Gig in 3 hours, and...

[Gust0o]

Well... blimey, I am paying for it this morning! Painkillers were a blessing; but a couple of warm-up tipples might have been a bit much, though it did make the gig fly-by (albeit in soft focus)!

It took me an hour to get down up and get down the stairs this morning. My elderly neighbour even came round to offer me a bigger walking stick! GP on Thursday, and I cannot wait.

[PTB]

Me too. :'(

My back went late on Monday & by the time I got to my physio at 4pm yesterday, all the muscles were in spasm. I'm about 70% better after her magic touch and should be ok for 3 sets on DB on Friday night. I'm back to the physio first thing Saturday & hope that will do it.

I am going to set a quarterly appointment with the physio going forwards: prevention is better than cure.

[Happy Jack]

[quote name='PTB' timestamp='1375274327' post='2159079']
... and should be ok for 3 sets on DB on Friday night. I'm back to the physio first thing Saturday & hope that will do it.

[/quote]

Strewth mate - get yourself a dep! I've been dealing with the whole spasm thing for nearly five years now, and I wouldn't dream of tackling a gig like that while there was any serious risk of a breakdown.

FWIW, the thing that has made the most difference to me (so far) is not physio, massage, chiropractice or drugs, but [b]Pilates[/b]. I took it up last Autumn (after my most recent back-spasm episode) and 10 months in I'd say my back is in its best shape for quite a while. Not perfect yet, not bullet-proof, but heading in the right direction.

[Gust0o]

After the last injury, I'd be working up some lower back exercises in the gym. The idea was to both pull some weight off (failing, because I'm simply adding upper body muscle mass) and have a stronger back. Total failure! I'm not sure when I'll manage to get back to regular exercise, though I did speak to my employer - ok, so it'll keep me from going out on the road, but we both struggled to work out the difference between working from home and simply resting up. I could probably do both from a pile of cushions!

Dug out of my old exercises for sciatica sheet from the NHS physio. A couple of hamstring stretches gave some relief, as it's morphed from the back being an issue to some real crippling issues in my right leg!

[fumps]

OoooOOo
Blimey I have only done my back once & will never laugh at another person ever who has done this, I remember having to sleep on the living room floor for 4 nights, I lived in a three floor massive terraced house with 3 other mates, I literally could not move it was the weirdest thing i've ever had done to me.

My heart goes out to you guys, it's making me wince just thinking about it

[Happy Jack]

[quote name='fumps' timestamp='1375281127' post='2159214']
... will never laugh at another person ever who has done this.
[/quote]

Until it happens to you, you can never imagine just how debilitating it is.

I used to be quite impatient of people shuffling along pavements and corridors with sticks ... now I am FAR more sympathetic and considerate.

Shame it took a lumbar collapse to have that effect ...

[Gust0o]

[quote name='Happy Jack' timestamp='1375283488' post='2159264']
Until it happens to you, you can never imagine just how debilitating it is.
[/quote]

Absolutely! It is completely debilitating.

If I think about myself, and my life to date, I'd like to think of myself as a big guy, capable of handling himself, capable of taking the knocks and being very resilient. A dependable rock.

I had to get the wife to help me out of bed and get dressed this morning. Oh aye, a real rock, me.

[fumps]

[quote name='Happy Jack' timestamp='1375283488' post='2159264']
Until it happens to you, you can never imagine just how debilitating it is.

[/quote]
Ooo yeh it make you weaker than a puppy, I couldn't get my head round the fact that I could not just get back up & walk around. I kept randomly trying & giving up.....horrible feeling

[police squad]

is it lower back pain?
if so have you ever tried the stretch you see fast bowlers doing,
lay on your back and twist your hips so you're laying on one of them, keeping your shoulders flat on the floor and pull your knee up and bend to the floor.
eg, twist so you're on your left hip, pull right knee up and push it towards the floor.

Ihave a bad back quite often and when I do this I hear/feel a click in the lower back joints, and usually it cures it

[White Cloud]

[quote name='Gust0o' timestamp='1375280206' post='2159199']
After the last injury, I'd be working up some lower back exercises in the gym. The idea was to both pull some weight off (failing, because I'm simply adding upper body muscle mass) and have a stronger back. Total failure! I'm not sure when I'll manage to get back to regular exercise, though I did speak to my employer - ok, so it'll keep me from going out on the road, but we both struggled to work out the difference between working from home and simply resting up. I could probably do both from a pile of cushions!

Dug out of my old exercises for sciatica sheet from the NHS physio. A couple of hamstring stretches gave some relief, as it's morphed from the back being an issue to some real crippling issues in my right leg!
[/quote]
From this information I can tell you that your leg is in actual fact absolutely fine...you have a sciatic nerve problem. You may have trapped it my friend.

Forget the GP and either book a session with a specialist or go straight to NHS Physio - there is no referral necessary from a doctor.

[Gust0o]

I didn't know I could bypass the GP. Last time I waited for referral. Now that is interesting, thanks.

[White Cloud]

[quote name='Gust0o' timestamp='1375294379' post='2159448']
I didn't know I could bypass the GP. Last time I waited for referral. Now that is interesting, thanks.
[/quote]
Here in Scotland no GP referral is required...any person can contact their local NHS physio direct. I recently tore my shoulder rotator cuff muscle...I went straight to my local NHS physio.....I was in for treatment within hours!

Unless other parts of the UK are different you should, with luck benefit in the same way. Call your GP surgery and ask for the nearest NHS physio contact number. I trapped my sciatic nerve 5 years ago btw...exact same symptoms you are experiencing...couldnt understand why the back eased off and my left leg had become seriously painful!

[White Cloud]

How did you get on amigo?

[6feet7]

I'm an osteo with chiro qualifications too and I always recommend my patients do Pilates as well - I put em straight and then they keep it there with core strength.
Physio is good for rehab after accident or operation but they arn't trained in 'body mechanics'.
GP's - useless - great for drugs but unless the underlying problem is solved it'll keep coming back (no pun intended)

[White Cloud]

[quote name='6feet7' timestamp='1375444697' post='2161442']
I'm an osteo with chiro qualifications too and I always recommend my patients do Pilates as well - I put em straight and then they keep it there with core strength.
Physio is good for rehab after accident or operation but they arn't trained in 'body mechanics'.
GP's - useless - great for drugs but unless the underlying problem is solved it'll keep coming back (no pun intended)
[/quote]
Agreed...suffered horrible back injury, various GP's had not a clue and prescribed several meds (that were actually doing me more harm than good). Osteo treatment got straight to the heart of the matter...and set me on the road to recovery.

Hope the OP is at least pain free by now!

[Gust0o]

[quote name='White Cloud' timestamp='1375444243' post='2161425']
How did you get on amigo?
[/quote]

Well, I got a bollocking for not looking after myself - and, yes, sciatica was the diagnosis. He's asked me to monitor the pain and contact again if it persists beyond a fortnight - in which case he's refer for physio, and we can have a more serious chat.

Interesting conversation on the levels of pain relief. I'm only taking a fraction of what I'm allowed - he's asked me to up that and to look again at some of the exercises from previous (and a new document he had to hand), to ensure I'm continuing to stretch and get some relief beyond just numbing the pain.

Managed a proper chat with my employer this morning. I've got a couple of days off next week, in advance of some travel later in the week, to ensure I get some rest prior, and they're willing to look at travel options with me - all pretty positive!

[White Cloud]

[quote name='Gust0o' timestamp='1375447479' post='2161515']
Well, I got a bollocking for not looking after myself - and, yes, sciatica was the diagnosis. He's asked me to monitor the pain and contact again if it persists beyond a fortnight - in which case he's refer for physio, and we can have a more serious chat.

Interesting conversation on the levels of pain relief. I'm only taking a fraction of what I'm allowed - he's asked me to up that and to look again at some of the exercises from previous (and a new document he had to hand), to ensure I'm continuing to stretch and get some relief beyond just numbing the pain.

Managed a proper chat with my employer this morning. I've got a couple of days off next week, in advance of some travel later in the week, to ensure I get some rest prior, and they're willing to look at travel options with me - all pretty positive!
[/quote]
Typical GP....hot air and pain killers.

I find it bizarre that you have to go back in a couple of weeks before physio is considered. Seriously consider paying for a couple of sessions with an osteopath.

[Paul S]

If you stick 'sciatic stretch' into YouTube you will actually get a number of fairly useful stretch exercises to do that help alleviate it.

I think the worst thing about sciatica is not actually knowing how long it is going to last. First time I had it I couldn't walk *at all* for 3 days but it gradually got better and better. I found making myself walk seemed to speed up recovery, even though my foot was completely numb and I was walking weirdly. After 3 weeks it was almost back to normal, although I have been left with residually numb toes on that side. Usually it cures itself - the bit of the nerve that is poking out of the protective cage of the spine and getting nipped will get sealed off from the main nerve and then gradually be absorbed and disappear.

[Gust0o]

[quote name='White Cloud' timestamp='1375452571' post='2161627']
Typical GP....hot air and pain killers.

I find it bizarre that you have to go back in a couple of weeks before physio is considered. Seriously consider paying for a couple of sessions with an osteopath.
[/quote]

Standard though, isn't it? The medical profession has such a strong focus around pain relief - so, that's what I got. Have found a good osteopath locally, recommended from an old work colleague - so I'll be having a trial session next week!

He was right in his admonition, however. I could be a bit lighter, and I have a history - not only from when I slipped my disc, but I did crawl out of a car crash and have had a whole swathe of earlier sporting injuries (both of which did for my back!), so... bugger, might have to take that one on the chin and get back on the bike.

[White Cloud]

[quote name='Gust0o' timestamp='1375458163' post='2161734']
Standard though, isn't it? The medical profession has such a strong focus around pain relief - so, that's what I got. Have found a good osteopath locally, recommended from an old work colleague - so I'll be having a trial session next week!

He was right in his admonition, however. I could be a bit lighter, and I have a history - not only from when I slipped my disc, but I did crawl out of a car crash and have had a whole swathe of earlier sporting injuries (both of which did for my back!), so... bugger, might have to take that one on the chin and get back on the bike.
[/quote]
Hope things improve. Back pain/sciatica is horrible.