back problems

[Dude#1279435]

I think it's just a part of aging but will throw it out any way. I'm tall so it's the lumbar area. I do back strengthening and while it helps a lot it doesn't make much difference getting outta bed or the lazy boy. Think I need to find a new bed and ditch the lazy. The reclining part is what might be contributing to it. It may make more sense to have a sturdy back rest with a separate leg rest. I've also figured out the best time to do stretching is right after I get out of the shower. That way it gets done. I do have a lumbar cushion for the lazy boy. Helps a ton, but I fall asleep in it and that's the big problem. I'm thinking maybe a small soft pillow and sleeping on my back. Any thoughts is appreciated.

 

[}Fear_Inoculum{]

I think it's just a part of aging but will throw it out any way. I'm tall so it's the lumbar area. I do back strengthening and while it helps a lot it doesn't make much difference getting outta bed or the lazy boy. Think I need to find a new bed and ditch the lazy. The reclining part is what might be contributing to it. It may make more sense to have a sturdy back rest with a separate leg rest. I've also figured out the best time to do stretching is right after I get out of the shower. That way it gets done. I do have a lumbar cushion for the lazy boy. Helps a ton, but I fall asleep in it and that's the big problem. I'm thinking maybe a small soft pillow and sleeping on my back. Any thoughts is appreciated.

Hey man. Just came across this thread. Hope your back issues have resolved themselves, but if not I may be able to help a bit.

I had a partially herniated disc in my back in 2017. It took the better part of 5 months to get better, and surgery was looking like an option. Fortunately I didn't have to have surgery. Even to this day, if I do heavy lifting when working out it can still flare up. Here's the thing about most back pain/injuries: the root cause usually isn't your back. It's actually your front. A weak core/abdominal area puts a lot of stress on your back/discs. What you want to look at most likely is a core training regiment. Sit ups and crunches are terrible by the way. Exercises like:

Dead Bugs
Cat Arches
Plank Taps
Bicycles
Pelvic Bridges
Hip Dips
Leg Raises

And many others you can find online.

Hope your issues resolved by now, and if you need any help feel free to PM me.

Cheers,

}Fear_Inoculum{

 

[Dude#1279435]

The three exercises I recommend for helping the back in the short-term are.....

[while on back]
lifting each leg straight up (I use a rope and put over each foot and hold with hands)
bend each leg and pull into your chest
sit one leg up so the knee is pointed above and rest the other leg across it, pull the lower leg towards you (you should feel a stretch in the buttocks area)
hold each 30+ seconds

 

[highfigh]

I think it's just a part of aging but will throw it out any way. I'm tall so it's the lumbar area. I do back strengthening and while it helps a lot it doesn't make much difference getting outta bed or the lazy boy. Think I need to find a new bed and ditch the lazy. The reclining part is what might be contributing to it. It may make more sense to have a sturdy back rest with a separate leg rest. I've also figured out the best time to do stretching is right after I get out of the shower. That way it gets done. I do have a lumbar cushion for the lazy boy. Helps a ton, but I fall asleep in it and that's the big problem. I'm thinking maybe a small soft pillow and sleeping on my back. Any thoughts is appreciated.

You probably know the saying "Never lift and turn"? I lifted and turned when I worked at a lumber yard and have had intermittent problems since then, which was 1975. If I'm active and getting some kind of workout, it's fine but if I do the long-term couch spud thing, it can go South pretty fast.

I have tried many things- back bridges (laying face down) to tense and relax the muscles, stretching, Alleve (that stuff is great!) and just being careful. While these all work, I found that the foam roller from Wally World gets it back in alignment faster than anything. I don't go to chiropractors and it's usually a matter of twisting one way without going the other, to balance it. If it goes out, I need to relax it enough to turn the opposite direction and when it goes back, it makes a slight click and I'm fine.