What are your highlights of 2013?

[manderz]

Again, thank you so much, dear Maise. Big hugs & kisses for the kind words, soft shoulder and putting a bit of light in this very dark tunnel.

My lawyer told me most of his back injury cases are people who work in medicine, but it can happen to anyone - all together too easily. People can be damaging their discs but not be feeling pain or anything (till you are really destroyed) so do be careful all. (That was my case.) No twisting, keep your shoulders in the same plane as your pelvis, when lifting pull in your abdomen from your belly button and hold as it makes your trunk more of a solid, stable mass and takes some of the impact off the spine, keep the proper curves in your spine, don't round your back as you pick something off the floor (squatting is best) and no jobs where you lift for a living.

Don't let this happen to you . . .

Thanks again.

Sigh.
----------
Thanks Manderez. Three herniated discs L3-S1 and L2 has a bulge. Eeek, it's so hard to say those words. That is why I did not spell it out exactly before. I'd love your input. And best wishes to your Mom !

I'm sorry to hear that you're going through all of this. I have a little bit of back issues that is greatly improved by chiropractic, and my poor mom has had issues for as long as I can remember. She had disc replacement for 3 cervical discs, and microdiscectomy for either 2 or 3 in her mid back (I can't remember exactly, it was right on the cusp of thoracic and lumbar, though. Maybe T1 and T2?) She has a degenerative disc disease, which was aggravated by a car accident. She's several years past surgery, and is doing well. She has other issues that complicated her healing (fibromyalgia and sciatica issues, plus being really overweight). The disc replacement was easier to recover from, but took longer. She was in a lot of pain with the microdiscectomy, and though this isn't really confirmed or anything, my thoughts are that the cutting of her muscles in her back to get to where they needed to go caused a lot of that. She had a really rough time doing even simple things, but is doing better than she was beforehand. For a long time she was using 2 canes to walk, and always needed to use the electric carts at the supermarket. Between her surgeries and weight loss, she's honestly a different person. I know it's scary, and can be a long road, but you'll get to a better place. If my mom could, you sure will be able to!

 

[TooPatient]

Thanks so much, Maise! My Drs. are saying they think the best thing at this point (5 months) is to wait and see how it settles down. The body supposedly reabsorbs the parts of the bad discs which reduces symptoms. It's three levels, also, which is a bit more complicated to deal with surgically. What an atrocious injury. The first few months were like being plugged into a shorting out electrical socket, getting zapped throughout my lower body (some big, crazy painful ones too). A truly psycho experience. If I realized this could happen and how horrific it is, I never would have worked in medicine (or anything that physical). I lost 20 pounds due to not being able to eat due to pain, not been able to even read (due to pain) about gemology (just some light hangout reading) or any of my hobbies, can't pick up anything heavier than 1/2 gallon of milk on occasion (to put milk in the tea cup) but that takes a concerted effort, can't go back to that line of work nor are sitting jobs very good as you compress your discs from the top and the bottom when sitting and sitting is painful, also. A life changer for sure. It has trashed many of my dreams and aspirations. Anyway, thanks for the soft shoulder and listening to my tale of woe. Back to my regularly scheduled pain pills and laying on the heating pad - yay.

Oh, and thanks for the input that surgery has helped people you know. It puts a bit of light in this very dark tunnel.

I'm sorry you're going through this!

I know several people with severe back pain and have some issues myself. It really does affect every bit of your life!

The doctors are good to suggest waiting to see how your body does before trying a surgery. If it does come to trying surgery, I do know a couple of people who have really been helped. It was a long recovery for one but a shockingly short for the other. They have so many different options now!

My back is relatively minor compared to what you are dealing with so this may not help you, but yoga has really helped me. BUT you really have to listen to your back and not push it too far. The best option would be to get private sessions with an experienced instructor who knows how to alter the session to be most beneficial for your back.

With DH's troubles, I've been looking into all sorts of sitting/standing ergo options for working. There are all sorts of things out there to let you move as your body needs through the day! Let me know if you want more info on this. I'd be happy to share anything I can.

 

[msop04]

Wow! Lots of big events for the PS community this year! Here are some of my highlights from 2013:

After the very stressful and heartbreaking loss of my job in December '12, I was so happy and blessed to join a great company! This has turned out to be the best job I've ever had! February will be my year anniversary there, and I love it just as much as before -- maybe more!

Just a month shy of my 34th birthday, I married the love of my life in the "weddingmoon" of my dreams!

I got to cheer on our Auburn Tigers in the biggest turnaround ever -- from 3-9 winning no SEC games, to 11-1 in the regular season! I witnessed two of the most amazing plays in college football ("Prayer at Jordan-Hare" against UGA and the "Kick-Six" against UA -- for those of you who haven't seen or heard of these, you should look them up on YouTube!! Especially sports fans!!), beat #1 Bama, become SEC champions, AND get a chance to play for our second NC in three years!! (did I mention Bama just now got their a$$es handed to them in the Sugar Bowl by who?? OKLAHOMA!! BWAHAHAHAAAAA!!!) ...our rivalry is runs deep, ya'll. WAR DAMN EAGLE!

Mourned the loss of my grandmother. She had dementia, and had been in decline for some time -- I know she is in a better place.

Found out that I would be an aunt again -- my younger sister (who is a twin and has three boys) is pregnant and having TWIN BOYS!! The other twin sister has two boys, and my older sister has two boys... that's NINE nephews -- WHEW!! I'm hoping I'll break the trend and have a little girl when the time comes...

** HAPPY NEW YEAR, YA'LL! **

 

[beaujolais]

Thanks so much, Manderz & TP. I couldn't reply last night as I had been sitting for too long already & not feeling well due to it. Please be careful with yourselves so yourselves ! You so don't want anything like this. Just, btw, I've been going to Physical Therapy, twice a week, for a few months now and do their exercises at home on the other days. I've had two epidural steroid injections and have another one coming up in a month or so.

Manderz: "it was right on the cusp of thoracic and lumbar, though. Maybe T1 and T2?" That would be T12-L1, just btw. Well, I'm really happy about your Mom's outcome. That stops some of my downward spiraling thoughts.

TP: So sorry about your hubby's and do be careful yourself. I guess he is looking into a sit/stand desk & ergo chair. I have a few things - orthopedic angled, cut out cushion for the car & computer, lumbar support for the car. I've got an awesome Sunbeam electric heating pad from Amazon. That has been mega useful. What does he he like to use in the car and house?

----
I don't mean to be ignoring the rest of the people on this thread. I do care about your 2013. It's just that my road is so hard right now, I can't get much beyond it.

 

[Polished]

You discuss it all you feel like sonomacounty. I had a crippling back pain for about a week and all I'd done was rake leaves. It was miserable. I was going to suggest a heat pad, so I'm glad to read you have one and it's helping.

It makes you think about employment and safety. My son had a job lifting heavy beer crates. There was a funny side to it with him telling us that he physically couldn't lift the heavier crates off the truck so engaged the help of suited up business men walking down the street on their way to work. They were surprisingly obliging. However it was all far too much and I was glad when he gave it away.

 

[manderz]

Hi, Sonoma! Glad I could be a bit comforting at least. I remember what a hard road it was for her, so to see where it sounds like you are and that you're working at it on your own too, you'll make it through. I get how hard it all is, because even with just needing an adjustment myself, I'm pretty useless until in feeling better. I couldn't remember exactly where my mom's was, other than there wasn't an L in there, so it must have been T11 and 12. It's been a while since it was an issue, so my memory is a bit foggy on that. Do you have any questions or concerns I could talk to her about specifically? She's been glad to share her experiences so far with others in the same predicament.

 

[Maisie]

Wow! Lots of big events for the PS community this year! Here are some of my highlights from 2013:

After the very stressful and heartbreaking loss of my job in December '12, I was so happy and blessed to join a great company! This has turned out to be the best job I've ever had! February will be my year anniversary there, and I love it just as much as before -- maybe more!

Just a month shy of my 34th birthday, I married the love of my life in the "weddingmoon" of my dreams!

I got to cheer on our Auburn Tigers in the biggest turnaround ever -- from 3-9 winning no SEC games, to 11-1 in the regular season! I witnessed two of the most amazing plays in college football ("Prayer at Jordan-Hare" against UGA and the "Kick-Six" against UA -- for those of you who haven't seen or heard of these, you should look them up on YouTube!! Especially sports fans!!), beat #1 Bama, become SEC champions, AND get a chance to play for our second NC in three years!! (did I mention Bama just now got their a$$es handed to them in the Sugar Bowl by who?? OKLAHOMA!! BWAHAHAHAAAAA!!!) ...our rivalry is runs deep, ya'll. WAR DAMN EAGLE!

Mourned the loss of my grandmother. She had dementia, and had been in decline for some time -- I know she is in a better place.

Found out that I would be an aunt again -- my younger sister (who is a twin and has three boys) is pregnant and having TWIN BOYS!! The other twin sister has two boys, and my older sister has two boys... that's NINE nephews -- WHEW!! I'm hoping I'll break the trend and have a little girl when the time comes...

** HAPPY NEW YEAR, YA'LL! **

Well you've had a very exciting year!! The joy shines through your post!!

Congratulations on your marriage and so many babies in your family! All little boys! Wait till they are teenagers, all that testosterone!!! Hopefully you will have a little girl!

I'm sorry for the loss of your grandmother. Even when they are very unwell it's still sad.

 

[msop04]

I'm sorry for the loss of your grandmother. Even when they are very unwell it's still sad.

Thank you, Maisie -- and thanks for starting this thread. Sometimes it's easy to get really caught up in the stress of the holiday season. I think we tend to focus only on "making the bad good again", but reading all these posts has made me look back at the year and really appreciate everything that has happened and how it has shaped my life and the lives of others.

I hope 2014 will bring health and happiness to everyone!

 

[Maisie]

I think there is a saying 'life is a journey, not a destination' and that's so true. Everything that happens shapes us and makes us who we are. When bad things happen I find that I learn patience, compassion and to rely on my husband or family. I find it too easy to just rely on myself and sometimes that's just not possible. The good times bring me much joy and help to balance out the not so good times. I hope that 2014 brings everyone more joy than sadness and we all have many things to share this time next year

 

[TooPatient]

SC -- DH has just been staying out of the car. He hasn't driven the car since July and has only gone along with me (him as passenger) for mostly just his Dr appointments. Other than that, he's been stuck at home. The one long trip was two hours to get over to the winery for our wedding reception. He brought and used his giant ice pack, the tens machine, the back brace, a curvy neck pillow (the $6 drug store car/plane pillows), and a yoga ball I found.

The back brace: Sleeq
This thing is great! The chiropractor put it on me when I was having bad problems and my back just felt SOoo much better. I bought it through him because insurance would cover most of it that way so it was very expensive but VERY worth it. DH has been using this too (adjustable size so we didn't have to buy a new one) and it has been a big help for him too. I'm most comfortable in it standing, but you can also use it while sitting -- including in the car.

The yoga ball: Gaiam Massage Therapy
I found this for about $15 at the pharmacy. The little ones are great for rolling along your muscles (like up against a wall) for a little mini massage. We did this in my yoga class so that is how I knew to get these! DH has been using the larger one behind his neck or lower down his spine for a little bit of pressure while in bed or sitting on the couch. The chiropractor and spine specialist have both seen these and say this is okay for him. (you might check with your Dr before using directly on your spine)

Tens machine: maxtens
Also from the chiropractor. This helped me too and now they have DH using it. They suggest that you only use it on any given spot three times in a single day, but you've got lots of muscles and areas that help so that isn't much of a limitation! DH used this in the car for the long trip and multiple times a day at home.


For work:
We haven't purchased anything specialized yet. We had him using wireless stuff to see what felt best. What we found is that he couldn't sit for long times or stand for long times so he would have needed an option to let him do a little of one and then some of the other and back again. The chiropractor advises that computer screens be lifted high enough that you are looking straight ahead at the bottom 1/3 of the screen so you don't let your head droop. (did raise the screens and it helps!)

Desk: sit & stand
This adjusts so you can sit at it or stand at it depending on what your body needs. Push a button and it goes up or down to any height you need.

stool or hard chair to sit on with balance disc to help keep your muscles working and keep posture good.

Regular desk chair that is comfortable with whatever support you find comfortable.

standing, the chiropractor recommends a combination of being able to walk around a bit, wear the Sleeq brace and something like balance board


For home:
Our home looks like a physical therapy office!
We have all the stuff mentioned that he used in the car plus a bunch more. He has two big ice packs and a heating pad. The big Styrofoam roller, the triangle wedge, the neck supporting wedge, and other such things. Pretty much any of the stuff the chiropractor used (I've been to physical therapy before and other chiropractors. This guy is sort of a combo of the two! He does the chiropractic part but also the therapy with assigning exercises/stretches and stuff too.) we've either purchased ourselves or he has sent us home with so we have it there too.

One thing we don't have is the spinal decompression table. That has been a big help for DH too. A lot of people come in and get strapped in with a low back support and tip with their head towards the ground. DH needs to have his head at the top so all his weight is from his head. After watching this done, I would NOT be comfortable using such a thing at home alone. Maybe if they showed me how to do it and I kept an eye on him but I don't like the idea of using if you don't have someone around in case there is an issue.
The table the chiropractor has is a flat black table (cushioned so it is supportive but comfortable) that tips and also can be spread apart for increased pulling.

 

[Haven]

Hey everyone! This thread is so lovely.

My highlights for 2013 are:

My son. He was born on 12/18/12, and I was originally going to stay home with him for the spring semester after his birth. HOWEVER, my second highlight:

My year leave from work. I'm home for the 2013-2014 academic year, which has been so wonderful thus far.

Everything else pretty much pales in comparison, but a distant runner-up:

I'm publishing a textbook. This has been a fun process.

My lowlight? Not enough time for PS! I miss you all so much. I pop in and lurk every now and then, though.

 

[Maisie]

Hey everyone! This thread is so lovely.

My highlights for 2013 are:

My son. He was born on 12/18/12, and I was originally going to stay home with him for the spring semester after his birth. HOWEVER, my second highlight:

My year leave from work. I'm home for the 2013-2014 academic year, which has been so wonderful thus far.

Everything else pretty much pales in comparison, but a distant runner-up:

I'm publishing a textbook. This has been a fun process.

My lowlight? Not enough time for PS! I miss you all so much. I pop in and lurk every now and then, though.

Hi Haven

How lovely that you've been able to stay at home with your baby! I suppose we never know how we will feel about going back to work until we spend time with our little one. I'm glad you were able to make the choice. Congratulations on publishing your book!

 

[TooPatient]

Hey everyone! This thread is so lovely.

My highlights for 2013 are:

My son. He was born on 12/18/12, and I was originally going to stay home with him for the spring semester after his birth. HOWEVER, my second highlight:

My year leave from work. I'm home for the 2013-2014 academic year, which has been so wonderful thus far.

Everything else pretty much pales in comparison, but a distant runner-up:

I'm publishing a textbook. This has been a fun process.

My lowlight? Not enough time for PS! I miss you all so much. I pop in and lurk every now and then, though.

Haven!

Congratulations on publishing your book! That is amazing!

So glad to hear you are getting to spend time with your son and enjoying yourself. I miss seeing you around, but am happy to hear so much good in your life!

 

[Smith1942]

Sorry to hear of your back problems, Sonoma, and your DH's, Too Patient.

Haven - congrats on a fab year!

 

[beaujolais]

Thanks so very, very much Mandez, Polished (great & elegant name, by the way!), Maize & all. I so apologize for not getting back sooner. Please don't think it's because I'm not appreciative or slacking. Everything is just harder now. I'm typing on a tablet, too, which is a bit slower.

TP - Awwww, do I have that right - during the time of your wedding? That is So Not Fair. Big congrats on your marriage, btw. (I Love the idea of weddings/receptions at vineyards.).

Yup, car rides are Bad! The Tush Cusion & thin lumbar support from Amazon help lots. (Did you know lots of truck drivers get disc problems?). I pre and post medicate for anything more than short car rides. What meds does he use? My most effective ones are neurontin - made for nerve pain & ultram with two Tylenol or motrin
.

 

[beaujolais]

.

 

[beaujolais]

Continued from above. i might have to finish this later from the desktop as my tablet is not behaving. Has had had epidurals yet? They are pretty effective. Yes, everyone should be using the cervical pillow to keep the proper curve. I want to try a decompression table but I'm kinda afraid. Maybe when I get more stable.

And Volraren gel (antiinflammatory) is useful as are Flector patches, which is Voltaren in a patch. I have Voltaren a pill, too, which is good for the worse days.

Polished: I'm so glad your son is not doing that job anymore. We can be doing lots of back damage before we feel it and it's not like discs repair themselves. I tell my youngish son every day - no jobs were you lift. Funny how my patients would sometimes tell me, Oh you must get really strong from this. I'd reply, no, it ruins your body. If I were smart I'd haven gotten out sooner.

Mamdez: yes, but let me think on exactly what. Healing thoughts going out to Mom.

And you have back issues, too. Discs are not a good body part. It's a really sick experience doing life with "the beams" being broken, feeling like at could really blow at any time and pain. I go to a head doctor now to learn how to cope.

I am hugely appreciative of all your help & time, btw.

 

[zoebartlett]

This one's silly, but I'm adding it anyway. I haven't eaten chocolate, pasta, or many sweets (cookies, candy, or cake/cupcakes) in a year. I have a major sweet tooth and pasta is probably my favorite food because it's so versatile, but I didn't have it at all in 2013.

 

[TooPatient]

Thanks so very, very much Mandez, Polished (great & elegant name, by the way!), Maize & all. I so apologize for not getting back sooner. Please don't think it's because I'm not appreciative or slacking. Everything is just harder now. I'm typing on a tablet, too, which is a bit slower.

TP - Awwww, do I have that right - during the time of your wedding? That is So Not Fair. Big congrats on your marriage, btw. (I Love the idea of weddings/receptions at vineyards.).

Yup, car rides are Bad! The Tush Cusion & thin lumbar support from Amazon help lots. (Did you know lots of truck drivers get disc problems?). I pre and post medicate for anything more than short car rides. What meds does he use? My most effective ones are neurontin - made for nerve pain & ultram with two Tylenol or motrin
.

Right over the wedding! Just two days before, I'd found him on the kitchen floor where he had fallen (again). We didn't get some of the pictures I wanted because I didn't want him to get close enough to the edge of a cliff that he could fall over...
The poor lady in the chiropractors office couldn't understand why I started crying -- they tried to schedule him for (another) MRI "tomorrow"... the day of our wedding. Thanks to a cancellation, I wound up taking him in for an MRI less than 24 hours before our wedding!
The wedding turned out beautiful though! He held up pretty well and it was just exactly what we would have wanted (even if it wasn't exactly what we'd planned)! Rabbi even canceled our last pre-marriage session because if we could make it through all this (referring to the custody battle, finally getting "A", his medical issues) then we were ready for marriage

He can't take any of the "big" pain pills because they make him super sick.
At the worst of all this, he was taking meloxicam, cyclobenzaprine (muscle relaxer?), tramadol, lyrica (nerve pain blocker -- meant to make nerves less sensitive so they don't spasm so much), and ibuprophin. Plus bunches of vitamins -- C, D, E, omega complex, and ginkgo. (the tramadol as little as possible as it interacts with the cyclobenzaprine and can kill you...) The ibuprophin was over the counter but he was taking 2-3 pills every six hours - all day.

Thanks to taking the B12 supplements, he's now OFF of everything but the meloxicam, cyclobenzaprine, and lyrica. We're cutting back the meloxicam and cyclobenzaprine so he'll be off of those by the end of this week. He's not seeing any difference as I cut the doses! The lyrica was the only thing that made a noticeable difference when he started taking it (except the B12) so we're keeping him on that for now and may try to reduce/eliminate that after he's off the others.
This is the "funny" part -- all the MRIs, blood work, and specialists couldn't find a single thing wrong with him. After the $20,000 in MRIs and about $40,000 total it turned out to be B12 -- which they never bothered to check for because "no one in the US has that!"

The chiropractor (and spine specialist too) suggests taking vitamins D, E, and omega complex because it can help your body heal faster from spine stuff. B vitamins are also supposed to be good too.


Yes!
Truck drivers have to spend lots of time sitting. Lots also have to do a fair amount of lifting.

I quit carrying a school bag for my classes. Now I carry a small laptop case with a tablet computer and anything that won't fit in that bag doesn't come to classes with me. Students are also prone to back injuries because of so much time sitting and then also having to lift/carry heavy books.


Oh!
Computer use...
DH says using a tablet is easier for him still but he is doing well enough to manage a few hours at a time at his desktop. The trackball made a big difference for him because it doesn't take the same movements as a regular mouse. Not sure if this would help you or not, but they run about $30 and might be worth trying.

 

[Smith1942]

This one's silly, but I'm adding it anyway. I haven't eaten chocolate, pasta, or many sweets (cookies, candy, or cake/cupcakes) in a year. I have a major sweet tooth and pasta is probably my favorite food because it's so versatile, but I didn't have it at all in 2013.

It's not silly - it sounds as if you did a great thing for your health! I need to do something similar. How did you do it? Did you find that cravings for those foods went away? Do you still miss the foods or are you totally less about them?

 

[zoebartlett]

This one's silly, but I'm adding it anyway. I haven't eaten chocolate, pasta, or many sweets (cookies, candy, or cake/cupcakes) in a year. I have a major sweet tooth and pasta is probably my favorite food because it's so versatile, but I didn't have it at all in 2013.

It's not silly - it sounds as if you did a great thing for your health! I need to do something similar. How did you do it? Did you find that cravings for those foods went away? Do you still miss the foods or are you totally less about them?

I went cold turkey. The cravings are still around and they're still pretty strong at times but I don't let myself give in for the most part. I will say that I have had a few sweet treats over the holidays (apple pie and apple crisp), but that's all. It's still really, really hard, but I do feel good that I made it this far without caving. It's probably extreme but that's what I'm doing for now. I have a ton of fruit at home and if I want something sweet, I make fruit salad.

Now I have to conquer the whole exercise thing...