Back trouble

[MphsTiger1981]

Some good advice has been already given to the O/P so far. I would point out that there is a distinct difference between a bulging disc, and a herniated disc. Surgery is seldom the recommended solution for a bulging disc, and as someone pointed out, bulging discs are more common as we age. The common symptoms of a herniated disc are experiencing radiating pain, i.e. shooting pain felt in your buttocks, behind your knees or into the ankles and feet. A bulging disc is a weakened condition and might herniate with something as slight as stepping off the curb, or sneezing. My dad had two disc herniations within six weeks of each other, both required surgery. That said, his relief was instantaneous. The other thing the doctor told him to do after his surgery was lots of walking. Not jogging, running or skipping rope, but walking. If you lift weights, consider stopping for six to eight weeks as well as any other motion that causes you pain right now. Good luck!

[MacGyver]

About a year ago I changed my desk at the office to a standing desk. 45 1/4" off the floor. Unless I'm in the field on a case, I'm at a workstation all day. We're not made to sit in chairs all day. I sat in a Herman Miller Aeron chair, and that other really expensive one for two years, but they're just trying to mitigate the damage from doing something that you aren't really made to do for that long. Neither of those $1000 chairs has anything on simply standing up to work, and really concentrating on your posture while you do it.

[Caster]

Thanks again everyone. It's a bit better today. Started some prednisone and starting taking my cyclobenzapr again. That crap knocks me for a loop. I wanted to go shooting tomorrow, but not while taking this mess. I have a pile of cases to trim. MacGyver you're right, I feel better standing most of the time. I'll probably stand at my reloading bench half the day tomorrow trimming cases or something.

This happened (not the first time, but the worst) back Christmas two years ago. It was so bad when it happened, I had to ride a shovel for a walking staff to get me across the yard. I literally couldn't move more than 10-15 degrees. I was locked up tight.

It's manageable today, but if this is what I have to look forward to, count me out for the old age thing. I don't know what I would do if I had REAL pain to contend with like some do. Crippling arthritis, cancer......GOD only knows what some of our troops come home feeling like. Pain's one benefit is it's curse, it's a sobering reminder of mortality. Doesn't seem that long ago I could run up a tree backwards "look Ma no hands!" The only Thing I think about a tree now is I wonder if there's a pretty grained gun stock hiding in the base.

[Guest Lester Weevils]

Hi Caster

There are many other ways backs can screw up in old age, but if you can learn how to keep the discs from massively messing up on you for another 10 or 15 years you may get old enough where the discs are hard enough not to give you quite so much trouble.

I'm not a doctor and very ignorant, but the idea is just from experience. It looked like my back was messing up bad 15 or 20 years ago. If it had got weak enough to cause multiple problems within a couple of years then it would have made sense to predict it should have just kept getting worse thereafter.

But lifestyle changes (daily behavior, not a vegetarian diet or special shoes) seemed to stave off the middle-age problems and it just went away. But other problems will probably happen in the future, of the discs just breaking down and bone spurs or whatever. But its not like a guaranteed one-way trip to the bottom. It is possible for it to get better before it gets worse again!

EDIT: Actually there are a few not-expensive pills which MAY help a little bit over time. Or maybe it is superstition. I think I have received at least a little benefit from taking 2 grams each per day of Salmon Oil, Borage Oil, and Flax Seed Oil. And Grapeseed Extract. I suspect those may actually benefit joints. Anyway they are not really expensive and are not likely to do much harm.

Edited July 24, 2011 by Lester Weevils

[MacGyver]

When I really studied my options and first set my desk that high, I stepped back and thought, "no way!" Ideally, at a normal, feet shoulder width apart posture, your forearms should rest comfortably flat on the desk, with your elbows at your sides. They build desks a common height so they mate up with other office components, but people aren't all built the same. Everyone needs a height that's right for them.

I also actually started going barefoot in the office. I know that not everyone can get away with this, but that's the benefit of owning your own firm. My theory was that we spend all kinds of money putting all kinds of cushions in our shoes when the good Lord put the most elaborate system of bones, muscles and tendons in our whole body right there. I figured that he probably knows better than shoe designers who work for companies that are really more concerned with product cycles and profit than they are about my feet. After a solid year on a hardwood floor, I can report great results. I won't go back.

For people who do have to be on their feet, and don't have the luxury of going mostly barefoot, it's definitely worth the money to buy shoes from a company that really does care about people's feet. There's a reason all those nurses and salespeople wear Dansko's. They're ugly, but apparently worth every penny. The right pair of shoes will change your life.

[Guest Lester Weevils]

For people who do have to be on their feet, and don't have the luxury of going mostly barefoot, it's definitely worth the money to buy shoes from a company that really does care about people's feet. There's a reason all those nurses and salespeople wear Dansko's. They're ugly, but apparently worth every penny. The right pair of shoes will change your life.

I'm very ignorant of the issues and it is only personal opinion possibly wrong.

I was primarily thinking of expensive custom-made orthotic inserts or custom-made shoes. I tried those on advice from chiropractor and found them at best ineffective and at worst uncomfortable. Maybe I'm the only one not to benefit.

Good shoes are great. New Balance also makes some good shoes as best I can tell. For one thing, the New Balance shoes, if you have had yer feet properly measured, there is high confidence if you are measured an 11.5 EEEE, then any New Balance 11.5 EEEE will actually fit.

I only learned a few years ago that shoe sizes continually change as you age. I'd been buying the same size shoe since the age of twenty-something, because didn't know any better. Turned out that the old 10.5 Wide had turned into 11.5 EEEE, which fit a whole lot better. Maybe everybody else on the planet knew that adult feet change size over time.

A lot of brands are not consistent sized just because you buy the same published size as your feets measured size, doesn't mean they will fit.

Dunham and Thorogood boots seem well-made and consistent as well.

It is probably an old-age thing, but I get best results even with the good shoes to use Dr Scholls gel insoles and change em out every few months. They seem to "go flat" after awhile, but feel better to me than most insoles that ship with new shoes. Keeps foot bones from bruising the foot.

[kieefer]

Glad to hear you're feeling better, back pain will sure make you find your limitations.

L4 & L5 is the same area where my back problems are/or were. A MRI revealed a bulging disc and surrounding bone deterioration.

Mine was caused by weight-training, mainly 20 rep squat routines. I was also under a Chiropractor's care when the pain got really serious. He was no help. Actually I think he aggravated it.

When I could no longer walk normally and it took 1hour to get out of bed I decided to see what my options were. I saw 4 Orthopedic doctors, 3 said surgery was my only option the forth doctor said a 50/50 chance that epidural steroid blocks may help and referred me to his partner the "pain specialist".

The shots were extremely painful but that worked for 3 months and I had two more after that. This was 12yrs ago. Since then I have been very cautious about what I do and seldom have any pain that keeps me down more than a day. As mentioned, I found my limitations.

I was told a Neurologists is who you want working on your back and 12 yrs ago they were talking about disc replacements may be in my future. Since I'm getting by I've never looked into it or have the need now.

Not long ago I got a free visit and medical evaluation with Doc. Ben Follas, (Maximized Living Radio Show on 1510AM) From my x-rays my back is crooked at L4& L5 but I have no pain, it was hard to believe but explains a few thing that I won't go into. So, I suspect when I get much older I will once again have some issues, until then I'm watching my weight, staying active and keeping tabs on my limitations.

Good luck.

[Oh Shoot]

...

I only learned a few years ago that shoe sizes continually change as you age....

This came as a surprise to me too. I've gone from 11 to 13 in last three years. Twice I've sold off new shoes that I bought on sale and stashed that became too small once I got around to putting them in service, and have a couple lightly used pairs gonna do same with now.

And speaking of shoe inserts .. I recently got a pair of the $50 Dr. Scholls jobbies, using the fitting machine at Wally's. No go. Sent in for the refund. I've got a couple pairs of the cheapos that work okay in a couple of pairs I wear for long walks.

- OS

Edited July 24, 2011 by OhShoot

[CLC]

Sorry you are having back problems. I have had rheumatoid arthritis since I was 27, I am 51 now. I also have three budged disk in my lower back and damaged disk on each side of a fused disk in my neck - I broke it in a car wreck. Prednisone relieves the pain to a certain extent but it is a very dangerous drug , check the side effects, I have been on it since I was 27 and if I had it to do over I would have never taken the first pill. Drink lots of water ,walk as often as you feel you can, and if possible do water therapy. My family gave me an 18 foot swim spa and it has completely changed my life! You can swim against a current in one side or turn the current off and just exercise, the other side has loungers with jets to heat up and relax your muscles. Your local YMCA should have water therapy classes. Good luck and I will be praying for a speedy recovery. BTW I carry a full size Beretta 96 and I am a woman, I carry toward the middle so not to damage my back as bad. Being fluffy helps conceal the weapon!! But it doesn't help the back and being fluffy is also a side effect of prednisone!

[Guest Lester Weevils]

This came as a surprise to me too. I've gone from 11 to 13 in last three years. Twice I've sold off new shoes that I bought on sale and stashed that became too small once I got around to putting them in service, and have a couple lightly used pairs gonna do same with now.

And speaking of shoe inserts .. I recently got a pair of the $50 Dr. Scholls jobbies, using the fitting machine at Wally's. No go. Sent in for the refund. I've got a couple pairs of the cheapos that work okay in a couple of pairs I wear for long walks.

- OS

Hi OS

Yeah the orthotic thangs might help some folks, but to me they were just an annoyance. Kinda like walking on high-heels or something. But my feet have always been completely flat which may be the explanation. Getting out of the pool, my footprints resemble an aquatic creature's flippers.

The $10 or $15 Dr Scholls gel inserts seem about as good as it gets in avoiding foot bones bruising flesh, as best I've been able to tell. Have tried other kinds. The "memory foam" inserts seem to go flat in a week.

Bought some "discount" wally world gel inserts two pair for $10. The label said mens size 7 - 13. Sof-Comfort brand. The dang things were more than an inch too short to fit 11.5 shoes. Gave em to wife but they are barely big enough to fit her shoes.

[Oh Shoot]

... But my feet have always been completely flat which may be the explanation. Getting out of the pool, my footprints resemble an aquatic creature's flippers....

Yep, mine too.

My dad got bumped from paratroopers for flat feet, so he could walk all over Europe in infantry instead.

- OS

[Dolomite_supafly]

I am up at 2am again because of my back problems.

I have tried a bunch of different treatments for my injury but nothing has helped so far. Mine are not the same as yours and mine have been declared permanent. I have spoken to dozens of people with back problems and those with bulged disks seem to get positive results with surgery that fuses the spinal column. I would also look at an inversion table to provide some slow traction to at least relieve some of the pain. It may not cure it but it may give you some relief.

Something I have started doing recently is using crutches to help me while walking. I stumble and fall a lot when I have been on my feet for 20 or more minutes or when I have been seated for a long time then stand. I use the crutches to extend the time on my feet as well as help me have a more stable platform when going from a seated to a standing position. It doesn't help the main cause of my problems which is when I sit. Standing causes me to loose sensation in my feet over time but sitting does that same as well as cause pain almost immediately. My days are spent in a constant rotation of being seated and then standing in 15-20 minute intervals.

I used to look at people with back problems as a bit of a skeptic, not anymore. I now know that it can be all consuming. I find myself pondering why I chose to stay on the helicopter that crashed when I had a chance to get off before the accident. I also wonder why me or why we all survived when most other helicopter accidents are fatal.

I will say that if is weren't for my wife and son I would have given up a long time ago. My doctor is the best I could imagine, he has done everything in his power to try to fix me up. He offers encouragement as well as a realistic outlook.

Dolomite