Back Pain continues to lessen

Well I am continuing to improve. I finally believe I will heal at least to where I can almost function like most people without back injuries. It has been 9.5 months now since my last major reinjury. I am now working 12.5 hours per week and next week I am going to try 15 hours. If that goes well I will proceed to try 17.5 hours.

I am still not sitting very much and not driving yet but I am walking extremely well and in general the pain level is so low now I can’t believe it. I wish I knew what to attribute the healing to. I think #1 is time and #2 is likely the Ketorolac injections. I will be having another injection at the beginning of August. I am still going to physio and massage as well as doing daily stretches. Oh and I am still taking the Serrapeptase.

The hardest part now is just that people think I look better and that I am fine but they don’t realize I can’t sit or drive, etc. Also because I am so much better than I was no one asks how my back is doing.

Driving and Back Pain

So wanting to try driving today. I am so tired of asking for rides or people to do errands for me. I don’t want to hurt myself though so I must talk myself out of this desire.

Do you drive? How do you make it easier for yourself?

Knee Pain, Leg Pain, Foot Pain, etc. Caused by Back Injury

Dealing with back pain is enough of a challenge, but the additonal pain in other parts of the body that often accompanies it, can be almost as frustrating.

For instance due to my back injury I can no longer bend forward so I squat down using my knees. The problem is doing this movement many times a day has caused such pain in my knees I was even compelled to mention it to my physio.

Another example, is that at work I have a counter counter desk set up so that I do not have to sit, well now my legs are suffering as they struggle to stand for such long periods of time.

At times all the pain becomes overwhelming…I have found it is important to find ways of ADAPTING.

For instance I purchased a “reacher” so that I wouldn’t have to bend or squat down anymore. The device allows me to pick small to large things up off the floor, from coins to shoes.

As for the leg pain while at work, I have to keep myself moving for the two hours that I am there. If I stand in one spot, the leg pain increases. I try and sit in my kneeling chair enough that my legs don’t hurt but not too much so my back doesn’t hurt. It is all about BALANCE. It doesn’t mean it is easy, but it is about learning ways to COPE.

Update – Office Chair Test

Well the sit-stand stool is awkward to sit on and too hard. The kneeling stool is perfect for short periods of time. It is soft and comfy and makes me sit up straight. For now, I am going to continue with the kneeling stool combined with my desk that raises and lowers so I can sit and stand while at work.

As of this week I am going to try and go to work 2.5 hours per day. Today is day 2 and I am pretty sore but I am sticking with it.

Testing out a Sit-Stand Stool

In addition to the kneeling chair, I am now trying out a sit-stand stool. So far I don’t like it too much largely because the seat is made of hard plastic and it seems very industrial.

I used the kneeling chair today at work for 30 mins. and I quite liked it but not sure how much pressure on the spine it prevents vs. a regular chair as to me it didn’t feel a lot different than a regular chair. I must say though that while sitting in it I had no pain and as of this moment, 11 hours later, I have no pain from having used it.

Kneeling Chair for Back Pain

My physio has lent me her kneeling chair to try. I have read mixed reviews on using kneeling chairs and back pain. As I am still unable to sit in a regular chair for longer than 20 minutes I thought I would give this option a try.

Anyone out there have an opinion on kneeling chairs?

Ketorolac Spinal Injections

So had another injection yesterday which I assumed was cortisone but found out is the anti-inflammatory Ketorolac. Relieved as I had been reading how cortisone injections can break down the muscle tissue over time.

I already feel the positive effects of the injection. Today I was able to go to work for 2 hours and experienced no pain or even back fatigue at all.

Back Pain Dramatically Reduced

I had previously posted about Serrapeptase and also sleeping the fetal position and I had said I would report back. Well I have had outstanding success with reducing my back pain but I am unsure what to attribute the decrease to.

In the past two weeks I have
started taking Serrapeptase
starting taking white willow bark instead of ibuprofen
sleeping in the fetal position
doing the cat stretch 1-2x/day
doing relaxation constantly throughout the day (always trying to relax my back)

I am not sure which item has reduced my chronic back pain so much or if it is combination. In the last week+ my back pain has gone from a 7/10 down to a 1.5/10 in the past two days! That is amazing!!!

I must add that I started reading the book Back Sense which has made a huge difference as it talks about how CHRONIC pain develops and focuses on the psychological component of chronic pain. I was sure my pain was nothing psychological but this books talks about how once you have pain you naturally start to always tense up, fear of movement develops, avoidance of activities takes place, etc. and all of these things naturally lead to the pain lasting and becoming chronic. Anyways I could identify my actions throughought the book and realized how I have developed patterns which are likely preventing me from healing. Unlike other psychological based back books this one isn’t saying the pain is in your head or that there is some underlying emotional issue that is causing the pain.

Anyways I have only read half the book and I already feel it has had a major impact in reducing my pain as I focus on relaxing my back all day now and I try not to fear movement as much. Of course you have to be pain-free enough that these principles can be implemented. This book is  not for those in the acute stages of pain.

Sleeping Position to Ease Back Pain

After reading a couple of books that recommended sleeping in the fetal position to ease back pain, I tried it last night. I found it to be very beneficial. I usually sleep on my back with a pillow under my legs to elevate them and take pressure off my back. I also sometimes sleep on my side with a pillow between my knees. The fetal position is not quite the same as regular side-sleeping. The diference is with the fetal position you pull your knees up higher and closer to your body and tuck your chin in slightly. At first this position caused a pulling feel in my lower back but I realized it was just stretching it.

Most importantly I woke up feeling great this morning without the usual tender sore upper and lower back from laying flat on it all night.

I will keep trying the fetal position and report again.

Serrapeptase, Natural Remedy for Healing Back Pain

I have wanted to stop taking medication for my back pain for some time and use natural remedies. Well I have finally done so.

I posted about, Serrapeptase, a natural anti-inflammatory, a while ago after a friend’s chiropractor recommended she take it for back pain. After learning about this enzyme which is produced by the silkworm, I headed to my local health food store and purchased two sample packs and took the pills for two weeks. I definitely think they are helping as my pain has significantly decreased in the past two weeks.

I went back and purchased a bottle of 180 pills each containing 120,000 units of Serrapeptase ($70CAN). I take one pill per day on an empty stomach.

I will post again once I have taken the pills for another months and see if the results are long-lasting.

I would love to hear if anyone else has found this treatment to be beneficial.