Bad Back, Physical Fitness

[EJR914]

Does anybody here have a bad back?

I've got three herniated lumbar discs, herniated 7mm a piece, for 21 mm of total herniation.  Also, the lowest disc is completely gone its bone on bone.

I take a high powered anti-inflammatory right now that keeps me up and moving around, but in SHTF, I won't be able to get any more of it.  I'll be completely house bound once I run out of it.  I cannot even walk if I don't have this drug. 

Also, I have muscle relaxer drugs to help with the painful muscle spasms that occur from the herniations, and, pain killers, and some other nerve type drugs that keep the nerve pain shooting down my legs from being so bad.

Also, physical fitness is probably my largest problem right now.  I could probably stand to lose 40 or 50 pounds.  I used to be in great shape, but after I hurt my back, my fitness just went to shit, as I couldn't do much physical without a lot of pain.

Does anybody else have a similar back problem?  What did you do to over come the pain and constant problems? 

The Doctors tell me if I get in really good shape, it probably won't help the pain, but I think they may be wrong, I don't know.  I'm sure I'll always have pain, but maybe less pain?

Is there anything I can do to try and help me out right now?

Also, losing my job, and now only having a job that covers the mortgage only, I don't have a lot of money for dieting, as believe it or not, eating unhealthy is actually cheaper than eating well, on the diet plan I used to follow.  Also, my wife only buys junk and only eats junk, and I have little control over what she buys for us to eat with her money.

Also, what is a good diet plan on the little tiny bit of money you can imagine?  I need to start a diet, maybe eating well will help me cut enough weight, until I can get enough pressure off my back, and then maybe I'll be able to work out better and get into better shape.

I'm also going to need a lot of support from someone in doing all this, because my wife is exactly zero support, and I mean zero!  I've asked her to help me, and she just ignores it, act like I never said it, and gets pissed when I even mention it.

Let me know any idea that you have, literally.  All real and supportive comments are welcome here. 

Thanks for your help ahead of time.  Also, surgery is not an option right now.  30 percent chance of more pain after surgery or me being paralyzed or in a wheel chair.  No thanks, and I have no money for surgery either. 

[CrookedSights]

     I feel ya bro, I have a bad back to, not as bad as yours. I never really got it checked out, but my old doctor used to do some chiropractic moves every week or so that helped a lot. Then the fucker had the gull to die and leave me high and dry. You could probably find out how to do it online and have someone do it for you. I use to get really bad muscle spasms in my legs to and since I started trying to get in shape it's all back, the pain the spasms all I can really do now is push through it. I wish I could remember what they gave me for the spasms because once I took that they pretty much stopped. I don't know about you but the over the counter stuff doesn't seem to do anything for pain for me, but lately I've been taking Bayer back and body extra strength and compared to the other shit it works wonders, the pains still there just not nearly as bad. Hope this helps.

[CrookedSights]

Oh, and a heating pad.

[UnBroken]

Yea i know , you were probly gonna guess im gonna comment....first off let me say that i have a bad back, not as bad as you sir but its very sore most of the time. from what i can tell. in a SHTF you will need to have a back log of meds other wise you will have to suck it up....sorry i dont like telling people that but its the truth.


with that being said. i would talk to a doctor about ways you can kick the meds and have your back still working...also iwould look into natural typs of meds....things you can grow so you wont be with out if there is no doctor to see.

[STRAITJACKET]

   

   I have never had to deal with the kind of back pain that you speak of. Here is a site with a list of herbal pain relievers, I dont know how well they would work in your case but now might be the time to start trying them so you might have some way of relieving the pain if the  meds do run out.

http://www.cure-back-pain.org/herbs-for-back-pain.html

[EJR914]

   

   I have never had to deal with the kind of back pain that you speak of. Here is a site with a list of herbal pain relievers, I dont know how well they would work in your case but now might be the time to start trying them so you might have some way of relieving the pain if the  meds do run out.

http://www.cure-back-pain.org/herbs-for-back-pain.html

Thanks for your posts guys, they are really helpful.  Also, I really like this one.  I'm going to try a few of them out and see if they do any good.   

[mountainredneck2051]

back when i did rodeos i used to use this stuff

http://www.biofreeze.com/page/en/biofreeze-gel-professional.aspx?parent=38

it's like icyhot on some major steroids

i am stocking the shit out of this

[thedigininja]

I know that this is pretty much a dead thread but I thought that I would chip in, maybe someone sees it and has some new advice. I damaged my back a few years ago and didn't have it checked out (in youth you tend to believe you're invincible) and now it's come back to bite me in the ass. It's gotten to the point that I'm on several different medications every day just to keep me on my feet and even to be able to sleep because of the pain. Honestly the only thing that I ever found that could have kept me going for a few days is cannabis but it's a bit hard to prep from behind bars so I would only resort to that if I absolutely had to. However, some of the plants that I'm propagating for poison were also used for pain relief in the past so once they've matured I may be looking at that.

[DMCakhunter]

Part of prepping is preparing for the worst. With that said, we should all review what medical issues we have and get them fixed while we can. Same goes for our teeth.
I had a bulged L4 and a ruptured L5 and tried to avoid the knife for 5 months. Lots of pills and booze helped but was no cure. After 5 months, I couldn't take being in a daze all the time. Best thing I did was find a good surgeon and get it fixed. I have most of my mobility back but am more careful about what I lift and how. best thing is I don't need pills of any kind anymore.

If the worst happens and you are not able to take care of yourself or family, not much of a future. Get yourself fixed up while you have choices.

[thedigininja]

I just had to update here and emphasise what DMC said. Take care of yourselves now while you can. If you have ANY discomfort have it checked out. I finally buckled and have been back and forth between doctors and it turns out that I'm screwed. At this point surgery will merely cause the problem to injure the next vertebrae. All I can do now is take precautions to insure that the degradation is retarded which means altering my entire to the degree that I need to leave my current job. May my  stubbornness be a warning to the rest.

[JohnyMac]

MrsMac fell off our sail boat when it was on the hard in 2002ish. She dropped about 8 feet and ended up landing on her tail bone.

To make a long story short she put up with the ever increasing pain till last August when finally a surgeon operated on her L4/L5 area of her spine. Since then she has lived without pain.

She has had to alter her life style to a degree since her operation, e.g. lifting, walking, weight control....

So I have never walked in your shoes thedigininja I have lived close to them.

A few things to keep in mind:

> Eventually a surgeon will come along that can help you
> Spinal epidermals will help BUT it is just a band-aide that over time of many shots one day they will not work.
> Know your limits and religiously stick to those limits. NEVER push it!
 

[thatGuy]

Lose weight, lift weights and do calisthenics... bodies were made to move!

[thedigininja]

No weights and only a very limited number of exercises. Many of my routine stretches I've even had to cease. Was also told that I could never set foot in the ring again which was the biggest blow to morale.

[thatGuy]

Fuck that noise.. find another doctor..

[Erick]

For SHTF one can store generic Naproxen and its not that expensive.
lasts much longer than the label says too.

In your case come SHTF you will lose those 40-50 lbs due ot lack of food and then feel much more mobile

[thedigininja]

TG, I've been up and down the block. Same prognosis everywhere I go. The most recent visit was to a guy who's considered the doctors doctor, he specialises in spinal and sports injuries. That doesn't mean I'm giving up though, I'm looking into all forms of treatment now and yes, as erick hinted at, dropping the 10-15kgs that I've gained in the last 4 years.