A waist is a terrible thing to mind
Comments: 9
Two days ago I mysteriously put my back out. I say mysteriously because it didn’t seem to be a result of any particular thing, like lifting something the wrong way. Last weekend I competed in a swimming competition and I did better than expected considering the distances — 50 and 100 metres — are not my favourites and I’m certainly no sprinter (I placed third in both individual sprints and our team won the 200m relay). So it’s not like I came to this pre-hobbled.
I was feeling pretty good after that and had been doing my usual morning exercises (a few dozen each of squats, sit-ups, and decline push-ups — a team-mate, who’s 63, recommends doing your age in reps) when something started to go wrong. It came on slowly, and by the time I left the house I was in pain, but the kind you can ignore. By the time I got to the office, though, I could barely walk.
It just got worse from there, to the point where I literally couldn’t stand up from my chair! Pride was not going to let me be wheeled from the office to a waiting cab, so after gobbling twice the recommended daily allowance of ibuprofen, I managed to stand and, with the assistance of a visiting colleague (greater love hath no friend than they give you their codeine — it’s here on the desk in front of me, a challenge I plan to stare down), I made it to the lobby and, eventually, home. I took a train because I knew it would take me 20 minutes to get out of a cab from a seated position and I’m too cheap to pay while the metre’s running.
Even today I’m pretty much hobbled. I can’t really bend at the waist, which for a biped is something of a hassle. If you were designing a humanoid robot, the first thing you’d do is give them a waist (otherwise they wouldn’t even be able to tie their own shoelaces).
But the interesting thing about all this is the pain. You come to realise, in rather dramatic fashion, that the worst thing about pain is its anticipation rather than the pain itself (although I’m beginning to see how the boredom of it can get tiresome). When there’s no anticipation you get purer sensations untainted by fear. There’s a constant ache which feels like I’m being held in a tightly-wound vise, but move the wrong way and a high-voltage current gets applied to that vise and in a flash I’m contemplating the evolution of pain from, shall we say, a very lofty height.
Pain is a thread leading back to the very beginnings of nervous systems, the bush telegraph of our cells. It’s what keeps us in the running and let’s us know we’re here (when we mistakenly tried to be there). Despite the discomfort and boredom, I can’t help but feel a certain gratitude that I’m in touch — loud and clear — with the ancestors, still in the running, still very much here.
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Posted to General Rants • 2004.09.10 (Fri) • 07:36
Comments
Posted by Jolyon 2004.09.10, 10:40
Welcome to the Club, Jeremy.
This happens to me on average about twice a year, often as the seasons change, Spring-Summer and Summer-Autumn. I have found that copious quantities of painkillers help (pain goes and so does the muscle spasm that causes it) together with an elasticated support belt (ooerrr, Matron) that can be cinched tighter and then released as you prefer. But basically you have to spend 2-3 days taking it easy - not just flat on your back, but alternating lying down with walking about a bit - and then it should sort itself. Sitting down is usually out (for me at least) during this period…
Just my 2p worth - each person’s back is different. I have, after years, traced mine to misaligned hips - one side is up and rotated forward which throws spine out. Tennis was the culprit, years ago. I have now found an exercise to sort it (mostly).
Hope it gets better soon. Always does, but it’s a pain while it’s there.
Posted by Ian Horner 2004.09.10, 11:45
I have more than simple sympathy for you. Earlier this year, after a particularly long racquetball game, I experienced much the same pain. And for such a long time that I did something I thought I’d never do; go to see a chiropractor. Normally I don’t trust them (too much time believing they’re all quacks), but he did provide relief, and I did learn something about myself that may also apply to you. I was informed that my problems with my back stemmed from having tight hamstrings, which I believe came from all the time I spent swimming through highschool and university. I’m not sure how much time you spend stretching your hamstrings, but it might be something you might want to spend more time on; you’ll thank yourself for it.
Posted by mj 2004.09.10, 11:54
poor honey!
Posted by Richard Earney 2004.09.10, 15:56
As a sufferer of back problems for 22 years as a result of a poor cricket bowling action when young. I would advise having tried physio (which was useless), chiropractic (which worked for a while but then didn’t) and finally osteopathy; try to see an osteopath!
It might take 2-3 sessions but the difference really is amazing.
Last year I was in constant pain with a back that spasmed twice a day. 3 sessions of Osteopathy in March and I haven’t felt a thing since, and even better no more pain killers.
Another couple of things to try are Alexander Technique and/or Pilates.
However ravaged, ones body is a temple. Lots of stuff needs to be in alignment and well stretched for everything to work.
Good luck!!
Posted by Marie 2004.09.10, 18:18
I had the very same thing in January this year. I cannot recommend the following shiatsu/accupucture place highly enough. I had four sessions in one week, breaking the bank at 7000 yen a pop (as well as the taxi rides to and fro, I couldn’t walk either) but totally worth it. Akehige - 03-3370-5015. It’s in Yoyogi near the station. Go!
Posted by jh 2004.09.10, 21:55
Thanks, everyone, for the sympathy and advice. I’m feeling better this evening than I was this morning, so definitely on the mend.
Ian, very interesting idea about tight hamstrings (which applies to me). I think in general I have to round out the exercise regimen for better balance. Will certainly keep this in mind. I can’t help but think there’s something to it.
Marie, thanks for the number. Yoyogi isn’t so far away. Within striking distance, even for the hobbled.
Posted by Jolyon 2004.09.11, 04:56
Yeah, what he said. I forgot about the tight hamstrings but it is definitely correct. I usually do two sessions a day of two minutes each leg, just stretching the hams. Apparently (I read it in a book, magazine or internet) “a study” has shown that tight hamstrings = tight lower back.
Don’t know whether true infallibly but seems so for me. And it can’t hurt, can it.
Oh yes, second the comments about (1) osteopaths and (2) acupuncture, both of which work.
Posted by Doc Shazam 2004.09.11, 15:05
Your hamstrings are connected to your pelvis, and your hip flexors are connected directly to the front of your lower back vertabrae. Both should be stretched routinely for lower back pain. In my personal case, my right hip flexor is as tight as a steel cable.
I was involved in a study (programming the database) in which they measured hamstring flexibility versus patient’s reported pain in an osteopath’s office, and their findings supported existing evidence that has already been mentioned here.
Thre are lots of modalities for treating back pain and everyone is different. Stretching all the muscles of my hip girdle (hip flexors/aka psoas, piroformis, hamstrings, and ileotibial band) is the best preventative for me.
Oh, and the surgery worked pretty well too, ;)
Posted by flit 2004.09.13, 00:56
Seriously, take the codeine and see a doctor to get a prescription (and perhaps physical therapy). There’s no reason whatsoever to suffer. In any case, I hope you feel better.
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