Back Problems...update (Read 800 times)

Do the rehab you did with the chiropractor. My goes out quarterly for the last 4 or 5 years. Good luck.

Stand with your legs shoulder width apart.  Pick up an object (find a comfortable weight that you can feel pulling in your back but its not heavy - for me its a 40 lb dumbbell).  Straighten SLOWLY and STEADILY from your waist until you are straight up, then back in a smooth motion.  Do 2 or 3 sets of 10 after a run or a weight workout.

 

Have had low back issues for 15 years - this does great at keeping them minimized...I can tell a difference if I'm not doing.

 

Note:  do not do this workout if you are feeling spasms or are super-tight.  OK when its just a bit sore or feels normal.

 

Good luck!

Have you ever had an MRI - you may have abulging disc or herniation. I had both - Yoga and a book called Back R x by Vijay Vad did more help for me than anything else I tried.

Well, the other day, I bent over to pick something up and felt a twinge.  It was quick and pain gone.  I went out later that night and ran 3 miles feeling really good. 

 

I woke up the next morning and the back was 'out'.  Luckily, I'm on vacation this week so I'm resting it and doing the ice thing.  It's better today but not completely.  It's tight and sore but I'm not getting the incredible spasms I got last year.

 

 

Couple q's:

 

- Do you wear heels?  My wife (a Chiropractor) sees a lot of women who throw out their backs due to wearing heels at work (she herself used to have the same problem herself before going to school).  Ditching the heels for flats almost always solves the heel-wearers' problems

 

- Do you do crunches or other stomach exercises?  If not, it's a good idea to start.  Running builds a lot of strength in your back/hamstrings/calves, without building as much in your quads/abs.  This can create muscle imbalances that result in back and knee problems.  Adding at least 3-4 5 minute ab sessions to your routine is a great way to correct the element of this imbalance that can cause back pain.  Captain's Chair, Bicycle moves, crunch (and hold, but not full situps), and working with an exercise ball can all be helpful

 

- It may be worth seeing your Chiropractor a couple times and seeing a massage therapist once or twice to hasten your recovery (plus, since you're on vacation you have a great excuse to get a massage).  From what I've seen with my wife and some of her patients/friends, this type of thing can come back if you're not careful.

 

Best wishes!

Well, I went to the doctor today.  He gave me the 'straight leg test' which I understand is used to look for disc problems.  I passed.  He sent me for an x-ray.  I was in a car accident many years ago and also went sky-diving about 10 years ago.  (The landing was pretty hard on my back but I didn't have problems then.)  I'm assuming that's why he did an x-ray instead of a CT or MRI.

 

They did the x-ray with me flat on my back and then took several pictures with me lying on my left side...none with me on the right side.  Anyone have any idea what that might be about?  I don't think I'll get the results for a couple of days.

 

He gave me a muscle relaxant and one painkiller that I can use during the day while at work and another for at night.  Hopefully I won't need this long.  I'm trying not to get too bummed out yet.  I want to run but still need the cane to walk...

 

Since x-rays are only 2-dimensional, they need to take 2 views to determine depth. 

 

 

Thanks, that's a relief.  I was worried that it meant they saw something.

I got a call from the doctor's office today.  He got the x-ray reports back and says I need to call an orthopedic surgeon.  The woman who called me said the x-ray showed "spurring at L-3,4 and 5 and a curve".  Does anyone have any idea what that means?

 

I imagine they will do more tests...MRIs etc. before recommending anything.  I'm kind of freaked out about it.  I'm only 46yo and never dreamed this could be serious enough to warrant even considering back surgery...

 

Almost everyone has some degree of "spurring" in their spine, although for those under ~60 it is usually far too little to pick up on x-ray.  Spurring is a side-effect of degeneration, and your "hard landing" while skydiving certainly could have been a contributing factor. Being "a bit overweight" doesn't help either.

 

This is not something to freak out over though.  The Orthopedic surgeon will be able to provide you with the best course of action.  Many people do not need surgery - physical therapy, exercise, diet, and/or manipulative therapy (either by a chiropractor or D.O.) are all helpful ... but don't do any of this before speaking with the surgeon.  If your spurring is bad, he may recommend surgery ... but since you can currently mow the lawn/walk/run/etc I'm guessing that's not the case.

 

Best of luck, and don't freak out - this happens to almost everyone (just usually a little later in life)