severe back pain

[JamesM]

I'm down to 195. Sciatica is gone sorta. Yes it is.

I was 240 last december. So lost 50 pounds the past year.

it is what it is. I have to get to 185.

 

[JamesM]

good for the back.

 

[kennyboy]

Hows it hanging man?

Whats the latest??

Had my MRI in November. L4 L5 discs are messed. I was doing much better for a while and was almost feeling human again other than some mild pain.

And then this week the back got tweaked and now I'm in bad shape. And this morning as I was getting ready to head out I must have moved the wrong way and I felt a pop in my lower spine. And now I'm in bed and can't really walk or stand. And the pain is off the scale at times. Not good.

 

[praktik]

Had my MRI in November. L4 L5 discs are messed. I was doing much better for a while and was almost feeling human again other than some mild pain.

And then this week the back got tweaked and now I'm in bad shape. And this morning as I was getting ready to head out I must have moved the wrong way and I felt a pop in my lower spine. And now I'm in bed and can't really walk or stand. And the pain is off the scale at times. Not good.

Ouch! Once you get out of this you need to get two things in order:

A) Back Spidey Sense (listen to what your back is saying so you can take action in days when you are vulnerable and not get tweaked - that means working from home, not going out, more stretching, ice and hot baths)

B) routine that keeps you strong enough not to be vulnerable

I have not conquered my back pain. I have hours of work every day, discomfort and I miss out on stuff.

But I haven't been laid out, horribly hurt, out of commission, since my last relapse in 2010, and time before that was like 2002

 

[praktik]

So what's the latest kennyboy?

You got the right caretakers helping you?

 

[kennyboy]

Some days are better than others but the pain never goes away. Just goes from bad to worse.

I have a consult with a Dr next week to get assessed and review MRI results. At that point we will look at my options including potential surgery. I'm hoping he can give me a recommended course of treatment that gets me back to some state or normal that does not involve surgery.

I'll update next week after the consultation.

 

[praktik]

Ok 36 inch trigger point core foam roller is my new fave thing

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Really amazing tool to get at upper back knots which have been murder on me last 6 months, i am getting alignment benefits too, lots of good cracks in the upper back as things snap into place! Also good for legs and hips. Be careful in low back. 36 inch version let's you rest vertically with your spine against the whole thing safely.

Also just helps some of my yoga by giving me new points of leverage and support in some positions.

I was depressed and thinking I needed constant masseur visits, but this will maintain my independence!!

Still I am now needing something a bit more aggressive to go to sometimes. I have this bad boy on order, coming in two weeks!

Waveblade Sports Roller

Can't wait!!

 

[Bernnie Federko]

I'd recommend seeing a chiropractor or osteopath, or someone at a sports clinic

I also Recommend a foam or trigger point roller (but being mindful to be cautious)

I use this every day. Gym, or no.

 

[praktik]

I use this every day. Gym, or no.

Shoulda listened back in October, just had back problems morph to place where a foam roller was absolutely needed!

I just couldn't get my knots. One night a few weeks ago the knots were like so aching I had a bad sleep!

Now they are subsiding the more and more I use it.

 

[JamesM]

I'm at 190 now. My optimal weight is 180. No back issues! 60 pounds lost in a year how did that happen? I've had a problem with weight gain along the way.

I've only went overweight twice in 20 years. Then I was like no way. get that shit done.

Then back problems go away with it.

 

[JamesM]

Kind of feeling light, and free again!

 

[Charlie476]

Once I read a book about osteochondrosis (which is the most common ailment that causes pain in the back). I learned that the best way to prevent osteochondrosis is simply walking. I was surprised at the same time, that everything is so simple and naturally conceived by nature ))

 

[praktik]

Once I read a book about osteochondrosis (which is the most common ailment that causes pain in the back). I learned that the best way to prevent osteochondrosis is simply walking. I was surprised at the same time, that everything is so simple and naturally conceived by nature ))

Walking is good, but not sufficient on its own

Take it from someone who walked a TON to get at his back!

Over the years its really been about finding the right program of strengthening to build core safely and stretching to keep loose and out of trouble - knowing exactly what things to do when you feel a bit tighter or feel a pain can be very hard, and my program was cobbled together across a series of chiros and physios each of whom contributed pieces to the program over 15 years.

Simple advice that sounds snappy is a good way to sell diets, but shouldn't be offered on health issues which are more complex and deserve a complex answer.

"Walking it off" really isnt enough!

 

[NemIsis]

Hey all! It's been a while.

I've come to all-knowing Tribe to ask about mattresses, especially those that are good for herniated discs. My current bed is no longer comfortable, and I need something better. I've already been told to avoid memory foam by a mattress expert in the US. He prefers latex, but in a hybrid (not a full latex bed). I'm about to purchase a Beautyrest White Label Kensington, and it isn't cheap.

Any recommendations? I know every back is different but if you've found a mattress that works with your back issues and has longevity, I'd love to hear about it. I can't mess this up. It's gotten worse, and I have an appt. to see a neurosurgeon.

So, any suggestion? I'm looking at firm (not hard firm, it will have a latex pillowtop). What works best for you?

 

[Bernnie Federko]

Huge fan of our king size firm coil spring from Marshall that we got a couple years ago (canadian made & manufactured up near downsview - pop into the Bay at Yonge & queen, they carry a line of theirs in house if interested)

Hey all! It's been a while.

I've come to all-knowing Tribe to ask about mattresses, especially those that are good for herniated discs. My current bed is no longer comfortable, and I need something better. I've already been told to avoid memory foam by a mattress expert in the US. He prefers latex, but in a hybrid (not a full latex bed). I'm about to purchase a Beautyrest White Label Kensington, and it isn't cheap.

Any recommendations? I know every back is different but if you've found a mattress that works with your back issues and has longevity, I'd love to hear about it. I can't mess this up. It's gotten worse, and I have an appt. to see a neurosurgeon.

So, any suggestion? I'm looking at firm (not hard firm, it will have a latex pillowtop). What works best for you?

 

[praktik]

Give the dormeos a try, we got one and quite like it

 

[alexd]

I was diagnosed with degenerative disk disease about 8 years ago and was getting a lot of pain and reduced range of motion. I changed beds a few times and found that eventually, for me, it was the pillow that was the problem. Not using a pillow made virtually all my symptoms go away. Just like that. I don't have complete range of motion back but it's very close.

 

[swarmtoes]

try yoga, acupuncture or go to a chiropractor

 

[Bernnie Federko]

I can also recommend seeing an Osteopath.

 

[praktik]

Think I aggravated my sciatic doing some pelvic thrusting. Just generally tight butt muscles - piriformis is pulling on the nerve.

Into high gear with applications of heat/cold, walking (keeping my distance and finding places and times without a lot of people), various butt and leg and back stretches using the teeter a lot and some naproxen.

Curtailing the naproxen 5 days in and sleeping fine - just feels like extra tightness in some positions now.

So any time your sciatic is yelling at you it can be nerve wracking - but feeling like this is situational and almost a side effect of strengthening routines and lack of good butt stretching last few months - not so much related to when I felt my bulging discs were the culprit - low back is a bit stiff but feeling ok generally. Thats good news cause when I was 20 and 30 i had sciatic shit that took 6-7 months to recover from. Doesn't feel like the same path - but still - turning 40 this year so doing my best to not make the sciatic a 10 Year Curse!

 

[Bernnie Federko]

Think I aggravated my sciatic doing some pelvic thrusting. Just generally tight butt muscles - piriformis is pulling on the nerve.

Into high gear with applications of heat/cold, walking (keeping my distance and finding places and times without a lot of people), various butt and leg and back stretches using the teeter a lot and some naproxen.

Curtailing the naproxen 5 days in and sleeping fine - just feels like extra tightness in some positions now.

So any time your sciatic is yelling at you it can be nerve wracking - but feeling like this is situational and almost a side effect of strengthening routines and lack of good butt stretching last few months - not so much related to when I felt my bulging discs were the culprit - low back is a bit stiff but feeling ok generally. Thats good news cause when I was 20 and 30 i had sciatic shit that took 6-7 months to recover from. Doesn't feel like the same path - but still - turning 40 this year so doing my best to not make the sciatic a 10 Year Curse!

I've had great results using techniques from this vid... I've had chronic issues that have been released after a spine fracture in '98, hockey and squash injuries, gym shit, etc...