Bad Back

[ezra76]

After abusing my body on Fri., carrying 14 4x8 sheets of pressboard half a block then down stairs, my back is finally letting me know it's had enough. I played Sat and Sun carrying my bag as usual. All this stress has been on my right side. Last night I had some nasty pain in lower back and this morning (after an agonizing night) the pain is now just inside my shoulder blade on the right. I know what sore muscles feel like, I moved furniture for 10yrs., this feels skeletal. It hurts to breath deep, put on my shirt, open the fridge ect. Unfortunately I have no health ins. otherwise I would already be at the doc getting it looked at quick. I'm sure it's nothing major anyway. To get to the point I am looking for some advice on what I could do to make it feel a little better. Any tricks a chiro. has recommended to you guys? Hanging up side down? Having someone hit me in the back with a bat? For real though, this sucks.

[SiberianDVM]

Well, if you were a dog, I might be able to help.

If it were me, I'd take some Excedrin or your favorite other NSAID, quit playing with myself for a few days, and rest. If that doesn't help, move to Canada where health care is free.

[ezra76]

Originally Posted by SiberianDVM

Well, if you were a dog, I might be able to help.

If it were me, I'd take some Excedrin or your favorite other NSAID, quit playing with myself for a few days, and rest. If that doesn't help, move to Canada where health care is free.

Will do. I switched to lefty. I need to hit the GF up for a massage and get this thing to crack. That's what it feels like it needs. I won't be swinging a club for a few days, that's for sure. Can't even work physically so I'm working on setting up a big job for next week. The US is so backwards when it comes to healthcare ect. It's like I get punished for actually trying. If I wanted to be lazy I could go get unemployment, food stamps and free medical.

[Pa Jayhawk]

I would say to stay away from Ibuprofen (Advil) which is always my favorite for everything but backs, it may help the pain but may lead you to further strain your back as it kills the pain. Go with the Excedrin or I have heard that Aleve works well for the back, but I am not in the medical field.

Also, next time you do something that crazy, rent a truck. I would also recommend the little plastic drywall carriers that run about 10 bucks. Not sure I would want to use it to carry it a 1/2 block, but they work well to carry 1-2 sheets by yourself a short distance, and allow you to stand upright and not have to turn your hands around to carry the stuff. Coming from someone who has carried and hung 90+ sheet of drywall in my basement in the last couple months.

Get a truck next time!!!!

edit 1 - then again, it was worth the $50 I paid to have them deliver it and haul it into my basement.

[Pa Jayhawk]

Originally Posted by SiberianDVM

Well, if you were a dog, I might be able to help.

Sounds good to me, what is the best way to teach my Chihuahua to hang drywall? I try to load it on his back and he just gives me that look that Chihuahuas are so good at...

[ezra76]

Had a truck. It was a very busy area and I had to wait 10minutes just to get a spot in the loading zone. I carried them as I would a sheet of plywood but they were much heavier. (Thank god I didn't go for 2, I was thinking about it) After I got halfway through I had to fish a glove out for my right hand. Next time I need to bring along somone to give me a hand. I need to stop doing crap like this now that I am 30. That voice in my head that keeps calling me a sissy needs to grow up and deal with reality.

[SiberianDVM]

Originally Posted by FKA Pa Jayhawk

Sounds good to me, what is the best way to teach my Chihuahua to hang drywall? I try to load it on his back and he just gives me that look that Chihuahuas are so good at...

The drywall was probably too big. Try cutting into 1 inch by 2 inch pieces before loading your Chihuhua. Either that, or he was on strike today.

[Pa Jayhawk]

Well if you get ready to move it around, I would recommend the plastic carrier, not having to twist the arm around and be able to lift straight up seems to help the back if you are by yourself. I used it alot when I had to move sheets off the walls I started to work on.

I too moved furniture for a year or so when I was in College. At first I thought, ahh Drywall would be no different than say a Box spring. Until I realized that I was 20 at the time and not 40. I have even used the drywall Carrier to move around furniture and stuff around in the basement that I could do by myself at 20, and would otherwise require a second person at my ripe old age.

[ezra76]

I won't have to touch it again. It was for a guy who is remodeling a shoe store. I picked them up and sprayed them for him. I could and should have got a hand with them. I know that carrying my bag up and down the ridiculous elevations at the course on Sun. put the finishing touches on it. I am considering getting a push cart at this point.(those remote ones are cool) Just took a couple Excedrins, might have to sleep in the basement on the weight bench with my arms hanging off tonight the way this feels. I could probably score some Vic's down the road a couple blocks, that or some heroin. Yes, I live in a nice neighborhood.

[Pa Jayhawk]

Originally Posted by ezra76

might have to sleep in the basement on the weight bench with my arms hanging off tonight the way this feels.

Just wait until you have to move the weight bench. lol

I have had to move my Hoist Bench that I have in my basement twice since starting the basement and will have to move it 2 more times upon doing the floor. I haven't used it much since starting the basement outside of lifting the weights around the room to move it. Not sure that was the intended use, but it sure gives you a good workout? Although after carrying drywall and doing sophets, I'm not sure I need the Hoist. I guess the idea behind the weight bench was all the lifting I got to do to move the d@mn thing around the basement. By the time I am done with the basement I will probably dread the thing. That along with the Precor. Let's see, I can work on the basement all day, and either use the Precor or Hoist a few beers???

We'll see

[ezra76]

I had the GF crack it in 3 spots. Not much good but a little better for a minute. I may have to sleep on the floor tonight, it hurts like a bitch lying in bed. I'll give it a few days before I start looking into the possibilities of getting it looked at. If anything it's a wake up call, I need things in order. Having no medical or backup plan to pay bills is not good.

[EnglishGolfer]

as a long time bad back sufferer (since age 14) I think what you describe sounds similar to the spasms that I get. The fact that the pain relocated overnight to upper back implies that it is in fact muscular despite the agony implying skeletal. I know skeletal problems sound much more dramatic and are much better for getting sympathy, but trust me your golfing days would be severely numbered so it's not what you want.

As someone has already mentioned, you can damage your back further by taking painkillers, but by not taking anything your back will remain extremely tense as it tries to guard itself against overdoing things. This is counter productive as healing takes much longer. You need to relax your back in any way you can and direct heat is usually the best way if you are trying to avoid taking medication.

I've been to physio, Osteopaths and a Chiropractor in the past and none of them worked. I recently tried acupuncture despite a phobia of needles and extreme schepticism of alternative therapies and it worked a treat leaving me with a much better back but very mixed emotions.

You have my sympathy, get well soon mate.

[ezra76]

Thankd EG. You are right, it feels 50% better this morning. I've just never had pain that close to my spine before, had me worried. I'm gonna have to learn to get that bag on the back using the 2 straps or get another cart. Question, I started wearing a pair of Adidas golf shoes the other day instead of my Dryjoys. Any possibility shoes could affect the back? I'm sure most of it came from those damn boards, I knew it when I was on my way to deliver them but that's me, do it all myself.

[Farquod]

Don't think of them as painkillers, think of them as antiinflammatory agents. And take them. Increasing range of motion will help a strain, whereas restricting motion will prolong the pain. If you like ibuprofen (ie, advil and motrin) substitute an aspirin for one of the pills every couple of days to tag your platelets so they don't clot so easily (the Vioxx lesson).

Tylenol is a pain reliever, not an antiinflammatory, so the others would be better here.

If you popped a disk, believe me, the aspirin/motrin will deaden the pain a touch, but you won't be doing backflips. If it doesn't resolve within a week, bite the bullet and see somebody. A little debt now is better than a lifetime of back problems.

Carrying drywall and plywood are a bitch because they tend to flap as you carry them. That's a lot of torque, and your back be absorbing it.

And if you think 30 is fun, wait till you're 45.

[token_hottie]

Does your gf have medical insurance? If it gets any worse, you might have to take the plunge...