Foo - Laid up - it's always the simple stuff that gets ya

I had to get a froze head off a hose yesterday...no biggie, a couple of wrenches and it was off. Then I go to get up off the ground and pick up the wrenches and old head and TUG, there goes my back. Spent the rest of the day laying on the floor, slept on the floor and I am now propped up at my PC so I can work from home. Can't walk without using a kitchen chair like a walker. Same thing happened to me a couple of years ago...putting together a bed frame. Why is it a person and do tons of physical activity but then hurt themselves doing the most routine things? Yep, I am not a happy camper. :(

I feel for you Chip. I did the same thing with a sneeze. It was embarrasing explaining that one!

MyRx is always two Tylenol 3's and a beer, you'll feel better in no time, if you don't at least you won't care. :)

Mend up soon.

go see a chiro chip. similar thing happened to me about 2yrs ago - my chiro fixed me right up and havent' had an "episodes" since then.

hope you feel better soon!

I had to get a froze head off a hose yesterday...no biggie, a couple of wrenches and it was off. Then I go to get up off the ground and pick up the wrenches and old head and TUG, there goes my back. Spent the rest of the day laying on the floor, slept on the floor and I am now propped up at my PC so I can work from home. Can't walk without using a kitchen chair like a walker. Same thing happened to me a couple of years ago...putting together a bed frame. Why is it a person and do tons of physical activity but then hurt themselves doing the most routine things? Yep, I am not a happy camper. :(
Yep, the joys of getting older! I have periodic issues with a rotator cuff and have to sling the arm on occasion and the weirdest things will set it off!

Now crazylady, last semester, threw her back out lifting a textbook for her accounting class!:eek:

Man, and I thought my Frisbee injuries were silly, but that just sucks Chip, heal up.

ohh chipcom!!! I hope you feel better soon, this stinks!
last week I bend down to pick up the dog leash and my back froze when I went back up!!
darnit! felt better the next day though, but I so feel your frustrations! happend out of nowhere it seems!

feel better!

I've come to realize that riding a bike doesn't do anything to exercise the lower back which is where most of my back problems originate. I need to jump on the X-country skier again to exercise that area more often. Heal up Chip!

Bah! Nothing a few gin/tonics and 10 advils can cure.



Get well!

Bah! Nothing a few gin/tonics and 10 advils can cure.



Get well!
why do you look so sad?

So is your spinal column all still in check or does a doc need to look at it? That's what scares me about chiropractors. They start messing around with your back and you have something pushing on your spinal cord and things can get ugly in a hurry.

why do you look so sad?

He's not. He's addicted to smelling his own farts. :)

I feel your pain chipcom. I moved a 5 gallon bucket of roofing cement about 20 years ago and ever since I have a couple of episodes a year of my back going out. And I would love to have someone explain how it's always something small that sets it off. I can move boxes of copy paper, bags of sand or cement, wood fence panels, etc. and I'm OK. But looking under the couch for cat toys or reaching in the bottom drawer for an old sweatshirt is what does it.

No chiro yet. I've had this happen a couple of times over the last 20 years. One muscle pulls and all the rest tighten up to compensate and you get spasms. Docs have always perscribed rest, ice, heat and light stretching. Yesterday I could barely move and had to use a kitchen chair as a walker - this morning, once I got moving a little, I can walk - gingerly, and sit in my funny computer chair...which is much better than sitting in a regular chair or lying on the floor. I figure I'll be moving...carefully, tomorrow and hopefully back on the bike by Thursday.

I gotta remember, no matter what I am doing, always use the legs and don't twist while bent over picking something up.

My #1 stupidest kick-off to a week of agony was picking up a piece of paper off the couch. Like SoonerBent, I've committed some back-abuse in my past, but it always surprises me that I'm being SO GOOD now, and I still manage to hurt myself.

The only times it didn't happen were when I was regularly doing back exercises. It's impressive what a difference they made.

Heal soon!

I had to get a froze head off a hose yesterday...no biggie, a couple of wrenches and it was off. Then I go to get up off the ground and pick up the wrenches and old head and TUG, there goes my back. Spent the rest of the day laying on the floor, slept on the floor and I am now propped up at my PC so I can work from home. Can't walk without using a kitchen chair like a walker. Same thing happened to me a couple of years ago...putting together a bed frame. Why is it a person and do tons of physical activity but then hurt themselves doing the most routine things? Yep, I am not a happy camper. :(
I feel for ya Chip. I had a similar incident about 2 years ago. For me it was simply bending over to pick up a piece of paper on a chair in front of me. It took me 4 or 5 days before I could walk semi-normal and I was going to chiropractor for 2 months.

Ow - feel better!

Chrio's scare me - went to one once that made an 'adjustment' and then lost my hearing on the one ear. He said it was my body adjusting to it - I call it some scary ****!

Sorry to hear this. Go to doctor and get some of those muscle relaxers. Take a couple and get lots of rest. (I'm not a doctor, but this has worked for me in the past and some of those pills can be quite entertaining in their own right. Especially if you already have a good sense of humor.)

well, everyone can say what they want about the chiro...i got muscle relaxors, etc and it just didn't help me. the chiro did tho....

Sounds like Karma at work to me:D :D

Just kidding Chip!!! Hate to hear that you are hurting. Hope you heal up soon.

Ugh- there's little worse than a back that's out. Feel better Chip!

Ugh- there's little worse than a back that's out. Feel better Chip!

Well, to look at the bright side...it's better than a toothache!

Chip, hope you feel better. I have been pretty fortunate in this regard - the last time I hurt my back I was 16 and I deserved it.

One thing that I think has helped me is that I used to rock climb and now I swim. Cycling is great for the legs, lungs and heart - not sure about the rest of you.

When I do tweak my back a little my solution is go horseback riding - at first not fun at all, but eventually the jackhammer otherwise known as Toro will get alll the bones rattling and sorted out. :eek:

Nasty stuff, Chip. Hope you're feeling better. The muscle relaxants work for me. That and stretching every morning, with a few crunches thrown in for good measure.

I hope you feel better soon, Chip! :o

Could it be that the weight of all that hair was the straw that broke the camel's back, so to speak? :rolleyes:

or maybe the 48 DDDs? :eek:

It sucks getting old. My own most dumb, pathetic, embarassing injury was when I was jogging with the dog for all of about 15 feet and I blew my hamstring. Rolled up like a window shade. I went flying as my leg became instantaneously useless. The dog kept running as I lay in the grass.

I had to have my friend drive her pick-up through an illegal maze of fences to get me. It took about 30 minutes to figure out how to get inside all those fences.

The pain was so severe that I had to put something...anything on my leg to stabilize it. It was excruciating. All I had that would work was my bra. So there I am in the middle of a park, with my bra wrapped around my leg, dragging myself into a pick up truck. :rolleyes:

I was spotted crawling on all fours across the lawn and into the house...everyone just assumed I was playing with the dogs.

Or, perhaps you were just arriving home from one of you wild times...

Or, perhaps you were just arriving home from one of you wild times...

Or maybe they just assumed that your wife finally got you housebroke.

as S&S said, getting old sucks.
Unfortunately my back seems to blow out 2x per year.
Doesn't matter that I carry and or wear 40# of dive equipment it's always
something stupid like picking up the newspaper that gets me.
My routine is something like this:
1) bend over (not always fully bent either)
2) experience excruciating pain across lower back
2a) swear
3) lay on floor breathing gingerly.
4) get up off floor (usually entails finding support and looking like an upturned turtle).
4a) swear some more
repeat as needed.
My usual fix is pain meds and muscle relaxers, Vicodin and Flexoril work well for me in
that I don't care that I'm in pain. Major downsize is I tend to drool into keyboard but I'm
too "relaxed" to do anything about it.
takes about 2 - 3 days to subside.
I went to Chiro who told me one side of my back is in spasm and pulling
everything out of whack. Adjustments at that point are exquisitely painful.
The doc says fusion may be in my future. . .getting old sucks.
I feel for ya. . .
marty

Something similar happened to me when I lived in FL and was doing hurricane shutter installations. Was doing heavy lifting all day. Then bent over to pick up my doo rag that fell off my head, and BAM!


I think a chiropractor can help in some cases (a massage therapist might be better tho, if its a muscle issue), but its best to get a referral from an D.O. or M.D. to avoid quacks (not all chiros are quacks, but some are). Also by getting a referral, its possible to get reimbursed by health insurance. At least thats how it works with my policy, insurance won't cover a chiro or massage therapist, unless a doc prescribes it.

I had to get a froze head off a hose yesterday...no biggie, a couple of wrenches and it was off. Then I go to get up off the ground and pick up the wrenches and old head and TUG, there goes my back. Spent the rest of the day laying on the floor, slept on the floor and I am now propped up at my PC so I can work from home. Can't walk without using a kitchen chair like a walker. Same thing happened to me a couple of years ago...putting together a bed frame. Why is it a person and do tons of physical activity but then hurt themselves doing the most routine things? Yep, I am not a happy camper. :(


Been there, done that - got a t-shirt. The worst part is when the back holds to abuse like moving rocks and logs and digging stumps (my latest weekend fun) and than you turn head while driving and there it goes:(

Get better soon.

I gotta tell ya all, that chair I posted about a while back is doing wonders for me. If I lie flat on my back or on my side...everything gets stiff and it takes me a year to get up - with lots of swearing that scares the dogs. Sitting in a normal chair is just too painful, prolly because my weight is still being supported by my back. But I have been sitting in this thing all morning and, while my knees and butt get a little sore from time to time, I can fairly easily get up and walk around...carefully. My range of motion has increased, while the pain has decreased, as the morning has worn on.

http://www.ergonomicchairs-kneelingchairs-posturechairs.com/db4/00335/ergonomicchairs-kneelingchairs-posturechairs.com/_uimages/hagsbalans.gif

I gotta tell ya all, that chair I posted about a while back is doing wonders for me. If I lie flat on my back or on my side...everything gets stiff and it takes me a year to get up - with lots of swearing that scares the dogs. Sitting in a normal chair is just too painful, prolly because my weight is still being supported by my back. But I have been sitting in this thing all morning and, while my knees and butt get a little sore from time to time, I can fairly easily get up and walk around...carefully. My range of motion has increased, while the pain has decreased, as the morning has worn on.

http://image.bizrate.com/resize?sq=160&uid=503066857&mid=35641

those were popular in 80 - 90 ties, I had one too.

They say swimming and cross country skiing is the best for your back - not to cure it but to prevent it.
Sorry for being a smart a$$ here:)

Ah, those chairs are... interesting.

Hope you get well soon, Chip. Maybe consider breast reduction surgery to try to fend off future episodes?

Awwww that sucks, Chip! I hope you feel better soon! Maybe try rubbing Tiger's Balm (http://images.amazon.com/images/P/B0006G8Q18.01._SCMZZZZZZZ_.jpg)on it?

those were popular in 80 - 90 ties, I had one too.

They say swimming and cross country skiing is the best for your back - not to cure it but to prevent it.
Sorry for being a smart a$$ here:)
Yup. It works your back by holding you upright while you constantly pull yourself forward. It aches after a while, but you don't notice it cuz your legs and shoulders are more sore.

If you're close to the border, you can get aspirin w/ codeine over the counter in Canada.

Sorry for being a smart a$$ here:)

This is Foo...it's what we do. :)

Awwww that sucks, Chip! I hope you feel better soon! Maybe try rubbing Tiger's Balm (http://images.amazon.com/images/P/B0006G8Q18.01._SCMZZZZZZZ_.jpg)on it?

Great idea, kiddo, I'd totally forgotten about that stuff. Thanks. :)

I feel for you Chip. I did the same thing with a sneeze. It was embarrasing explaining that one!

MyRx is always two Tylenol 3's and a beer, you'll feel better in no time, if you don't at least you won't care. :)

Mend up soon.


That is how I bulged my disc!! :eek: Sisters will be sisters...:rolleyes:

Chip I hope you feel better. Good excuse to have your lady do your back. :)

Have you tried a water-tank emptying shower?

yup, this morning...the fact that I was able to walk upstairs and do so thrilled me to death all by itself. I really got to put a shower in the bathroom down here some day.

Chip, this may sound nuts but when my back is whacked walking up stairs and
riding my bike help. Doc said it was because both tended to stretch me out.
Chiro said walking bent over while less painful did more harm in that it
allowed the disk to bulge more.
Yoga and Pilates have been recommended.
Marty

Chip...the seven-deep female Thai massage emergency team is on the way! Look out for the chopper, and take it easy good buddy!

sucks when the back goes out. it pretty much stops you right in your tracks.

it could be worse though...my grandfather recently broke his leg trying to the answer the phone.

In my country we say:

To chce živočišný teplo a kozí obklady:)

Which roughly means to get it warm by sharing your bed.

I feel for you Chip. I did the same thing with a sneeze. It was embarrasing explaining that one!

I get a couple clients a month with that problem. It's far more common than you want to think!


No chiro yet. I've had this happen a couple of times over the last 20 years. One muscle pulls and all the rest tighten up to compensate and you get spasms. Docs have always perscribed rest, ice, heat and light stretching. Yesterday I could barely move and had to use a kitchen chair as a walker - this morning, once I got moving a little, I can walk - gingerly, and sit in my funny computer chair...which is much better than sitting in a regular chair or lying on the floor. I figure I'll be moving...carefully, tomorrow and hopefully back on the bike by Thursday.

I gotta remember, no matter what I am doing, always use the legs and don't twist while bent over picking something up.

One of my teachers called it "six pack syndrome." It got the name from doing lots of stuff all the time, then improperly reaching into your trunk at a tailgate for a six pack, then spending the party on your back.

My suggestion is to go to a chiropractor, they're often partially covered by insurance for one or two times a month. Get a prescription for a massage, and a number of a preferred therapist (chiropractors will know a couple therapists who can do the proper deep tissue work). Have that therapist work on your psoas. The psoas muscles get very, very shortened from cycling and will pull your pelvis, and thus your back, out of balance.

Of course, you'll want them to work your other back muscles, too.

So: chiropractor, massage prescription and referral, psoas (SO-as) work.

Then I suggest at least one massage a month for prevention and to nip any problems right in the bud. It works wonders.

Heal well, and soon.

I feel your pain. I wasted my back in 85 lifting the front of a welding machine with another guy. He decided the weight was to much and dropped it without warning me. For several years after that little things would put me down for the count with major spasms. I once leaned over to pick my baby from his crib after just getting out of the shower. There I was, naked, flat on my back, baby crying and wife and friend in the other room. I was praying she would not come to see why the baby was crying. My lovely wife was a personal trainer at the time and gave me a workout she designed for people in similar states. The basic approach was to strengthen your core body. By strengthening your core you provide more support for your back. I have not have that problem in over 10 years. Pilates is now the workout that will do just that. For now just take it easy and don't push it. It will get better.