in: PBricker; PBricker > 2006-11-11;
| # Posted 2006-11-13 02:37:27 | |
| Charlie: | Hi Phil: I am on my 4th day of this and the first without a walking stick just to get to the kitchen. Sounds like you are in similar straits. Last night I slept on the floor, which helped some. Ordinarily I would find the floor too uncomfortable to sleep on, but it feels pretty good now. Walking around is pretty bad, because my extreme bent over position adds stress to an already intolerable situation. I am using a heating pad that vibrates in my office chair, which improves my mood. |
| # Posted 2006-11-13 09:23:32 | |
| PBricker: | Comrade in misery! The muscle relaxant (carisoprodol, aka soma) along with a heating pad seems to have helped some: at least I'm walking upright and unaided again, but very sore and stiff. Sleep is indeed the biggest problem: if tonight is anything like last night, I may have to seek something harder. In fact, I worry that giving in to Margi's choice of a "pillowtop' mattress when we purchased one a couple of months ago may have contributed to my back troubles. It's a delicate balance.
Last time I had a serious, long-term back problem - about ten years ago - I think swimming helped a lot with my rehabilitation, with strengthening my lower back. (Unfortanately, I don't really much like swimming.) But I'm still a ways away from being able to think about doing that, or anything else. |
| # Posted 2006-11-13 14:48:35 | |
| Charlie: | Swimming is good exercise, but I wouldn't jump into it too soon. It is also pretty stressful on the lower back and might slow the initial healing process. Sounds like you are doing better than I am. I am on day 5 and still substantially bent over. My forward lean has been reduced however, by two nights of sleeping on the floor. Just the initial experience of lying on the floor is pretty good. It takes a few seconds for my back to release enough to lie flat, and that feels pretty good when it happens.
Anyway, I'm not crazy about swimming, but I like it ok. I'm not going to do it until I can walk without discomfort, though. |
| # Posted 2006-11-13 19:49:35 | |
| PBricker: | Last night's "sleep" set me back some: I'm upright, but little pushes and pulls on my back lead to pain, and the feeling that it's giving out. I'll need to try a harder surface tonight. Not sure what an 8 hour day at work, mostly at the computer, will do to it.
No swimming until it's totally out of spasm. First exercise might be stationary bike, since it's possible to hold the back motionless, resting arms on the handlebars, and just work the legs. Good luck! |
| # Posted 2006-11-13 20:11:58 | |
| Charlie: | I thought I might try the stationary bike later today - very gingerly. Definitely try lying on the floor if you can. I am finding I get some relief from it. It also helps to lie on my stomach on the floor and very gently try to push up on my elbows, even an inch or two.
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| # Posted 2006-11-14 16:17:21 | |
| cmorse: | Boy you guys are in sorry shape. Hope you are both feeling better soon. I don't know if its karma or not, but I just happened across a reference to the book:
'Treat Your Own Back' by Robin McKenzie while looking some info up on a cycling forum. It seems to be fairly well regarded. I've been having some nagging lower back issues (not like yours, but still worrisome) so I may try to locate a copy of this book to peruse - more to prevent anything worse in my case as I won't have J-J to pry me off the floor... Just figured I'd pass along the info in case it might be of use in your cases. |
| # Posted 2006-11-14 21:24:32 | |
| PBricker: | Thanks. I'm still in the denial phase, which means I don't want to read anything that might make me think I have a serious, long-term problem. |
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