Good luck on that..,as back problems changes everything!

@Freedompath I have a good pain management doctor no opioid use cortisone injection

@bobwjr opioids useless with nerve problems from our backs. I have been experimenting with one (200mg), Ibuprofen in the morning and one Aleve (200mg) at night. In the past I was under the impression that more was better and I have found a fair amount of relief doing this! Which I cannot understand, why it would work? I will ask next Dr visit! Maybe it is the placebo effect! Lol

@Freedompath anti-inflammatory drugs work I use ibuprofen 400mg 3-4 times a day am a retired P.A.used these when they first came out the OTC doseages are 1/2 prescription dose reducing inflammation reduces the pain pm me for more

Regarding back pain, especially in the long term. Barbell Medicine has a lot of evidence based great information on back pain and exercise. They are 2 medical doctors who are also powerlifting coaches, and they work with some other fantastic folks that specialize in pain science

@bobwjr I took 400 or even 600mg two or three times a day and what I am finding is that the this one table @ibuprofen and Naproxen (Aleve) work just as well, as all the other larger doses. But I have only been doing this a little over 2 weeks...so I will see what it looks like over the long haul!

@Freedompath everyone is different so what works for you is the best way to go

@uuberdude I too was in an auto accident, so I have ruptured disc in neck and lower back. Plus I need both shoulder joint replacements, because I ruined my rotor cuff repairs! But, other than my middle back problem which goes down my right leg (I am pain free). An operation to remove arthritis at the bottom of my spine, gave me 2 yrs of my normal abilities and then my back went out from higher up! Physical therapy has helped greatly, but it is not perfect and pain is worse at some times! I do keep walking and I do a fair amount of heavy lifting as I can lift things below the waist! What I found to be very helpful, is the dry sauna. They have one here at a fitness center. Good luck with pain relief...

@bobwjr The best pain management natural medicine is Cannabis, at your age it has less side effect than Opioids and other chemical drugs, it is also good for sugar and weight loss.

[coursera.org]

@NR92 already use have a medical marijuana license but other than CBD can't use and drive

@NR92, @Freedompath what ever you do don't let someone fuse vertebra domino effect spine surgeon inserts a spring device to take the place of discs orthopedic spine surgeon my pain management doctor is board certified anesthesiologist and pain management uses specific cortisone injection in facets and epidural that works very well and causes gradual improvement but real improvement

@bobwjr yes..,be very thoughtful about all back treatments, I was lucky (I had top Neurosurgeons to do my operation) but I do not plan on any more surgeries...I will find another way!

@Freedompath I moonlighted with a orthopedic surgeon who did his fellowship at Johns Hopkins hospital he saw 20+ back wrecks a day from neurosurgeon shaving discs and orthopedic surgeon fusing vertebra I worked as a surgical P.A. For 4 years saw the same they were top guys and said the most relief was 5 years before cascade effect happened

@uuberdude yes, I must rest in between everything! Lol funny about ice...if I use ice or I get really cold otherwise, my whole body will hurt like a toothache! This is the reason, that every spring, I am mostly disabled, because the winter cold takes it’s toll on me!

@NR92 I try and stick to treatments that work on nerve endings, even though I know that our pain center comes out of the brain! I would never take any cannabis, as it works on the brain! I take very little of anything, because I need my brain free and clear of stimulants of any kind.

@Freedompath CBD oil has no thc so no psycho active effects the cortisone shot reduces inflammation that causes pain I have measurable improvement from the injections was almost done when auto accident happened setting my progress back

@bobwjr yes...I would guess 8 out of 10 people that I have come across have not gotten the results from back operations that they wanted. I felt better than I had felt in 20 yrs and I guess what I had done (no repair work) is still holding up...but I want take another chance on another area...I am a low ‘chance,’ taker anyway, lol

@bobwjr I have had those shots and they helped! But, other than a little ibuprofen, I will find foods that help and keep moving...the moving is key for my pain it seems!

@Freedompath good luck honey

@bobwjr Same your way...I feel for anyone in pain, because it takes over our attention and our quality of life goes to hell!

@uuberdude have it all medical marijuana license

@uuberdude has worked well for me long history of injury

@uuberdude I have never in my 79 years injested cannabis and I want be starting now...drugs of all kinds are not my idea of a healthy brain and my brain must support me for a life time! Actually, I take no meds at all except that ibuprofen and naproxen. I have seen and made note of too much!

@Sgt_Spanky

Exercise floods you with endorphins. Endorphins are addictive: my drug of choice.

That's why I love running and hiking. It makes me feel happy, centered and grounded.

I loved swimming laps fast until 2008 when I had shoulder surgery. The surgeon told me to stop swimming and ice skating.

@LiterateHiker That wouldn't do it for me. I went swimming in the Gulf for a couple of hours with friends a few weeks ago and had a blast, I'll walk my dog for 1.5 - 2 hurs and I enjoy that. This is exercise as the byproduct of doing something I enjoy. Structured exercise bores me. It always has.

@Sgt_Spanky

To each, his own. I don't consider exercise "structured." Exercise is an individual lifestyle choice.

Like you, I don't like treadmills. To me, treadmills are evil, relentless machines. Instead I love the rowing machine.

Running feels like flying.

Hiking is a transcendent uplifting experience. My passion.

Swimming laps is fun. In my 50s, I swam 1/2 mile in under nine minutes without flip turns.

Weightlifting builds strength. Leaving the gym, I swagger out the door with great posture. I love the symmetrical soreness from weightlifting.

@LiterateHiker weightlifting is the only structured form of exercise I like because I can't get those results any other way. That's the only exception to the rule.

@Sgt_Spanky Completely agree. I just can't put up with the idea that I need to take out time to exercise. The only way I can get myself to do anything is walk wherever and whenever possible.

Very sagely.

Great attitude!

Yes, there is something powerfully motivating when one can carry a 40 pound bag of bird seed or garden soil easily up a few flights of stairs...

I love lifting because it feels great to be able to do everyday tasks with no effort...and even greater when you can help push a car out of the snow in winter at the age of almost 66!

I do both

You bring up a good issue.

To use or not use the scale daily.

I believe in daily check, same time, same amount of clothes on...and I've even been writing my weight down on a pad hanging near the scale.

But one close friend and another here on 'Battling Obesity" says not a good idea.

comments?

@Robecology
Every Monday morning for me. I was told by the doc that every day is equivalent to looking at your stock portfolio every day..... bad for your health.

Thank you, @JamesUC and @bigpawbullets for the come-back.

To each his/her own, I guess.

The daily check helps me more closely examine what I ate and how much the prior day. I won't go the calorie count route; that's too tedious for me...but I'm psyched for getting back in to the 130's...losing this gut flab. Yea, I do crunches almost every day (total gym) as well as a "sweat" workout on the bike (4-6 miles) but I'm determined...and daily checking keeps me focused.

@Robecology
I have used the scale system of daily weigh ins and adjustments to food portions based on the scale to gain or loose weight and much prefer it over counting calories. When I want to gain or loose weight I weigh in twice a day, morning and night, get a good idea what the difference is and then I know if I need to increase or reduce food intake.

However I think for anyone who has a history of disordered eating that daily weigh ins are a bad idea. In fact for some folks with this type of history throwing out your scale and having no mirrors in your home might actually be the most healthy. If the number on the scale is giving you anxiety or counting calories is giving you anxiety, then those might actually be contributing to your weight problems.

@PolyComrade That's the rub...where do you draw the line regarding engrained eating habits vs. "eating disorders"? But thanks for your perspective.

Interesting...some folks need to be "told" to get moving to move...I often wondered about the mentality of those who joined the military....maybe because they're used to being "told" what to do...?

@Robecology
Interesting comment. I've heard; "I like the regimented lifestyle", "I need the discipline", and similiar comments.

@Robecology google intrinsic motivation and extrinsic motivation to get better understandings of different types of people.

Another good principle. I walk to the grocery store (about a mile round trip) rather than drive, unless I'm buying too much to carry. I park such that I have to walk further to go inside if I do drive, etc.