For those with a bad back

[Gary M]

Hi all,
I cant help but notice how many seem to suffer with bad backs.
I too used to suffer with siatica which was excrucating at times, so much so i cried with the pain many many times , and i'm not afraid to admit it.
My quality of life was at a real low.
A few years ago i was working for a big company who had their own works doctor (who was regarded by most employees as a numpty)
After 14 weeks off on the sick he sent for me, and after a chat (which i had to stand through because i couldn't sit with the pain), he suggested that i get a book from the library.
It's called,
Treat your own back, by Dr Robin Mckenzie.
here is his website.
If the advise and excercises are followed to the letter they really work,
No more spending a fortune on osteopaths and physios ect.
It has helped me to the extent that i no longer even think about a bad back.
I highly recommend it to all sufferers
Hope this may benifit others,:wink:
Cheers,
Gary.

 

[wizer]

Thanks Gary. I own that book and many others. I did 9 months of specialised 1-2-1 Pilates (4 hours a week, at my cost). I've tried physios, osteos, chiros, all the o's. Nothing works for me in the long term. After being admitted for surgery earlier in the year and then discharged after a week with no treatment, I'm now on the waiting list to see yet another specialist. I did seek a private opinion, who told me private surgery would cost me more than I could earn in 2yrs.

I do recommend people try the above methods tho. I loved doing the Pilates, I only gave up as it didn't help my long term back problem at all. The book you mention has some very sound advice for back care and, if followed, is sure to give most sufferers the sort of relief I only dream of.

Oops, you caught me at a low point, sorry for the rant.

 

[kafkaian]

Jeeps. My lower back has finally given way after a few failures in recent years. Bent down a couple of months ago and was in agony for a week. Then it seemed to start healing and was great for a couple of weeks but it's never really been right since. Had to rest up yesterday and give it some TLC under a hot shower for 10 minutes (which seems to work). Purchased one of those ortho/kneeling chairs a few months ago for my office, but all it does it cut the circulation to my feet!

Might take a look at this book then but the days of lounging/falling asleep on the sofa in front of the telly before retiring each night have long since vanished

 

[catface]

hello all,
might as well add my happenyworth. One of the problems with back pain is that it can have so many different causes. If it is caused by sciatica the pain can usually be eliminated by competent acupuncture (because the needling can treat the tissue areas where the nerve is damaged or pinched) The acupuncturist would need to establish whether the pain originated from nerve damage at the backbone or in the buttock & treat accordingly. When I was a professional acupuncturist in a previous existence all treatments for this condition were successful.
There is another similar pain caused by the same nerve being squeezed within a muscle (piriformus syndrome ? I remember the condition - not sure on the name without going to the book)similarly treated with needling.
The main cause of sciatic pain according to legitimate surveys, was sitting on wallet or keys (in back pocket of trousers) when driving. If you do this consider keeping rear pockets empty instead.
Hope this helps, regards, CAtface.

 

[Fecn]

I've been suffering with back pain for the last 3-4 years now. I think I hurt it somehow (no idea how) when I was doing up my last house and ended up unable to get out of bed for 3 days - Doctor came to visit me and drugged me to the eyeballs on Diazapin or something like that. It's never been quite right since. NHS X-Rayed it and said there was nothing wrong... Just keep taking painkillers forever more.
I started seeing a Chiropracter about 3 months ago and there's been quite a large improvement.. as long as I remember to do the exercises every day, but as soon as I have to do a long car journey or a day full or meetings it gets bad again.
One of the most helpful things I've found is heat - I now have a small 12V electric blanket on my office chair, attached to a variable power supply - It keeps my lower back toasty warm and that seems to reduce the pain a lot.

 

[Lord Nibbo]

Blimey! I didn't know we had so many backaches here (I was going to put a smiley here, but had second thoughts, it's not funny is it.)

I know Wizer suffers we've exchanged sympathy with each other several times.

My back pain is caused by a damaged disc just below belt level, sometimes it starts up for no reason or none that I remember. But with certain exercises it may only last for three or four days. No way can I watch TV in a so called comfy chair I have to lye on the floor resting on my elbows to look at the telly. :lol:

 

[wizer]

I hear about people suffering with back ache everyday. I'm going to nag my daughter everyday of her/my life to look after her back. Its the worst, most debilitating pain you can have.

 

[Chris Knight]

I herniated a disc 35 years ago since when it's given me regular gyp but thankfully it's controllable with anti-inflammatories ( eg Naproxen and Diclofenac) but above all with workouts at the gym that concentrate on the abdominal muscles. I have found that if I keep my abdominals strong, I can do pretty much anything I want. If I let them get out of shape, I start feeling like an old man - or perhaps just my age :?

 

[Digit]

Same with me Chris, and I was observing all the rules of lifting at the time as well. Anti inflams? I've got boxes of 'em. Morphine? Enough to addict a horse! Finally I chucked the damned lot and started a regime of special excersies based on a phisio's info. Not perfect but a lot better.
My GP, not noted for a GSH was straight forward, 'your back's worn out!'
I asked him about a replacement on the NHS and that is when I found about his lack of humour!
Life is a strange affair, once I dumped the medication I was better able to get on top of the problem, but eventually I ended up with a constant dull pain in the lower back and the GP said it was my own fault I should 'keep taking the tablets'.
Turned out be Prostate cancer! :lol:

Roy.

 

[newt]

I have mentioned this before, my back was clapped out and 2 vertebra were crushing my spinal chord (spinal stenosis). I was forced to go private and have a major operation, black and decker with a rotary file to grind out the excess bone inside the vertebra. Cost me 10 grand all told but well worth it I can now do most things.

 

[Digit]

Yeah! The NHS turned me down, too old! ie, I'm no longer contributing and therefore not worth the expense!

Roy.

 

[Rod]

LN snap about the tv watching posiition, the missus reckons i need to use the sander on my elbows now as the skin is so rough.

 

[Lord Nibbo]

LN snap about the tv watching posiition, the missus reckons i need to use the sander on my elbows now as the skin is so rough.

In true Victor Meldrew fashion "I don't bloody believe it" I thought my rough elbows were down to age :lol: So my swmbo is right the rough elbows is down to how I watch tv. Have you got any remedies as my elbows crack and bleed, it don't half hurt.

 

[Paul Chapman]

I thought my rough elbows were down to age :lol:

No, LN, you can also get them when you're younger - but in those cases they are known as 'honeymoon elbows' :lol:

Cheers :wink:

Paul

 

[Lord Nibbo]

I thought my rough elbows were down to age :lol:

No, LN, you can also get them when you're younger - but in those cases they are known as 'honeymoon elbows' :lol:

Cheers :wink:

Paul

Ah! Are you sure you didn't mean carpet burns? :lol: :lol: