"YABBER-LINER" - ALL ABOARD

Will do spendi, take care of yourself in your part of the world too.

We had some snow last night, now rain mixed with sleet. Dry right at the moment, though.

Now I'm off to IKEA to try to buy a kneel-on stool for my son, who is crippled with pain from a slipped disc at the moment, and is spending most of his time lying on his stomach on the floor, waiting for a hospital specialist appointment.
He can walk for short periods, helped by painkillers, then he has to flop down again. He can't use a chair. Maybe the stool will give him another option.

Ooh, that's painful Taggers. Exhub had 2 surgeries <one after breaking his leg and wearing an air brace for weeks on end causing him to be SirLimpsalot and the second after a car accident> ...

and within 24 hrs of surgery was up and walking like nothing had happened, quite remarkable. Mind, he had spent 6 weeks on the floor beforehand and seen many docs. So so painful, hope the Nipper can get some relief soon, the kneel on stools can make a difference so keeping fingers crossed for him that

Sorry, didn't finish what I was rambling about, my new gizmo gadget thang wont let me scroll down...

Anyhow, just wanted to say that I do hope he gets some pain relief and that with some manipulation and rest that hopefully he won't need any surgery. Good wishes to the Nipper. X

Well I'm back now and whaddayaknow, the weather has got nice and sunny. But more snow forecast.

IKEA did not have any of these things, nor did the Mobility Shop where I called on the way back, so am no further forward.

However I did have some Swedish meatballs in the cafe, which was nice, good size helping too. Mashed potato, cranberry sauce, peas, and sauce on the meatballs. Maybe they're made from reindeer.

My goodness, you need a good pair of stout walking shoes when you go on IKEA expeditions. They make you walk miles and miles.

Thanks for good wishes, Izzie. Hugkisshug.

Hey Taggers

You can find the kneeling chairs at amazon

http://www.amazon.co.uk/s/ref=nb_sb_ss_i_1_11?url=search-alias%3Daps&field-keywords=ergonomic+kneeling+chair&sprefix=ergonomic+k%2Caps%2C205&rh=i%3Aaps%2Ck%3Aergonomic+kneeling+chair

but having just read a few reviews... they're good in that the pain you get in your knees distracts one from the back pain. (ex hub used one for quite a few months after surgery, but eventually gave up on it).

Our JPB is the expert on back pain here ... well, expert may not be the right word but she has struggled from huge and horrible back pain and (unfortunately) has much experience with this.


I would recommend a back brace for the Nipper when he has recovered - they can help enormously after this problem and are relatively cheap (£15-20ish)... the gain is huge. Slightly more expensive http://www.amazon.co.uk/Physio-Room-PhysioRoom-Elite-Support/dp/B004GKSPR0/ref=pd_sim_sg_4

but with back pain, probably worth a little outlay. Specific back exercises to strengthen the muscles in the back also (physio will be able to advise on that).

Fortunately, back pain is theeeee one thing I have not suffered with so I can't give any personal recommendations from using these contraptions... but certainly the kneeling chair and back brace did make a difference for exhubby and he still used a brace for any lifting work.

Best wishes for you and yours (((((Taggers)))))x

ps. the sun has started shining here <midst downpours>, sky is black to the left, blue to the right... LOVE the lighting this time of year.

Has the doc or a physiotherapist recommended a kneeling chair? If a physio has recommended one - they can also usually recommend a good source for purchase.

Here they can be found in home health care shops attached to pharmacies. It's definitely best if the patient can try one out before purchase.

If the doc hasn't yet made a referral to a physio, it'd probably be a good idea to request a referral - they can help advise on best ways to stay reasonably comfortable until the specialist can be seen.

Thank you for informations, ladies. Am grateful.



No, it was me. Just to give him another option. But maybe also offering some longer-term benefit; that would be a bonus.
I spoke to him on the phone (he lives elsewhere) and he still would like to get one, so I told him to look on the Amazon link and make a selection. Then daddio can do the rest. Cheers, cap'n.

Please have him check in with a doc or physio before using a kneeling chair.

I'm not familiar with the slipped disc terminology. Here we refer to bulging discs or herniated discs and the recommendations for treatment are not the same.

A kneeling chair may well be a good option, but it's best to be sure that no additional damage will be done.

I was getting that vibe from your earlier post.

Maybe American doctors (and German doctors, thanks W) are more clued-up than ours. Who usually say: rest. And then they say: rest not helping? then exercise!
I'm exaggerating, but not much. He'll get a scan, then they can decide on a way forward. Shame he's had to wait 2 or 3 weeks.

I don't know what a U.S. doc would do. Here, there would be a referral to a physio as well as to an o.t. fairly promptly - recommendations for treatment/tolerated activity are generally provided within days of injury/onset of pain. They want to at least stabilize the patient's condition asap. I often see referrals for passive conditioning as well as light core work in the initial stages following back injury - but the specific type of injury makes quite a difference in the treatment plan.

Referrals to ortho surgeons can take a while as can surgery bookings but hopefully that's not in the cards.

It is just one aspect of the price paid for the moment he was made Mac.

agreed.

Is he icing his back? Heat may lessen the pain but it's not going help heal the injury. In fact, it prevents it from healing. He should avoid heating pads but he should ice it 5-6 times a day (if not more) for 20 mins at a time until it stops spasming. I use a large bag of frozen peas and corn. They refreeze quickly and will mold to the curves of his back.

Beyond icing there are different therapies for different injuries. If he has a bulging disc then marching in place followed by bouncing on a ball (or the edge of his bed) can be curative, but ONLY after it stops spasming. A herniated disc is more severe in that there is a tear in the lining of the disc vs simply a bulge in the disc.

Both cause pain and spasming. I wouldn't recommend he try anything other than ice until he can be seen by someone and get a firm diagnosis.

Thank you all.
No ice, peas or corn yet. I will mention this.

If you wish I will keep you abreast of further developments and bulletins.

How does he think it happened Mac?

Hey Taggers...

yep and yep, totally agreeing with gals too about seeking medical advice before spending any time on a chair or possibly trying one out before it's shipped (perhaps one of the office stores - but I understand getting oot and aboot will not be easy to try that).

I know when you're in that sort of pain, anything can be worth a try, but depending which disc and where in the back, it'd be wise to be on the safe side.. even a phone call to the GP or physio to get their recommendations. Good luck to the Nipper.

Unfortunately, I realise the wait here is quite long to see anyone... there's the kind of "wait and see and lie on your back for near minumum 4 weeks", which of course is not a lot of fun, especially with no result forthcoming.

Exhub had first herniation in California but had to wait a few weeks for the scan (we had moved a few days prior from Bahstin to San Jose with 4 month baby - it was a flippin' nightmare the whole thing from start to finish)... operation next day after scan... then in the UK, had to wait a couple weeks but he'd started losing the feeling in his leg and no relfexes in ankle or knee, so it ended up smartish op after a nasty car accident (he had company private health care) so was lucky to have it resolved so quickly. No probs with surgery other than a small spinal fluid leak which gave him nasty headache and nausea but after laying down after surgery for 24-48 hours, totaly recovery and one would never have known he'd even had a back back.

Dad slipped a disk (herniated) when I was a wee Iz, but in them thar days way back then and with a rag in his mouth to chew and bite on , he was out on the ground in agony for a very very long time, but didn't require any surgery. Excruciating. Been okeydokey ever since.

If Nipper gets perisistent sciatic nerve pain seriously down one leg, that is an acute emergency as patients can become incontinent if not treated immediately.



Really hope he can see someone as soon as, and that the pain relief will help until the scan comes through. Not sure how it works "oop there" beyond the border... but wishing him all the healing wishes possible for the speediest recovery. Really hoping that it will settle itself with rest alone (and patience) and all will be well with him.

Best wishes to you all.xxx


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BOSUN's REPORT

Danny's renal appt went well. CT scan tomorrow. Just a few more days and possibly the op will go ahead. Tired fella right now. ((DannyBoy)) xx

Yes please PO McT, would be good to know how they treat him and how he's going.




<Nighty nighy folks... work calls in the morning>

So sorry McTag, I've had a disc go fortunately 1999 and it seems to be great providing I don't wear high heels all the time But, it was extremely difficult at first to deal with..

What about a bean bag? And a heat bag (wheat)..

If we lived closer to Ikea, I'd being going there for breakfast, $4.99 bacon and eggs... It would cost me more to cook it. It is a HUGE place Have to be careful, all these cute little gadgets as well to buy .............

(((Izzie))) Unfortunately not thinking, I told Dannyboy about what we ate for dinner and that we were going to the markets today with D's daughter.. Totally bad move as he read the email, this morning, starving as he is fasting until 11am But, but, it reminded him that he loved doing that, going to the markets and then the food court for lunch and now is looking forward to doing that again real soon.

No particular recent event stands out but this is not the first time this has happened.
He thinks his back problems date back to his time of playing rugby for the school, where he was a prop forward.

I knew a guy who had a slipped disc. Or that's what he said it was.

He had to lie on a board for six months.