I used to work in a paper plant and was opening a 600-pound bale of fiber. When I opened the last wire, the fiber blew up and starting coming toward me. I couldn't let it hit the floor and get dirty, so there I was, trying to hold 600 pounds in my arms. I started yelling and somebody did come back and we got the fiber situated. But that was the beginning of the disk problems.
I now have four blown disks in my lower back (diagnosed with MRIs), so I have to be careful when picking up heavy objects and when I'm twisting. That's why I can't do a lot of exercises that call for twisting my trunk area....it aggravates those disks.
Fortunately I can still walk (and that's about the only thing I can do). I do work with some weights and do back exercises regularly. For example, I'll lie on the floor on my exercise mat with my legs bent and feet flat on the mat and push my stomach into the mat as far as I can as many times as I can.....for some reason, it feels good. But I still have to be very careful. When my back is really bad, the only thing that helps is to try to walk it out. My doctor says I'm lucky that I can walk long distances; he says many people with back injuries like mine can't walk that well, that walking makes their pain worse. With me, it makes it feel better.
If I overdo it with cleaning and moving furniture, my back lets me know about it. Most of the time, some Advil and a good night's rest works, but sometimes it can take a couple of days before the pain completely dissipates.
I had one bout with sciatica about six years ago. And I told my DH that if it ever happens again, he has my grateful permission to just shoot me. That bout lasted about seven weeks. That was the worst pain I ever endured. Ever.
. I did have a back injury from horseback riding a few years ago but since recovered. I find that working out and stretching exercises help with the tight muscles in my lower back.
It's not an everyday pain but sometimes it can get pretty bad.
