Back problems can be and are a nightmare for many people, you don’t really appreciate all your back does until it stops doing it or sciatic nerve problems began. I use to drive a lot, averaged 85-95k miles in a vehicle, 25k on motorcycle annually. I grew up on a working ranch, you didn’t loaf or complain you just learned how to work until you learned to enjoy it, at 23 I started my own construction company and instead of being smart and lifting heavy beams and sheet goods with a crane or lift we used our backs to save money, dumb. Did a lot of damage doing that.
One day while returning from a job I was doing on Cannon Air Force Base I pulled in for gas off I40 about 4 hours out from home. Walked in normally, as I was filling up a fountain drink my hips and back felt severe pain, like on fire stabbing kind of pain. It took me 35 minutes to get back to the truck, I could only take 3-4 steps at a time and the pain would make me stop, intense and I’ve dealt with some pain in my life. Once I got back in the truck the pain eased up and I made it home. I spent the next 90 days in a wheelchair, first Doc I saw misdiagnosed the problem as spinal stenosis, a condition where your vertebrates shrink and the spinal canal closes in. I decided to research out a second Spine Doctor for another opinion and found one with lots of positive feedback down in Scottsdale, he was the Doc for a few pro sports teams and other high profile clients. Best thing I ever did. MRI revealed a a severely blown out disc, the second worst he’s ever seen, he said “Air McNair” was worse than mine, he fixed him too. if you don’t remember McNair he was a NFL quarterback. His operating schedule was 67 days out before I could get in during which the pain was intense at times. Post operation I had zero pain but I was foolish and went deer hunting a month later and wore light pack, less than 25 pounds. Some pain came back, mostly due to scar tissue on the nerves he thinks. The pain is nothing compared to before, I can’t do 100% of what I use to be able to do but I can do 80%. I can still hike 10 miles a day if I go slow and don’t wear a pack with more than 20 pounds, still motorcycle, still do construction projects around the house etc. When my back has had enough I stop, it will let me know.
My take away from the experience.
Research your doctor, back problems are tricky, you’re guaranteed nothing but you’ll put the odds in your favor if you find someone who is good at what they do. It’s worth the time it took to research a bit.
I misused my back, lifted too much, lifted it improperly. I would do that different now, obviously.
I should have seen a spine doctor much earlier than I did, I would have avoided much of what I went through.
When driving I should have taken the time to stop and stretch, I stop every 2 hours now or when I feel the pain coming on.
Stretching daily is a tremendous help, I should have been stretching my whole life, still don’t at times, not smart.
Massage therapy gives me tremendous relief depending on the therapist. I found a good one who can really do wonders, it’s lasts a couple weeks and gives me some relief.
Now when I go into town I notice people who suffer with back problems more than I use to. I’ll try and open a door for them, help them get goods back to their car etc. Little things can be a huge help. I always considered myself an empathetic person but after that experience my empathy went up several notches. I’m 56 and still live with back pain, good chance I’ll have more issues down the road. If your back hurts, your hips hurt I’d urge to not procrastinate getting it checked.
