Please Pity Me... and offer me advice [Archive]

PapaBear

03-25-2006, 07:05 PM

Ever since Thursday I've been experiencing extreme lower back pain. This happens to me several times a year and has for at least 20 years. It's worse than usual this time. I've missed 2 and half days of work, and I can hardly stand long enough to make a sandwich (much less, dinner for my family).For the last two days, I've taken loads of Vicodin and Skelaxin, and have been using a heating pad, but it's doing absolutely NO GOOD. I can sit for a while, and lay down, but walking and standing is out of the question. Sucks not having health insurance!!!I'm done whining now. Thanks.<img height="346" src="http://www.apta.org/AM/Images/APTAIMAGES/ContentImages/ptandbody/back/man-with-back-pain.gif" width="250" border="0" />

FezPaul

03-25-2006, 07:15 PM

Try and scrounge up some money for a chiropractor, I was in the same boat a few years ago, I actually had to be carried to my car to get home on day, but after a few visits my back hasn't bothered me since.

Alice S. Fuzzybutt

03-25-2006, 07:17 PM

I agree with FezPaul. Go a chiroprator. If you don't have the funds they usually work with you and offer a sliding scale.

mdr55

03-25-2006, 07:17 PM

Just be grateful you aren't a horse. Otherwise the walk back to the barn would be your last one.

PapaBear

03-25-2006, 07:21 PM

I've been thinking about the chiropractor route. If it's not considerably better by Monday, I may have no other choice. By the way... isn't Vicodin at least supposed to make you feel "good"? Damn stuff doesn't do a thing for me. Maybe all that coke I did years ago ruined it for me.

Alice S. Fuzzybutt

03-25-2006, 07:24 PM

Maybe all that coke I did years ago ruined it for me.Probably. They say that alcoholics don't respond to most pain killers because of all the alcohol use. I'd imagine it's the same for drug users.

tele7

03-25-2006, 07:34 PM

I think the same thing happened to me about a 3 years ago.  I was just folding laundry, them Bam!  I could barely get in the shower.  I made it to work with my car seat almost fully reclined.  The pain was so unreal, I just went home.  After a few days it went away, but has returned a few times since.This might sound crazy, but at the time I was playing "medal of honor" for ps2 while sitting on the floor for long lengths of time.  I noticed a direct connection whenever I played that damn game, my lower back felt like a knife was going into it. I used that icy/hot patch.  It was icy and hot...but did'nt work.  Meds did'nt help much either.  For me, I just try to be more active and work out once and a while. Everthing has been fine since.  Felt your pain, good luck.

KC2OSO

03-25-2006, 07:36 PM

I feel your pain man.  I collapsed a disc about 8 years ago and
had to go for the operation to have it fixed.  If you can avoid
the operation - do.  Chiropracters, like other folks said, seem to
be the way to go.One thing I did find though was that geeping my gut from getting too big definately helped keep the pain down. Hope you feel better.

PapaBear

03-25-2006, 07:41 PM

My gut is too big and I don't get enough exercise. You can stop pitying me. I'm my own worst enemy. Oh, to be the svelte bike racer I once was...

Alice S. Fuzzybutt

03-25-2006, 08:10 PM

I feel your pain. I used to run half marathons.Now I'm just fat.

sr71blackbird

03-25-2006, 08:27 PM

Once I got a severe spasm and went to the hospital and they gave me an injection in my hip and it went away, I swear to God, in minutes.  Usually its because of tension as a result of hamstrings.  If you can stretch your hamstrings, (say by extending your legs in front of you if your seated, and pulling back with your toes) you can help by redcing that strain.  (Obviously Im not a Doctor, and am only saying what works for me..)  McKenzie excercises also helped me.  Some of them are almost like doing a push-up, where you use your arms to help arch your chest off the floor while you point your chin at the ceiling.  Your pelvis needs to stay on the floor.  Like so:<img height="200" src="http://www.fitnessgenerator.com/images/exercises/McKenzie%20Press-up.gif" width="200" border="0" />Here is a link :  <a href="http://images.google.com/imgres?imgurl=http://www.easyvigour.net.nz/fitness/pilatessketches/MckenzieExt2.gif&imgrefurl=http://www.easyvigour.net.nz/fitness/h_MckenzieExt.htm&h=147&w=545&sz=5&tbnid=7YUfpM15oeOduM:&tbnh=35&tbnw=130&hl=en&start=22&prev=/images%3Fq%3Dmckenzie%2Bexercises%26start%3D20%26s vnum%3D10%26hl%3Den%26lr%3D%26sa%3DN" target="_blank">McKenzie</a>

suggums

03-25-2006, 08:43 PM

Alice S. Fuzzybutt wrote: Maybe all that coke I did years ago ruined it for me. Probably. They say that alcoholics don't respond to most pain killers because of all the alcohol use. I'd imagine it's the same for drug users. <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AXkoEzyP5cE">i disagree.</a>at least you can laugh papa 

This message was edited by suggums on 3-26-06 @ 12:43 AM

PapaBear

03-25-2006, 08:48 PM

Are you saying the great Liza Minelli did drugs? FOR SHAME!!!<img src="http://www.ronfez.net/messageboard/tiny_mce/plugins/emotions/images/nono.gif" border="0" />

Mike Teacher

03-25-2006, 08:52 PM

PapaBear wrote: My gut is too big and I don't get enough exercise. You can stop pitying me. I'm my own worst enemy. Oh, to be the svelte bike racer I once was... Losing the weight for me un-crippled me. The guy on the left is red-faced and sweaty standing still. Cracking knuckles got me winded. 20 minutes of walking and the back pain was unbearable, waddling back to my car, I finally got sick and tired of being sick and tired; four years ago last week. 360 to 215...<img src="http://members.aol.com/miketeachr/ft2006a" border="0" />

tele7

03-25-2006, 08:52 PM

<img src="http://www.wclynx.com/burntofferings/wartime_camel.jpg" border="0" />Liza has the Camel laugh.

This message was edited by telecaster7 on 3-26-06 @ 12:53 AM

Gvac

03-25-2006, 09:30 PM

Like others have said, exercise and proper posture are very important for the lower back muscles.  I'm in a truck all day and sit with the seat at a 90 degree angle.  Guys who drive with the seat in an almost reclining position always complain about back pain, and I don't wonder why.Another big reason for muscle ache, though, is dehydration.  If you drink a lot of caffeine or alcohol and don't drink tons of water you're doing to dehydrate yourself.  Stiffness and muscle pain are the first signs.

PapaBear

03-25-2006, 09:34 PM

You might be right about the seat position. I deliver pizza. I don't recline the seat much, but it's definitely not 90 degrees. I drink plenty of water, so that shouldn't be a problem. I had no idea I'd get so much good advice. I'm glad I posted this. Thanks, Buddays!

tele7

03-25-2006, 09:49 PM

In the year of '39 assembled here the Volunteers In the days when lands were few Here the ship sailed out into the blue and sunny morn The sweetest sight ever seen. And the night followed dau And the story tellers day That the score brave souls inside For many a lonely day sailed across the milky seas Ne'er looked back, never feared, never cried. Don't you hear my call though you're many years away Don't you hear me calling you Write your letters in the sand For the day I take your hand In the land that our grandchildren knew. In the year of '39 came a ship in from the blue The volunteers came home that day And they bring good news of a world so newly born Though their hearts so heavily weigh For the earth is old and grey, to a new home we'll away But my love this cannot be For so many years have gone though I'm older but a year Your mother's eyes in your eyes cry to me. Don't you hear my call though you're many years away Don't you hear me calling you All the letters in the sand cannot heal me like your hand For my life Still ahead Pity Me.

Billy Staples

03-25-2006, 10:34 PM

From what I have heard and through personal scientific field research....vicodin will still affect you even if you have a past drug use or an alcoholic.If you are still active, definitely work...if you are clean, you may have a slightly higher tolerance. You should make sure every doc and anesthesiologist knows for your won good.I love chiropractors, but i found out recently through some bad news not for me thank God, that if you have a disc problem int he lower area, a slippage forward, Chiro adjustments can make it worse, much worse.  If the adjust your sacrum of L5-S1 area, it can cause serious damage if they don't know. they can still do neck and hips and everywhere else....and your back as long as that isn't the problem, so make sure they x-ray first

Bulldogcakes

03-26-2006, 04:58 AM

With the money you spend on pills, you could schedule regular visits to a chiropractor. Most are about $50 a session. And if you do it on a regular basis (2-3 times a week) it can be resolved in about a month. Often times its muscular (I've had that many times) Can you get someone to do the George Jefferson routine and walk on your back? That deep massaging action helps alot too. They also tell you NOT to stay in bed. The more you move, the faster it gets better. I know thats tough, I've had it where I couldn't walk when I got out of bed. But I did eventually, and the more I walked the better I felt. Actually, when I sat down, getting back up was the biggest problem. Good luck Bro.

Bulldogcakes

03-26-2006, 05:10 AM

<img width="269" height="350" border="0" src="http://www.woca.com/images/Rush2.jpg" />"Be careful with those pills, papa"

FUNKMAN

03-26-2006, 06:23 AM

i've known several people who have sworn by accupuncture. a friend said they cured his tennis elbow by placing needles in his knee and cured other ailments such as bad headaches and bad stress...only thing is it's not covered under medical insurance 'as far as i know'

trackstand

03-26-2006, 07:56 AM

Anti-imflamatory steroids.I was back to normal after 2 days after not even being able to feel my feet or hands for 2 weeks due to numbness.Down side is water retention, thus weight gain.You'll need to pay up to see a doctor or try a free clinic.I know they exist.

DJEvelEd

03-26-2006, 08:20 AM

If you have a serious disc problem and no insurance, you get can involved in free clinical studies. Depending upon your problem, you may qualify for free treatments. If you have a disc problem that requires fusion you can try message boards like backpain.com or ADRsupport.org. They offer alternatives to fusion which is something I would NEVER do to my spine. I'm getting an artificial disc this summer because my back pain is so bad. I have disc degeneration & herniation at L4-L5. I've been on Oxycontin for 2 1/2 years and can't wait for my operation.Dr. Yue of Conn is enrolling people for clinical studies if you have no ins. That is for disc replacement though. Find out what your problem is first but if you need disc replacement or fusion, now is the time to get into the free clinical studies.

WhistlePig

03-26-2006, 10:37 AM

I started going to a massage therapist who does deep tissue work about a year ago
and go every two weeks. I haven't had any serious back pain since. This therapy
really keeps the muscles loose in between sessions. I also got an inversion table
which helps--you hang upside down a few times a week and it stretches the back
and separates the vertabrae. Good luck, PB! I know how debilitating back pain can
be.

UnknownPD

03-26-2006, 03:08 PM

you could schedule regular visits to a chiropractor. Most are about $50 a session. And if you do it on a regular basis (2-3 times a week) it can be resolved in about a month.  or you could see a real Doctor, heal and avoid months of questionable treatment 

This message was edited by UnknownPD on 3-26-06 @ 7:09 PM

EliSnow

03-26-2006, 03:15 PM

sr71blackbird wrote: Once I got a severe spasm and went to the hospital and they gave me an injection in my hip and it went away, I swear to God, in minutes.  Usually its because of tension as a result of hamstrings.  If you can stretch your hamstrings, (say by extending your legs in front of you if your seated, and pulling back with your toes) you can help by redcing that strain.  (Obviously Im not a Doctor, and am only saying what works for me..)  McKenzie excercises also helped me.  Some of them are almost like doing a push-up, where you use your arms to help arch your chest off the floor while you point your chin at the ceiling.  Your pelvis needs to stay on the floor.  Like so:<img height="200" src="http://www.fitnessgenerator.com/images/exercises/McKenzie%20Press-up.gif" width="200" border="0" />Here is a link :  <a href="http://images.google.com/imgres?imgurl=http://www.easyvigour.net.nz/fitness/pilatessketches/MckenzieExt2.gif&imgrefurl=http://www.easyvigour.net.nz/fitness/h_MckenzieExt.htm&h=147&w=545&sz=5&tbnid=7YUfpM15oeOduM:&tbnh=35&tbnw=130&hl=en&start=22&prev=/images%3Fq%3Dmckenzie%2Bexercises%26start%3D20%26s vnum%3D10%26hl%3Den%26lr%3D%26sa%3DN" target="_blank">McKenzie</a>As someone who has had lower back pains for about 15 years, I agree with this stretch.  Also, use plenty of moist heat to the back.

FUNKMAN

03-26-2006, 03:16 PM

Also, use plenty of moist heat to the back.ESD should be able to help...

PapaBear

03-26-2006, 03:29 PM

FUNKMAN wrote:  Also, use plenty of moist heat to the back.  ESD should be able to help...Not until after Easter.

Billy Staples

03-27-2006, 01:52 PM

If you have a lower back problem and tightness, this is the exact opposite of what you should be doing.  try a figure 4, lie on your back, knees bent. bring one leg's ankle to opposite knee and with both hands pull down gently on knee toward your shuolder...repeat it both sides times for count of 10....do not to that thing up there, that will only herniate a disc moreThink about the logic.  if a disc is sticking out to the back,its cause the vertebrae is pushing down on in and forcing the nucleus of the disc, the gooey part out the back of the vertebrae.  doing that only will push the vertebrae down more and worsen it...IMO Try also the snatch (HA HA) lie on your back and just lift your hips as high as you can to the ceining...kind of a stripper move....it tightens the muscles which are the real problems when vertebrae go astray, as they tighten and knot and make trigger points trying to correct the bones out of place<img height="200" src="http://www.fitnessgenerator.com/images/exercises/McKenzie%20Press-up.gif" width="200" border="0" />

FezPaul

03-27-2006, 02:37 PM

UnknownPD wrote:  you could schedule regular visits to a chiropractor. Most are about $50 a session. And if you do it on a regular basis (2-3 times a week) it can be resolved in about a month.  or you could see a real Doctor, heal and avoid months of questionable treatment This message was edited by UnknownPD on 3-26-06 @ 7:09 PM Many "real" Doctors now offer Chiropractic treatment as part of their services.