So much conflicting research!
ABC News: Back Surgery Can Quickly Relieve Pain
MedicineNet.com: Back Pain Often Ends Without Surgery
Tag Archives: health
Morning Exercise Video Watching
Douglas Adam’s Hyperland, via North Is Up.
Waxy.org: “The Machine that Changed the World
Journal of Bone and Joint Surgery article search
They have a lot of research available to download for free.
Making time count
Each morning I do an exercise routine that takes 30 minutes to 45 minutes. Typically, I would do this in the living room watching TV. These past couple days I’ve been exercising in my office and orienting my monitor towards the floor so that I can watch video.
Led by a Dave Rogers post, I watched Jill Bolte Taylor’s talk at TED as my first video. I’m glad I did. Take a gander: “These are the we, inside of me”.
Getting shot 4 of 4 today
I’m off to get my last epidural today. The last two had decreasing amounts of effectiveness, so my hopes aren’t all that great. I’ll need to weigh options after this. What next?
Some Ask Metafilter threads:
I have a pain in the butt. Help me fix it.
Leg pain returning, but there are some sports stars dealing with this too
I’ll post an update about the latest injection’s progress (not good), but while researching my condition using Powerset I found out that NBA MVB, the Suns’s Steve Nash, and tennis star Andre Agassi, have my condition, spondylolisthesis.
Sports Illustrated: Point Guard from Another Planet
NBA.com: Steve Nash’s MVP Workout
Charlie Rose Show: A conversation with basketball professional Steve Nash
Tennis Warehouse: Interview with Andre Agassi
theage.com.au: Pain is Agassi’s main foe
webmd.com: Andre Agassi’s Battle With Back Pain
cnn.com: Interview With Andre Agassi
Leg/Back Pain Update
I had a follow up at the University of Pennsylvania last Friday to discuss my progress.
My lower back pain symptoms has been unchanged, I still get a very hot pain while sitting, either happening immediately in unergonomic settings, or after an hour or so in ergonomic-correct settings.
My leg pain (only my left leg) begins after walking 3 or more blocks and progresses to a level 2 after five blocks, requiring me to stop walking and take a break for it to settle down. If I don’t the pain rapidly grows into something that incapacitates me.
The leg pain starts in me left hip, left knee, left shin almost simultaneously (I think the hip just slightly before the rest). Along with that is a growing tingle in my left big toe and a pressure on the top of my left ankle. Sometimes the tingle remains in the toe whether sitting, standing or walking. Most times all of these will subside when sitting down or leaning against a wall.
Unfortunately, the level 2 pain is a step back from the level 1 pain I felt earlier in the week (which was a level 5-8 pain before the first shot in this series), when I sounded so optimistic. I’m doing everything ‘right’ as far as I know. Eating well. Exercising. Watching posture and my body mechanics.
The doctor was encouraged by my progress. The leg pain/tingling used to come on earlier and far more strong. So he’s scheduled me for two more Selective Nerve Root Block injections.
I don’t mind the back pain. Don’t care that much about it at all. Getting up every hour to relieve it is good for for me. But the leg pain continues to be a drag on so much.
Gotta keep on trucking. Things could be far worst.
New Balance 992s – Not good for lower back pain
Many folks who suffer from lower back pain are told – “buy New Balance sneakers”.
The mistake comes in where folks follow the hype and buy what is a terrific running sneaker – New Balance’s 992s.
I can understand why. I’ve seen Steve Jobs wearing them for goodness sakes.
And yeah, I actually bought a pair.
But here’s the thing, that particular sneaker does not help back pain sufferers. In fact, I believe can trigger low back pain when they are mis-worn. Which is wearing them for a purpose other than running. 992s are running sneakers with additional cushioning in the heal for the hammering they take during jogging or running. This additional cushioning elevates your heal, adding pressure to your legs and encouraging your back into a posture that isn’t helpful while walking.
And if you are suffering low back pain, like me, you’re not running all that much.
After following some advice found in this message forum I went out and bought some Clarks and Pumas. There is a notable difference when standing or walking. Richelle’s mom has sung the praises of Clarks for her knee pain for a while.
So it was great to read in New York Magazine that this approach made sense.
Related: Boing Boing thread on the previously mentioned article and subject.
Had the 2nd of 2 epidurals last night
So far so good. The last steroid injection, taken back April 2nd, was a tremendous success. Whereas the three I received last year had benefits that were tenuous and short lasting these seem to be helping me progress towards a place that is kinda back where I was before the injury happened. Monday and Tuesday I had taken walks of up to five blocks with leg pain that was barely noticeable. My lunch breaks were not wracked with leg pain. It was a joy. While my back pain doesn’t seem to be subsiding, it’s my leg pain that concerns me, what has been limiting my outdoors activities so much this past year and a half. The back pain is manageable with good body mechanics, getting up and about every hour, exercise, good diet, good ergonomics at work and at home (it is at home that I need to correct things – at work my workstation is simple, but gets the job done).
I’m keeping my fingers crossed, but I am looking forward to strapping my guitar back on and inviting my friends over to hang out. Not only that, but to socialize in the flesh again. Most important – just taking long walks with Emma and Richelle, going to the zoo, going down the shore, maybe even a few family trips that I have been avoiding because of pain and not wanting to be a drag.
Herniated Disk Update
Things have been steadily improving – the pain in my left leg is no longer constant, nor as bad. It still strikes while standing or sitting too long, or when carrying additional weight on the left side of my body.
A few things I still miss however – I can’t play my guitar for any length of time, and the combination of medication and sudden bouts of pain leaves me continuously drained.
I see light at the end of the tunnel now though. There’s no residual pain in my right foot from my fall – it’s completely healed. And they’ve been adding additional exercises at my physical therapy sessions (three times a week) to both strengthen my trunk and my upper body. Shoot – I’ve lost ten pounds over the last two months.
I’m looking forward to keeping exercise a part of my daily routine. Who knows, maybe by the end of all this, I’ll be healthier then ever.
Then again, I better shut up, or I’ll take another spill!