Gardening verboten - bad back.

[battlethebulge]

Very frustrated - all I can do is walk in terms of exercising since hurting my back the other day. Even lifting the kettle hurts! Daren't work out in the 'Green Gym' although there is so much I want to do out there. Tried doing some dressmaking instead but was in agony bending over the table to pin a pattern onto the fabric.

I have suffered intermittent back problems since I was 19, and I'm 68 now. You would think I'd have the sense to stop what I'm doing and rest when my back starts playing up, but I just want to get on and finish what I've started. Haven't got enough money on my pension to employ a gardener.

Well, at least the sun is shining so I can get out for my weekly walk with a group of friends. Hope we take a route that means the dog can run off-lead, as it's very painful on my back if she pulls on the lead. Moan, moan moan. What a misery I must sound this morning!

[moreless Administrator 7 stone]

Sore backs are miserable things, battlethebulge, so you moan away! That's what we're here for

Here's to a lovely walk, with the dog off lead and a speedy recovery, so that you can get back out in your green gym

[YellowRose55]

Morning battlethebulge

Hope your back starts to improve soon, take it easy and sit in your Green Gym with a cuppa and enjoy it.

Enjoy your walk with your friends and dogs.

[ANewMe2022 1 stone]

Bummer! I too have a bad back and find that the longer I sit, the worse it gets. I try to keep dotting about all day, it always helps...xx

[battlethebulge Maintainer in reply to ANewMe2022]

Yes, ANewMe2017, Bummer indeed! Awwww, sorry to hear you're suffering too. Glad you're keeping moving, I too find it's the best thing to do, although if it gets too agonising I sit with a hot water bottle in my back for a while, that seems to help quite a lot. I can't take strong painkillers any more as I have developed a sensitivity to them, so can only have Paracetamol - not much help!

I see you too have a 1 stone badge, well done you! It's harder to keep up the exercise regime with back pain niggling away all the time....

Good luck NewMe, how much more weight are you hoping to lose?

[Cat33 Restart Dec 2023]

Oooh ouch poor you and don't you apologize for having a moan Bad backs are miserable I hope you get better very soon and can enjoy your garden again Have you looked into your local community things as you might find help with gardening because of your back that will be cheaper than a regular gardener ?

Enjoy your walk with your doggie and take good care of yourself I find Deep Freeze fantastic and I bought a lovely Dreamland heat pad from Boots that is fab when I'm in pain x

[battlethebulge Maintainer in reply to Cat33]

Cat33, thank you my lovely. There is actually a community event coming up soon, a sort of adults 'bob-a-job', when volunteers go round the village helping out with jobs the less-able can't do. I'm hoping the Osteopath will have put me right by then though! I have such an independent nature I hate asking for help.

I had a really lovely walk with my friends, not too far, and all rural. Unfortunately this meant Echo had to stay on the lead as so many of the fields we passed or went through had livestock in. Thankfully one of my very kind friends walked Echo for me! How sweet and kind some people are.

Lovely to see all the lambs gambolling about, and to see the woods nearby full of bluebells, the trees alive with that lovely bright green only seen in spring, and lots of pretty blackthorn in the hedges and cowslips on the verges.

I had a gel heatpad I used to use on my back but it split! Perhaps get a wheat-pack instead? Haven't seen the Boots Dreamland pad you mentioned. Is it an electric one?

[Cat33 Restart Dec 2023 in reply to battlethebulge]

I know what you mean I too don't like asking for help especially where my garden is concerned

Hope the osteopath gets you sorted they can work wonders

Your walk sounded so lovely this is such a beautiful time of year I love to see the bright green Spring leaves especially when it's sunny but there is background of dark skies Bluebells are gorgeous What a lovely description you gave I pictured it all Glad Echo enjoyed it

Yes the Dreamland pad is electric it's really good

Hope your back is better soon and you are back in the garden X

[Ceals]

A painful back, indeed any pain drags you right down battlethebulge try not to be harsh on yourself although I can understand your frustration. Hope it eases up soon.

Do you do some warm up exercises before you do the gardening? If not it might be worthwhile.

Take care

[lucigret]

how frustrating for you, I hope you are feeling a bit better today. Don't try to push yourself too much and end up making it worse. It is finding a balance of not just sitting around, which can make you feel stiff, but not doing so much that you make the problem worse. Take care of your self.

[RG07 Maintainer]

have you thought about discussing it with your GP- they could refer you to physio or chiropractor. A colleague at work had problem with her neck and she found accupuncture worked brilliant once she got over the thought of being stuck with a lot of needles!!!

[battlethebulge Maintainer in reply to RG07]

Thanks RG07, I have had endless conversations with my G.P. about my back problems, and have been told ad infinitum that if I want any other treatment than physiotherapy, which is all he is allowed to refer me for, that I will have to pay for it myself. I think it's a bit curmudgeonly of the health service, especially as my recurrent back problems are as a result of a lifetime's career in nursing! But, hey ho, there are many people a lot worse off than me in terms of bad backs, so nowadays I just make an appointment with the osteopathist when I hurt my back as I have found that the most effective treatment for me!

[RG07 Maintainer]

sorry about that but what about chronic pain team- could he refer you to them. I work in a hospital and the pain team has clinics and they do acupuncure, TENS and variety of techniques for pain relief- your local hospital may offer a similar service?