Bad back

Falcman0o7 · 10-03-2014, 01:04 PM

I love playing with cars but for years i've had a bad back :( now it seems its gotten alot worse to the point where i get aggitated and run out of paitence do to the pain. it's really getting me down.

Anyone in the same boat?

Franco Cozzo · 10-03-2014, 01:11 PM

I buldged the discs in my back between L4/L5 vertibrae and between L5/S1 at work last year so I've got constant lower back pain now, its annoying but these days I just CBF anymore, I'd rather have someone else do the work and me enjoy it lol.

Tokyo Geoff · 10-03-2014, 01:39 PM

Indeed. I've had sciatica on and off for two years. The last month has been horrible and I now have to see a neurosurgeon :( The worst part is I fear that driving my manual FG XR8 may aggravate the problem and I'm contemplating "upgrading" to an XR6T...auto :(
Geoff

BENT_8 · 10-03-2014, 03:09 PM

I hear ya fella, its frustrating to know that you have the knowledge but not the ability due to injury etc.

I have always enjoyed being a DIY mechanic, but the body is starting to let me down.
Luckily enough I have a nephew who, like me, enjoys the time he puts into working on cars.
We have an unspoken pact whereby I diagnose and direct and he uses what we call 'spider fingers' to get the job done.
Its a win/win as he has no idea where to start and I have restricted ability to get it finished.

I can remember a time when I lifted a headless 1760cc 4cyl from a Torana engine bay with a rope and bare hands, sadly those days are memories.
It probably contributed to my current back trouble, but in the heat of battle you don't consider the future.

Falcman0o7 · 10-03-2014, 03:56 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by BENT_8

I hear ya fella, its frustrating to know that you have the knowledge but not the ability due to injury etc.

I have always enjoyed being a DIY mechanic, but the body is starting to let me down.
Luckily enough I have a nephew who, like me, enjoys the time he puts into working on cars.
We have an unspoken pact whereby I diagnose and direct and he uses what we call 'spider fingers' to get the job done.
Its a win/win as he has no idea where to start and I have restricted ability to get it finished.

I can remember a time when I lifted a headless 1760cc 4cyl from a Torana engine bay with a rope and bare hands, sadly those days are memories.
It probably contributed to my current back trouble, but in the heat of battle you don't consider the future.

Like you i have a hand to lol, my bro.

What sucks is that I'm only 35.

comagutsa · 10-03-2014, 06:48 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Big Damo

I buldged the discs in my back between L4/L5 vertibrae and between L5/S1 at work last year so I've got constant lower back pain now, its annoying but these days I just CBF anymore, I'd rather have someone else do the work and me enjoy it lol.

been there done that.. and feel your pain.. i was 30 when my problems started

ok after years of mechanics and being a shotfirer (powder monkey for others) i did my L4/L5 and S1 at work ..repetitive bending etc and it put me on my back for months
did lots of physio etc to get back up and running but i alway had pain in my left butt and down into my left leg/foot
it always got better but the slightest thing wrong and you would feel it for days and this was a constant thing for years (and im only 37 atm

)
but it got really bad about 2 years ago (was bad for about 5 years since i hurt myself to when i got it fixed) nothing like getting out of a chair and taking 2 steps then cant move from the pain for a few seconds before everything relaxes before you can walk again and driving a manual car etc

so i went and got a MRI done after doc said they can give injections into area but i thought thats not really fixing it... paid for MRI out of my own pocket and cost about $400 but from there i went straight and got a back specialist doc referral from my doc.
cos i have private health they booked me in for next week
they cut a 2 inch slit in my back and took out a bit of bone on my spine so they could access area and then scrapped the disc away that was pushing on my nerves and spinal core
i was only in hospital for 2 nights and up and walking the next day after op.
when i woke up from op it was instant relieve ..no pain

i had about 6 weeks off work and had to only get out of bed a certain way, no bending, lifting etc in that time
its been approx 1.8 years since surgery and i can say its the best dam thing i ever did .. i still have to watch what i do (lift etc) but least now i can run, surf, play sport, sit in a car or plane etc have a life etc without the pain
i still get a little bit of niggly aches every now and then but nothing to stop me like before ...just wish i didnt put up with it for the 5 years like i did
but with private health i was approx about $800-900 out of pocket for everything including MRI and its the best money i ever spent

**buggerlugs** · 10-03-2014, 06:53 PM

My back is giving me grief again now as I type. Sciatic nerve trouble. One of my customers had the back operation re the bulging or leaking disc. He was told by the surgeon it is one of the most common operations they do on blokes between the ages of25-55 each week.............We all think we are bullet proof until it starts to hurt............

comagutsa · 10-03-2014, 06:57 PM

yeah and once its done its never going to be the same again ..even after the operation as the hard coating on disc is now gone so if you over do it the gel stuff will flow out easier ..so you need to watch yourself

castellan · 10-03-2014, 07:10 PM

I remember Dr Z Smith on lost in space,
Ow the pain the pain ! i thought he was jokeing but nowadays i feel for him, no wonder he was the way he was.

Don't get old it's not what it's cracked up to be.
You are never going to better than what you are, 46yo is when it starts as it's only down hill from then on, i know i know the pain the pain.

vibe_xr6 · 10-03-2014, 07:35 PM

Being on a scraper for 6 years, My lower back has copped a flogging, I havnt had it looked at but every day it gives me grief, I just try and live with it and if its hurting I try and lye down or something relaxing. Being 22 is what makes me not want to know whats wrong with it.

**hawkgirl** · 10-03-2014, 07:48 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Falcman0o7

now it seems its gotten alot worse to the point where i get aggitated and run out of paitence do to the pain. it's really getting me down.

I hear you.....

Severed nerve at T12-L1 where it exits the spinal column. Can't be fixed and all I can do is keep having nerve blocks & take oxy's when it gets bad.
When its really bad the whole right side of my back spasms and goes rigid, not fun. There are days when you can't escape the pain, it frazzles your self control & you know you are snapping & grouching at everyone & upsetting them, but cant seem to stop, and then you are more miserable because you didnt mean to hurt the people who were trying to help... yeah, know a bit about that. 25 years this year.

JG34JA · 10-03-2014, 08:02 PM

Feel for all of you. Late 30's and back is good, but regularly stretched. Spent quite a bit of time as foam/fibreglass monkey when younger making boards - again it's repetitive with loadings on lower back and twisting through hips. These days I try to automate and save the body for the ocean.

Just a pointer: when young and at Uni, two yoga instructors stand out. One was an ex-chippie who had done his back in and used yoga to enable him to continue before really getting into it and becoming a teacher. Other was an ex-deckie (55kg pots to pull x 110 each morning, twice) whose back ended up similar, and took a similar path. As a primer I can suggest the book "Ancient Secret of the Fountain of Youth" by Peter Kelder

Bearman · 10-03-2014, 08:35 PM

Bad back here, the starting point being a prang I had in my mid 20's from which I thought I escaped unscathed. A couple of years later I found T7 was cactus and had a narrow disc space. Affects my diaphragm and breathing when it's bad. First discovered it when I was having chest pains and thought I was having a heart attack.

Neck no good either C6 chronically out, needs to be adjusted every time I visit my chiro. T4 occasionally has issues.

Recent years L4 has given trouble and had a bulged disk around 2 years ago.

Now in my early 50's my main trouble spots are C6, T4, T7, L4. Occasionally L1 and Sacrum acts up.

Bugger this getting old thing, not much to recommend it.

**buggerlugs** · 10-03-2014, 08:38 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by vibe_xr6

Being on a scraper for 6 years, My lower back has copped a flogging, I havnt had it looked at but every day it gives me grief, I just try and live with it and if its hurting I try and lye down or something relaxing. Being 22 is what makes me not want to know whats wrong with it.

Urgh , a Scraper !! They are as bad as a Bobcat. The longer you sit on that Scraper, the worse it is going to get........ Have you got a decent seat ?

GASWAGON · 10-03-2014, 09:18 PM

I have a bad/mis aligned lower vertebrae that has been really bead for 18 months......Got xrays done and its number 3 or 4 that is not sittting on the discs properly.....SOme days a i can barely get out of bed or even walk.

Tryin to find a job thats not so intensive on backwork.

vibe_xr6 · 10-03-2014, 09:18 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by buggerlugs

Urgh , a Scraper !! They are as bad as a Bobcat. The longer you sit on that Scraper, the worse it is going to get........ Have you got a decent seat ?

When I was operating it I didn't have a good seat for 4 years, After that I stopped caring about being a hard working employee and parked it up until I got a new seat, 2 weeks later I ended up getting a new air suspension seat. I will only operate scrapers these days if its only short term, Id rather sit on a grader any day of the week !

Falcman0o7 · 10-03-2014, 09:44 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by hawkgirl

I hear you.....

Severed nerve at T12-L1 where it exits the spinal column. Can't be fixed and all I can do is keep having nerve blocks & take oxy's when it gets bad.
When its really bad the whole right side of my back spasms and goes rigid, not fun. There are days when you can't escape the pain, it frazzles your self control & you know you are snapping & grouching at everyone & upsetting them, but cant seem to stop, and then you are more miserable because you didnt mean to hurt the people who were trying to help... yeah, know a bit about that. 25 years this year.

Oh hell man! 23! No good. I'm 100kg and 6.3 with a bit of a gut! Don't think it helps. I've been working in a DC for 11 years PICKING ORDERS. the last 12 months has been all fork work. damage is already done now :( There are youngs guys at work busting thier guts picking 1200 cartons a day!
What can you say...I'm going to start back exercices to strengthen my back muscles up. I'll see how I go anyway.

Thanks for the replys guys unreal what some of you have gone through! AND put up with. makes the back ache just reading it all.

BENT_8 · 11-03-2014, 12:38 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Falcman0o7

Like you i have a hand to lol, my bro.

What sucks is that I'm only 35.

Yeah, im 37, but my back problems are genetic.

I was diagnosed with Ankylosing Spondylitis in 06 with degeneration of the lower spine and SI joints.
I also have stuffed shoulders and am riddled with arthritis in my spine.

Its a weird thing which can lie dormant for months and then attack the body out of the blue causing debilitating pain, usually after an infection of cold.
I use anti inflammatory pills to control the attacks, but they are no good for you long term.

I changed GP's about 6 years ago and the new guy declared the specialist who diagnosed me as a nutter, claimed there was no such thing.
I protested and was referred for CT and MRI scans which apparently showed up nothing.
6 Months ago my current GP referred me for a scan over another issue and the results identified the arthritis and associated joint degeneration.

I haven't pursued it any further, im just getting on with it at this stage.

One of the symptoms of the disease is a condition once described as 'Bamboo Spine', whereby the lower sections of the spine fuse together naturally and restrict movement.
I have taken up kayaking as a method of moderate exercise to keep the back and shoulders moving and Panadol Osteo does the rest.

**buggerlugs** · 11-03-2014, 09:48 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by vibe_xr6

When I was operating it I didn't have a good seat for 4 years, After that I stopped caring about being a hard working employee and parked it up until I got a new seat, 2 weeks later I ended up getting a new air suspension seat. I will only operate scrapers these days if its only short term, Id rather sit on a grader any day of the week !

My new work truck which is only 4.5t has finally come out with a suspension seat. They are heaven. So for the four years you were on the Scraper it was a fixed seat ?

vibe_xr6 · 11-03-2014, 10:23 AM

It was a hydraulic suspension seat but it was stuffed, no matter what seat you put in them, scrapers will never be heaven haha

BENT_8 · 11-03-2014, 01:19 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by buggerlugs

My new work truck which is only 4.5t has finally come out with a suspension seat. They are heaven. So for the four years you were on the Scraper it was a fixed seat ?

I drive trucks and it never ceases to amaze me as to why the hydraulic seats only wind up to 100-110kg.
Most of us are fat bastards who eat pies, custard tarts and FUIC, 110kg rarely holds up.
Add to that Adelaides undulating roads and it makes for tough times when you bottom out...lol

Franco Cozzo · 11-03-2014, 02:40 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by comagutsa

been there done that.. and feel your pain.. i was 30 when my problems started

I'm 22, was decommissioning an ambo to go to the auctions but they wanted to keep the wiring loom in tact to reuse in a new ambo, I'm not sure if I caused the problem before lifting these 205L drums they used as make shift rubbish bins and then it slipped later in the day.

But I was leaning over looking in the seat base for about an hour trying to figure out how this system worked, then I stood up straight and bang, done my L4/L5/S1.

I was going to leave my trade anyway but I'm certainly not ever going back on the tools again, going to try change to a white collar job so I'm back to school.