Who has back problems

cowboy · 11-12-2007, 12:22 PM

At the tender age of 30 have been diagnosed with moderate degeneration of the L4-5 vertebrae and disc. The result of being 6 foot 7 and way too much heavy lifting. Causes me severe pain every day. The bugger is I have just started a job that will allow me to work 6 months a year and still make obscene amounts of money. Don't want to give it up because of a bad back if I can help it.

Who else here has back problems and how do you deal with it?

GORDZ · 11-12-2007, 12:33 PM

good posture and some light situps... world of wonder mate.

vztrt · 11-12-2007, 12:37 PM

Actually he has a point there, if you increase the strength of your abs, then you take the strain off your back.

Falcon_Phill · 11-12-2007, 12:44 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by GORDZ

good posture and some light situps... world of wonder mate.

My backs pretty bad, any type of sit ups kill it.

vztrt · 11-12-2007, 12:46 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Falcon_Phill

My backs pretty bad, any type of sit ups kill it.

How about those big bouncy balls that are meant to strengthen your abs and back when you sit on them?

Sam_Boss260 · 11-12-2007, 12:51 PM

Physio and pilates to strengthen the muscles in your back and abs to support the weak areas?

Agent86 · 11-12-2007, 12:54 PM

i think the excercise is lateral puldowns. i think that helps to.

Another great thing to do would be to find a good chiropractor and have a discussion.

My back has never been better since i started visting a good chiro..

AC/DC · 11-12-2007, 12:55 PM

A lot of people who are taller, get a thing called Scheurmanns disease, which happens when you are in your teens, , growing faster some of the vertibrae dont grow perfectly flat.....

I have it, and yeah sometimes I get a sore back.

http://www.spine-health.com/topics/c...s/scheu01.html

and I am 6 foot 5.....and the chiro recommended riding a bike and general exercise to strengthen the muscles around the spine.

AC/DC

Quasi · 11-12-2007, 12:57 PM

I was diagnosed in 1997 as having mild arthritis in my spine. At the time I was halfway through football season (American football), and finished the season out.

I took 1998 off due to other injuries (a crook hip from getting in and out of the new truck incorrectly) and family commitments. I came back to it for the 1999 season, insisted on playing defense instead of offence (not so much bending and crouching) and did two seasons, including the team winning the championship and picking up the '1999 Grand Final Most Valuable Player' award....not bad at 39 years old.

I don't have any real dramas with it, or my hip, any more. In Canberra I didn't get any real excercise since giving away football in early 2001 (club folded through mismanagement) and had lots of problems. Since moving to the Gold Coast however I am noticing a big improvement from a more active lifestyle and eating better.

Laminge · 11-12-2007, 01:04 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by cowboy

At the tender age of 30 have been diagnosed with moderate degeneration of the L4-5 vertebrae and disc. The result of being 6 foot 7 and way too much heavy lifting. Causes me severe pain every day. The bugger is I have just started a job that will allow me to work 6 months a year and still make obscene amounts of money. Don't want to give it up because of a bad back if I can help it.

Who else here has back problems and how do you deal with it?

Same spot, Same Height, Same Condition at your age. Now 40

However 2 years ago I decided to lift a 350l fridge into a skip as rubbish, did not realise it at the time but I ended up with two collapsed discs. I thought I had pulled a muscle and kept on going, now with permanent nerve damage and a n operation under my belt I wish I hadn't.

If you want to stop the pain, Voltaren and a mix of pain killers, mind you the side effects of the Voltaren if you are the unlucky few may be worse.

Spend some time with a Physio and stay away from a Chiro ( thats who I initially went to and thanks to them I am in more pain daily because of a mis diagnosis) build up your back muscles and go at least once a month for deep tissue massage to release muscle alignment (health Cover recognised now)

If you want the name of the pain killers I use send me a PM

gozza · 11-12-2007, 01:07 PM

Im only 22 and all my joints are suffering - Flat feet led to crook knees to crook lower back - i twisted it a few months ago- had to spend a week off work - then another month i did it again - now if if i sit for too long i get sharp pains from my right shoulder down to my right leg -

I really should see a physio lol - but no its not good - As someone has mentioned strengthening your abs and obliques is good for supporting your lower back

Cam · 11-12-2007, 01:09 PM

I also have the sme problem as you cowboy, caused by 9 years of skateboarding however. Working in IT and sitting all day it causes me constant pain, by the end of the week its nearly unbearable.

I wear a magnetic back brace which also helps my posture alot, and i take voltaren for pain. But as some have mentioned the long term effects of voltaren can be worse.

I've actually just started doing Pilates at the reccomendation of my physio, only been a few days so haven't noticed anything yet, but i remain hopeful all the same!

Falcon_Phill · 11-12-2007, 01:10 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by AC/DC

A lot of people who are taller, get a thing called Scheurmanns disease, which happens when you are in your teens, , growing faster some of the vertibrae dont grow perfectly flat.....

I have it, and yeah sometimes I get a sore back.

http://www.spine-health.com/topics/c...s/scheu01.html

and I am 6 foot 5.....and the chiro recommended riding a bike and general exercise to strengthen the muscles around the spine.

AC/DC

I'm 6'5 as well, chiropractor said my back will be buggered when I'm old. Lucky I work at a desk all day (also unlucky because of my posture) but at least I don't do manual stuff to make it that much worse any more.

SiKoRa_eL_97 · 11-12-2007, 01:17 PM

Im 6'8 and 18 years old i started some labouring work for extra money. Should i stop working because of my spine... I go to gym 4 times a week and play football. Will i have a problem in the future + I am probally going to pick up a trade when im older. Should i be ok? I never had any back problems ever

BENT_8 · 11-12-2007, 01:23 PM

I totally agree, dont go near a chiropractor!

I started suffering from serious back pain whilst i owned a Jims mowing round in 04.
I'm 6' aswell and i figured my back issue was due to lifting the heavy grass bags all day.
I eventually sold the business because i got to a point where i couldn't get out of bed. I tried lots of different pain suppressants etc but had no relief.
Eventually i saw a chiro which cost me $80 and did nothing.
I changed doctors for a different opinion. The new doctor said there was a link between people who are prone to blood clotting and a degenerative disease in the lower spine.
It's supposedly a genetic fault called HLA-B27.
As i had had a blood clot a few years ago i thought it was worth investigating furthewr and i was referred to a speciallist.
This guy told me i was stuffed for life, my back would get worse and the best thing for me would be an invalid pension.
Now at 30years od age the thought of an invalid pension didn't sit too well with me as i figured i was still able to perform most activities but with some discomfort.
I went to another doctor and he said it was all BS, apparently this specialist was looking to make a name for himself with some new disease he had identified and was using otherwise well people to back up his diagnosis.
The doctor gave me some exercises to do and Voltaren to help with recovery after exercise.
within 3mths i was back to normal and have had no problems since, well apart from the broken ankle i have now, hmmm.... wonder if i can get a pension for that.

olfella · 11-12-2007, 01:43 PM

You blokes in an office environment ever thought of getting it looked at by an OT or similar?? Sometimes small changes such as desk height can make a big difference at the end of the day.

SPK-250 · 11-12-2007, 02:03 PM

I'm 6'2" and have a problem with my L3-L5 area. I actually "bulged" them as a result of heavy lifting that could have been avoided, but my incompetent management never acted and as a result i did myself a mischief. It could have been avoided too, but thats the way my workplace is. I play footy, ride MTB's and am pretty active, but it's amazing how 8 hours standing around at work makes you feel like a 60yo at only 28.

Yet i still go in to make mufflers 5 days a week.

mr_xr8 · 11-12-2007, 03:06 PM

i have kyphosis and a miss formed disc in my spin along with my whole spine been misaligned with my tale bone. im 20 now i first found out when i was 16, and you dont have to be tall to have a bad back im only about 5'7 tall.

the best thing to do is to strengthen your lower back and abs. the first thing you should do is see a physio. i started off seeing a physio then i moved on to pilaties and weights. pilaties is great for your abs. the weights are the best as long as you do compound exercises and heavy weights ( not heavy to hurt yourself but dont baby yourself). Deadlifts, chin ups and t-bar row have help me the most. Like everything check with your doctor or physio before you do anything.

Magoo · 11-12-2007, 03:32 PM

I competition swim. My back is sore sometimes from butterfly. Bikram Yoga helped me. Stripped weight of me aswell. See if WA have a place. Good perv also. I was the only bloke with 35 sweaty gorgeous chicks.

GTP owner · 11-12-2007, 03:42 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by BENT_8

I totally agree, dont go near a chiropractor!

I started suffering from serious back pain whilst i owned a Jims mowing round in 04.
I'm 6' aswell and i figured my back issue was due to lifting the heavy grass bags all day.
I eventually sold the business because i got to a point where i couldn't get out of bed. I tried lots of different pain suppressants etc but had no relief.
Eventually i saw a chiro which cost me $80 and did nothing.
I changed doctors for a different opinion. The new doctor said there was a link between people who are prone to blood clotting and a degenerative disease in the lower spine.
It's supposedly a genetic fault called HLA-B27.
As i had had a blood clot a few years ago i thought it was worth investigating furthewr and i was referred to a speciallist.
This guy told me i was stuffed for life, my back would get worse and the best thing for me would be an invalid pension.
Now at 30years od age the thought of an invalid pension didn't sit too well with me as i figured i was still able to perform most activities but with some discomfort.
I went to another doctor and he said it was all BS, apparently this specialist was looking to make a name for himself with some new disease he had identified and was using otherwise well people to back up his diagnosis.
The doctor gave me some exercises to do and Voltaren to help with recovery after exercise.
within 3mths i was back to normal and have had no problems since, well apart from the broken ankle i have now, hmmm.... wonder if i can get a pension for that.

Why would you say not to go chiropractor, yet had problem with a specialist too. Shouldn't you include the specialist in the "not to visit category". I say go see a good chiropractor, who will include specific and non-specific exercises as well as providing the appropriate treatment.

Laminge · 11-12-2007, 03:46 PM

A good Chiropractor is like a Newbie with Admin powers.... not a chance in hell!

Tribal · 11-12-2007, 03:57 PM

I've had problems on and off for the past 20 years (I'm only 35) but I just knew I had to start getting more active lest I live in pain for the rest of my life.
So two years ago I started doing martial arts and haven't had a single problem since - and I never thought I'd be doing (or be able to do) jumping spinning kicks a couple of years ago. Like a few others have mentioned it is all about strengthening ALL of the muscles surrounding the spine.

As for chiropractors, IF you can find a good one they are worth there weight in gold.

4Vman · 11-12-2007, 03:59 PM

I liken chiropractors to that guy on the TV commercial that slaps two fish together over the guys back...
My advice after 25 years of competitive sport and plenty of injuries is see a properly trained professional Physio after being properly diagnosed by a qualified Sports Medicine Doctor.

xbgs351 · 11-12-2007, 04:03 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by cowboy

At the tender age of 30 have been diagnosed with moderate degeneration of the L4-5 vertebrae and disc. The result of being 6 foot 7 and way too much heavy lifting. Causes me severe pain every day. The bugger is I have just started a job that will allow me to work 6 months a year and still make obscene amounts of money. Don't want to give it up because of a bad back if I can help it.

Who else here has back problems and how do you deal with it?

Thirty is a typical age for back problems to start occuring. Have a look at a spine and it's not hard to spot why so many problems occur around the L5-S1 and L4-L5 area.

Falc'man · 11-12-2007, 04:08 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by cowboy

At the tender age of 30 have been diagnosed with moderate degeneration of the L4-5 vertebrae and disc. The result of being 6 foot 7 and way too much heavy lifting. Causes me severe pain every day. The bugger is I have just started a job that will allow me to work 6 months a year and still make obscene amounts of money. Don't want to give it up because of a bad back if I can help it.

Who else here has back problems and how do you deal with it?

All good advice so far. I'd like to add swimming is pretty good too and try keeping your weight down. Good luck.

bingoTE50 · 11-12-2007, 04:26 PM

Cowboy , I think the key is to stay active . I have been slack for the last twelve months and at 44 , I have got a lot of work to get back in shape . The key is swallow the pride and get others to assist whilst lifting , use machines if possible ,and strengthen the abs/back/hamstrings .Stay aware of your posture , I am sure being your height you tend to stoop ,I do and I am only 6'3 . I take voltaren as a last resort and generally only need them for a few days them I am ok. Road runs are out , so is jumping (basketball) , keep twisting to a minimum( shovelling soil) , and warm up if you play sport .Swimming would be good for you as it is a all body workout.

bob^ · 11-12-2007, 04:49 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by AC/DC

A lot of people who are taller, get a thing called Scheurmanns disease, which happens when you are in your teens, , growing faster some of the vertibrae dont grow perfectly flat.....

I have it, and yeah sometimes I get a sore back.

http://www.spine-health.com/topics/c...s/scheu01.html

and I am 6 foot 5.....and the chiro recommended riding a bike and general exercise to strengthen the muscles around the spine.

AC/DC

I've never come across anyone else who has had that too! My parents always thought I was being lazy with my bad posture, but once they finally got me to the doctors I was diagnosed with it.
Do you have much of a hunch in your back?
Dead lifts at the gym helped with mine a bit.

fastapasta · 11-12-2007, 04:57 PM

GLUCOSAMINE,JOINT RELIEF,ETC.

Also see a podiatrist about authotics. They are worth it for a long term investment.

Go baby Go · 11-12-2007, 04:57 PM

Believe it or not, pilates my friend....in conunction with physio.

Not the 'what you see in movies' type, but using reformers and dedicated excercises to build your core. They also go into correcting your posture etc.

The upshot is to improve the core muscles so they are strong enough that it will then begin to hold you in the correct positions. Chiro's are bad for this problem, as crunching can prolapse your discs. Prolapsed discs result in epidurals, and I'm not talking make your whole back numb, but inject directly into the disc - not nice let me tell you.

It's not an easy fix. From personal experience, and I am not at the end of the road, it takes time. But if you don't take care of it now, it means you can still play with the kids, or still drive that car........ it may just make the difference between managing your lifestyle and avoiding surgery.

Good luck- I honestly hope you recover enough to avoid surgery. That's my aim.......

SB076 · 11-12-2007, 04:58 PM

I have a mate thats had prolapsed discs??? He had surgery as it got to the stage that he couldnt walk (he was in a far amount of pain) Anyway he is around 6' 5 roughly but he is fine now but needs to constantly do exercises and watch what he does. The analogy I heard is that your spine is like a mast on a yacht and the muscles are like the stays (supports) without adequate support you can have issues with your spine. I would be seeing someone who is qualified in that area and hopefully they can give you some excerises to strengthen areas of your back which in turn reduce any problems with your spine.