Happy new year all.Had a back fusion this past year hoping to relieve some back pain.Pain is there yet if not worse.I'm 64 and will keep going.Dr just put me on more pain meds,she said not much more to do with the pain. I do walk a mile on the tread mill at night and that seems to help to keep active.Riding 50 miles in my truck kills me.Any ideas to help? Thanks
- Thread starter MTC
- Start date
jon f mn
Well-known Member
For driving try a different brand of vehicle. I broke my back as a teenager and have trouble with some seats because of the shape. For instance, I can ride in a ford or dodge all day, but about 10 minutes in a Chevy and I'm in pain. The seat inmy old international truck was also a bit of a problem too, I could only drive about 2 hours til I had to stop and get out. My volvo I can run for many hours without stopping.
Dean Olson
Well-known Member
I stretch everyday some times more than once. It's counter intuitive I know, but I stretch into the way it hurts. Theory is getting the muscles around the nerves stronger to take some pressure off.
I also have an incline board. That helps me a lot. I have a very high tolerance for pain killers. That means that by the time I get enough into me to numb the pain I'm not functional and then get nauseous. I take Aleve, stretch, and just tough it out.
I'm paying dearly for growing up on a farm and then 30+ years plumbing. Too much heavy lifting all my life.
I also have an incline board. That helps me a lot. I have a very high tolerance for pain killers. That means that by the time I get enough into me to numb the pain I'm not functional and then get nauseous. I take Aleve, stretch, and just tough it out.
I'm paying dearly for growing up on a farm and then 30+ years plumbing. Too much heavy lifting all my life.
Blackhole49
Well-known Member
- Location
- White Lake MI
Try walking or doing aerobics in a warm (84*+) pool. I've been doing it for 10 years and feel better now than when I was 51.
I also broke my back, mine when I was 28. I found lumbar adjustable seats help. I have a desk chair I can adjust with the push of a button. My truck (2005 Chevy 3500) has heated leather seats with lumbar adjustable. I have been able to drive for over 5 hours without issues, if necessary, just change the seat when I start feeling uncomfortable. But the best plan is to get out and walk around the vehicle at least one or two times, every hour.
Geo-TH,In
Well-known Member
MTC,
Dr's wanted to do spinal fusion in 2004 on my L4 and L5. I chickened out.
Today, many Dr's say if you can walk in my office, you don't need fusion.
Some Dr's are saying after 2-3 years, there is a good chance you will be in the same shape as you were in before fusion. A few have better luck.
All the people I know that have had fusion are on meds.
Only one person had to have surgery. He had chipped a vertebrae and had no choice.
Hope your surgery works out.
I'm 66 and doing better. I've learned there are things I can't do and if I do them, I'm going to be hurting for a long time.
I bought a new GMC truck in 2007. The first thing I did was to go to the tire barn and order a set of Michelin tires. My back didn't like the General tires that came on the truck. I also changed the position of truck seat to fit my back.
I feel your pain. Walking is the best thing for your lower back. I also have a 3 wheel bike that helps.
Dr's wanted to do spinal fusion in 2004 on my L4 and L5. I chickened out.
Today, many Dr's say if you can walk in my office, you don't need fusion.
Some Dr's are saying after 2-3 years, there is a good chance you will be in the same shape as you were in before fusion. A few have better luck.
All the people I know that have had fusion are on meds.
Only one person had to have surgery. He had chipped a vertebrae and had no choice.
Hope your surgery works out.
I'm 66 and doing better. I've learned there are things I can't do and if I do them, I'm going to be hurting for a long time.
I bought a new GMC truck in 2007. The first thing I did was to go to the tire barn and order a set of Michelin tires. My back didn't like the General tires that came on the truck. I also changed the position of truck seat to fit my back.
I feel your pain. Walking is the best thing for your lower back. I also have a 3 wheel bike that helps.
Ellis Kinney
Well-known Member
All in one year. I broke my back in a fall, and later that same year I had muscle trauma when a limb fell on my shoulder. Get plenty of exercise and don't get fat. Ever notice how fat people always need to lean on something while standing? I try to walk every day although it is harder since my best friend died. (my dog) Ellis
MTC
Lower back pain used to be a way of life for me ,Dr s told me to walk 3 miles a day , which I did for about 3 months, until one morning I was 1/4 mile from the house and my legs turned to rubber , I could not walk , My wife came and got me in the car.
I found North Star Nutrinols on the internet , they advertised SOOTHANOL X2 , for pain relief , IT WORKS , rub it on and in a few minutes, the pain is gone , It has Cayenne pepper in it , when it stops burning , the pain is gone!! after a few uses it no longer burns , but the pain goes away , for at times for me 2-3 days at a time.
It s not cheap but it works, 1 oz =$50.00 , BUT it can be found cheaper on Flea Bay cheaper.
I m not a DR, I m a user !!
Red
Lower back pain used to be a way of life for me ,Dr s told me to walk 3 miles a day , which I did for about 3 months, until one morning I was 1/4 mile from the house and my legs turned to rubber , I could not walk , My wife came and got me in the car.
I found North Star Nutrinols on the internet , they advertised SOOTHANOL X2 , for pain relief , IT WORKS , rub it on and in a few minutes, the pain is gone , It has Cayenne pepper in it , when it stops burning , the pain is gone!! after a few uses it no longer burns , but the pain goes away , for at times for me 2-3 days at a time.
It s not cheap but it works, 1 oz =$50.00 , BUT it can be found cheaper on Flea Bay cheaper.
I m not a DR, I m a user !!
Red
1948CaseVAI
Well-known Member
Please do not rely on one doctor, particularly is she is a general practice or family doctor. Go see a pain doctor, preferably one who is also a certified anesthesiologist.
I totaled, five patrol cars and two of my own vehicles in my younger days, and never had a seat belt on so I took the full brunt of the wrecks by stiff arming the steering wheel and taking the ride. As a result I eventually blew out every one of my cervical disks.
After years of headaches I went to see a neuro surgeon who looked at the MRI and said he couldn't possibly fix all that, but he hooked me up with a real savior - a pain management specialist. The pain doc is a certified anesthesiologist so he can hit me with medicine directly injected into the space around my spinal cord (x-ray guided) about every 9 months. The pain/damage is in my neck but he injects me in the mid-back. It gave me my life back.
Please do not just settle for a life of pills!
I totaled, five patrol cars and two of my own vehicles in my younger days, and never had a seat belt on so I took the full brunt of the wrecks by stiff arming the steering wheel and taking the ride. As a result I eventually blew out every one of my cervical disks.
After years of headaches I went to see a neuro surgeon who looked at the MRI and said he couldn't possibly fix all that, but he hooked me up with a real savior - a pain management specialist. The pain doc is a certified anesthesiologist so he can hit me with medicine directly injected into the space around my spinal cord (x-ray guided) about every 9 months. The pain/damage is in my neck but he injects me in the mid-back. It gave me my life back.
Please do not just settle for a life of pills!
showcrop
Well-known Member
I find that seat position makes a big difference for me. I need to be fairly erect. I keep the bottom part of the seat as low in the front as it will go, And as high as possible in the back. The seat back is up to nearly vertical. Now and then I accidentally hit a button on the side of the seat, and after twenty miles or so I am hurting. After resetting the position the pain goes away after a little while.
jimg.allentown
Well-known Member
Jon, I drove a Volvo for over 10 years. I found that it was the best riding and quietest truck out there. BUT.....the parts were expensive and foreign. I wonder how the Mack/Volvo merger will change that.......Either the Mack will become a better riding shorter steering truck or they will drag Volvo down.
When I had my L4/L5 fusion (along with two rods, a plate, and 4 screws....) done in 2011, the doc told me "This operation helps 20% of people, makes 20% worse, and the rest it does nothing..." I was in the "help" 20%. Before the surgery, I could hardly walk, and had great pain. After, my back is weak, but can walk. My doc was an actual nerosurgeon....
SparepartsTN
Member
I've had lower back disc problems since 1991. When I bought my White(Volvo) tractor in 1993 I made sure it had two armrests and air lumbar support on the drivers seat so I could hold myself up with one arm and take the weight off my back. I could drive 5 or 6 hundred miles a day with less pain. I would suggest adding armrests and lumbar support, it may help you as much as it did me. Exercise always seems to help.
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