What do you do for you?

[Capt. BassinLou]

As I read through this forum, many of us currently have or have had our slew of orthopedic and muscular-skeletal injuries. Medical interventions like surgery, pain mgmt, and physical therapy are some of the avenues we have utilized at one point or another to treat these injuries/conditions. 

For discussion purposes, what steps have some of you taken to help maintain or improve your ADL's (Activity of Daily Living), while dealing with your particular orthopedic/muscular-skeletal injury(s)? What healthy habits have you adopted to help yourself, that you feel can help someone with similar injuries/conditions?  Examples of these habits may be: working out, yoga, meditation, acupuncture, walking. weigh loss, etc...

What say you?

[Smallie_Stalker]

Stretching, dumbbells, walking and some core exercises I learned in PT for my back.
I've also been making more of an effort to eat controlled portions of healthier foods and cutting out the soda. Extra pounds in the abdominal area put a lot of stress on the lower back and I have significant back issues. I've had injections but they are temporary relief at best so I'm looking to improve my overall ability on my own. I would like to try acupuncture though but at the moment it's not financially doable.

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[Deadeye]

The Back Injections were a God Send for me. I went from not really being able to walk to feeling like a new man. I had them injected in 3 areas, 1 on each side of the spine for a total of 6, each week for 3 weeks.

First week, Meh. Nothing

2nd week, um maybe. Not anything to get excited about.

3rd week, ok I felt a little better.

Next week to the day, VOLIA! I woke up and for the first time in 10 months I didn't have pain.

I continued to get a set of Booster Shots every 3 months for 2-3 years. Eventually I was able to go longer and longer and now I get them 1-2 a year.

The other was Water PT, prescribed by my Dr. As it was explained to me my body had learned to "tighten up" to protect itself. We had to train it that it was OK to move again. I went twice a week for 2 months. It really helped.

Muscle Point Injections also helped a lot with the Muscle Pain.

And as a Last Resort in the area where I had fractured 4 vertebrae and no one would believe me enough to really look, since I was walking and not screaming out of my mind (I have a very high tolerance for pain and have been on Pain Pills for years), Once an MRI was done 3 of the 4 had healed and the 4th was starting. The only thing that worked there was having the Nerve Ends Burnt. It worked and did so for over a year, I'm ready to have it done again.

The last thing for me is a collection of Pain, Muscle Relaxer, Vitamins, and other Prescriptions. I take a handful each morning and then more 3 -4 times during the day. Most of the vitamins were told to me by my Neurosurgeon for Spine and Bone Health and include: K2, Bioton, Magnesium, Calcium and a Daily.

[Oldfart9999]

I do what I'm able at the gym, helps me stay mobile and control my blood sugar.
Rodney

[FD]

Food made with food...

Amy totally revamped out diet a few years ago. We eat very few processed foods. Meats, seafood and produce all come from local markets where they are fresh and locally sourced.

She also cooks with anti inflammatory foods and spices.

We don't fry anything.

Another change was the tempurpedic mattress and TB-12 reflective sheets a few years ago.


Post hoc ergo propter hoc fallacia est

[bigjim5589]

My wife, Donna, and I both have had issues with our backs. Mine was from a ruptured disc in '86. Otherwise, my issues are from arthritis in my joints. All those years in construction & truck driving and other abuse to my body have taken a toll. 

I take Glucosamine Chondroitin regularly, and as Smallie and Rodney said, exercise with a lot of stretching. Also take aspirin everyday. It helps with discomfort, and because it thins the blood some aids with blood flow. It's not something that my Doc prescribed, I started doing it instead of taking other meds and so far my Doc has agreed with me. I also take 3000 mg of vitamin C everyday, and that helps keep my immune system up to par. That doesn't affect my back or joint pain directly, but helps with overall health.

As I've gotten older, I've got some blood flow issues too, particularly down in my legs & feet. Some of this is hereditary and I've had a few surgeries over the years that had some impact. Because everything in your body is connected, the stretching helps not just my back, but my legs & that blood flow problem too. Also have slowly added a blood pressure problem over the last 15 years, and reducing my weight should help with that. For many years I stayed around 215 pounds and I'm closer to 240 now.

I was told when I first injured my back that I would not be able to lift more than 30 lbs the rest of my life, and well, that's not been the case because I have made the effort to keep my back strong. 

The middle age bulge in the front is what I'm working on fixing now! 

Donna & I have also changed our diets some, more to control weight than anything, and we eat less processed foods too now. We still don't eat as we should sometimes, but what we eat is better for us.

My daughter, Lisa, has really got into living a healthy lifestyle, and she makes videos about it. She's an MRI Tech, and see's a lot of people with health problems. She's helped us a lot with tips on how to live healthier. You can look her up on Facebook. Lisa Hester. She's got some excellent information on there! ( Yes, I am biased & proud too!  )

I'm reasonably mobile for a guy my age, but it does get harder the older I get. 

[TNDiver]

Controlling my weight has helped me.  I have problems with knee and lower back pain and if I get too heavy, I can feel it on my joints, even at my smaller stature.  Chiropractic adjustments have really helped, especially with my knee pain.  I couldn't stand for very long or it would really bother me, now not so much.

I also cut out soda and switched to Earl Grey tea or coffee on bad days of being tired.  Also take a multi-vitamin, Glucosamine (also helped my knee pain) and calcium, Mg, zinc pill, which (zinc) boosts your immune system as well.  It is what is in Coldeze for a fraction of the cost.  I teach so I am exposed to a lot of people with illnesses that can spread.

Stretching helps a lot as does some moderate weight lifting.  I can't do the max outs or heavy power lifting anymore.  TENS unit also help.  My chiropractor has one and always hooks it up for me.  I would love to get a weekly massage but man they are expensive!