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Chronic Back Pain for Years
6 back surgeries (extensive cervical and lumbar fusions) with neurological complications. Left with chronic pain. Accident happened in Nursing career 1992 and worked with first fusions until 1999 (failed fusions). At my age, and as a former nurse educator, I never wanted to had to rely on medication/s for the severe pain. Having thoroughly exhausted exploring sites using non-pharmaceutical methods, using psychological methods, biofeedback, trying to accept my limitations, i.e., I still believe somewhere...out there...is hope. The strong medicine has caused gastroparesis, further complicating my health problems. They are too numerous to write and I will not focus on them. I am looking for "help" and guidance. If I can be of assistance to anyone throughout their trials, (perhaps similar to some of what I have gone through), I will.
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No, for pain it can be drops or salves, maybe even lozenges or candy. Smoking can give you lung cancer! @marylou705
@lioness
If I knew where you live I would help you with those dishes. I wash them one at a time and dry then right away. I have a towel hanging on the wall next to the sink so all I have to do is reach to the right to grab the towel. I never fill up a sink with dish soap. I find it is best and keeps us healthier. Another thing I did to help me happened when I remodeled my kitchen. I find most sinks are set in place too low for my comfort so I had my sink and all countertops set in at 36". My lower back always hurt until I had this done. I do wish my folks had had this done when they remodeled that one kitchen when I was a teen.
Eileena
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2 Reactions@lioness I do water exercise about four times a week, alternating with gym exercises. It really is good, and can be fun too. I hope you have a place near you where you can do this.
JK
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3 Reactions@elieena on thank you I use alot of paper plates and wash once a day Rinse them and let till supper. I live in a senior building in Calif.the sink is 34 inches so it's not to bad but have a housekeeper once a month ,rest of time I manage one room at a time
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2 Reactions@contenandwell I do and Dr has to write a letter to them but I'm going to start there soon.Thanks
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3 ReactionsWhere do you live in CA,Eilleena? I live in Lucerne Valley, a spot in the road in the high desert (wonderful clean air), and am 72 years old. My 51 year old autistic son lives with me, or I expect I'd be warehoused. I like hearing about attacking one room a day (sometimes I'm in bed for tendays strait and nothing gets done). ts very hard for me to clean, not being able to bend; but harder stil to ask for help. Please write to me and tell me about your life.
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3 Reactions@lioness
“It seemed to be too small all the time.”
The bush or your bladder? lol. I have a warped sense of humor I guess. It did make me laugh though.
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2 Reactions@lioness
The bladder. Not sure you know your anatomy well enough to know that a lumbar injury can affect your bladder and cause a lack of retention. Best to learn about what all is affected by the spinal nerves.
AND if you never traveled the nation's roads prior to the interstate system which was built using Department of Defense funding after President Eisenhower had seen the autobahn in Germany, you might not know that existence of those rest stops placed about 60 miles apart did not exist forcing a person in need to find a bush to hide behind or stand between two opened car doors to prohibit other drivers and their passengers passing by your car to see you taking a leak.
In Germany we observed that male drivers would simply get out of their cars and stand with their backs to the highway and water their tires on the driver's side.
@geezappeal1
I'm in San Diego and work full time at one of the Naval Installations located directly on the Pacific Ocean. We get sea breezes that send any and all pollution over the mountains to the deserts. I am presently 68 and live with my physically disabled son who is a tutor to autistics who have not only an IEP, but whose parents have sued the school district due to lack of real teaching to their needs.
I seldom stay in bed, guess I'm far more used to the amount of pain many have due to the length of time my injury happened, 63 years now. Staying in bed often cause an increase in the pain, so I keep moving to keep some of the pain down. I live in a single story home I bought to ensure my son would not need much change, like a stair lift for his wheelchair.
Living near the Mexican border does have it's pluses. The idea for coupling B-100 Complex with the Tylenol actually was one of the ideas that came from there. They use this to increase the effectiveness of the pain killers.
Other ethnic medical information, using bitter melon tea for digestive difficulties, was gained from the Vietnamese who work where I work.
We have one of the community colleges about half a mile from my home so, I walk there when I take classes. My legs do get tired when I walk that far, but it's doable. It can also cause my back to ache.
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1 Reaction@eIleana I well aware of bladder,bowel issues I'm a retired nurse .If my fracture was another vertebra I would have been paralyzed I'm only telling u that has helped me My fracture was in 2005 best to you.
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