How many of you deal with backpain?

[Jumper]

Hm, been there, still there, but its the least of my worries. I can't do anti-inflammatories or over the counter analgesics, make me sick as a dog, so when I'm really buggered its narcotics but just enough to function. Several things to consider if it is not apparent injury. Firstly and the one I have a major problem with is gluten, wheat being the worst. My dear mom pointed this out to me many years ago and I did a month long test with/without flour products. The conclusions were quite revealing, I'm slightly allergic to gluten and the end result of too much is a toxic like tension in my lower back that near cripples me (no pigging out on pizza ect. ect.). Keeping this aspect under control has lessened my lower back stress 90%+ and a surprising number of friends with similar problems have found great change (for the better) keeping this in mind over the years. I do have physical problems too with lower lumbars but watching my flour intake (esp. whole wheat in my case) has significantly lessened the times it lays me up. Just a thought. The other thing is to drop the gut, lose it (or more than ya got), and keep your stomach muscles in some sort of decent shape, they are the dynamic force that balances our spine and keeps us erect. Of course there are as many different problems as there are people but these couple of things have helped me greatly in maintaining my back as best as it can be. I'm not addressing everyone here, especially those with spinal damage, but for those who are having problems that they can't quite put a finger on this is something you may consider and try for yourself whether lowering your intake of processed and gluten rich foods might help, you could well be surprized. Thats it from me for now and all my best wishes and healing prayers to those that have to go through these sort of pains, it ain't fun and sure as hell no joke, I know.



Serge

My friend has just found out he is allergic to wheat gluten as well. Watching his intake has meant a dramtic improvement in his condition.

 

[ropensaddle]

Use it or lose it is right the worst days seem right after
heavy use of the splitting maul. I climb and remove trees
and trim no problem never hurt myself in twenty two years.
Get me on the ground I turn in to a walking disaster and seem
hellbent for punishment. I when up there look down and not
going fast enough when I hit the ground I'm saying lets skit it
and look like a tornado brush flying wood up and when the jobs
done go home to pay the piper! When I first started tree work
my foreman had to tell me to slow down as I ran with brush and
wood he said quit racing! I really don't race I just want to get it
done so can look at the accomplishment and marvel over a days
work. Have always been that way until last ten years have had
to cut back as the pain was too intense but even at half pace
I sometimes make youngsters cry trying to keep up!

 

[Sprig]

My friend has just found out he is allergic to wheat gluten as well. Watching his intake has meant a dramatic improvement in his condition.

Does not surprise me, the big problem is is that many so-called 'doctors' get so hung up on the prescription kick-backs thing that the end up refuting obvious evidence on the basics, diet, exercise, watching for allergies, etc.. My own doctor is a gem, own her own practice for about 15 years but is one of the rare ones that keeps on learning after they have graduated med school. Years ago when I told her what I felt was happening she didn't just Pooh-Pooh it, she hit the web and the books and figured out that I may have a point and stopped trying to prescribe bs (which was making me ill (er) ) and got on my case about da gut (rightly so too I might add). I have found that far too often, especially with older doctors, that they become set in their ways and will often take the easy way out, or the way that will make the more money, whatever, they end up with a 'drugs will cure it' attitude and slough off anything else that works as 'oddity' rather than actually doing any research. For years (since the early '50's I believe) doctors who were into orthomolecular treatments and studies (that is based on a system that takes into account vitamin levels, allergies, fitness levels, etc., as a part of over-all health) have argued that many of our general ills are diet and environmentally based, the 'old school' med professionals tried to shoot them down for years but are now, begrudgingly it seems at times, starting to accept that there is indeed a point to this. Unfortunately huge pressures from the (trillion dollar!) pharmaceutical industry keep so much in the dark and turns other-wise conscientious practitioners into pill pushing flunkies, that we, as people in general, become misinformed and complacent in finding out about our own health, it is a boon to them, hey, sickness is huge business.
I am just blatherin' on here as I am wont to do sometimes but it is something that really bugs me, has for a long time, but then I feel it has made me a bit smarter too as I will now take the time to look into what is affecting me as well as taking pro's advice: A good dose of skepticism can be a healthy thing sometimes, taking control of your own self in certain circumstances, when all else fails, can result in positive changes. I am not saying to ignore what medicine has to offer, but to not accept just one prognosis if other views exist, check it all out, inform yourself, keep educating you, and those around you.
Now this really is a bit o' blather so I end for now, sorry folks, got carried away :deadhorse:

(talk about the long way to say "It doesn't surprise me Jumper." sheesh!)

Serge

 

[chainsawchick67]

I have degnerative disc disorder throughout my back, and was told I had the spine of a 60 year old eight years ago when I was 40 and had suffered a crushed disc from a parachute landing that went really bad in a hurry.

I take celebrex twice a day for my back and feet which generally keeps things under control, and T3s or Percocet on very rare occasions when the pain gets to me, which is not often.

this is what my dad had and i think my grandpa too, they said it is genetic. thats BAD news for me(and my brother)!!! I am 20 and my lil bro is 16 and they are already talking about keeping and eye on our spines so hopefully the second something doesnt seem right, they can fix it befor it gets to the stage where dads got to. Also, i just found out he was only 30 when he had his spine fused together, not 35.

 

[Sunrise Guy]

54 here. I weigh three pounds less than I did in high school, 152 now, and my body fat ranges from 8-12% when read electromagnetically on one of those fancy scales. I feel far better when I'm on the job than when my butt is stuck at home, like it has been lately thanks to Austin becoming Auseattle, TX. due to non-stop rain. I got so hot to work that I bought a rain suit, went out and did a pruning gig in the rain. Great fun, not! I accept my aches and pains as job-related, for the most part, but I don't sweat 'em as they go away when I'm working or staying active on vacations. When my gf and I hit Vermont to make maple syrup a few months ago, I felt great.

 

[beowulf343]

A bit of backpain now and then, but who doesn't have it in this business. Usually a quick trip to the chiropractor takes care of the problem for me. The biggest thing for me though is what shoes i'm wearing. My wesco's are great for in the tree or if i'm in the woods all day felling. But if i have to do alot of walking in them, i'll feel it in my back that night. A lower heeled workboot for brush dragging really helps my back out.

 

[PA. Woodsman]

Spent the better part of the night in the ER!

Well I WAS feeling better with my back until last night-I awoke around 11 with pain in the back of my thigh that I can only describe as PAINFUL! No matter if I layed down, sat up, walked around I could not shake this cramping, painful pain running down the back of my left leg; so the wife took me to the local ER, and they checked me and said that it seems like Sciatica-inflammation of the sciatic nerve. I told them that I had injured my back several days earlier, and it was getting better, now this developed! They said that it could be from a slightly bulging disc, but they think that it's just the sciatic nerve acting up from the strain. So they gave me a prescription for some Vicidon for pain and 600 mg Ibuprofen for the inflammation, and no work for 3 days. I'm going to see my orthopedic man tomorrow; called him and told him the symptoms and he said "we'll get you back in shape". I learned that the Sciatic nerve is the largest, longest nerve in the body, and is VERY PAINFUL when inflamed! The best way that I can describe how my left leg feels now is unstable and it feels like my foot is asleep!

 

[lees trees]

surgury is next

been down alot with my back. Thought I got plenty of exersise on the job. well, you dont. In my twenties we would jump off roofs rather than climb down, thirties I can lift and throw logs on the truck like nobody step in a hole and back goes out. Anyway my chiropractor can't help me any more. Then my mom, who is not a Dr. or an arborist says you need to strech even that dumb cat streches before it does anything. oh yea like football practice. so thats what I do and I'm on a roll. Feel good can do some of the dumb things I use to. good luck

 

[lees trees]

surgury is next

been down alot with my back. Thought I got plenty of exercise on the job. well, you don't. In my twenties we would jump off roofs rather than climb down, thirties I can lift and throw logs on the truck like nobody step in a hole and back goes out. Anyway my chiropractor can't help me any more. Then my mom, who is not a Dr. or an arborist says you need to stretch even that dumb cat stretches before it does anything. oh yea like football practice. so thats what I do and I'm on a roll. Feel good can do some of the dumb things I use to. good luck

 

[sawinredneck]

38, herniated disc, L4. They won't do surgery because I can still walk (most days). About 30 pounds overweight, smoke to much, drink so I can sleep. I tore it up around 17 and have dealt with it since, it's no fun!!!
TAKE CARE OF IT NOW!!!!! See a Chiropractor ASAP!!!!!

 

[mckeetree]

My routine is stretch in bed then 400mg ibuprofen, run the shower hot on my back then about 6:30 AM when I leave I twist each way as far as I can in the truck.

 

[JT.S FIREWOOD S]

back pain

47

 

[PA. Woodsman]

Saw my orthopedic man today. He did some "strength/resistance" tests on me, and he thinks that it might be a disc that is pressing on the Sciatic nerve, which then causes this numb/weak leg feeling. So I had my first experience with an MRI today, and we'll know what that showed this Thursday. I guess that's the best way to actually see and know what is going on back there. We'll see...

 

[chainsawchick67]

i have found the best way to relieve a LOT of pain in my [lower] back is to lay on my right side with my right arm to rest my head on then put the left knee to the ground in front of your body and at the SAME TIME rollback your left shoulder and TRY to touch it to the ground behind you, then i switch sides. SOmetimes it cracks, but eben if it doesnt crack, it feelsreally good

 

[johnha]

... So I had my first experience with an MRI today, and we'll know what that showed this Thursday. I guess that's the best way to actually see and know what is going on back there. We'll see...

An imaging test can *help* to pinpoint the cause. Problem is, most of the general population will show disc problems on a MRI even if they have no symptoms whatsoever. Sometimes a problem will not show up on a MRI and additional tests like a CT, myelogram, or discogram may be necessary.

I hope your doc finds and helps you resolve your issues.

 

[PA. Woodsman]

An imaging test can *help* to pinpoint the cause. Problem is, most of the general population will show disc problems on a MRI even if they have no symptoms whatsoever. Sometimes a problem will not show up on a MRI and additional tests like a CT, myelogram, or discogram may be necessary.

I hope your doc finds and helps you resolve your issues.

Thanks-I saw the image today, and the L5 disc is "slightly" ruptured; you can see it pressing on the sciatic nerve. I start therapy tomorrow, and I'm going to see a chiropractor. I don't have a lot of pain, just that I still have some weakness and "clumsiness" in my left leg from the Sciatica. He's pretty confident that conservative measures will correct this.

 

[Spockbob]

I am 48 and have been climbing for about 35 years. I fell 75ft, the rope was around a limb and stopped me 2 inches from the ground going head first, I fell 40 ft headfirst and broke both arms, and I fell 19 ft and landed on my back. Back pain is like once a year for a couple days, but my problem is neck pain, degenerative arthritis in 3 disks. Been taking 4 oxycodone a day for several years. They don't affect my work, but actually help me get it done. Going to Cleveland clinic aug 08 to my 4th pain doc.They are discussing cutting select nerves that are causing pain.

 

[TaoTreeClimber]

I have some wicked SI pain in the exact same location some times. It comes and goes. I have noticed that the more active I try and stay the less it becomes a nuscence. I had a wicked parachute jump in high winds in the army and it separated the little fused joints in my SI when I landed on my canteen. That was almost 15 years ago but it is one of those things that is unfortunately gonna get worse with time. All in all I feel pretty good considering all the torture I have put my body through. 800 mg. of Motrin (Ranger candy) usually does the trick, but when it gets really annoying I break out the Naproxin. I have found that sleeping on a good bed is also paramount.

Kenn

 

[PA. Woodsman]

Thanks all for your answers and stories!

I had my first physical therapy today and it seemed to be helping already. They put me through a battery of exercise machines to stretch and strengthen my back and leg muscles. Then I saw a chiropactor who stretched me out and did some electrical stimulation on my Sacroiliac area. This also helped. I also bought a "weightlifter's belt" to help me with lifting-the chiro suggested this and I wore it today and it also helped. They also told me to sleep with a pillow between my legs and ankles if I sleep on my side; if I sleep on my back I am to put the pillow under my knees; this is to take the strain off of the SI area. Everyone said that I have a "slight" ruptured disc, and I should be fine with what we're doing. What is the worst to deal with is the "sensations" in the left leg: weakness, clumsiness, tingling, etc. But this too will pass, I'm told. And they said that more people have back problems than we all realize. Thanks again for your replies!

 

[Jumper]

I had a wicked parachute jump in high winds in the army and it separated the little fused joints in my SI when I landed on my canteen.
Kenn

Ouch! 106 static line jumps here. And about 700 freefalls on top of that did not help. Gotta love those full equipment jumps!