Dan threw out his back a couple months ago. Lifting a 100+ lb bag and turning simultaneously: not a good combo. He took ibuprofen the first day, and hasn't taken any more or any other prescription or non-prescription drugs since then (keep your eyes peeled for future post on that). We called around to some very trusted resources and he saw Dr. Schechter in Sebastopol, CA - a FANTASTIC chiropractor. Here was his advice:
1. The first visit - too injured to touch.
Determined it was a herniated disc - not ruptured, but perforated.
Bromelen - 1 hr before food 2x day. Angie's note: we never did find this. Did I spell it right? Anyone know what this is or where to get it?
Tumeric - 2 pills a day. Angie's note: You can also buy this in bulk at a health food store and take a tablespoon in about 1/4 cup of water and chase with lots of water. Tastes like dirt, but is dirt cheap! ;)
Vitamin E. Angie's note: This is the "repair" vitamin. Take it every day!
Ice in 20 min inc 3x/day
Don't bend forward, don't bend and twist, don't twist
Honor the pain!
Bring belly button in when turning
Keep hips square
Walk often while feeling good doing it
Straddle the chair if possible
Shoe and sock test - if you can do this without thinking about it, you're ready to advance (cautiously).
2-3 weeks before normal movement
By the weekend like to be able to better get up from a chair, toilet - okay, not grinning, but okay
Be patient!!!!
Turn like a log - keeping core aligned, not twisted
Wide legs and push like a piston to stand up
2. Second visit (2.5 weeks after injury) - applied some tension relief to supportive muscles and tendons
Ice right mid lower back
3 min on then stretch overhead
Gently, 5 seconds 3 rounds
Walk on flat ground
Be aware of how cautious your body is
Honor the rate of healing
3. Third visit - 4 weeks after injury
More tension relief (still no traditional "cracking" - must be careful with a freshly injured back!)
Advised to start some LIGHT back strengthening exercises to reawaken the muscles and get them working again (they "shut off" in response to trauma).
1. The first visit - too injured to touch.
Determined it was a herniated disc - not ruptured, but perforated.
Bromelen - 1 hr before food 2x day. Angie's note: we never did find this. Did I spell it right? Anyone know what this is or where to get it?
Tumeric - 2 pills a day. Angie's note: You can also buy this in bulk at a health food store and take a tablespoon in about 1/4 cup of water and chase with lots of water. Tastes like dirt, but is dirt cheap! ;)
Vitamin E. Angie's note: This is the "repair" vitamin. Take it every day!
Ice in 20 min inc 3x/day
Don't bend forward, don't bend and twist, don't twist
Honor the pain!
Bring belly button in when turning
Keep hips square
Walk often while feeling good doing it
Straddle the chair if possible
Shoe and sock test - if you can do this without thinking about it, you're ready to advance (cautiously).
2-3 weeks before normal movement
By the weekend like to be able to better get up from a chair, toilet - okay, not grinning, but okay
Be patient!!!!
Turn like a log - keeping core aligned, not twisted
Wide legs and push like a piston to stand up
2. Second visit (2.5 weeks after injury) - applied some tension relief to supportive muscles and tendons
Ice right mid lower back
3 min on then stretch overhead
Gently, 5 seconds 3 rounds
Walk on flat ground
Be aware of how cautious your body is
Honor the rate of healing
3. Third visit - 4 weeks after injury
More tension relief (still no traditional "cracking" - must be careful with a freshly injured back!)
Advised to start some LIGHT back strengthening exercises to reawaken the muscles and get them working again (they "shut off" in response to trauma).
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