OT Back Problems

[super99]

When I was young and stupid, (I'm 56 and dumb now) I did way too much heavy lifting and straining and now I'm paying for it. I go to the Chiro and get adjusted but there is always a pain in my lower back that won't go away. When I drive or ride someplace, about an hour or so and I can barely get out of the car. As the day goes on, I become more stooped over. I have heard that inversion therapy is supposed to help a lot. The contraption that you strap your legs to and then turn over and hang upside down. Anybody know anything about this? I would like to know if it works before I buy one. I used to be 6'2", now about 6' and by the end of a long day, I'm probably 5'8". Kind of late now, but I don't want to be bent over the rest of my life. If you know anything about this, let's hear it. Chris

 

[Anonymous-0]

Have you seen a doctor or just a chiro? I know a few people who have had back surgery with great success. My FIL on the other hand did not get much relief from surgery but he was very overweight and refused to do any of the things the doctors said would help like lose weight and do exercises to strengthen his back muscles.

 

[Sean Feeney]

I'am feeling just like you, but I thought this was near normal if you worked like 2 when you where younger, I feel a lot better after a hot shower and plenty of cold beer.

 

[RickL]

same here some days since I am on concrete all day long and some nights also. Tractors riding all day long and skidsteers will do number. I make sure I have lumdar supports in vehicle seats and the shoes I wear make a tremendous difference. I just lay backwards over the edge of steps and stretch that usually really helps in worst times. Shoes are my biggest relief thou. Wolverine durashocks with there inserts only is what really helps my back. As far as lifting nowdays i let the three electric lift hoist do it now in the shop. Machinery tioday is way to big to even try lifting anything now. Even the augers are getting heavy. Currently in shop for assemble is Westfield 13" x 91 ft grain auger unit

 

[mnbob]

Lots of things that could go wrong with your back. I have not much faith in Chiropracters but know those who seem to get help from them. I heard of one guy who went to the same one for years, lots of money spent, went to see a Dr for something else and was ask what else bothered him, Doc told him do two things, thow away the high heel cowboy boots and take your billfold out of the hip pocket when you sit or drive. Problem solved. Wish all problems would be so easy. I recommend a Dr visit before buying one. Maybe a few days at a local thearpy clinic would be wise. Good luck.

 

[Anonymous-0]

The best thing I found to help my back is a three mile walk. It stretches the muscles in back. Also helps aching legs.

 

[Spook]

My dad had really good luck with back surgery. None with the chroipractors. Had problems for a year, went to chiro, then to back specialist. 2 weeks later was back playing golf.

 

[GeneMO]

I would side with nhboyd.
walking and a regiment of muscle streatching exercises. It is pretty amazing how streatching muscles in the backs of your legs can help your back. I went to an orthapedic surgeon and he prescribed therapy at a local sports therapy place. Side benefit was the little gals that work there are not to hard on the eyes.
Good luck, Gene

 

[Gun guru]

I am 39 now. When I was a punk 16-22 year old I did heavy lifting also, In fact I worked out like an animal. The best thing that I did for back pain was grab a chinning bar or rafter in the garage and let my body weight pull my spine and back muscles true. This works very well, I still do this and I started working out again, no heavy lifting though. I stopped working out for about 13-15 years. While hanging from a bar or rafter swing your legs around to stretch the back muscles. Also doing back exercises helps out greatly, Chinups-lat bar pull downs, twisting motions, bent over dumbell rows. Having strong back muscles is a good way to prevent injury.

 

[fixerupper]

A good friend of mine has an inversion table and he swears by it. When the body is hung upside down, or nearly there, the vertibrae pull apart just a little, so it takes the pressure off the pinched nerves. He said you don't want to hang there for too long or you'll get plenty dizzy, but it does do the job for him.

By the way he sounds he uses it as needed,not on a regular schedule, but maybe a doctor or chiro. could help you with that. Good luck from a fellow back sufferer.Jim

 

[Goose]

I had successful surgery for a herniated disc. All the surgeon (neurosurgeon) did was go in and take all the pieces of the disc out. When it healed, the space where the disc had been filled in with scar tissue. I've confirmed this from xrays I've seen.

I've learned over the years the absolute worst thing I can do to my back is to try to baby it. Standing in one spot for more than a few minutes is a no-no. I'm much better off if I just live life hell bent for election, and if I have a back ache once in a while I just pop a pain pill and keep on truckin'.

That being said, chinning on a chinning bar and doing pullups does help, as does walking at least a mile a day. In the employment situation I'm in now, sometimes I simply sit at a desk and work at a computer all day. That's conducive to getting a back ache. However, there's a Best Buy store several blocks down the street, and I've found if I power walk to Best Buy, snoop around for a few minutes, and power walk back to the office it does wonders.

Good luck! And if it comes to it, don't be afraid of surgery as long as you're very selective of who does it, and understand exactly what they're going to do and why.

 

[W4]

After talking to my chrio. I took his advise and sold my 1000 lbs. of tractor weights. My back is much better,and I am saving money on repairs to the W-4!!!No sugery!! W-4

 

[El Toro]

There's a man in in Ohio that went to Germany for his back surgery. He's been back at work Powerwashing, sandblasting painting farm tractors
and probably is helping on the farm too. His dad sends me pics of the tractors he is working on.
They have a forklift for the loaded tires. Here's the web site where he went. Not sure if it's available here in the US. Hal



http://www.getadr.com/

 

[LEH]

Gosh, Theres more guys like me out there!! At 57, I feel pretty well worn out, back and all. Mabey I should try hanging like a bat and using my tread mill again!

 

[Mike M]

I have heard inversion is not good for you.

They now have a machine at some chiropractors and back places that you lay on and it streches you apart letting the disks reheal. I haven't been on one yet but am thinking about it. Just affraid I can't afford it.

 

[Bob85355]

Super 99,

Sounds like you"ve got a worn out back. Mine is and has been for over 30 years. I"ve had Xray, MRI and EMG. Simple fact is, its worn out. Sometimes the chiro helps and sometimes they don"t. Cold pak on the back helps. I wet a shop towel, fold it and put it in a plastic bag, freeze it and slip it under your belt. Not practical on driving trips.

Went to Hawaii this year and asked my Chiro for anything that would help the pain that develops after an hour of sitting. She said Salonpas pain relieving patch. Picked up a box at Walgreens. Put on a patch before getting on the airplane and it worked great. No pain.


Bob
Central Arizona

 

[fixerupper]

One of the best things any of us can do is to look up our back condition on the net. There's a bunch of good reading there. When I was diagnosed with Stenosis the doctor spent about one minute explaining it and that was it! When I came home I got on the net and spent an hour gaining knowledge about it. It's very common, by the way, most of us who are over fifty have it to some degree.

One thing we back sufferers all have in common is PAIN! There are a lot of different causes for it. Jim

 

[Iowa_tire_guy]

Chris, My chiropractor loves her inversion table she has at home. I am like you and would like to try one before I buy it. I have been hoping to find one on a garage sale but haven't seen one yet. If you get one I would like to try it, but don't want to spend the money myself until I know it will work. Also I have a friend who had the back surgery where they shot silicon or something into his back to replace the disks. Said it worked great and took away his pain. Not even really surgery. After it was over he kept bumping his head on things that he was used to walking under. He gained about a 1/2 inch in height.

I am planning on going to Atchison on Saturday. Hope to see you there.

 

[bc]

My favorite is to find a sturdy railing and lean backwards over it stretching out my back. Nice to have something close to catch your balance if necessary.

Been thinking about an inversion machine though but I don't have much pain but just occasionally feel compressed from sitting which is why bending over backwards helps. Tried one once but the ankle cuffs kinda hurt my ankles.

chiros have a new back stretching machine but I don't believe in chiros.

 

[Anonymous-0]

I have the same trouble. I exercise every day and it helps in my case.I lift weights but avoid putting
much pressure on my lower back, no squats ,leg presses dead lifts etc. Exercises which require you to pull with your arms or stretch your spine help
with my back pain.

 

[NEsota]

Here is a link to a an approach that is fairly new and has helped some folks.
Spineology

 

[TomH in PA]

I'll go along with the others who say stretching and exercise. Along with the occasional aspirin or ibuprofen if you know you'll be sitting in one position for a long time (like when driving).

There's no magic bullet that will fix it, despite what a chiropractor or other holistic (non-medical) person tells you. If it's bad enough to see a doctor, see an orthopedist.

 

[SparepartsTN]

I have had a lower disc problem for 17 yrs, doctors, chiros, orthopedic surgeons didn"t do me any good. I inherited a book by Jerry Wayne called "The Bad Back Book" Delacorte Press, New York, 1972. He also suffered and did the medical stuff without luck, found a bunch of exercises that strenthened his back and went back to playing tennis hard without pain. The book shows you how to fix the problem, you might want to track down a copy and follow the instructions.

Warren

 

[Walt Davies]

Tall thin people myself are prone to bad backs. I have found that swimming and pool exercising have been the best for me.
Walt

 

[glennster]

mine is shot too. i wear a back brace i got from home depot for lifting. seems to help some. also keep your leg muscles streched out, the muscles on the back of your legs get tight and pull on your lower back. vitamin b-12 helps too. its tough to get old!!!

 

[BillinCentralMO]

I got my inversion table at Sam's club. $150. It does give temporary relief and no it is not bad for you. I have had spine surgery and have two more heniated discs.It helps some. It was not a miracle cure for me. Good Luck.

 

[Anonymous-0]

After reading all the aches and pains, im sure glad I dont have any of those back deals, 70 years old and can still touch my butt with my heals and work every day. Might die from a heart attach tomorrow or stroke tonite, but no joint problems, back problems, thanks mom and dad.

 

[super99]

I plan to be at Atkinson all 3 days. Think I'll stop in at rent-a-center after work and see if they have one I could rent for a week or so to see if it helps before I buy one. Will let you know if I get one and if it works or not. Isn't the tractor drive at Wapello tomorrow? Chris

 

[730 virgil]

super 99 when is show at atkinson held?

 

[Iowa_tire_guy]

(quoted from post at 18:40:17 08/23/08) Isn't the tractor drive at Wapello tomorrow? Chris

Starts in Grandview this year. Drove the 720 up this evening and left it close to town. Yeah let me know if you get to try out a bat machine. And I will be looking for you at Atkinson .

 

[Anonymous-0]

You may laugh at this but my answer to a bad back was something that no one has mentioned yet. YOGA. Yes yoga. I had a bad back for 25 years. Drs. and chiropractors did nothing. I worked out a daily routine of stretching excercises and yoga which takes about one hour per day. This follows a daily hike which takes about one hour. Then I set in a hot jet tub and do some more exercies in the water. After wasting hundreds of $ for doctors and chiropractors which did nothing, I gave up and finally figured a way to fix my back myself. You may say you don't have time to fool around with over 2 hours of exercises a day but you can. I retired from a 30 year government job and am now farming. I make up for the time I spend exercising by working 2 to 3 hours more each day. No more back pain. It is wonderful.

 

[chuck t]

Find a McKenzie trained physical therapist. They can teach you how to sit to relieve that stuff, and exercises to get you going. mckenziemdt.org

 

[Iowa_tire_guy]

http://www.atkinson-engine-tractor-assoc.com/

 

[Anonymous-0]

I have had back problems for about 20 years now and I am 58 years old. I did not want surgery but was getting very tired of hurting everyday so I went to a new family doctor and he gave me a book on back exercises and stretching. I lost about 15 pounds and stretch and exercise a half hour when I first get up and then again a half hour in the evening. I also walk the dog about 2-4 miles per day. It takes time and dedication but the difference as been amazing. I now feel great. You wouldn't think those little stretching exercises would help that much (in fact the first couple of weeks they hurt a little), but it works like a charm. I would do this before ever considering surgery. I also bought an inversion table and use it daily. It is worth the $175. I don't seem to need it as much as I did at first before I strengthened my back and abdominal muscles.