until 9:00AM, when I finally peed in a bottle (the ultimate embarassment even if it was in my own house) At this point it the back going out is inevitable. It has been a month where the back has been acting up. I am about to go crazy with anticipation. <br /><br />Chiropractor = No help<br />Doctor = No help<br />Surgeon = "Yep there something wrong, I don't know what it is and can't help you." It took 2 months to get into see him.<br /><br />I am not looking for sympathy, jut want to know how many out there deal with the same thing.

 

[roscoe]

Re: Bad Back

I did a heave hoe to move something in a hurry back in 1981. Then went to wash up and bent over the sink and couldn't straighten up. Slumped to the floor and stayed there for 2 hours. Had to use the toilet which was only 2 feet away, but could not get there. <br /><br />Seemed to get better in a few weeks. But for 20 years all it took was a little twist and there it was. Fortunately only missed about 30 days work back in the 80's. I will have to say that it hasn't been too bad the last 5 years or so, just a chronic pain when I happen to strain it. Gets better in a couple days now.<br /><br /> Actually, it has been much better since I put on a few pounds. I'm 5'10", 200#, when I drop down to 180# or less, it seems to be more sensitive.<br /><br />Doc says it is a damaged ligament. When it gets strained, it causes some swelling which presses on a nerve. At waist line, 3 or 4 inches right of the spine. <br /><br />It helps me to sleep on a very very soft bed with egg crate foam on top. Also do some stretching BEFORE I get out of bed and have learned to tighten up all back and abdomen muscles when getting up or bending over. <br /><br />Got to keep those muscles built up so they can support the spine and prevent the mis-allignment that causes the injury. <br /><br />I also had a partial separation of shoulder and torn rotater cuff- really hurt like #%@&. Well it didn't heal right and I ended up protecting it and being real carefull for a year. Then one day I was caught off guard and arm got pulled and twisted unexpectedly (don't ask) POP - Crack. Sore for 2 days but the majority of the pain was gone.<br /><br />Actually, these 2 injuries are the reason I bought my latest boat. I needed elec start, power trim, and an easier loading trailer.<br /><br />Good Luck

 

[SpinnerBait_Nut]

Re: Bad Back

Scoop, I feel for you. I was lifting some bundles of papers a few years back, and made a twist with a bundle and I felt something give, but did not pay much attention to it at the time, but the next morning, I could not get out of bed. I had the wifey pooh take me to the hospital in the back of my cargo van where I could lay down flat. Could not set up. Crawled to the van. I had pinched the nerve between the 4th. and 5th. vertabra and the only thing that would fix it was to be cut on and I decided that was not for me so went to therapy for a while and it got a little better, but never healed. I still have to watch how I lift and how I fish. It never gets well and it's something I will have to live with the rest of my life. I would not wish a back injury on anyone.

 

[mellowyellow]

Re: Bad Back

hi Scoop,<br />the only thing that works (for me) is to hang upside down like a Bat <br />zero gravity... it stretches the spine out and<br />takes the pressure off.<br />hope it can help you also buddy!<br />be well,<br />M.Y.

 

[Scoop]

Re: Bad Back

Thanks guys. I am sorry you have problems too. I hurt mine back in 8th grade going off a spring board during gymnastics in Gym class. Back then, there were no spotters. I landed on my upper back and folded my lower back in half. I have had problems ever since. It would go out every 2 to 3 years. About 10 years ago it changed, it went out and I have had pain every day since, but you do get used to it. Ever since last year my stretches don't work any more. They actually make my back worse. I did find a way to get the broken down chair into a comfortable position and finally got a few hours sleep last night.<br /><br />Roscoe, It definitely seems everyones act differently. I know a couple people that disappear when they turn sideways and their back is almost as bad as mine. I am glad the weight has helped.<br /><br />I have a friend that had back surgery a year and a half ago. His second. After the surgery, he was still leaking spinal fluid for 3 months. they went back in. they opened up the skin an could see his spinal cord. Everything had opened back up. He still has a slight leakage. When you have leakage, you also get terrible headaches which he has had every day since on top of the back. I am glad I am not him. <br />If anyone else out there doesn't have back problems, I urge you to take care of your back. It is no fun and it does not go away.<br /><br />Unfortunately my wife also has a bad one from too many years in Archaeology.

 

[Tacklewasher]

Re: Bad Back

Hurt mine 11 years ago by sleeping for a week on a sofa bed. Just kinda went twang one morning and I could barely walk for a week.<br /><br />Now if it gets cold, I'm hooped for a week. And the wrong twist can set it off. I dropped 60 lbs this spring and that has seemed to help a lot as it didn't bug me all summer and I fished a bunch.<br /><br />My wifes back is more pretzel shaped then anything. She has pain a lot and is not carrying extra weight. She just isn't fixable.

 

[495v]

Re: Bad Back

My old man had severe back problems a few years back. He tried everything besides surgury. His wife, my stepmom, is even a chiropractic and she could not help. Finally, he went to have acupuncture done. He said 7 trips at $75 per trip, and it is almost completely gone. He has not had a problem since. He said this old asian man would stick needles in his back everywhere that it hurt(about 25 needles) and then would hook the needles up to a electric pulse machine. The guy would come back 45 minutes later, pull everything out, and ask him how he felt. My old man highly recommends it to people who suffer from back problems.

 

[Scoop]

Re: Bad Back

Thanks 495V. My wife has been trying to talk me into this. I am not a trusting person and don't like needles, but I have to do something. Since conventional medicine is not working. Losing some weight would help me too.

 

[ebbtide176]

Re: Bad Back

good info. i guess i'm lucky, only have the back horror about every 2 yrs. it started back in high school sports by getting clipped during football practice by my best friend... they had to break 2 smelling salts under my nose to bring me round.<br /><br />then a coach used me for an exhibition partner in wrestling camp (it irritates me so much i still think about going to visit him today). i was @ 113# he was @ 160# and messed up my shoulder too. but you know a teenager aint gonna cry uncle.<br /><br />my back goes out right between the shoulder blades. it put me outta work for 1.5days last time, couldn't hardly breathe til the chiropractor fixed it in 2 sessions. my pop suggested i stretch every morning, so most every morning i touch the floor and do left-right twists as far as possible- looking straight behind. it really helped me feel better. <br /><br />my neck goes out alittle more often, like right now i can't look up. got it from a terrible car accident in high school. but all in all, i can't complain i can still walk & talk & fish

 

[Scooby]

Re: Bad Back

Hey all,<br /> I feel your pain Scoop, I blew out my L4/L5/S1 a few years back in the navy while flying, they literally had to carry me out of the plane. Navy doctors could do nothing so they discharged me after twelve faithful years. Since then I have been through everything you can imagine except surgery, they want too / I don't. I have had friends cut on and always end up worse after a couple of years. I live in pain and just deal with it, I know it sucks but there really is nothing for them to do. They want to install a Morphine pump in my back but after researching this option I declined for now. Seems pain killers and a stiff belt work when it's totally unbearable but we all know that's not the answer but when your in that pain that you just cannot describe to anyone - well you know. My doctor wants to try some sort of nerve cryrofreeze so I guess I'll look into this too. I still work but had to opt for a desk job, easy work but it's not for me. Sure makes it hard to work on the boats when your in pain and have to ask friends to lift a manifold or something. Hang in there and just keep griting your teeth.

 

[Scoop]

Re: Bad Back

Thanks GT, I am sorry to hear that there are more out there. I do know three people that have had good luck with surgery. the first one was good for 14 years, but he is an iron worker and is the one that needed the second surgery because of the injuries while on the job, Now the insurance company is messing with him. My sister could not do anything for 3 months except cry at every move. Her surgery went well. Also another friend had the surgery after being treated by a psychiatrist because of the pain and anticipation. All are doing well even the guy with the second surgery is back to work. It definitely should be a last choice. My sister said they don;t want to do surgery until you are in bad pain al the time because then it reduces the pain and it is seen as a good thing. it is not a miracle by any means. Sounds like you have it bad. They don't offer a morphine pump to just anyone.

 

[crab bait]

Re: Bad Back

man, i can relate.. <br /><br />back in '88 i fell off a 10 foot ladder in a sittin' position an 'vee'd' myself bettween a wall & the ladder... <br />i compression fractured L-1 ,L-2, & T-12<br />they put me in a jewitt brace for 4 months..<br /><br />i had a bad back before hand.. now this<br /><br />i use to slip-out at least once a year & look like i was 'pocessd' the way i get so twisted.. 'bout a week,, i'd start commin' out of it..<br /><br />what don't help...<br /><br />stretchin',, excercise,, pills[ I HATE DOPE !!! ] family doctor.. no hang from legs ..!! ['bout blew a vessle in my head] <br /><br />what does help...<br /><br />rock hard bed,, chiropractor [ there not all the same ],, layin' stomach /front over a roll of carpet or some facimmily there of [ helps BIG TIME ],, hangin' by arms ,, [ better if'n you get a small kid to sit on your feet an wrap arms around your legs for extra weight ] <br />BUT LAST BUT NOT least... NATURE'S FINEST ESSENTIALS.. a bottle spray that someone turned me on to.. it's eucalyptus oil soy oil dromiceius oil [emu oil] clove oiol aloe lavevder oil & peppermint oil.. THAT'S IT..!!!<br /><br />an let me tell you's all....<br /><br />i cannot say enuff about this stuff ..!!<br />it's an absolute miracale to me .. <br />i've used it twice a day for a year an six months ago i'm totally pain free.. !!!!<br /><br />i haven't seen a chiropractor since.. before once a week for gobs of years..<br /><br />this stuff gets crab baits HIGHEST stamp of approval.. IT REALLY REALLY WORKS FOR ME ... <br /><br />dist.by DM international sales inc. box 1251 columbia ,md 21044 . phone 1-877-391-5924<br /><br />$ 30.00 a bottle .. 3 for $60.00 [ i got]<br /><br />an i still got a full bottle left..<br /><br />tell 'em CRABBY sent ya...

 

[Fishbusters]

Re: Bad Back

Okay bad back I got with 3 fused verterbra to boot. Bad knee I got with ocasional hip discomfort too. Usually i can just get up and get moving and make it one more day w/o help. Sometimes i use my children to pick things up off the floor at home because by the end of the day if if falls I usually will say screw it it can stay. I sleep on one of those craftmatic adjustable beds and usually move it depending upon what hurst and how bad from a flat to legs up to even a cradled(recliner) type position. It does help and usually by morning I feel good enough to get up and face another day. I have learned all the pain pills you can take don't help the pain just dull the receptors in the brain to it. Usually they dull the whole brain so i can't take them especially while working. But on days like this morning (see tow truck post) I need one just to tie my own shoes (which thank God the wife will do when she realizes I am in pain). I have learned I can live through pain and cause it to not hurt as bad by just concentrating on other things and mentally blocking the pain but not everyone can do that.

 

[roscoe]

Re: Bad Back

But crab bait,, how does that spray work as a fish attractant??<br /><br />You guys all seem to have very serious pain compared to me. I pray I will never know what you are dealing with daily. When I hurt mine, the pain was bad enough that it wouldn't let me move, thankfully all my subsequent "re-injuries" have been quick healing and not incapacitating.<br /><br />Good Luck to all.

 

[DJ]

Re: Bad Back

Scoop,<br /><br />I have had back problems since age sixteen-football injury.<br /><br />I finally got mine under control about five years ago. I switched to an air mattress (Select Comfort).<br /><br />Contrary to popular belief, firm mattresses are not good for back concerns-your recliner proves that. I can stay in a hotel for two nights and have pains come back.

 

[sony2001]

Re: Bad Back

I've been there too Scoop. It gave me the most pain that I have ever felt in my life. It's well under control now. It was a herniated disc. If it comes on slowly then I do specific exercises to right it. If it's a sudden crippling attack then the only relief is an anti inflamatory drug by Searle called Arthotec (50 mg). Followed by the exercises when the crisis is disapating. The exercises are very very important. They tune up the spinal column. Get all the muscles working with the SAME tension. A phsyiotherapist named France gave them to me and she was right on. Also I researched on my own an exercise called the the PELVIC TILT from which these manipulations are done. What did your Xrays show?

 

[Scoop]

Re: Bad Back

JB, I have a select Comfort 7000. It is the bed that got me out of the recliner last year. I could no longer sleep in my other bed. It has not helped lately and I have moved back to the reclined for part of the nights. Staying in a motel is bad. My heating pad helps and I take that whenever I travel. <br /><br />Sony, X-rays show nothing. HMO will not pay for an MRI. Surgeon says he does not know what it is because it exhibits signs of disk and sacro-illiac joint. Disk spacing on the x-ray has always been fine. Arthritic lipping is extremely minimal. My suspicion is Sacro-illiac joint which is something there really is not treatment for. The last couple days, It has been a little better. I have tried taking a powerful anti-inflammatory I have for another ailment. Either the back is getting better or the anti-inflammatory is helping out. 800mG of Ibuprophen has not helped at all.<br />After hearing from the rest of you guys, I am feeling lucky.

 

[sony2001]

Re: Bad Back

Scoop the Arthotec is not over the counter. It's powerfull stuff that has to be taken with a meal. My mother takes it for severe arthritis so I asked the specialist for my own perscription. After the pain is gone do gentle flexing spinal column exercises to keep the musales in shape. It sounds like a mascular problem.