survival with back injury

**chiangmaimav** · 09-26-2009, 11:38 PM

Hello everyone. I have not read forum recently due to back injury and hope everyone is well. My question is regarding dealing with this injury. I am not looking for sympathy as the whole thing is due to my own stupidity. I was wondering if anyone had similar experience. I am told by doctor that only treatment is physical rehabilitation. I walk a great deal but must use walking stick. Some days are better than others. What really bothers me is that I am afraid to walk in the jungle as footing is treacherous and if I fall I don't believe I will be able to get up. I am unable of course to work on mountain rescue team and although I still do isometric exercises and incline push ups I do not go to the gym.I walk a great deal but only on city street and I miss the forest. Also as this is a survival forum it occurs to me that situation like mine makes any emergency situation more difficult. Probably there is not much to be done except try to get better and learn to deal with it in the meantime but if anyone has advice I would appreciate it. Thank you.

**SARKY** · 09-26-2009, 11:46 PM

IS it a lower back injury? If so, I have a history of that from the military. If it is lower back, the key is to build up the core muscles (ABS) as this is what really supports the back. I hope I was of some help.

**WildHog** · 09-27-2009, 12:01 AM

You need to see a Neuromuscular Massage Therapist. They specialize in the type of deep tissue work that will help aid in your recovery. After your injury has healed then I would recommend strengthening exercises. Have you used any ice on the injury ?
If Thailand wasn't so far away from SC I would bring you to my office and do an NMT session on you to help ease the pain. Hope all works out if not PM me if you are ever in SC.

**crashdive123** · 09-27-2009, 06:03 AM

chiangmaimav - I would recommend following the advice of your doctor. I'm not sure how big the village is that you live in but if possible, get a second opinion. Any injury will take time to heal. The rehabilitation process is just that, a process. Your plans must now include how to handle the injury that you are suffering. As you get better, then you can adjust your plans.

**Rick** · 09-27-2009, 07:56 AM

Back problems are one of the most common ailments facing human kind. Little wonder if you think about how the back is made. Don't be too hard on yourself. We all do things that result in our own grief. It happened so you just have to adjust and figure out what you need to do next.

In my opinion, Crash was right on the money. A second opinion, if possible, is certainly warranted. You need to find out if the problem is muscular, vertebra or disc caused. The treatments are much different. Is there pain radiating down either leg? Do you have trouble lifting one foot? Is there tingling or numbness present in one extremity? If the answer to any of those questions is yes then you may well be dealing with an impingement of a nerve and you need to address it quickly to prevent permanent problems. If you have those type of problems then please seek out another doctor!!

If the answer to any of those questions is no and your doctor is satisfied it is muscle related then time and exercise with help. Laying in the floor on your back with your feet up in a chair will relax the back muscles and offer some relief from the pain. You can also place a piece of plywood beneath the mattress and box springs of your bed so you have a very firm surface to sleep on. Placing a small pillow in the small of the back while sitting will also help by maintaining proper alignment.

I feel for you. It's a lousy situation. It's important to find out the exact cause of the underlying pain or exercise and walking will offer no relief. Good luck and let us know how it's going.

**chiangmaimav** · 09-28-2009, 10:37 AM

Thank you guys, you are most kind to take the time to help me. Rick I do not have any of the problems you mentioned. However when I take a step with my right leg I cannot straighten it. Also the worst times are when I stand up after sitting or laying down a long time. I have to hold onto walking stick or something to stand up. The thing that seems to help most is walking, even though it is painful. Today I walked 14 miles without walking stick. it took 5 hours and was not easy. However 2 days ago I could not walk without walking stick so some progress. Also today I could tie my shoes for first time. My wife does this local Thai medicine thing with herbs. She boils this cloth ball filled with herbs and rubs it on my back and legs and it does feel good, maybe just from the heat. Sarky I have been doing these isometric exercises including abdominal ones so maybe this will help. Wildhog thank you for your kind offer. Thailand is famous for massage but I am not sure of the type you mention but I will definitely check it out. I have never been to either Carolinas but was planning to visit US in January but I am not sure now. Crash if this does not improve I will definitely get second opinion. Also I sleep on the floor now as my mattress really sucks. One other thing that might help is that they have free tai chi here in mornings at stadium and temple and some people say that helps.
One final thought about this. Although this is a very painful deal it is all my own fault. I think my body is telling me I am not a kid anymore. On the positive side I think before I was trying to do too many things. Now I am forced to slow down and now I have time to read and walk around the village and visit with people and generally slow down and take it more easy and I think maybe this was a positive side to the whole ordeal. Anyway many people suffer far more than I so as they say in Thai, mai pen rai, which is the national slogan and means basically it doesnt matter.
Thanks a lot for the advice and I will definitely follow it.

**nell67** · 09-28-2009, 10:54 AM

chiangmaimav,I am praying for a quick recovery for you,and if this persists for much longer,you do need to get another opinion!

Take care,and keep us updated!

**chiangmaimav** · 09-29-2009, 06:21 AM

thank you Nell. It is somewhat better today. Maybe prayer worked. Speaking of prayer and religion, this is sort of funny. My wife is Buddhist so sometimes I go with her to the temple, which they call a wat. Not long ago I was at wat with her and monk blessed me, and then I promptly fell down the stairs going out the door. Recently I told wife I would make bua phra, which means living like a monk for a week at the wat which even non-Buddhists sometimes do here and even though I am Christian I figured what the heck, it would be an experience and maybe would be beneficial in some way. So to do this you have to sit cross-legged for hours sometimes so I was doing these back stretching exercises and I think this aggravated my problem greatly. So the moral is either God is punishing me for messing around with Buddhists, or Buddha is telling me they don't want me in their club.