UGH... my back... No trail today...

KuRUpTD said:
Very good point ... If it was a full blown flare up I would be screwed :eek:
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I rarely go into the bush solo - but MAN it would be scary to not be able to move and be far away. My dog would probably leave me too ;)
 
myright said:
Thanks bro - I try to stay away from them, they make you feel good, but I don't remember much on them .:D

Some 120 minute IPA tonight will do the trick.
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WOW..big spender..I will stick to the 90 minute Dogfishhead..not tonight, but the 120 seems like a bitter pill to swallow:D
I suffer from pretty much constant back pain..it comes with the job. So I feel for you..when I have a loc-up..or spasm...I just stretch out, and try to puposefully relax..breath and focus.
 
myright said:
I rarely go into the bush solo - but MAN it would be scary to not be able to move and be far away. My dog would probably leave me too ;)
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Not before he marked you out as his territory:barf::D
 
myright,
These are my opinions only and I'm NOT a health professional. However, I am talking from age 75 and as one who was advised to undergo immediate back surgery while in the Army 40 plus years ago.

So here goes. For one, I did not opt for the surgery. I've pumped iron and been into martial arts and so on most of my life. When the agony from my first back seizure eased off, I'd had time to do a lot of thinking. What I came up with was to return to exercising but with a few changes. As an iron pumper I reasoned I probably knew a bit more about the body's anatomy and ways that it works a bit better than the average bear. My docs recommended all sorts of exercises but all of them were based on ways to stretch and strengthen the back. However!---the back, along with every other movable part of the body, functions and moves because of TWO opposed sets of muscles. In the case of the back, that means the actual back muscles which keep us straight and straighten us up. A lot of docs and others tend to overlook the equally important abdominal muscles which pull us over but also provide a huge amount of support for the back.

Accordingly, I went back to the iron but with very light routines to start and a lot more concentration on exercises to stretch and strengthen BOTH the back muscles AND the abdomen. I also got smarter---the too late old and too late smart thing--and schooled myself to NOT suddenly bend down for things and try heavy lifts and so on without thinking first. As time passed, I gained the ability to unconsciously tighten my abs for a bend over or other heavy exertion.

The result? I'm 75, in great muscular shape, no doctors, no surgery, no aches or pains, and very few limits on my physical activity. I regularly climb a 75 foot radio tower and two 60 foot phone poles I use for antennas, ride horses and cycles, hike, hunt, and serve as a special deputy with my local sheriff's dept. In other words, no physical limitations. I still pump iron (on a Bowflex) every other day for about 30 minutes and it's time well spent.

Bottom line. You can overcome 'flaky' discs and the muscle spasms that come with them. Try, really try, some varied back and abdominal exercise routines for at least a couple of months before considering surgery or other medical intervention.

My very best regards and I do know where you're coming from. Been there, done that. Old CW4
 
Myright,

When the pain is acute, heat and muscle stimuation (by PT) has been of some help. Mostly I have used Advil and occasionally some stronger pain meds.

Once the pain is down a bit then, +1 on the physical therapy and core strengthening. It makes a real difference.
If you have insurance, then they will pay most of the cost of at least a couple of sessions.

If you want some more information on the theory and the exercises, you can check out these two books:
Spinal Stabilization: The New Science of Back Pain By: Rick Jemmett
The Multifidus Back Pain Solution: Simple Exercises That Target the Muscles That Count By: Jim Johnson, Scott D. Boden
These books work on the idea that Old CW4 brought up that 2 opposed sets of muscles are important.

Be a little careful mixing the Advil and the IPA. The combo can do a real number on your stomach.

Feel better fast.
 
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gunknifenut said:
WOW..big spender..I will stick to the 90 minute Dogfishhead..not tonight, but the 120 seems like a bitter pill to swallow:D
I suffer from pretty much constant back pain..it comes with the job. So I feel for you..when I have a loc-up..or spasm...I just stretch out, and try to puposefully relax..breath and focus.
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It is expensive and is a tad bitter but I only got two bottles and that's all I drink in a year. I like the change.

I'm drinking Blue Moon right now.

Relaxing and focusing on posture and mechanics is one of the sure fire ways for me to get through these things.
 
Old CW4 - Thanks for the info. Like most ailments in life, exercise only helps and it's when I become less focused on my physical health that I have issues.

It's great to hear that you are 75 and as active as you are. There are millions of people half your age that probably wouldn't be able to keep up with you. My doctors began to talk about surgery but I put an end to that quickly. I won't go under the knife unless I can't walk.

I went the through the shots for a while, but I didn't think it was worth the time for the small amount of relief they gave me.

Sharp Eye thanks for the tips on the books. I must admit that I have not read much about my ailments which is probably not that smart. I've always relied on what the PT people and the docs had to say. I'll look into those books right away.

Yep - I try not to mix the two. Last night I did, but usually try not to. If I'm able to sit around the house and relax I try to not even take advil. I'm not against taking pain meds at all so don't get me wrong I just try not to take them. Percocet has gotten me out of plenty of painful moments :)
 
must be the moon phase or a bad star alignment - I just pulled my back a few hours ago picking up my 1-year-old. guess the little guy is getting bigger than i thought. last time i casually bend over to pick him up instead of squatting down to pick him up - i know, i know, lift with the legs not with the back.

first time i've ever thrown out my back like this - guess i'm lucky. it does remind you to be careful - injury like this in the backcountry would make getting home a long trail.

i'm downing a Hop Head red ale from Green Flash Brewing Co. and have taken more advil in the past couple hours than in the past year (four or five already) - cheers!
 
Guys, something else I should have mentioned for back spasms and pain. Freeze some paper cups full of water in the freezer. If/when you have a back spasm, have the significant other take one of the cups, peel some of the paper back to expose the ice, and rub it on your back in a gentle, ciircular motion over the painful area. It will feel cold as hell at first but will quickly start to feel like something red hot is burning you. As that point have the 'other' exchange the ice for a hot pad. When your back warms up, repeat. Do this a few times until the spasms stop and the back muscles relax. Apparently, the alternating hot/cold confuses the nerves in that area which forces the spasms to stop and the pain stops with them. An old doc taught me this trick when I had my problems years ago and it's amazing how well it works.
 
Well - I packed the kid up and went to a park where I could take a couple of short trails. It's a little chilly today ~ 40F and windy so I was pretty achy, but surprisingly the worst part was getting my boy in and out of the car. He was chilled out today so I was able to have in the jogging stroller the entire time (no baby bjorn thank god). We're back home and I feel much better than yesterday but still sore.

Wifey and I are off together tomorrow so, hopefully, we'll get out and about. I hate cabin fever.
 
Old CW4 said:
Guys, something else I should have mentioned for back spasms and pain. Freeze some paper cups full of water in the freezer. If/when you have a back spasm, have the significant other take one of the cups, peel some of the paper back to expose the ice, and rub it on your back in a gentle, ciircular motion over the painful area. It will feel cold as hell at first but will quickly start to feel like something red hot is burning you. As that point have the 'other' exchange the ice for a hot pad. When your back warms up, repeat. Do this a few times until the spasms stop and the back muscles relax. Apparently, the alternating hot/cold confuses the nerves in that area which forces the spasms to stop and the pain stops with them. An old doc taught me this trick when I had my problems years ago and it's amazing how well it works.
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I also do something similar to the above on the advice of my chiropractor. It does work.

I herniated the L4-L5 disc about 35 years ago while weight lifting (doing things I knew better than to do :() Fortunately, I do not suffer chronic pain. Every once in a while, I do something trivial, and I'm off work for a week or so.

Besides the hot/cold treatment, other things that work for me are:
-lots of walking (highly recommended by my chiropractor)
-hanging from a low hanging branch
-cat stretching kind of thingy
and something that worked very well was Tai Chi. (I have to get back {no pun} to it.)

Anyway, best of luck, as you can see by the many posts, you aren't alone bro! :(

Doc
 
Man, that is no fun! Hope all gets better soon.

I must admit that at age 24 I had a back op. Google rugby and you will understand ..... apart from a bad back, both knees are shot, nose broken 7 times and most all fingers broken at some stage, I am 100%

I support Old CW4 100% ...I opted to change my training program and at age 43, my medical insurance has lifted all restictions on back medicals ( Iam now 45)..... meaning in 21 years I have had exactly zero claims for back related injuries.

My training program is 3 days on and 1 day rest ..... irrespective of weekends ...I stick to that. Two days heavy lifting and I squat, dead lift and do all the things I was told will lead to new injuries. Third day is high intensity cardio, low impact which can be 60 minute spin class, 60 miles on a road bike or 40 miles on the MTB and every second weekend a 100 mile road race or 70 mile MTB race.

Downside is that I started ut at 60kg's (130 lbs) as I also ran ultra marathons ....I am now 217 lbs. That is a direct result of training addiction ;-)
 
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