Ivanov_Kuznetsov

So, I have horrible back pain that affects how I can walk and use tools, but I still want to take care of all my plants. What's the best way to get around my physical limitations?

Jack Daw

Either help from your children or simply reorient for other plants. Fruit trees, palms.... none of this requires bending or other difficult moves.
I'm not aware of any medication for that.

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browndrake

I agree with Jack. Children can be a wonderful help. Also, as he said, how you set up your garden can make all the difference. Hanging plants, elevated boxes, etc.

Additionally, and I am pretty biased here, I think that a good chiropractor may do much to help with such issues.

good luck

aaron

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saltydad

AAron.....methinks that thee is a chiropractor?

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saltydad

Seriously, it all depends on the pain's cause. If it's 'just' from gardening, then the various methods described above should help, along with a good anti inflammatory med. If from some chronic condition, then follow your physician's advice, but I think there are indeed adaptive ways around the garden. My 89 year old Mom found the best way. I dig and plant, she admires!

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Men In Nursing- "A Few Good Men"

"Gardening is the purest of human pleasures." - Francis Bacon





"If by a liberal, they mean someone who looks ahead and not behind; someone who welcomes new ideas without rigid reactions; someone who cares about the welfare of the people, their health, their housing, their schools, their jobs, their civil rights, their civil liberties; someone who believes we can break through the stalemate and suspicion that grips us; that is what they meant by a liberal, I am proud to be a liberal."
John F. Kennedy, September, 1960


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lorax

There are also long-handled tools specifically designed so that you can work normal, ground-level beds without having to bend over - long-handled and properly leveraged spades and earth turners and whatnot. My Grandma has the same problem as you do, but often refuses to let me help, so we got her a set of these tools which she now swears by.

Worm_Farmer

I have a similar problem. But it is mostly the lawn mower the really kills me, I had to hire a lawn service but the lawn guy is always giving me breaks and taking pineapple's and Banana pups.

See a doctor mine gave me pain meds and muscle relaxers. Better then the alternative (Surgery)

CValentine

Ivanov_Kuznetsov,

Back pain is nothing to be messed with...
Go into your GP and get checked out.
Or consult a chiropractor, at least they can help identify what is going on in your back.
Take care of yourself!! ~Cheryl

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alexizhere19

I would buy tools that help. I have seen locally that have extendable handles.

alex

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damaclese

i have had problems with my back i was an armature body builder for 15 years i can tell you from my experience 50% of back pain is do to weak back have you tried any exercises they can be immensely helpful in the long run but do take time to work depending on how strongly you adhere to the regiments taking a course in how to bend and lift as well as working low sit down as much as possible wail you weed try not to bend over with out slightly bending knees also have you had your knees looked at a good potion of chronic back pain comes from mechanical disphuctioning of the knees hips and feet believe it or not some times a good orthotic for your shoes can give grate relief this would be my advice as always consult a physician before Starting an exercises regiment also and this is one that is vary hard to convince people of diet playes a mager roll in how we function and heal the average American has a horrible diet devoid of most of the miner and mager minerals and nutrients do you eat allot of sugar? sugar has been linked to chronic inflammatory syndrome as well as salts do you get enough potassium in your diet eat bananas heheh or if sugars not a problem Black strap molasses has over 300mg per tbsp sorry if that is allot of info but it can be a multi issue problem particularly as we age
how old are you? what kinds of physical work do you do on a regular basis
i don't mean to be ignorant but are you male or female have you had children thees are all important factors in are physical health
thanks for letting me ramble
Paul

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Kim

Seek Professional Help. Don't let it get worse. Don't open your eyes only to discover it is too late one day. Do it for your naners.

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Catch ya on the rebondKim

browndrake

Yes, I am a chiropractor!
Paul has hit is on the head. I could not agree more with most all of what he said. Exercises/stretches are extremely important/helpful not only to rehab injuries but as preventative measure for future such injuries. ALSO, as he pointed out, nutrition plays a tremendous role in general health, immunity,and healing.

good luck

aaron

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Richard

I agree. Don't mess around with back pain. You might find that there is no medical help -- other than surgery that leaves you with slightly less pain, OR it might be that a few interventions a day can leave you almost pain free.

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Vickie H.

My husband and I both have back problems, his is a birth defect plus he got rearended in a car accident about 3 weeks ago. He is getting shots in his back. They help take away the pain. He gets a series of 3 about every 6 months. Last year I ended up going to the hospital with my back. And in 2005 had arthoscopic surgery on my left knee. I had 2 shots in my back. Now I do everything carefully. I move pots with a small dolly that is my size. I set down to pot plants. It makes a difference how you do things. I hardly ever take any pain pills. But I am careful how I twist and move when I am working in my garden.

damaclese

i wouldn't be at all surprised to hear that your back pain is related to your Knee injury and subsequent Arthroscopic surgery go back to the doctor if he doesn't help you go to a different one there are solutions you must be your own advocate the doctors many times are not!

I have not publicly admitted this before but i had Brest Cancer in 2001 and as a man was dismissed repeatedly by other male Doctors but i new there was something wrong so i searched until i found a Doctor that happened to be a woman she was an Angel and tot me how to help my self don't take any guff go back having to work the way you do is no life

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Vickie H.

The orthopedic doctor told me in 2005 when I went to him about my knee, that in 2 or 3 years I would be having back problems. Because of my age and arthritis. I can live with it. I will not be doing anything else until I feel I need it.

Ivanov_Kuznetsov

All good advice, I see the doctor tomorrow, so we'll see how it goes.

paradisi

I broke my back playing rugby in the 70's - and have suffered ever since. I can walk, used to run and play cricket and touch football in the years after I broke my back.....

as I get older the arthritis sets in and caring for my back is more and more important

couple of suggestions:-
know your limitations and know when to stop

stop at the first twinge - it will only get worse

don't be ashamed to stop doing simple things because it hurts - pride stuffed my back on many occassions

take it easy - the besy thing about gardens are most plants want to live and no matter what you do or don't do they will last until tomorrow when your back is feeling better

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Magilla Gorilla

I hope things work out with your back. Everything already said should be helpful. I especially like the quote above. Listen to your body! My first back episode was in 1988. I had back surgery in 1996 (L4-L5, L5-S1 discectomy and lamenectomy). I now have most of my lower back degenerating L2, L3, L4, L5, S1. I have lived with chronic pain since 1996 and it is not fun. It was smart for you to go to the doctor. Epidural injections work for some back problems, chiropractors can help, ice or heat helps some, medication and even acupuncture has helped some people. I think the first step is to identify what your specific problem is then you can use all of the advice you receive including your doctors. Having a bad back has led me to bend, twist and kneel smarter. I don't or should I say can't bend over and dig with a shovel. If I kneel on a pad and use a shorter trench shovel my back does not hurt as much. The pain does not go away. For potting up plants I use a table that is a little higher than my waist. Everyones back condition is different and responds to treatment differently. Diet does play a role in how we feel. Having the right bed is important. Wearing the right shoes makes a big difference. I wear shoes to my office that must be very soft. For me only one shoe company makes shoes that don't aggravate my back. How much you sit is also important. Lastly, the diagnostic test that your doctor uses is very important. X-rays are good but for me the MRI was more definitive. I hope this helps.

Good luck and I hope you feel better!!!!!!!!!

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Andrew

Bob

Great thread, I'm up now because of back pain. I especially agree with using long handled tools I wish I had started using them when I was younger. A hand truck is a great thing to have around for home and garden. They're reasonably inexpensive and well worth it if it saves you from being up all night from pain when you have to be at work early!!!! For me one great thing I've found was laying over a large stability ball sold with excersize equipment for a few minutes per day, it decompresses the spine pretty well , in my case anyway. Of course I had to loose the beer belly first to be able to breathe

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