Let’s Go Walking! Join me for a virtual walking support group

I have burnt several holes in rice and corn bags! Oops! They are nice because they hold heat well. Nice in winter.

I have had chronic back pain for many years; I admire you for going forth w/ surgery. I've been too chicken to fix the spurs that have resulted because my back issues have been going on so long. I also have 2 discs that have toppled over onto each other(spondolisthesis)? . Did you have that situation, by chance. I would welcome what else besides the ice that has helped you; heat helps some, not ice much for me. Ice does help my osteoarthritic kneeso don't know exactly why doesn't help my back. I think my back issues arose because of my highly physical work, in the past. I would like to hear from others how they cope w/ chronic back pain. Incidently, I lost almost an inch and a half of body height because of the lumbar stenosis. Also, how does a person approach the fact that back surgery would probably help but have had friends who said they were worse off after undergoing back surgeries.Light yoga helps some, especially the "child's pose". Congrats on going ahead w/surgery. We only get one life & I think I should try the surgery, in the not-too-distant future. What kind of ice pack(s) do you use?

@katiejo59, Hi, Katie, Fortunately for me, while my back pain is not chronic and is a result of a former injury, one of the most relief producing aids for me in addition to applying alternating heat and cold, is lying on the floor with my feet raised while trying to internally press my backbone as near to the floor as possible. Getting up from the floor is the challenge, smiles.

Another exercise that has helped is to lie straight on the floor and gently lift one leg as high as is comfortable and move it gently and scissor-like across the other leg. Each person is different and I wouldn't begin to offer something that might have an adverse affect on another, especially one with more serious injury.

I took a chair/standing yoga class primarily for core strengthening and balance improvement but am unfamiliar with the "child's pose".
That stopped with the pandemic but think it did help me. My theory is that whatever brings relief and doesn't cause more harm is worth the effort, yes?

I was most fortunate to find a Chinese physician who brought me the most pain relief by using acupuncture. When he and his physician wife retired and moved back to Hong Kong, I was bereft.

Like you, I am a big believer in not allowing suffering for any creature if there is a way to prevent it. However, I also understand how difficult it can be to weigh the pros and cons of some treatments and surgeries that could possibly make a tremendous improvement to a condition but can offer no guarantees. Will be thinking of you and wishing you the best going forward.

@lioness, Linda, I can't remember which thread we were posting on when you mentioned that Humana Ins. had sent you 2 free virus masks. Just had to celebrate by letting you know that i received 2 in the mail yesterday!! WhooHoo! ...And, just as i was gearing up to report that I'd not received one mask ordered a couple of weeks ago ? from Etsy...I do not like having to do things like this!!! A notice from Etsy just revealed that the ordered mask was in the mail...Two unexpected and one on the way...oh my, now I'll spend time wondering which to try first. lol The other one ordered from Etsy arrived promptly and is comfortable so hoping the second will prove so too.

Also can't remember which forum I posted in earlier about my 1st instore visit to Walmart. However, since this is the 'walking group', I'll post a second chpt to the saga..maybe this one: Alice, Through the Looking Glass? vbg

Tues, a walking day for me, had me at WalMart at 5:45 am in anticipation of the "elders only" shopping hour. First shopper admitted and a much longer experience. Still no rice but yay! for the large jars of peanut butter! Truly over the top basket of goods and much heavier and awkward to push to check out. There was only One checker out of 20 stations and she was not happy to see me. Very grumpy maybe hemorrhoids?? smiles

Before getting to her though, I had a disturbing experience with one of the shelf stockers as I was heading out. Although the lanes were marked one way with signs that hadn't been there the time before, he came around the corner from opposite direction and though wearing a mask, was coughing which was alarming. Not a dry, allergy type but wet cough. I hurriedly moved on to another aisle. He turned up on that one as well and this time sneezed. Yikes!

Returning home and bringing in a larger supply of refrigerated foodstuffs this time and after doing the strip and shower/shampoo deal, I also added a few new "hopes for added virus infection prevention" by using Pataday for the eyes, Alkalol, nasal wash containing a bit of alcohol, and gargling with Listerine.
With more reports surfacing about smaller virus particles remaining in the air, I was alarmed by the stocker's obvious congestion.

While my cart became too full and I too tired to continue down the otc aisle as intended, I think my next trip will be to add the above products to my cart.

@fiesty76
Hi,
I was doing the child’s pose before I knew it was a yoga pose but haven’t done that in ages. You really have to do it daily. I’m not sure I can get my forehead down to the floor but am going to try it again. I do the Happy Baby pose every day. It stretches the lower back muscles and hips so that is good for back pain. I also do back and hip floor exercises almost daily to keep me limber. I think the biggest thing for the back is proper stretching throughout the day....and moving...whether walking or not. Sitting too lon is not good. Almost everyone I know has some sort of back problems. I don’t but do get an occasional right hip thingy if II don’t exercise due to osteoporosis.
I don’t take drugs for that.

The best way for me to get up off the floor is to roll over on my side , hold on to something and get up slowly. Or push up off the floor with my hands . When I get out of bed, I grab one knee and pull myself up to avoid strain on the lower back.

Walked 2 muggy miles again today...couldn’t wait to get back to the house. Saw a friend and my son in law jogging. He jogs 3x weekly. I couldn’t move that fast in this weather. Honestly my eye lashes were sweating.

FL Mary

@fiesty76. OMG, I was virtually following your 2nd adventure until I come across the shelf stocker who coughed and sneezed. That's utterly incredible Walmart would allow a sick employee to work. I hope you call them and report this incident. Take care!

@imallears Mary - even Minnesota is having tropical weather - temps in the 90's with dew points well in the 70's for days - interspersed with thunder showers. My walks are also early in the morning now, but high speed county road traffic has been diverted to our quiet road due to construction, so I need to find a new, safer route.

I have truly enjoyed watching all the yard and home improvements going on nearby as everyone spent months at home contemplating how they wanted to improve their lives. Surprisingly, most gardens, now growing crazily in the heat, are being kept nicely weeded and trimmed.
Out now to walk. Oops - walk cut short by a pop-up thunderstorm. Will have to go again this evening.
Sue

Hi Sue,
How is your thumb doing? Did it heal o.k.?
Try to walk where there is little to no traffic. The car exhaust is not healthy to breathe in.
We tend to breathe deeper when walking, exercising, etc. and pollutions can get deeper into our lungs.
Are you able to do any yard work yet?
Miss hearing about your garden experiences.
Stay well,
Funcountess

Hi mayofeb2020,
There are plenty of sick employees working. Was in Lowe’s heard an employee coughing, luckily not close to me.
Just wait until the seasonal flu starts around Thanksgiving time, then it will really be dangerous going out.
To report incidents to store managers only takes up your time, as the majority of managers
Do nothing.
Stay well, stay home,
Funcountess