Ruptured Disk - Screwed For Life

[Kate Butler]

back pain

10 years ago, the chief of orthopedic surgery at Dartmouth/Hitchcock in Havover, NH, told me that if I didn't have the surgery he was recommending that I'd be in a wheelchair in 5 years. Still haven't had the surgery - though sometimes I think maybe I should've. I find that as long as I keep moving, it's tolerable (2 blown discs, 1 herniated disc, arthritis of the spine), but that getting out of a chair or bed is pretty awful.

You learn to compartmentalize the pain and just keep on working. It is one of the reasons I don't climb anymore.

 

[BlueRidgeMark]

Not sure if it's been mentioned, but exercise is key. Wheather surgery is needed or not, strengthening you lower back will help tremendously. After surgery, I favored my lower back for so long w/o exercise, my hamstrings and back healed up real tight. After stretching and strengthening lower back, I can tell a huge difference. Still sore, but tolerable. For what it's worth.

Exercising the belly is also very important - those muscles help stabilize the whole trunk.