Ouch

[John.Osborn]

Ouch
I just hurt my lower back and was told it was a permant injury and I will be in pain for the rest of my life I will be on my back most of the time believe it or not a grandfather clock fell on me as I was winding it up and I landed in a funny position , it sucks as I just retired in August and planed to do a lot of things in my retirement
Now I know what the meaning of boredom is, I tried doing a bit of star gazing, can’t do it to painful I might give solar observing ago
What do you think

[Nico13 (Ken)]

Hi John,
That really sucks there mate and believe me I know what it's like as I did it about twenty five years ago and still have problems to this day.
Now I don't know how badly you're injured or how incapacitated but from my experience I never let it stop me and tried to remain as active as possible once the initial injury settled down after a number of months I was lucky I had very strong back muscles and quite a bit younger than I am now.
All I can say is good luck with it and I hope they can do something for you.

All the best mate.

[pmrid (Peter)]

Originally Posted by John.Osborn

Ouch
I just hurt my lower back and was told it was a permant injury and I will be in pain for the rest of my life I will be on my back most of the time believe it or not a grandfather clock fell on me as I was winding it up and I landed in a funny position , it sucks as I just retired in August and planed to do a lot of things in my retirement
Now I know what the meaning of boredom is, I tried doing a bit of star gazing, can’t do it to painful I might give solar observing ago
What do you think

John, you have my sympathy - but let me inject a positive note if Imay. I did a similar thing 6 months ago - damaged 2 discs badly in a fall (in the observatory of all places) and went through some pretty rough months. But now, 6months down the track, the residual spinal deformity is there amd will remain, but I have regained much of my mobility. I am not pain-free by any means but I can walk, drive, do basic handiwork, sensible lifting etc. Time may not completely heal,but it does ease the pain a lot.
Chin up- if you can.
Peter

[Larryp (Laurie)]

My sympathies, too, John. I damaged my back many years ago, and you may find with time, as I did, the injury will settle enough for you to live a reasonably normal life providing you take care with your back.

[brian nordstrom (As avatar)]

Sorry to here this John its a real bummer .
Looks like a remote observatory is on the horizon then you can see and do everything in comfort via a laptop ?? .
Mate a grandfather clock , very unlucky .
Brian.

[Stardrifter_WA]

Originally Posted by Nico13

Hi John,
That really sucks there mate and believe me I know what it's like as I did it about twenty five years ago and still have problems to this day.
Now I don't know how badly you're injured or how incapacitated but from my experience I never let it stop me and tried to remain as active as possible once the initial injury settled down after a number of months I was lucky I had very strong back muscles and quite a bit younger than I am now.
All I can say is good luck with it and I hope they can do something for you.

All the best mate.

True that Ken.

I too had a very serious back injury, some 30 years ago, and was in hospital for a time. I was told by the rehab hospital that I would never work again. I did return to work, about a year later, and have done ever since. Sure, I still have trouble (lots of it) but I do not let it stop me.

John, sorry to hear of your troubles, you certainly have my sympathy. I truly know what it is like. The pain depresses me at times, but I push through that anyway. And, mostly without pain killers (damned if I wanted to end up a drug addict too).

BUT, John, don't give up mate. There is always a way forward, you just have to find it. I am not saying it is easy John, for it is hard, damn hard!

I hope you are feeling better soon.

Regards Peter

[Merlin66 (Ken)]

Like the rest...I thought I was twenty and Superman...L3/L4and L4/L5 crushed....three months later any MANY $$$$$ I was at least up and about. It still "talks" to me but life goes on.
Unfortunately I ended up under the knife again for C5/C6 and nine months later C4/C5!! I put it down to too many accidents driving fast motor bikes in my youth.
Life is still worth living......

[Max Vondel (Peter)]

Thanks for your spectroscopy knowledge Ken
Sorry to hear about your back's Ken and John
All the best and speedy recovery

[cohiba (Robert)]

I thought I had it bad how many people does this happen too a good mate of mine who was a fit as a fiddle and 15 years younger has been basically flat on his back for the last 4 months it must be a generation thing

[Barrykgerdes]

There are many types of back pain. If there is no paralysis there is real hope. Never take notice of the doctors that say you will never be free of pain and will always be incapacitated.

I damaged my back 60 years ago and was in terrible pain and could not move. Doctors said I would be in bed for weeks and always have pain. I forced myself up after three days and did some excruciating stretching but found that when I stopped the pain had reduced considerably. I continued with the forced exercising and was free of pain after about a week.

I have had recurrences of trouble many time since by doing things that I should not have but the same therapy has always worked. At one time in Scotland I was sent to the Greenock Infirmary to their re-hab classes. I saw some people there in terrible trouble but I learned all the exercises and gave it away after two weeks.

My last trouble was two weeks ago and I spent three days in bed but got up after that and exercised. This is much harder now as I don't have the stamina for hard work any more.

Just don't give up!

PS The X-rays show that I have severe degeneration of the lower four vertibrae in my spine.

Barry

[John.Osborn]

Thank you all for your replies, I am on heavy duty pain killers and have been told by my doctor I will become an addict and I have no choice so thinking like some of you I will not take the pain killer because I am superman but 5 hrs later I was a screaming mess, so much for not taking them but I am asking if solar observing would be less taxing than night viewing
Cheers

[TrevorW]

Just don't become addicted to pain killers

Never believe a Dr mind over matter does work

All the best

[Barrykgerdes]

I used to take Digesic for pain. It worked for the first two days and then the side effects became worse than the pain. Nothing beats mind over matter to get through the pain barrier then regular stretching gets you eventual relief without pain killers.

I remember the first exercise I discovered 60 years ago. I was in awful pain but needed to do some work in the workshop that involved cutting some steel rod with a hack saw. It was painful at first but gradually the pain eased with the regular moving of the torso with the sawing action.
After an hour the pain became only niggling and I was moving quite freely.

Another exersise I found great was to swing a golf club and chase the little white ball around the course.

Barry

[Stardrifter_WA]

Originally Posted by TrevorW

Just don't become addicted to pain killers

Never believe a Dr mind over matter does work

All the best

True that Trevor. BUT, it isn't easy and does take some fortitude to overcome the pain without drugs.

Make pain your friend. It's me best bloody mate!!!!

Cheers Peter

[adman (Adam)]

Sorry to hear about your back John.

There is no such thing as certainty when it comes to dealing with people and their bodies. But still, some doctors will say things like "you will always be in pain", or "you will never walk again" or "you've got 6 months to live" - and a lot of the time they are wrong.

Go and consult as many different practitioners as you can - physiotherapists, chiropractors, acupuncturists, orthopaedic surgeons etc and get several different opinions. They will all approach these kinds of mechanical problems from a different angle - one of them (or a couple of them) may be just what you need.

Good luck,
Adam

[BEVAN5433 (BEVAN)]

JOHN
You should buy a Thermo Skin back belt..MAKE SURE IT HAS THE THE THE BACK SUPPORT STRAPS ON THE BACK.A Collins Street specialist put me on to it after I REFUSED SURGERY. Wear it 23 hours a day over a singlet for 4 days STRAIGHT. You will know by then if it works I HAVE ONE AS DOES MY SON,ALSO ONE OF MY FRIENDS WAS FLAT ON HIS BACK FOR THREE WEEKS. BEFORE HE PURCHASED ONE. He could play lawn bowls with in a week.You
can order via most Au Chemists around $75.00 it is worth every dollar dont buy without the straps Bevan.

[John.Osborn]

I have had a major setback and damaged my back even further than was first thought if that is at all possible, I have now damaged L1 to L6 and I am going into hospital tomorrow to stabilize the pain because that’s all they can do, well I will just have to read about astronomy instead of doing it
The gods are agents me, I will still be in touch

Wanted in good working condition and suitable for trans plant a LOWER BACK FROM L1 TO L6
If you have one for sale please let me know