Thought this was a really great photo to explain various ailments of the spine.
From the top:
Normal Disc
Degenerative Disc
Bulging Disc
Herniated Disc
Thinning Disc
Disc Degeneration with Osteophyte Formation
The spinal disc was described to me as a jelly donut between the vertebrae.
The jelly can bulge in the disc or actually herniate/rupture and spill out pressing painfully against the nerve--that's the scary red that you see!
The disc degeneration and osteophytes are also a pretty frightening looking deterioration of the disc and cartilage.
No wonder
- "31 million Americans experience low back pain at any given time...[and] back pain is the single leading cause of disability."
- And "80 percent of adults experience lower back pain at some point in their lifetimes...[and] leading contributor to missed workdays"
When we have our health, we don't always realize how incredibly fortunate we are. ;-)
(Credit Photo: Andy Blumenthal)
Healing The Spine
So I've been having this excruciating lower back pain for about a week.
I literally cannot sit or stand without shooting pain.
When I sit, it hurts the lower back so much to get up.
And when I stand, all I want to do is relieve the pressure and sit down.
I feel like the warning from G-d in the Torah where He says (Deuteronomy 28:67):
In the morning you will say '"If only it were evening!" and in the evening "If only it were morning!"
The only real relief so far is lying down or going in the pool.
Planning to see the doctor to check it out and hopefully with G-d's mercy it will be better very soon. ;-)
(Credit Photo: Andy Blumenthal)
Can't Sit, Can't Stand
So I pulled something in my back recently.
Had the worst sciatica pain down my hip and leg--could hardly walk or sleep from it.
I went to the Orthopedist and he game me some meds for the inflammation and sent me for an MRI.
Also, I went a number of times for acupressure, which was truly awesome.
Came back to the Orthopedist and he asks how I am.
I said:
Feeling a lot better, but the MRI shows a herniated disc.
He says:
Go home and have a Happy Thanksgiving--we only do surgery to treat symptoms!
So I am truly happy that alls well that ends well.
Thank you Hashem! ;-)
(Source Photo: Andy Blumenthal)
My Aching Back
So today I went for an ergonomic training and assessment.
Never did this before.
It was pretty awesome.
The person had 4 degrees in ergonomics and really seemed to know what they were talking about.
They got me set up in a special ergonomic chair with a footrest, bio-design mouse, and task lighting.
I tell you that I never sat so straight, perfectly contoured, and completely comfortable.
They almost had to pry my butt out of that chair after I test drove it for over an hour in training.
OMG, there is a difference.
Don't need carpal tunnel.
Don't need sciatica.
Don't need neck, shoulder, and back pain.
I even learned that the standing desks can be BAD for you--they put undue stress on your musculature and may actually result in a notable DECREASE in concentration and productivity.
Anyway, from the stupid chairs that I've seen most people have--and the lousy posture they sit with--I'd recommend seeing the ergonomist. ;-)
(Source Photo: Andy Blumenthal)
Ergonomics Ah!
