Chronic Back Injury and PAIN
 

Hi Everyone,

I really need some advice, moral support, and friendship from people who truely understand what I go through and live with everyday.

Six years ago I was hit by a car while I was jogging. My left leg was crushed and I was pretty banged up. THe person left me on the side of the road nice huh. Anyway later on we found out that I had extremely bad nerve damage over the majority of my spine and my left hip. I was 21 when I was hit, and a senior in college. This one moment has completely changed my life. I now have chronic pain which gets worse every year. The pain has gotten so bad I am not working and I am taking alot of medicine. IN six years I gained over a hundred pounds. I went from being very active to barely exercising because it is so painfull. I do not even remember what it feels like to not hurt. I have a husband and a close family but no one really understands how much I hurt...no one who does not have a chronic illness ever could. Eight months ago I got so sick of the way I looked and felt that I went on a diet and started exercising. I have lost 60 pounds but I still have 50 to go. I am beginning to loose my motivation. I have very little support and it is hard to deny myself food rewards when my life is full of pain. IT is also hard to stay commited to exercise when it is so painfull.

Please help me. I really need a friend/friends who knows what I have been through and what I am facing. Please ask me as many questions about myself as you want. I really don,t know what to put here. I am a really nice person. I am a clinical psychologist and a great listner.

I need as much support and advice as I can get and will also give you as much support and advice that I can.

Thanks for reading and good luck on your own journey:) :) :)

Hi Watson,
You inspire me. You are also doing great.
You have been through so much. You are going to do it, because you are strong. The people here are great. They will keep you going.
Blondiegirlme

hi and welcome! congrats on your 60 lb. weight loss. that's fantastic! i do sympathize with your chronic pain too. i hurt my back many years ago in an accident and have spinal cord damage and chronic pain from that-everyday too. i also have ms now, which was diagnosed 2 years ago. because of that, i have a lot of weakness and numbness in my legs and use a cane or walker and at times, a wheelchair. of everything though, my back pain is what is the worst. i certainly sympathize with you for all you have gone through and i'm so sorry that you are in so much constant pain. even with all you have been through, you have lost 60 lbs. so far!! you have a lot to be proud of. i wish you all the best on the rest of your weight loss journey. (i have had to go through a lot of trial and error in trying to figure out what plan would work for me, since i am unable to do the same types of exercising i could do in the past. i am losing now-very slowly, but am I losing, and grateful for it.) please let me know if i can be of any support. take care.

wsw

Hi wsw,

Thank you for your response. I to have had to make a lot of compromises and research about exercise. As you know, the simplest task can be painfull and sometimes impossible. It is hard to live even close to a normal life when my doctor has a 5 page list of all the things I shouldn't do. I tend to ignore her. She is a good Doctor but she has no idea what it is like to be one of her patients. I think all doctors should have to change places with their patients for a week. I gaurantee we would all get better and more compassionate treatment.

Please tell me more about yourself. How much weight do you want to loose and what are you doing? I wish you all the best in dealing with your own injury and illness. I know how isolated our pain and illnesses can make us. Please let me know if there is anything I can do to help.

Watson

hi watson

i certainly agree with you that if doctorss had to change places with their patients they may respond a bit differently! actually, i'm pretty lucky with most of my doctors, anyway. i have been doing physical therapy for my back, which at least helps. i have been given a lengthy list of what i can and cannot do both from my neurosurgeon and now from the physical therapist. i do the best i can to follow these, but as you said, real life does intervene at times.

i am following a calorie food plan. i had tried weight watchers and it didn't seem to work for me too well. (yes, i know, i must be the only person on the planet who has not had success with ww!) actually, though, because i can move around so little in comparison to the past, i had to experiment with ww and counting calories, etc. until i could come up with something that works for me. after meeting with a nutritionist per my doctor, i settled on cals. i eat healthy, balanced meals with lots of fruits an veggies, drink plenty of water, etc. i do my physical therapy exercises also. i have lost 35 lbs. and have 60 more lbs. to lose. i had gotten pretty discouraged for a while because i was trying very hard with no results and that had never happened to me in the past. i had a total abdominal hysterectomy last year (not elective) and with going into surgical menopause plus all the medication i'm on for ms, my doctor had said all that plus not being able to exercise as i had previously meant i really would have to change my food plan before i would be able to lose and that turned out to be the case. i am still losing quite slowly, but at least i am losing and feel like i'm on the right track now.

what have you been doing to lose all that weight so far? clearly, it's working! you really are an inspiration. well, take care. hope you have a good evening.

best wishes,
wsw

DEar wsw,

I am sorry I have nit repied to your last post soon, but I have been out of town and not feeling well. Weight Watchers didn't work for me either. I did not find it to be very supportive and I have found that putting in the time to learn about nutrition and putting it to work for me is best. PLus I don't have to pay a monthly fee. However, I would love a friend in my area who could physically support me and be going though a diet also, but all my real life friends wear a size 1 to 8. My husband is no help because he thinks veggies are poison. He lives on meat, cheese, and junk food. He drinks 6 sodas a day and I am the one on a diet. LIfes funny.

I just rty to the best I can everyday. Some days I am good and somedays I give in to cheesecake. I think this works okay for me. I am living a much healthier life and I can never stick to a very restrictive diet long term.

Would you mind telling me a little about your personal life, how you live, what your struggles are...IF you don't want to post it here you can private message me.

Take care.......WATSON

Hi Watson

I'm sorry you weren't feeling well recently. I hope you're feeling much better now.

I too do not do well on restrictive sorts of diets, so I find that eating healthy, well-balanced meals and counting calories works best for me. I like fresh fruits and vegetables, so that part is not not hard for me to maintain as a regular portion of my food plan. Sometimes, though, I find it frustrating that I have to watch what I eat so carefully or I will not be able to lose, but for the most part, I'm hanging in there pretty well.

I hope your afternoon is going well. Take care.

wsw

Dear wsw,

This has been the worst month. My GRandfather has been in the hospital, so I have been in the boonies helping take care of him. I am also bedridden at the moment because of the long hours I spent traveling and in the hospital. I am doing basically the same things yo are diet wise. However, I have to eat pretty much whatever my husband brings me as I cant cook at the moment.....so my diet is out the window at the moment. I eliminated fried foods, white foods, and red meat. I eat a ton of fruits and veggies and lots of lean protien. I don't feel as if I am missing much and if I really want something I eat it occassionally. PLease keep writing to me. IT helps especially now that I am in sooo much pain and bedridden.

TAke care, Watson

Hey There
 

Watson- So your hubby only eats protien and junk food?You don't have to. I lost 57 lbs with WW and now I am trying to lose another 15. It is not easy. You know although it is not easy you can cook for yourself what you want to eat and for your hubby what he wants. I have done it for the past 4 yrs. Get some blinders!! Have a little bit of tunnel vision where his food is concerned. You can do this. Sometimes our hubby's will try to sabotoge our diets. Maybe for different reasons he wants the company of being overweight. If you can't get around to cook for yourself cut in half what he serves you.You have to take care of yourself. Don't give yourself excuses.
I have osteoarthritis. There are not many days that I do not have pain. The Dr's told me the only thing left was surgery for my back. I think that was a wakeup for me. I said no way. I joined WW for the upteenth time. It worked for me. I made Lifetime. It has not helped all that much lately,but, I have not gained more than a couple lbs over goal and am still able to get it off again. It took me 30 yrs to get down to a reasonable weight. I hope you can too.
I hope you are well and feeling better soon...Joanne

Hi Watson
 

Welcome to our little nest here. I was 29 when I first started having back problems. I did undergo back surgery when I was 37. For a few years, I did ok, not pain free, but certainly less pain. 7 years ago, it all came back with a vengence. I have developed Osteoarthritis in the facet joints of my lower back (these are the joints that are responsible for movement). At one point my back was completely locked. I had no range of motion at all. During the past 3 years, I have also been diagnosed with Fibromyalgia. I sure do understand chronic pain, and how it affects every aspect of our lives. I am very lucky to have a wonderful Dr.

I tried ww, starting Jan. of this past year and up to June I had lost only 9 pounds. Frustrating, because I was sticking to it. I then decided to give Atkins a try, and started that the first part of October. 19 pounds gone up until Christmas (I am sure a couple returned over the holidays, but I don't know for sure, as I have had to have a cast on my left foot, since the 21 Dec - fractured bone in the foot). My pants still feel nice and loose, so it must not be too serious:lol: Due to FMS, I was seeming to be getting that exhaustive fatigue - just so tired I couldn't get up. Since going on Atkins, that has been eliminated (I think it is an insulin related problem). Also, IBS has become a thing of the past. I am feeling wonderful on this diet. I have given up bread (which I loved) pasta, starchy veggies. I now live on meat, veggies, berries, cream, cheese etc.

If you ladies want to join us in the Dieting with Fibromyalgia forum, please feel free. Lots don't have FM, but they have Chronic Pain, so we all understand and support each other.;)

hi watson

i'm sorry to hear you've had such a lousy month! it must be so miserable being bedridden and in so much pain now. believe me, i hope you will be up and about soon! i also hope your grandfather is doing better or at least will be, soon. i am thinking a good thought and sending it your way. apparantly, i hadn't checked this board before sending you that email last night or i would have acknowledged what you wrote here. we must have been on the same wave length though. i really do hope you are feeling at least a bit better this afternoon. please take good care of yourself!

Hello ladies!
 

Wow, a place where everyone knows what it feels like!! Thank you so much for posting this thread!!

My name is Michelle, and as you all can tell, I am new to 3FC. I am the SAHM to my very active 2 year old girl (who is a tomboy at this young age). When I saw this thread, I almost started to cry, because it is a rare day that someone understands the level of pain that I deal with on a daily basis. It is also rare that people understand why you don't, or rarely exercise.

Here is my story:

For ten years I worked as a retail manager and was on my feet for 8-10 hours a day. About 5 years into my career, I "threw my back out". I know you can all relate. Then about every six months or so after that point, my back would just go out. My doc would give me a couple of days worth of Vicodin, PT and tell me to get up and on my feet as quickly as I could. "Don't stay in bed, get up and start walking." So I would follow his orders, get out of bed within a couple of days, do the PT thing for a week or two (all the HMO would pay for), and get back to work at about 35-40% of "normal." He told me it was a muscle strain and to basically just suck it up until I felt better.

Fast forward to April 2001. My baby is six months old. I can't move because my back has gone out again. My husband is a firefighter/paramedic, so he works 48 on 48 off, and he is at work and can't get off (since he's a rookie). I am forced at this stage to put my daughter in her high chair and leave her there, because I can't lift her from the ground, and she's to small to leave on the couch. I feel like the WORST mother in the world leaving her in her high chair, but there is NOTHING I can do and no one to help. When dh gets home he takes me to doc's office. And, as usual, he says it is nothing more than a muscle strain. I demand an MRI and he gets approval. The MRI shows I have a completely ruptured disc (at L4-5), and the nucleus pulposa (the goo inside the disc) has extruded out and is traveling down my spinal column. After having a friend (who is a radiologist) read the films, he said that for years (probably since first injury), my disc was bulging, and the pregnancy caused it to burst, but the goo didn't start causing the problems until that fateful April day. Needless to say, I canned my doc shortly thereafter.

And here we are now today. The disc is empty, and is now full of scar tissue. The "goo" that had traveled down my spinal column, finally dehydrated, but broke off in several pieces and is now "free-flowing" in my spinal canal. So, some days are ok, but others I can't move and have no feeling in my foot and leg. I've met with several leading orthopedic surgeons and a neurologist, and they have all said that I would still have some pain after surgery because they probably wouldn't be able to get all of the nucleus pulposis pieces out of my spinal column. So, now I live in chronic pain, can't walk around the block without being bedridden for a week, don't do PT because the pain gets worse, and am now about 100 lbs overweight. I do ride a stationary/recumbent bike 3-4 times a week, take Ultram (Vicodin makes me sick to my stomach), and will be starting the Lean for Life weight loss program this week when I get my stuff from Lindora (WW didn't work for me as well).

I look forward to going on this journey with all of you. It is nice to be surrounded by people who understand.

Take care all!
Shel

Hi there Michelle. I can sure relate to having little ones and an unco-operative back. If you don't own a back brace, go get one. That is a life saver for me on some days. Just putting it on for 3 hours and it really helps the muscle. My other life save is the Upper Cervial Chiropracter. He is wonderful and my back is so much better than it was 6 years ago, when it was locked in the same place. Arthritis has set into the Facet Joints, from the surgery. Surgery certainly isn't a cure, but it did help for a few years.

If you want to read about the Upper Cervical Chiropracter go to
www.nuuca.org It is a treatment unlike anything a regular chiro does. It is done by precise measurement.

Oh, I should say Welcome to 3FatChicks. Nice to have onboard.

Hi All, I am totally new to this diet forum and am trying to lose the weight I gained since my back operation a few yrs ago. I will make this short but coud tell by reading first few messages that I need to be part of this thread because I have chronic back pain that challenges me everyday that I struggle with while trying to lose weight , etc. I look forward to hearing from you all.
I will be back soon after I finish reading the rest of the posts on this thread and a few others.....April

I have a suggestion for chronic pain...a feldenkrais practitioner! my mom had back/arm pain for years, with no results from physical therapy (well, some results, but the pain was always there). She got a visit with a therapist who did feldenkrais, and after 2 visits, she was pain free. I'm not saying it will work for everyone, but it could help you.

The adjustments were very gentle. My mom was told to lie on a padded table and the therapist held her head gently and then moved her arms and legs gently. Doing this allowed the body to untwist itself and adjust itself. I'm sure it's more complex than that, but it was amazing to watch.

www.feldenkrais.com

Hi everyone! I was hoping I would find a thread like this, so thank you for posting it. I too have chronic back pain - all from a car accident 5 years ago in which I was T-boned. I suffered a bulging disc between L4-5 and now have severe arthritis throughout my entire lumbar spine. Fun wow.

I used to be very fit before this accident, and was very involved in sports, such as downhill skiing, aerobics, volleyball, weightlifting, but now am unable to do many of these things (especially the skiing, can you imagine what would happen if I fell?!!@@#$#)

Anyways, I have two young kids, a boy who is 7 and a new baby girl who is just 4 months old. My doctors told me I was crazy to get pregnant with my back, but I never wanted my son to be an only child, so we took the risk. It has been difficult to lift her and carry her , and with the car seat very painful! I sometimes have to use a cane to walk when my disc goes out, then I get the pain all down my right leg and cannot move it properly, and I get the numbness in my foot.

Anyhow, I am desperately trying to lose about 60 pounds, and could use any support I can get. I have read all your stories, and I think you guys are going to be a great inspiration, especially you Watson - congrats on 60 lbs weight loss!!

Have a great day everyone

Scooby

hi! welcome scooby, april, and all!

i hadn't even looked at this thread for a while, but with my back hurting so much this past week, it definitely caught my eye again. i am due to go back to physical therapy for my back next month, and i am looking forward to that. my p.t. is great. sometimes, i want to use being in chronic pain as an excuse to go off program, but usually i can talk myself out of that thinking. i guess i needed to be reminded tonight that i'm not alone and other folks go through similar problems and continue to hang in there. good reminder that i can too! well, take care, all.

Good morning everyone. It's Saturday morning, mild here in Toronto but they are expecting more snow (yuk) and I am feeling a little down. I have been trying to get back into an excercise routine, but am getting frustrated again because most of my favorite activities I have a really hard time doing now due to back pain. @$@$#$%#%$#%$# Makes it that much harder to lose weight! Anyone else having this problem? I know I have to take things slow and easy, but it's very frustrating when all I really want is some kind of magic pill to take and lose the weight!!!!!!!

Hope your day goes better than mine!

Scooby

Hi Scooby-sorry you're having such a rough day. I know I find it very frustrating not to be able to do a lot of basic exercises I see others doing. I have been in physical therapy for my back and so I have some exercises my p.t. gave me which I can do at home (some stretching, physio-ball, etc). I have been lucky that he is so good at what he does and has given me so much help. I too would love for the weight to magically disappear. Certainly would be fun! Oh well! I sure get frustrated by the slowness of my weight loss. I am doing all that I know to do, and it is coming off (at a snail's pace), but definitely not at the right speed to suit me. I go through phases where I'm more patient with my body than at others. I hope your day gets/got better quickly! Well, take care.

Hi WSW! I am happy to report I am over my bad day! Just got a little frustrated, want the weight to come off quickly, and I know that's usually why I haven't stuck to diets in the past -- if it doesn't happen fast enough, well, why bother?!!

Anyway, got on the scale today, and I am down 4 pounds this week, so I feel a little better. I know I have to keep telling myself to be patient, it will happen. More than anything, I hate that my back pain is turning me into a whiner!!!!

Well , I'm off to bake chocolate chip cookies with my 7yr old son! Wish me luck on keeping my hand out of the tin!!!!!

Have a great day

Scooby

Hi Scooby-congrats. on the 4 lb. loss! That's great! Glad to hear you're over your bad day, too.
There was some sunshine today here, which I definitely enjoyed seeing. I'm so ready for spring. I had an OP day and did my exercise, though it took a little more effort today than at some other times. It's a good thing I wasn't making cookies today 'cause I'm not so sure I'd be able to keep my hands out of the cookie tin. Ah well, some days are just easier than others. Hope you and your little boy had fun baking. Take care. Have a good evening!

wsw

I'm so glad I saw this thread! I just found out that I have degenerative disc disease...wasn't really a BIG surprize but shocking just the same. I also have 3 protruding discs and have already had a back surgery for a herniation about 5 years ago (mine too was due to giving birth). The thing I feel the worst about is I'm only 29 and I worry about my life quaility ahead. A good thing I've decided to do for myself is start a detoxing program, as I've abused my body in a lot of ways for far too long. I'll let you know how it has worked for me (I just started like 30 mins. ago :) ) Any suggestions on exercise or how not to get so depressed would help me out.
blessings,
blackbird

Hey There
 

Blackbird. I am one for walking. I have my C.D. player and off I go. You will find that is a good way to relieve stress and lose weight. I walk about 1 hour 3-5 times a week,depending on how I feel.What do you mean detox program?
scoobyr- We all wish for a magic pill to lose weight, There is no such thing. I have been a trying for the magic formula for 40 years. I have finally gotten to a wt that I can live with but need to drop about 15 more. Slow is the answer. Believe me that is all it can be, for me. I have osteoarthritis in every joint in my body. I am 70 years old. I lost most of my weight at WW. Now I go to a TOPS group. I am really happy at those meetings. I am not losing a lot, but, not gaining . Right now it is lose 2 and gain 2 and reverse the next week. Something of a joke. My own fault. I have difficulty keeping my hand out of the chip bag...But ,It still keeps me aware.
Bye...Joanne

I am just curious, because I also have back problems that have been ignored by doctors for years... does anyone else out there feel like their problem was ignored because of being overweight?

When I initially injured my back I was very young, and very tiny, and they didn't think much of it, I was sent home with pain killers and that was that. After that when I started to gain weight, any time I would bring up my back pain to a doctor they told me I needed to lose weight and my back would be better.

They, of course, were wrong because my back pain started before I gained all the weight, but what do I know? I am no doctor. :( Now, I know my backpain would not be as bad if I lost weight, but there must be some underlying reason for it.

I have also had other health problems and have been told my weight was to blame. I really feel like they just don't want to touch me, or bother with me or something. I know that not EVERY health problem I have is due to being overweight (I'm like 220 lbs). I know people with IBS who are not overweight, their symptoms get treated. I know people who have miscarriages who do not "keep proof" and are still given a pelvic exam to make sure...

Perhaps I've been going to the wrong doctors all this time.
I'd just like to know if other people have had similar feelings?

Hey There
 

Lizziness- You say you had a injury at a young age. Perhaps you have some arthritis that has set in because of the injury. It is true that a lot of problems are because of overweight. Your back would probably get better if you got into a good weight program and exercised on a regular basis. If you are not satisfied with what your doctor tells you by all means go to another doctor.It is always advisable to get a second opinion.Ask for some xrays. Make them give you a good exam. Go to a specialist.
I have had back problems since I was 18 yrs old. I am sure from a injury. I have all kinds of injections . therapy. hospitalized several times,but ,the one thing that helped the most was losing weight.
Hope you find your solution...Joanne

Lizz...Yes! oh that subject makes me so mad! When I herniated my disc (before they found out) I had severe leg pain...sharp, shooting nerve pain..and went and seen a neurologist..who told me to do aerobics to lose some weight and my back pain would simply vanish. I thought to myself, I just had a baby like 2 months ago and I can't even stand up straight and this ***&(*^*^%* wants me to do aerobics? He sent me in for an MRI just to ease my mind (and shut me up). I had to keep calling for the results, with the phone lady telling me, oh..he hasn't read them yet..he'll call you when he does. This went on for two weeks. I finally called my regular doctors nurse and she flipped out when I told her what was happening with this shmuck. She called me back in 15 mins and told me to give the neuro. dude a call back. I did and they said..well, you need surgery right away..would you like us to refer you to a neurosurgeon? DUH! So, I had surgery about 5 days after this took place and nerve pain that lasted over one year because I had to wait so long.
Trust me, be a pain with your doctors and insist that they take you serious.
Wow...sorry I raved like that, but it really did piss me off!
blessings,
blackbird

Sorry to rile you all up there! But I really am glad to know I'm not the only one feeling that way. I think I need to learn how to be more insistant with my doctors. I really need to find one, because it's been a very long time since I've gone to one and I know that's bad, but I just avoid it. heh. No news it good news, so they say. :)

hi, thought i would put my .02 cents worth in here. I have had chronic back pain for over 5 yrs and getting worst every year. have tryed just about everything,including two day surgery procedures. They say now I will have to go to Toronto and have my spinal nerves cut.The reason I jumped in here is that up until this winter I have been able to control some of the weight, then decided to give new medications a try. Doctors put me on a number of different ones over the winter and all I did was gain 25lbs. I retried just about everything, and either they made me hungry or they just made me put on weight. My husband and son gave me this computer 2 months ago to learn on and the first thing I did was punch in my meds. Everything that I had tryed. Most had a cute little clause somewhere in the fine print that said"may cause unexplained weight gain" So I decided that none of it was working anyway, so I took myself off everything. Now the weight is starting to come off alot easier. I had no idea that medications could do that. Even my trusty old advil is on hold now. I know this is not for everyone but for me the meds were not working anyway.....thanks for listening

i know what you mean about some of the meds making losing weight much harder, and some even causing weight gain. that has been an issue for me too (plus i started out overweight!), but at least i have been lucky with having a good doctor who really listens and is diligent about giving me info. about side effects with any of my meds, etc. it definitely has taken me a long time to get my food plan and exercise to the point where i am able to lose weight, but it is at least working now, and i am pleased about that. my back pain is challenging at times, but i have an excellent physical therapist too which has been helpful. having a good neurologist or neurosurgeon who is not only technically proficient, but one who also listens to his/her patients really makes a big difference!

Hi, all.
I am sorry to hear about so much pain and suffering, but I admire all of you for being here and taking charge of your situation.

I have also been dealing with back pain for the past year or so. Luckily it is not a neurological thing, so it can be more easily handled with exercise and stretching. I have to be careful though, I have what is called Schauermann's disorder, which is a developmental disorder of the vertebra. If I don't stay strong and active for the rest of my life, chances are that I am going to be a very hunched over old lady.

Oh, well. That is that. I am doing fine now, still not completely pain free, but most days I am only sore when I wake up. I got PT for six months last year, in the beginning it helped, but then I think it only made me focus too much on my pain, because I was always monitoring my back to be able to tell my physical therapist about my situation. When my insurance deceided to stop paying for my therapy I discovered yoga.

Now yoga may seem only for people that are flexible as pretzels, but that is not really true. I got this video with Rodney Yee that is only twenty minutes, and really the first ten minutes, whith sitting on a chair, breathing and bending over for opening the hips do wonders for me.

I think also breating techniques that yoga teaches are really helpful in management of the pain. Both in geting over pain pangs and also for somehow changing how concious we are about the pain.

One mental exercise when doing yoga stretches is also that stretching creates space in our bodys, for me stretching my spine creates space for my vertebrae so they can align correctly.

Oh.. hope I'm not boring you to death, but this really helped me.
The video can be seen on the following site:
http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/tg...video&n=507846

And I also have this book, I haven't done the exercises yet, but in the intro, the author is explaining how gentle stretching might counteract the tenision brought about by shrinking scar tissue.. and she sais a lot of interesting things about back care:

http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/tg...books&n=507846

Just thought I would share. Hope this helps someone out there!

Oh my!!
 

I have a big fat herniated L5-S1, too! I was HORRIFIED by the posting about the spinal goo -- I've been toying with the idea of breeding (I'm 36 and got married 2 years ago... Time's of the essence) but now I'm wondering if I'm going to rupture my disc if I do!?! :?:

I was actually excited to see this thread because I've been wondering what exercise I could do... Nothing feels right, but then, it is exercise, not a spa treatment. I'm never sure if I should "tough it out" or "listen to my body's natural defenses". Isn't it amazing how many mixed messages we get regarding diet and exercise? Isn't it amazing how many people think they can tell us back-pain people that "all we have to do is --" to fix our backs, when they've never had chronic pain?!!?

I've just started ww, but I confess that I'm not feeling too confident about it because my heart's not it it 100%... I'm tired of this stuff!

Hey There
 

I have to agree that in a lot of cases that losing weight will help the back pain. I have had back problems since I was a teenager. I am 70 years young. I have had many treatments to the back and when they told me the only thing left was surgery and that that may not work,but could leave me in a wheelchair, I decided not in this lifetime. I went to WW and lost 57 lbs. I want to lose another 10-12 and I will. I will not say I no longer have back pain,but, at least now I can deal with it. I haven't had to be taken to the hospital for it in years.
It doesn't matter where you go to lose the weight. I am currently going to TOPS.I still use the WW points system. You must commit yourself to a healthy eating plan.Otherwise you will just waste your money. Don't think of it as a diet. Think that this is the way you will eat for the rest of your life.Think about how nice you will look.Think about how good you will feel. Think about doing some exercise.Start with 20 minutes a day. I walked. (MILES ) I started out small and worked up to an hour a day. about 3-4 miles. I have severe osteoarthritis and in the past year have had to slow down. I still walk 2 1/2 miles at a time.
Unless a doctor tells you otherwise, when you get healthy ,have your baby.
Ganesh- I am going to look into the yoga tapes. Thanks for the sites..Good advice.
You can do this. Don't give yourself excuses
Get healthy for yourself first . Your family second.
Joanne

hi all!

ganesh-reading what you said did help me! my back has been bothering me a lot in the past week and being reminded about how helpful yoga breathing and gentle stretching can be, was just what i needed to hear. thanks! i have a rodney yee beginning yoga tape, and book for beginners, which i enjoy. having ms and spinal cord damage means i have had to tailor a lot of my exercise routine, but when i do the yoga which i am able to use, it makes a positive difference. i will get out my tape and do some stretching!

Surely- i know what you mean about getting so many mixed messages regarding diet and exercise. i have been lucky with both my neurosurgeon and physical therapist. i am able to do an exercise routine which my p.t. came up with for me taking in to account my back problem (separation between l-5 and s-1) and ms. sometimes i get a bit lax, as i have recently, and my back is paying for it! i'm glad this thread caught my eye this evening. i hope things work out well for you regarding your desire to have children, how to manage your back problem, and pain management. good luck too with ww!

Joanne D-congrats on the 57 lb. weight loss!

i got some pillows with good lumbar support, which seem to help a bit too. well, hope everyone has a good evening. take care, all.

Thanks for the responses!

I'll try to get into exercise -- I know it's the right thing for my body (any body, actually), but it's not a lifestyle I'm used to...

Good luck to everyone!

Hi All!

Just signed on as a member of 2fatchicks....can't really claim one group since I tend to float. What a great thread! It will be nice to talk to people with the same problems. Thanks WSW for answering one of my other posts!

Now about me! (what a subject). I'm 6'2 and about 325 right now. Think I've lost 3 lbs since 6/1 so I'm pretty happy. Have to get more focused though.

I've always had trouble with my back...even at 12. But you know how it is when you're young....you bounce back easier. I never had problems for more than a day. In graduate school my back would go out from stress.

My worst day was when I was moving in 2000. Really stressful time and by the time I drove 2 hours to my sister's house I had doubts of whether I could get out of the car. Even now, after trigger points, and about 5 epidurals (I think)..the back still acts up - but counting my blessings that I can walk upright right now.

When I was 12 xrays showed that I had extra vertabra on my spin...and to add to that those vertabra didn't connect. I agree with the fact that people have always blamed it on my weight. Doc's told me to do situps and lose weight. No one ever commented on the fact that I worked on a farm. Looking back I really beat on my body.


After moving out I went to stay with my sister for two weeks. She's an ER nurse. I told her what I usually get when I hurt my back - naposen and flexiral. She'd "ration' them....one every other day. Said bengay would be alright. And uninsured me was stuck. I still think if she'd just given me a few days my back would have gotten better.

When I finally got home I went to see a docter. He too seemed to think I was a drug seeker. Gave my a box of advil and physical therapy. Took so much advil I think I wore a hole in my stomach. Took months before he FINALLY sent me for an MRI. Showed I had a bulging discs and degenerative disc disease. Discs are at the lower portion of the spine.

Finally got to a pain management clinic. Here I am...almost crying because I've had to sit in too small, hard backed, plastic chairs for hours and the docter would always start with "you need to lose weight". Everytime. And she didn't do that in a nice way either....seriously had a look of disgust on her face. Just made me feel worse.

And did you ever notice the drug amounts they give you? 200 hundred at a clip? I found that if I rotate the pills I take, because I develope tolerances pretty quick, it helps. I worry about the epidurals because none have really "taken" after the first one. They've talked of taking a laser and burning a nerve but I just don't want to do that. Scares me.

And has anyone else had mood swings/ depression because of the drugs? Or weight gain from the steriods? I hated the emotional way the drugs made me feel....I only take them now when I really need them.

I started back at the gym last week. I was appalled that I had to really work to bike for 10 minutes at the lowest setting. I use the weight machines to strengthen my back....use the exercises they taught me in PT. Just really hard to go in there and stick with it. Worst is that I have to wait until my back feels better to go back to the gym...think it works out to every 3 days.

Frankly, I'm scared. If I don't lose this weight I might end up unable to walk...the old adage of use it or lose it. I've gained an additional 40lbs since 2000. It's effected my TOM and now have cysts...doc warns I may not be able to conceive a child. I've developed fatty liver disease....who knew that all that soda could eventually lead to cilrosis of the liver?

LOL...aren't I a downer? Just wish that docters would help me rather than giving me some pat advice about my weight. Like duh! I needed a medical degree to figure that out for myself? I'd love to find that magic pill, I'd love to have someone/something to blame other than myself. I'm angry....pissed at myself for allowing this! Angry at them for not listening to me or understanding.

I'm trying to turn that anger outward in a positive way. Channel it. I think that I have about 150 lbs to lose. I know that I need focus, patience, and determination.....(sounds like the Serienty Prayer!). I need to believe that I can do this and that it will work. Seems so easy to just pass the buck...know what I mean?

Glad to see you all here! Glad to read the success stories! And I'm glad that I'm here...might be making baby steps but making em all the same!

Deb :strong:

Hey There
 

Young Grasshopper- Don't look at the big picture of 150 lbs to lose. See yourself losing something from a 1/4 to a lb or two a week. Put blinders (so to speak) on and just do it! Before you know it you will be where you want to be. Don't set a goal weight. Just set a goal each week to lose something.
I never set a goal till I was there.
When I joined WW I had no expectations That I could do it. I had failed many times over a period of 30 years. I don't know where I got the courage to go back. I was in a lot of pain all the time and thought that was my last chance. They wanted to do surgery on my back.
Overweight was part of the problem. None of us want to hear someone tell us that. No one likes to face the reality that it is up to us. A lot of the time. Most of all we don't want to give up the things we like.
One Dr. told me "No pain ,no gain".
I bet you can do this...Hope you can...Joanne

i also take things in small chunks and it has been helpful for me. young grasshopper-hang in there! baby steps definitely count and will eventually get you where you want to go. i am living proof that baby steps can add up to very positive changes. all the best, wsw.

http://www.members.aol.com/teejaw/smilies/Hello.gif I've been reading through the posts & can really relate. I was in a car accident in '83(I know...I'm older than dirt!). This put me on disability immediately with severe back problems, at the age of 34. Here it is 20 years later & still have chronic pain. Yes, I've been through therapies, cortnizone shots(gained a lot of weight), & went through lots & lots ofhttp://www.members.aol.com/teejaw/smilies/Medicine.gif. As all of you know, nothing helps for very long. Now, I also deal with RA, which is a lot worse disease than most people realize.

I have refused to stop. I do volunteer work, when I'm able. Go to nursing homes & visit (I sing a little...won't go into that.lol). I know if I give in to the pain, I'll give up on life. I have to think, not only of myself, but my 4 children, & 11(yes 11) grandchildren. I'm not much overweight. I've lost 16 lbs since April 20th & have about 20 lbs more to go.

I don't act my age, nor am I gonna age gracefully....gonna fight it all the way!LOL (Gonna be a little vain, here) I'm also told I don't look my age. So, why give up yet?! I'm not a rocking chair grandma, & sure don't intend to be a bedfast or wheelchair one, either!

The fact is, though, the pain is still there. No, I can't forget it. No, I don't always deal with it very well. I also, feel like my husband,(who's the best!) probably got cheated, with a bumbed up wife. I think about that a lot. Of course, he never complains. I guess he feels like I do enough of that. :( Also, my children/grands have to hear "I can't", or "I don't feel like it".

You know, I didn't think I could go into a forum & tell my most inner feelings to people I don't even know. I just did, though. Thanks for letting me vent & hope all are feeling as well as you can.:)

Hi
 

Angel-Lover--You said it all well. I too have been there ,done that. I am a bit older than you . I don't feel that it helps to let my pain stop me from doing the things I want to do. It does sometimes but I try to get up and do it all again. When we have arthritis the worse thing is coming to a stop. We have to fight it all the way. My G/mother used to say "can't never did anything".
We all can do things in bits and pieces. I lost a lot of weight and now want to get off 12 more lbs. It might take me awhile as I am 70 years old.(you think you are old as dirt!!!)I will do it!!I made myself all new clothes and gave away all my big clothes. I don't want to do that again.
Bye...Joanne

http://home.att.net/~scorh/Sign01r.gif Oops...I don't think of anyone else's age. Just had a birthday, so I guess I'm feeling old!. I was depressed BIGTIME when I turned 30.(Isn't that sooo funny!) Hey, you sure don't sound your age, from reading your posts. I figured I was the oldest on here! LOL Age is a mental thing....I'm a child at heart.hehe

You've done great with your weightloss! I know you're enjoying those smaller sizes. I'm just trying to get back into mine. I went from a size 10 to 14. At least I'm back to 12. Like you I'm gonna do it!!! You've enspired me....thanks! Hope you have a good day. Hang in there!
http://home.att.net/~scorh5/Tickles1b.gif