I injured my back for the first time in 1999. While removing a sheet of plywood from my truck a strong gust of wind twisted me the wrong way. Left me flat on my back for a week. No OTC drug made it better, chiropractor visits made it much better. Since then over use has triggered recurrences 3 or 4 times, with the same result and I have been diagnosed with "bulging" disks. I have used my body a bit too hard over the years. On saturday past I simply bent to open the bathroom vanity door and out the back went again! Not quite flat on my back, I can move but with a whole lot of pain. To the chiropractor again in the morning. Getting old sucks. I know others have problems like this, how do you deal with it? RT

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When all else fails, vote from the rooftops!
84' Mercedes Benz 300D Anthracite/black, 171K
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HIGH dosages of motrin work for me. I take 600's every couple of hours, and something to help the stomach (needed becuase of the motrin). Vicodin works with it to get me up and around.

Bed rest doesn't help as much.

Good luck.

I've struggled with chronic lower back pain for 30 years. It's always present but is usually mild. If I stress it too greatly, the "mild" can become "acute".

The standard pain meds that have an anti-inflammatory usually knock it down.

In my situation, exercise of the lower back is beneficial, but, if you've got issues with the discs, that might not be the wisest choice.

But, I firmly agree........getting old sucks........

I had the same situation in my 20's, only it was from pulling a beer keg out of the back seat of a 2-door car. After that one episode, I had a few instances where a small twist or bad move would put me out for a few days.

Since then I have been working on flexibility and strength. The exercises that strengthen the lower back muscles have helped me a lot. I haven't had a serious back problem in years. Of course, check with your doc before embarking on any such program. But I can say I'm in better shape now than when I was 20.

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1985 380SE Blue/Blue - 230,000 miles
2012 Subaru Forester 5-speed
2005 Toyota Sienna
2004 Chrysler Sebring convertible
1999 Toyota Tacoma

I have slight pain occasionally, often when I exercise too hard. This all started three years ago when I put the infant carrier in the car the wrong way.

All it takes is one incident. Three years later and still feels tight, but at least the pain doesn't need to be treated.

I find massage helps. I use a variety of self massage devices plus at least a once a month massage.

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You don't need a weatherman to know which way the wind blows - Robert A. Zimmerman

I try to keep my weight down. That's the best thing by far that helps my back.

Danny

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1984 300SD Turbo Diesel 150,000 miles

OBK member #23

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There are some books by Dr. John Sarno regarding chronic back pain that I have found quite helpful. Maybe you will, too. Back apin is a *****! I know.

Good luck with that.

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" We have nothing to fear but the main stream media itself . . . ."- Adapted from Franklin D Roosevelt for the 21st century

OBK #55

1998 Lincoln Continental - Sold
Max 1984 300TD 285,000 miles - Sold
The Dee8gonator 1987 560SEC 196,000 miles - Sold
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2002 C320 Wagon 122,000 miles
2016 AMG GTS 12,000 miles

My brother had pretty bad back pain, went to see a doctor about it. Then he lost about 25 pounds, and is slim and fit now, and zero back issues.

I occasionally get back pain when I over-exert my back, usually from lifting things improperly. Same thing - sharp pain in the lower back. If I don't let it heal, it'll recur easily.

The worst time was when I was about 22 or so. I was in exceptional shape - training in tae kwon do and preparing for full contact tournaments. I was in fighting shape, not a stitch of fat on me. Then one morning while shaving, I turned and reached for a towel and I suddenly fell to the floor in excrutiating pain. I had somehow torn some muscles in my back. No idea how/why. Probably from over-training. I couldn't walk for a day, couldn't run for about a month and in total, it took me about six months to get back to normal. I went from feeling near-invicible (in terms or energy and fitness) to feeling like I was 90 years old.

It's a debilitating condition, that's for sure.

Massages and stretching help once things have healed properly. After that - keeping fit and lifting properly are important. If you sit a lot during the day, posture and a good chair are critical. Meds can help with the pain and inflammation, but don't really address the underlying condition.

All IMHO...

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Chris
2007 E550 4Matic - 61,000 Km - Iridium Silver, black leather, Sport package, Premium 2 package
2007 GL450 4Matic - 62,000 Km - Obsidian Black Metallic, black leather, all options
1998 E430 - sold
1989 300E - 333,000 Km - sold
1977 280E - sold
1971 250 - retired

"And a frign hat. They gave me a hat at the annual benefits meeting. I said. how does this benefit me. I dont have anything from the company.. So they gave me a hat." - TheDon

yep.

back started bothering about 35 years ago. if i exercise and keep my weight from ballooning up too much it is pretty good most of the time.

swimming seems the best exercise for it.

tom w

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[SIGPIC] Diesel loving autocrossing grandpa Architect. 08 Dodge 3/4 ton with Cummins & six speed; I have had about 35 benzes. I have a 39 Studebaker Coupe Express pickup in which I have had installed a 617 turbo and a five speed manual.[SIGPIC]

..I also have a 427 Cobra replica with an aluminum chassis.

Wrenched my back working a concert in '81...I was on stage, working the point on John Denver's piano...I called out "On 3, Lift!" and went "One, two, three."

I then saw "stars" and then, the ceiling.

Everyone said they were waiting for me to say "Lift!"

Fumbducks...

Spent the rest of the "in" on my back, as a speed-bump that the crew had to walk around, then "the concert" up in the catwalk, trying to find any position that didn't cause me to "wet 'em."

Now, some 26 years later, the additional weight is the issue if I have to stand any great length of time...

A warm bath and taking it easy is the cheapest fix. Then you start adding the "med-of-choice" to the therapy.

And, as stated earlier, it doesn't get any better as you age....

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M. G. Burg
'10 - Dakota SXT - Daily Ride / ≈ 172.5K
.'76 - 450SLC - 107.024.12 / < .89.20 K
..'77 - 280E - 123.033.12 / > 128.20 K
...'67 - El Camino - 283ci / > 207.00 K
....'75 - Yamaha - 650XS / < 21.00 K
.....'87 - G20 Sportvan / > 206.00 K
......'85 - 4WINNS 160 I.O. / 140hp
.......'74 - Honda CT70 / Real 125
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“I didn’t really say everything I said.”
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . ~ Yogi Berra ~

Mines hereditary.

Brother, 2 Cousins and one of their sons all the same.

Doc checked mine out years ago, slightly deformed disc so it floats a bit.

Said their was little he could do, he might be able to fix it, but hi prob it would be made worse. This was 25+ years ago.

I will pop in the weirdest ways, usually unrelated to effort.
Picking up the grill cover, putting my underwear on (on vacation in Jamaica) almost had to take the wife to the hospital after that one. She was laugh so hard couldn't breath.

Then it's 2 or 3 days in extreme pain, and a couple after that hurtin bad.

Exercise seems the best to minimize it, my roller skating has put it (knock on wood) off for quite a while. A few minor twinges, but they don't last.

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KLK, MCSE

1990 500SL

I was always taught to respect my elders.
I don't have to respect too many people anymore.

Yes, I have a bad back, too.

When I was in college I was in a bad car wreck. I was riding in the passenger's seat of a 1969 Mustang. I had the seat belt on but not the shoulder harness. (they were 2 different belts back then). We hit a tree going about 60 MPH. As you can imagine, my body went forward with great force causing severe compression of the front of my lower back. I cracked two vertebra (L2 & L3).

Sometimes my back will just "go out" for doing nothing particularly stressful...I just catch it wrong or something.
It is VERY PAINFUL! It also seems to take forever to heal when that happens.

Having a really good desk chair and a good bed seems to help avoid problems.

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Bill Wood - Retired Webmaster
My Personal Website
1998 Mercedes E430
2010 Toyota Sequoia
My Photo Albums

Never met a person that never had back pain.........

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Matt (SD,CA)

1984 300SD.. White/Chrome Bunts..Green

1997 2500 Dodge Ram 5.9 Cummins 12 Valve 36 PSI of Boost = 400+hp & 800+tQ .. ..Greenspeed

2004 Dodge Ram 2500 4x4 Quad Cab Cummins 5.9 H.O "596hp/1225tq" 6 spd. Man. Leather Heated seats/Loaded..Flame Red....GREENSPEED

Global warming...Doing my part, Smokin da hippies..

Fight the good fight!......