Topic: I am LOW enough to slide under the door crack
just don
Frequent Contributor (1K+ posts)
Member # 1129
posted
My attitude is sooooooo low I can slide under the door crack the cold air blows under the front door.
Its my first week of being officially unemployed. Sunday was the hardest 2 things, telling both work places I was thru.
Just not able to go any more.I thought right up to last Thursday I was going back to work this Monday. NOT!!!
I am now a professional TV watcher. 4 hours of 'Gunsmoke' is making the sky's hazy every day,,then 2 hours of 'Little House'
Cant sleep anyway,,an hour or two and some short cat naps is all I can manage
I guess even worse than that is I had a 1000 projects waiting for me when I had time,,,and travel and see some country.
Its all out the window now. Need a grip on my mortality.
Whats even scarier is how fast it has progressed to this point.
After researching some the ONLY possible help might be a 'decompressive laminectomy'
BUT my chiro is against that,,,his assertion is when you do that the bad growth comes back three times as fast.
His suggestion is a traction machine BUT its not covered by insurance of any kind,,,but he quoted me a good rate of $25 per session.
But takes lots of sessions,,,and what I am afraid of is it goes right back to old ways soon as you stop.
Did that in physical therapy for my cervical neck a couple months ago. Felt good for about half hour,,,and then gravity wins
Other issue is if I do go surgical decompress way,,,I need 2 or 3 or MORE of those up and down for different areas
My whole idea Of retirement has drastically changed in the last two weeks!!!
-------------------- just don Posts: 4548 | From Middle of midwest | Registered: May 2001
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hiker53
Frequent Contributor (5K+ posts)
Member # 6046
posted
Don,
All I can say is:
-------------------- Hiker53
"God is light. In Him there is no darkness." 1John 1:5 Posts: 8900 | From Illinois | Registered: Aug 2004
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aklnwlf
Frequent Contributor (5K+ posts)
Member # 5960
posted
Don't give up JD! What's wrong with your back exactly?
-------------------- Do not take this as medical advice. This comment is based on opinion and personal experience only.
Alaska Lone Wolf Posts: 6153 | From Columbus, GA | Registered: Jul 2004
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randibear
Honored Contributor (10K+ posts)
Member # 11290
posted
trade ya my neck for your back...
my my ain't we a pair....
-------------------- do not look back when the only course is forward Posts: 12262 | From texas | Registered: Mar 2007
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Bartenderbonnie
Frequent Contributor (1K+ posts)
Member # 49177
posted
Don, no one knows what tomorrow will bring.
Clearly, now was the time your body needed a rest. You gave it your all and for that, you should have no regrets.
You sound like a very consiousness employee. Go the extra mile to make sure the work is done right. Even if it means if it could be detrimental to your health.
Your job(s) are a big part of your life. But it isn't the total of your self worth. You will learn that, even at your age. I did.
I went from being a very well respected, hardworking, dependable, and honest bartender, to being unable to determine which shoe went on which foot.
I worked every shift last year as if it were my last. Until it was.
Are you replaceable as an employee? Of coarse you are. Everyone is. But, it might take 2 employees to do the great job you did.
Let your body heal, try to relax and wait it out. So sorry.
Posts: 2978 | From Florida | Registered: Nov 2016
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sammy
Frequent Contributor (5K+ posts)
Member # 13952
posted
Sorry friend, I know what it is like to have your life suddenly changed by severe back pain.
I have 10 vertebral fractures (and suspect that I've gotten 2 more this past year...). The pain is incredible, indescribably horrible! Totally debilitating.
I have Ehlers Danlos Syndrome but did not know that I had the rare complication of severe osteoporosis.
I didn't even do anything fun or cool or crazy to cause all my fractures. I was simply coughing hard in my sleep one night. Then I couldn't sit up in bed the next morning because the pain was absolutely excruciating. No one believed me how bad it was because I hadn't done anything to cause a known injury.
Besides the fractures, I have nerve problems, facet problems, arthritis, etc... My back is a mess.
Posts: 5237 | From here | Registered: Nov 2007
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randibear
Honored Contributor (10K+ posts)
Member # 11290
posted
how about a bucket list?
it took months after I retired for me to settle down. I was in so much pain, emotionally and physically.
at first I just slept and, yep, watched tv. could barely clean house, let alone myself.
it's not easy. I was a workaholic, working 10-12 hours all the time. once worked from six to 11 at night. the job us lyme was killing me.
relax for awhile and then make decisions. enjoy your family, pets, and friends. I had no one but at least it was quiet.
I wish you much luck.
-------------------- do not look back when the only course is forward Posts: 12262 | From texas | Registered: Mar 2007
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sammy
Frequent Contributor (5K+ posts)
Member # 13952
posted
One more thing, there is a procedure called "Minimally Invasive Laminotomy".
Instead of being an open surgery with a large incision, this type of procedure that uses tiny incisions to allow use of small scopes to view the the surgery field and small tools needed to complete the procedure.
This procedure allows for much faster recovery time and has a good success rate.
Maybe you could talk with a doctor in your area, or a large city near you, that can discuss your case in detail and answer all your questions.
Posts: 5237 | From here | Registered: Nov 2007
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randibear
Honored Contributor (10K+ posts)
Member # 11290
posted
sammy do you have a rod in your back? my friend, doris, was in a mva. her back was busted up good.
they did four back surgeries then finally put a rod in.
she went out on disability finally. she just couldn't sit at a desk anymore.
-------------------- do not look back when the only course is forward Posts: 12262 | From texas | Registered: Mar 2007
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posted
Keep searching for help, don...and try to relax a bit.. IT IS POSSIBLE that you will get better. I would suggest taking plenty of magnesium to help your muscles relax.
About 6 yrs ago I injured my back and neck while trying to lift something I shouldn't have been lifting.
I spent the next year or so in traction at home and at the chiro's... Did the decompression thing too. It helped some and then finally it just didn't help anymore. I also used a TENS unit .. didn't help that much.
I wish I had known at the time that I needed more magnesium in my diet. I think I would have recovered sooner.
Then the next two years my feet went out and I really thought my life was over. I couldn't walk more than 20-30 ft at a time. The only places I went were church and to the grocery store or a restaurant. At the grocery store, my husband pushed me in a wheel chair because the electric carts would pop my neck too badly. I had a handicapped placard for 3 yrs.
Now I'm able to walk just about anywhere I want to.
What I'm saying is .. The body can sometimes heal itself when given the right recipe.
Rest, relax, decompress... literally. There is HOPE!
-------------------- --Lymetutu-- Opinions, not medical advice! Posts: 96223 | From Texas | Registered: Feb 2001
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Silverwolf
Frequent Contributor (1K+ posts)
Member # 9196
posted
Hi <<<<< Just Don >>>>>,
So sorry to hear the pain has gotten so horrid. Back pain and neck pain are tough to deal with.
We'll be keeping you in prayer, TrekC' has had to have back surgery, some years back. And I've had neck problems.
I know it is super hard but,relax as much as you are able, and breathe. Sometimes it hurts to the point one barely breathes.
Jus' Silverwolfi and TrekCoord too
-------------------- 2006,May-August2006 Dx w/ Lyme/Bartonella/White Matter Lesion Disease on Brain. [ Clinical Dx w/ two positives and several IND's on the tests from Igenex ], Prior Dx of CFIDS/CEBV 1992, and FMS '93-'94 Diabetes*2 Dx 10/'08 Posts: 3581 | From SE Idaho | Registered: May 2006
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lpkayak
Honored Contributor (10K+ posts)
Member # 5230
posted
I'm really sorry Don. I don't know what the answer is. I got home from hospital today and don't really have a plan. OT AND PT are supposed to have some ideas tomorrow. I can't figure it out. Good luck To you.
-------------------- Lyme? Its complicated. Educate yourself. Posts: 13712 | From new england | Registered: Feb 2004
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hang in there. I think we've all been in that low/dark place. Look for the Light. It's there.
-------------------- 2 Corinthians 12:9-11
9 But he said to me, �My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.� Therefore I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ�s power may rest on me. Posts: 1445 | From Poconos, PA | Registered: Jul 2004
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Tincup
Honored Contributor (10K+ posts)
Member # 5829
posted
Love all the responses. Go JD, Go!
Here is my poem. Steve inspired me and I like his poem very much too.
Be The Best
by Douglas Malloch
If you can't be a pine on the top of the hill,
Be a scrub in the valley - But be,
The best little scrub by the side of the hill.
Be a bush if you can't be a tree.
If you can't be a bush be a bit of the grass.
Doing something for somebody's sake;
If you can't be a muskie, then just be a bass -
But the liveliest bass in the lake!
We can't all be captains, some have to be crew.
There's something for all of us here.
There's big work and little for people to do.
And the task we must do is the near.
If you can't be the highway, then just be a trail.
posted
I would not do the surgeries....many people end up worse off than before.
Here are some things that actually do help, that you can do on your own.
Inversion machine: You can get a used Teeter hang up on craigslist pretty cheap.
Magnetic pulser: Here's a link to one that really works. I've used it for the last 5 years, and it is amazing at taking away the pain. Stay away from the cheap Sota ones...waste of money. Magnetic pulser link
You can make your own Reverse Hyper Machine out of wood. See this youtube video: crossfit reverse hyper
Dr Eric Goodman has a book on Foundation Training, and also many youtube videos that are free to watch. Here is the starter: Foundation Training Link
There are a lot of helpful videos on youtube about lower back problems and herniated disc. At the very least, start stretching your Psoas muscles and hamstrings
-------------------- You're only a failure when you stop trying. Posts: 945 | From U.S | Registered: Oct 2004
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MADDOG
Frequent Contributor (1K+ posts)
Member # 18
posted
Hey Don I bet you can't get your butt crack under the door crack!!!!!!!!!
HE HE HE HE HE !!!!!!!
MADDOG
Posts: 3997 | From Ohio | Registered: Oct 2000
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TX Lyme Mom
Frequent Contributor (1K+ posts)
Member # 3162
posted
I saw an ad on TV for some kind of inversion device, so I googled it and found quite a few different kinds of them. (The one advertised on TV was called Teeter, just like the last photo in the link below.)
I don't know much at all about spinal decompression surgery. It sounds like some kind of disc surgery to me. So I don't know if the idea of inversion exercise would be helpful for you or not.
One of our TxLyme members has a friend who loves it, but her doctor advised against it because of her cardiac problems. Otherwise, she'd try it in a hear beat.
Therefore, before spending money to try it out, ask your doctor if you would be a good candidate for it, cardiac-wise. Keep in mind that doctors are only too eager to recommend surgery because they don't profit from recommending something affordable like this for home usage.
Oh, oh. I didn't notice that Micul had already suggested this same idea just a few days ago, but without any links to help you visualize what it is, perhaps you failed to pay attention to the idea.
Posts: 4563 | From TX | Registered: Sep 2002
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posted
I just found his email last night. I need to follow through to see if I can locate him.
-------------------- --Lymetutu-- Opinions, not medical advice! Posts: 96223 | From Texas | Registered: Feb 2001
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map1131
Frequent Contributor (5K+ posts)
Member # 2022
posted
I hope he's not stuck under that door. My hope he is on the mend!
Pam
-------------------- "Never, never, never, never, never give up" Winston Churchill Posts: 6478 | From Louisville, Ky | Registered: Jan 2002
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aklnwlf
Frequent Contributor (5K+ posts)
Member # 5960
posted
Is he OK?
-------------------- Do not take this as medical advice. This comment is based on opinion and personal experience only.
Alaska Lone Wolf Posts: 6153 | From Columbus, GA | Registered: Jul 2004
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momindeep
Frequent Contributor (1K+ posts)
Member # 7618
posted
Been wondering for awhile myself.
Posts: 1512 | From Glenwood City WI | Registered: Jul 2005
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randibear
Honored Contributor (10K+ posts)
Member # 11290
posted
I have arthritis in my neck and lower back. I feel for you. even walking can hurt.
sometimes a back brace will help.
-------------------- do not look back when the only course is forward Posts: 12262 | From texas | Registered: Mar 2007
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posted
I contacted Melanie Reber and she is trying to contact his daughter.
-------------------- --Lymetutu-- Opinions, not medical advice! Posts: 96223 | From Texas | Registered: Feb 2001
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momindeep
Frequent Contributor (1K+ posts)
Member # 7618
posted
Thanks tutu.
Posts: 1512 | From Glenwood City WI | Registered: Jul 2005
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aklnwlf
Frequent Contributor (5K+ posts)
Member # 5960
posted
Hope he's ok.
-------------------- Do not take this as medical advice. This comment is based on opinion and personal experience only.
Alaska Lone Wolf Posts: 6153 | From Columbus, GA | Registered: Jul 2004
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Melanie Reber
Frequent Contributor (5K+ posts)
Member # 3707
posted
Hi Everyone!
Thanks so much for checking in with me Miss Toots. I know how much we all care about Don, so I am hoping that he will come back and give an update soon. In the meanwhile, his daughter did write that he is hanging in there and that his kiddos are taking good care of him.
Much love, M
Posts: 7052 | From Colorado | Registered: Mar 2003
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posted
Thanks, Mel! Hope to hear from our favorite Don soon!!
-------------------- --Lymetutu-- Opinions, not medical advice! Posts: 96223 | From Texas | Registered: Feb 2001
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lpkayak
Honored Contributor (10K+ posts)
Member # 5230
posted
Thanks for news
-------------------- Lyme? Its complicated. Educate yourself. Posts: 13712 | From new england | Registered: Feb 2004
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Geneal
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Member # 10375
posted
Sending you positive thoughts and prayers. Missed you. Hope you are doing better.
Posts: 6250 | From Louisiana | Registered: Oct 2006
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randibear
Honored Contributor (10K+ posts)
Member # 11290
posted
anybody heard yet???
-------------------- do not look back when the only course is forward Posts: 12262 | From texas | Registered: Mar 2007
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