Close to tears........

[superal]

On 6/21/2021 at 8:55 AM, Gecko123 said:

Apply Analgesic balm "Counterpain"

 

Don't agree with all the pill popping advice unless you absolutely think you need it.

Have you been either oversleeping, over eating, over drinking, over smoking? If your abdominal muscles get flacid or you put on weight this can pull your spine out of alignment and cause lower back nerves to be pinched. After applying analgesic balm or taking a couple of analgesic pills, do not recommend lying in bed, especially if any of the above "over..." scenarios apply. As soon as you can get on your feet, flip your mattress so you will have better back support tonight, and get moving with slow walking (if only in circles around the house) and gentle stretching exercises to loosen up the lower back.

I had that advice once from a sports physiotherapist who said people with back pain often have weak stomach muscles that hold the spinal mass intact . Gaining a spare tyre  will cause back pains for some people . I am currently having an investigation into my back pain including an MRI and 5 XRaYS . MRI carried out in Thailand but now back in the UK and the UK spinal surgeon said the images were from an old type of MRI machine and not clear enough so I must have a new MRI on state of the art UK machine . BTW I have put on over 10 kg in the last 2 years , so this may be the problem ( the 10 kg all stomach fat ).

Just a footnote , the Thai doctor wanted to operate on me the next day for 1.5 million baht but I politely refused .

[faraday]

@orchidfan

 

Operation was 70k.

See my post near the top of page 5.

 

????

[rumak]

4 hours ago, Surelynot said:

Yep....going to go steady for a week or two, see how things pan out.......not in any rush to start going down the track of MRI's and X-Rays until or unless I feel it really is necessary.....

 

an MRI is in most cases a BIG waste of YOUR money.  The hospitals love it as the machine is quite expensive.    3 doctors looked at mine and all said different things.   HA !

 

Unless you are a star athlete with the best diagnostic team at your calling... i think an MRI is a big ( oh , already said that).       this is my opinion, of course  

[superal]

6 minutes ago, rumak said:

 

an MRI is in most cases a BIG waste of YOUR money.  The hospitals love it as the machine is quite expensive.    3 doctors looked at mine and all said different things.   HA !

 

Unless you are a star athlete with the best diagnostic team at your calling... i think an MRI is a big ( oh , already said that).       this is my opinion, of course  

Here in the UK the MRI is free if the service is provided by the NHS as is my case . The MRI is a powerful source of fast tracking physical problems .  Interpretations of X RAYS , ultrasonics and MRI  can result in different/ opposing views from those with limited experience

[Surelynot]

4 hours ago, onekoolguy said:

From my brother who is a physical therapist: 

Lay face down flat. when you can, come up on your elbows keeping your hips on the floor,  stay there awhile, then as you can push up like you are doing half push ups, hips stay on the floor. Go slow and hold these positions for a little while. Don't force anything, take it ease and just do as much as you can easily. You need to put the reverse curve back in your back. This really helped me! when you strain your back immediately get on the floor and do these moves. 

Get the book, " Really helped me!

Treat Your Own Back

by Robin McKenzie

Yep.....cheers.... as per the some of the videos posted......will definitely be doing that....thanks.

[Surelynot]

52 minutes ago, rumak said:

 

an MRI is in most cases a BIG waste of YOUR money.  The hospitals love it as the machine is quite expensive.    3 doctors looked at mine and all said different things.   HA !

 

Unless you are a star athlete with the best diagnostic team at your calling... i think an MRI is a big ( oh , already said that).       this is my opinion, of course  

That is scary.....had an MRI for a tumor before Xmas....doctor pronounced level 4 cancer (not to be confused with stage 4)........you need a biopsy (150k).......I couldn't see anything on the screen that looked like a tumor.........but not easy to see through the floods of tears .......surely they wouldn't con people like that????.....Biopsy was benign.

[BritManToo]

1 hour ago, rumak said:

Unless you are a star athlete with the best diagnostic team at your calling... i think an MRI is a big ( oh , already said that).       this is my opinion, of course  

Mine too.

If there was anything to see they probably couldn't cure it.

But would make your end more miserable as the whittle away at you.

[BritManToo]

41 minutes ago, Surelynot said:

That is scary.....had an MRI for a tumor before Xmas....doctor pronounced level 4 cancer (not to be confused with stage 4)........you need a biopsy (150k).......I couldn't see anything on the screen that looked like a tumor.........but not easy to see through the floods of tears .......surely they wouldn't con people like that????.....Biopsy was benign.

150k down the drain for nothing!

Level 4 cancer if treated has at best a 25% survival rate (breast).

In some organs it's only 14% survival rate (colon).

 

Better off not even knowing about it, let alone bothering to have it treated IMHO.

Edited June 22, 2021 by BritManToo

[Surelynot]

5 minutes ago, BritManToo said:

150k down the drain for nothing!

Level 4 cancer if treated has at best a 25% survival rate (breast).

In some organs it's only 14% survival rate (colon).

 

Better off not even knowing about it, let alone bothering to have it treated IMHO.

I would prefer to know....just so I could kick the arße out of the time I had left.

[BritManToo]

Just now, Surelynot said:

I would prefer to know....just so I could kick the arße out of the time I had left.

I'm doing that anyway ............ why wait until you're dying?

(and I have 150k more than you to spend while kicking it!)

Edited June 22, 2021 by BritManToo

[Surelynot]

1 minute ago, BritManToo said:

I'm doing that anyway ............ why wait until you're dying?

(and I have 150k more than you to spend while kicking it!)

ßloody hell.................as I wrote that sentence I thought......why am I not doing that anyway?

 

 

[fredwiggy]

On 6/21/2021 at 1:46 PM, Surelynot said:

The pain started centrally.....and does seem to be shifting to the lefthand side.......can you recommend a muscle relaxant?

G rex's advice is sound. Taking Diclofenac works for me when I get the occasional back pain from lifting weights (45 years), and stretching

[Gandtee]

11 minutes ago, Surelynot said:

I would prefer to know....just so I could kick the arße out of the time I had left.

'Come on Brian. Look on the bright side.'????

[1FinickyOne]

12 minutes ago, Surelynot said:

would prefer to know....just so I could kick the arße out of the time I had left.

yes, this is the question - - what do we do abt the end while we still have the choice...??

 

A friend of mine's wife has been painfully battling cancer for 2 years now.. I expect her life expectancy is not long or pleasant... and her husband and son are suffering it with her... 

 

Do we pick a date while we are still relatively ok so as to not fall into the horror? Can we orchestrate a lovely peaceful exit? 

[BritManToo]

14 minutes ago, Surelynot said:

ßloody hell.................as I wrote that sentence I thought......why am I not doing that anyway?

 

 

Back to your OP.

I had crippling back pain from age 30 (ish) to age 55 (after jumping off a springboard and hitting the water at an odd angle).

The doctors said it would never get better ....... then at age 55 I started gentle walking for an hour a day .... and by age 56 the pain had gone forever.

 

I'm convinced that back pain is caused by our modern sedentary lifestyle.

You should try walking every day, it'll hurt a bit at first, but just a bit of gentle walking for an out every day.

If that fails, smoke cannabis every night, it may not help with the back pain, but you won't care so much!

Edited June 22, 2021 by BritManToo

[Surelynot]

1 minute ago, 1FinickyOne said:

yes, this is the question - - what do we do abt the end while we still have the choice...??

 

A friend of mine's wife has been painfully battling cancer for 2 years now.. I expect her life expectancy is not long or pleasant... and her husband and son are suffering it with her... 

 

Do we pick a date while we are still relatively ok so as to not fall into the horror? Can we orchestrate a lovely peaceful exit? 

Personally very much in favor of euthanasia.....with the appropriate safe guards.......have seen too many close relatives suffer needlessly........have no intentions of facing the same fate (he said bravely!!!)

[Surelynot]

Just now, BritManToo said:

Back to your OP.

I had crippling back pain from age 30 (ish) to age 55 (after juming off a springboard and hitting the water at an odd angle).

The doctors said it would never get better ....... then at age 55 I started gentle walking for an hour a day .... and by age 56 the pain had gone forever.

 

I'm convinced that back pain is caused by our modern sedentary lifestyle.

You should try walking every day, it'll hurt a bit at first, but just a bit of gentle walking for an out every day.

If that fails, smoke cannabis every night, it may not help with the back pain, but you won't care so much!

Have been up and walking (shuffling) about as recommended every hour or so.

 

On your other problem..... read about a guy....golfer.....bad back for years slipped on ice........ couldn't play golf anymore......one day he grabbed a club and said to hell with this....took a swing.......god almighty crack.......and he played gold that day....fixed!!! How true it is ...no idea.

[BritManToo]

3 minutes ago, Surelynot said:

Personally very much in favor of euthanasia.....with the appropriate safe guards.......have seen too many close relatives suffer needlessly........have no intentions of facing the same fate (he said bravely!!!)

Me too, lost my best pals 2 years and 4 years ago.

The hospitals were no help at all (1 in CM lasted 2 months @age 49, 1 in London lasted a year @ age 59), just added to the pain.

I had to endure their fall from 100% healthy (and normal) to dead (and mental destruction) at every stage ...... it was truly awful (messages from and to them every day while in the process of dying and mental decline).

Edited June 22, 2021 by BritManToo

[Surelynot]

6 minutes ago, BritManToo said:

Me too, lost my best pals 2 years and 4 years ago.

The hospitals were no help at all (1 in CM lasted 2 months @age 49, 1 in London lasted a year @ age 59), just added to the pain.

I had to endure their fall from 100% healthy (and normal) to dead (and mental destruction) at every stage ...... it was truly awful (messages from and to them every day while in the process of dying and mental decline).

Horrendous.......watched my father die......took 5 years.........longtime ago now and I would hope palliative care is much better now.....the pain was so intense he begged for a knife towards the end.....criminal really.

[BritManToo]

10 minutes ago, Surelynot said:

Horrendous.......watched my father die......took 5 years.........longtime ago now and I would hope palliative care is much better now.....the pain was so intense he begged for a knife towards the end.....criminal really.

The palliative care didn't work for either of my 2 pals.

2017 in Chiang Mai, and 2019 in London. The pain and distress was awful to witness.

They both died in total agony, but had lost their minds by the end weeks.

 

And like you (in the 1970's) I watched my father die over a period of 5 years.

Edited June 22, 2021 by BritManToo

[Surelynot]

1 minute ago, BritManToo said:

The palliative care didn't work for either of my 2 pals.

2017 in Chiang Mai, and 2019 in London.

The pain and distress was awful to witness.

I just do not understand that in this day and age.......???

[scubascuba3]

Better to pick an end date and plan for it, sadly 99% of people just drift along

[Surelynot]

Just now, scubascuba3 said:

Better to pick an end date and plan for it, sadly 99% of people just drift along

That has crossed my mind....but of course you will revise the end date as you get nearer and nearer to it!!!!!

[1FinickyOne]

48 minutes ago, BritManToo said:

I had crippling back pain from age 30 (ish) to age 55 (after jumping off a springboard and hitting the water at an odd angle).

The doctors said it would never get better ....... then at age 55 I started gentle walking for an hour a day .... and by age 56 the pain had gone forever.

I had crippling back pain from a fall off a rock ledge for 2 months... I would not have survived 25 years - still have nerve damage from it but.. ok... 

 

you deserve any fun you can muster through the mortal coil...

[rumak]

2 hours ago, superal said:

Interpretations of X RAYS , ultrasonics and MRI  can result in different/ opposing views from those with limited experience

 

this is a Thai forum.   though i do believe (my belief)  that in the fields requiring advanced diagnosis with the use of an MRI ............ the percentage of doctors that I FEEL comfortable with cutting into me based on their readings is questionable.

I would add,  maybe doctors in US or England are more experienced .......... but I am sure there are many patients out there with bad outcomes .    There is a reason why top sports stars and people with money choose the top surgeons.

I stand by my post.  Unless you have a very good surgeon HERE IN THAILAND,  an MRI is a waste of money as from my experience the "readers of the MRI'  were not up to the task.

[1FinickyOne]

30 minutes ago, scubascuba3 said:

Better to pick an end date and plan for it, sadly 99% of people just drift along

I agree... at what point does each progressive year become less liveable.. this is such a tough issue.. 

 

How do you choose? Do you have one? And really it is 99.9% of the people... but who at 70 or 75 knows how they will feel at 80 or 85? 

 

By the time my parents would have been ready for it, they lost the capability.. 

[BritManToo]

4 minutes ago, 1FinickyOne said:

How do you choose? Do you have one? And really it is 99.9% of the people... but who at 70 or 75 knows how they will feel at 80 or 85?

I don't know anyone over age 70 that has a life I would consider worth living.

I realised this at age 50, and now at age 65 I haven't changed my mind, I'm rapidly approaching the 'not worth living' stage.

 

Although I've encountered a few people with dementia that don't know their life isn't worth living.

Edited June 22, 2021 by BritManToo

[rumak]

51 minutes ago, Surelynot said:

Have been up and walking (shuffling) about as recommended every hour or so.

 

On your other problem..... read about a guy....golfer.....bad back for years slipped on ice........ couldn't play golf anymore......one day he grabbed a club and said to hell with this....took a swing.......god almighty crack.......and he played gold that day....fixed!!! How true it is ...no idea.

 

the real definition of a Stroke of luck !  

 

hah !   then his eyesight went and he couldn't find his balls .........

[1FinickyOne]

1 hour ago, BritManToo said:

I don't know anyone over age 70 that has a life I would consider worth living.

I realised this at age 50, and now at age 65 I haven't changed my mind, I'm rapidly approaching the 'not worth living' stage.

 

Although I've encountered a few people with dementia that don't know their life isn't worth living.

I have thought the same thing abt age 80... but i am not sure 75 might be more like it... 

 

I am 71 - are we always 5 years away? 

 

dementia is not the way to go - it is much more gradual than you might imagine... my mom went pretty deep into it at age 85 or so... there was one moment, at a dinner table in a nursing home, age 92, no mirrors when she sort of cried out, "OHHH, How did I get this way!!"... She was blind and I have no idea what was going on in her head, but not much of the last few years was fun though she did keep a small % of foggy intermittent cognisance... 

[Sterling]

@SurelynotDont want to alarm you but I had the same thing happen to me a few years ago (bent down, felt a pop in my back and a ton of pain) and similar symptoms (back pain, numbness in one leg, etc). I tried to rest and take it easy but after a few weeks of no relief, I went in to see a spine specialist, had an MRI done and they found 2 ruptured discs. Had to have an endoscopic discectomy at Bumrungrad in Bangkok and I'm 100% better now. Thai doctor did a great job and i'm pretty much pain free.

The only downside is I'm not allowed to run/jog, lift weights or anything that puts undue pressure on my back.

Swimming, bicycling and fast walking is allowed.

Hopefully you havent ruptured any discs, but if the pain doesnt goes away, please go see a doctor.

Total cost of the procedure was around 300k baht and my Cigna International insurance paid 90% of it so I was out of pocket 30k baht.

Good luck!