Make sure you look after your back people.

[Peter]

Hey Wayne, dug out the booklet suspended from my chair in a little plastic slip and can tell you I have a Grahl Duoback ergonomic chair.
See Grahl Ergonomic Chairs for Offices no model number on mine, but it is closest to the "11" model, remember they are "made to measure".

You will not believe how much difference a suitable chair will make to your office life.

[SlugLobber]

Your employer is actually obliged to offer you a suitable chair if you should need it, or allow one. Tis all under the Workstation Assessment thingummy. I also sympathise as I had a bad back for a year and a half. It was only after starting swimming that it eased considerably. I wasn't able to do all the normal stuff and couldn't even pick out my ponies' feet. I did any hoovering on hands and knees and still do that now, as a precaution.

I would treat the fusion op as a last resort. You really will lose a LOT of flexibility. Imagine your spine as being a bicycle chain, then imagine filling the links with resin. Don't know a thing about epidurals, but hope they find something to help you. My sciatica was unbearable at times and only last Christmas I was on morphine - I was high as a kite on Christmas day, with zero alcohol!!

Has the Dr prescribed any diazepam? I was given that to ease the spasms and it was fantastic. Coming off it wasn't so great (it's valium!), but it really did help considerably. I also bought a heat wrap (a resin thingy that was heated in the microwave, then placed inside the pocket of a belt). That became my effective pain relief when I returned to work.

[Nicos]

The problem with fusion Wayne is that the joints above and below have to 'work' extra hard to compensate...putting more of a strain on them- how sound are they????
Core stabilizers and postural re-education are the way to go- might be worth asking to be referred to someone who specialises in Alexander Tecnique may be the way to go to avoid surgery- and would certainly help with rehab whether or not you have surgery/injections.

Pandora's Box really Wayne, but I'd try and avoid surgery again unless the consultant says there is no alternative.

Here's a bit on Alexander Technique...

The Alexander Technique:

NB the advice...

"Correct use of the entire body during all daily activities is, for many, the real remedy for an ailing back. Often, the best "medicine" is actually education."

[piskieinboots]

((hugs))
x

[Flummery]

My Aunty had a fusion op many years ago. She went from complete immobility to looking and acting like everyone else. I don't know if she feels any lack of mobility but it certainly doesn't show. However, she doesn't dig an allotment!

Whatever they and you decide, I do hope it goes well (and rapidly) towards a good conclusion.

[HeyWayne]

Thanks for all the comments, tips and advice.

I've tried most of the things suggested, and have been quite lucky in that the company sorted out a number of things when it happened last time (about 5-6 years ago).

My chair is this one:
Posturite - Please enable your cookies

At the time it was the highest (in terms of seat height rather than back height) I could find, and adjusts in almost every direction. The chair allows me to maintain correct posture - feet flat on the floor, knees directly above and hips higher than the knees with back straight. At the same time I bought desk blocks to raise my desk so that I don't kneecap myself every time I swivel round. I also make sure I don't sit for any longer than around 20 minutes or so without getting up and walking around for a bit.

I've been to see chiropractors, physiotherapists and osteopaths - the latter being the most successful. I've tried wearing a support belt, but being my height they invariably aren't long/wide enough to do any good, and to be honest I've been advised against them in my situation as it doesn't treat the cause, just relieves the symptom.

I've had an inversion table (although again, this was to small so I had to sell it recently), I've tried traction, manipulation etc etc etc.

The whole world's against me - everything's designed for people shorter than me. We do try and go for things that are "taller" as LadyWayne is also rather lofty, but more often than not they cost a hell of a lot more. Our bed is quite high so neither of us have to stoop to get in/out, our couches are really really deep (some people sit on them and their feet stick out rather comically), our dining furniture was tricky to find as a lot of the tables were difficult for me to get my knees under - the list goes on. Even shopping trollies make me stoop when pushing them.

I try not to let my height define who I am as a person, but it's difficult sometimes.

If I had the money my whole house would be specced to suit us - doorhandles would be higher, shower would go higher and I wouldn't need to duck to get in, the bath would be longer, sinks and worktops would be higher, doors would be at least 6ft 9 so I didn't have to duck, the ironing board would come up higher, plug sockets would be higher up the wall (like they are in new houses built in flood risk areas I think).

Looking forward to the scan as at least it will identify exactly what the problem is and hopefully make it easier to treat.

Thanks again for all the pointers/help.

Sorry to whinge.

[Two_Sheds]

The whole world's against me - everything's designed for people shorter than me...If I had the money my whole house would be specced to suit us - doorhandles would be higher, shower would go higher and I wouldn't need to duck to get in, the bath would be longer, sinks and worktops would be higher, doors would be at least 6ft 9 so I didn't have to duck, the ironing board would come up higher, plug sockets would be higher up the wall

Everything's designed for 5' 11" blokes I think ... I am average for a UK woman at 5' 3", but cupboards are too high for me (I need a kiddy step) and I can't reach the shower head without first getting in the shower (and thereby getting blasted with the cold water that comes out first)

((((hug))))

[piskieinboots]

I try not to let my height define who I am as a person, but it's difficult sometimes....

yep isn't it - mind you asking nice tall young Waitrose chaps to reach the high stuff for me has it benefits

[HayleyB]

I hope it all sorts out soon HW, it's horrible to have so much pain and not be able to do anything. I'm lucky really I occasionally get full back spasmodics which are hell on earth but only last for a few minutes - I just have to remember to breathe. The odd sciatica as well. I know fusion of kissing (rubbing) spines in horses can completely cure a condition but in humans I presume anatomically it depends where the fusion is to be in the back. Good luck HW {{{{big big hugs}}} *5'10" and standing on tiptoes

[Irie Jan]

Hi Wayne!

I do hope you get sorted soon! Back problems are no fun, I wish you well and a speedy recovery which ever road you take! Its funny I was wondering how you were getting along the other day, then up poped this thread!

Height or the lack of it can cause problems, lol I'm quite short at only 5ft the top shelves in my kitchen cupboards are a no go area for me, so are a waste of space! LOL only things I use once in a blue moon are kept there. Only have a small kitchen and nowhere to store even a small fold up step stool.
I could not lower the cupboards as would then look odd as I have a raised oven, the top of the unit which houses that dictated the line for the other wall cupboards!

As for supermarkets what do you do if there is no nice tall person to help you I often risk life and limb climbing on the lower shelving at my local Tesco just to reach items on the top or back of the shelves lol

[lynda66]

my OH is 6'4" he has a similar problem with his back, and recently he had a new kitchen fitted, so he doesn't have to stoop, basically normal cupboards were put onto a platform and they added an extra big kick plate, he said he wishes he'd had it done years ago ....... i on the other hand can't actually reach the sink ...... shame i can't do the washing up ..... though it is annoying when he puts my choccie at the back of the top cupboard, cos i can't even reach it with the step i use to make a brew, he's also had a wet room fitted, as climbing in and out of the bath for a shower was getting silly, it's made everything so much easier, he's also putting off operations, as he would have to have 4 vertebra fused.

[nelliegemini]

And a big 'well done' to Heywayne for not saying:

tried it, didn't work
tried it, didn't work

after each post - must have taken huge self control

Sorry to hear you're still in pain, Wayne - hope the scan helps. A friend with serious back pain (an ex chorus line dancer - all those high kicks) recently found out through a scan that her pain was an abcess on the disc. Simple op and she's fine - took them 6 months to find out the problem though!

[MaureenHall]

Wayne, you're allowed to winge when you're really in pain and lots of discomfort {{{hugs}}} kiss better

[HeyWayne]

And a big 'well done' to Heywayne for not saying:

tried it, didn't work
tried it, didn't work

after each post - must have taken huge self control

Sorry to hear you're still in pain, Wayne - hope the scan helps. A friend with serious back pain (an ex chorus line dancer - all those high kicks) recently found out through a scan that her pain was an abcess on the disc. Simple op and she's fine - took them 6 months to find out the problem though!

Hey, I've been 6 or so years without any real problems, so they've all worked to a degree.

Interesting what you say about your friend - immediately after my operation I felt fine, I was up and walking the next day. I was home just over a day later. Things got progressively worse after that - and I ended up being off work for 3 months. The culprit - an infection on the disc. Now that was painful!

With regard to whinging - I've got a great deal to be happy about, and there are people far worse off than me. It's just getting a little boring now and I want to be fixed for Beans arrival. It's LadyWayne I feel for - she's just as frustrated as she can't do anything to help.

Apparently the human back is one of the best examples of bad design - we should be walking around on all fours so one of my specialists once told me (I forget who as I've seen so many over the years).

Anyway, enough of all that...

[Flummery]

Apparently the human back is one of the best examples of bad design - we should be walking around on all fours

Tried that. I keep bumping into trees!