did you ever throw your back out?

[Curt]

To >throw your back out<, without throwing?

English is not "a second language" to me, but a foreign language, so I don't NEED to understand what "throw your back out" means in this context, but it sure would ease my mind! I simply don't understand what the cartoon kid is referring to when he says, "your dad threw his back out", unless it simply means to get rid of all the old junk in the closet? The phrase is not explained in any of my many, expensive dictionaries. :-(



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[mouser]

The term "throw your back out" refers to injuring your back in a way that you have trouble standing/bending/moving.

It's not a technical term -- people say "i threw my back out" to refer to a temporary condition of extreme back pain/immobility -- something that might happen suddenly if you lift something too heavy and find yourself unable to leave your bed for a few days.

So in the comic, it's saying that the dad "threw his back out" and was stuck in bed for a while.

[Curt]

"Been there, done that" they say. I could feel the pain, just reading mouser's explanation!  

Twenty years ago I had a temporary job in the industry. A stock of old fashioned TVs was to be moved manually one TV at a time - by me and a 3 other guys! After a few days a brainless body-builder guy was added, so we now were 5 (five). His fist action was to mock us for working two and two; "pussies, take a TV per person!". I explained why this was a foolish idea, but he was also a tyrant, so very soon it was "1 person, 1 TV". After 3 days I did a wrong move with a TV in my arms, "I threw my back out", and it took 8 months before I could walk normally again.



Actually I am pleased that I cannot remember his name or looks, because then I cannot really hate him. I am just sad that I didn't have the power to stop his destructive tyranny. Also I am still angry how stupid some of the official rules are; I could not walk and I had no money, but once a week I had to go to the doctor (to get a "sick-note" for one of the council's offices); I will not try here to explain how impossible this situation was.

[attachthumb=#]

I realize I know what it is to throw your back out.

How "you" tried it, reader?

[nosh]

8 months sounds insanely bad - I can't even imagine! I ripped a back muscle a couple of months back - it was excruciatingly painful the next day and to top it off I had a cough at the same time. Even if I coughed at half-strength it was like someone jabbing a thick needle up my spine... without a doubt, the worst pain I've experienced in my life (I've sprained both ankles several times and on one occasion, twisted my knee.) I was scared to go to sleep lest I coughed at full strength while asleep. I got through the thing relatively unscathed, considering everything that could have gone wrong.

I'd been told that back muscles heal quickly but was surprised to see just how quickly they did. I could do push-ups two weeks later... probably earlier, if I'd been foolish enough. Which is why eight months sounds super-serious! ... glad you're through that phase! 

[cyberdiva]

Yes, I agree with nosh, 8 months sounds extraordinarily long.  I've thrown my back out several times, but I was usually pretty fully recovered in a week or two.  The fastest and most unusual recovery occurred the first time I threw my back out.  My husband drove me to our doctor's office.  I was in my late 20s, and the doctor was probably at least 20 years older than I was.  He told me to stand next to him back to back.  He hoisted me up onto his back, and then lowered me down again.  To my astonishment and delight, my back no longer hurt.  (Alas, that technique never worked again.)

[Curt]

@Nosh, I must say you obviously have tried more than your fair share of pain.

@Diva, I am pleased to know it usually was fixed in a week or two. But "several times"?

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Of course I should have been cured in a couple of weeks. However, you can shoot yourself (or your employees) in the foot, and sometimes bad luck just comes bundled! There was no phone or transport vehicle (the bus only went during rush-hours), so I simply had to WALK more than 2 miles to 1'st train station > 2'nd train to the central station > change to bus heading home. All this in great and growing pains > I still cannot remember the last half hour. Almost at home, rejected by hospital (on neighbour's phone): "we don't trust you; why didn't you phone from the station?", and I didn't know why! Then my local doctor was not available > replacement doctor says "You've made it this far, it can't be too serious. Anyway, I don't know you, you must come here!". At this stage I was crawling, and it was too late for a "normal" recovery process. Normally I am able to whine or shout, but I was apathetic so I didn't. Instead I shot yet another hole in my foot, so to speak.

Furthermore, they didn't discover until several years later that my legs were of uneven lengths
- but that's another and quite positive story!

[cyberdiva]

@Diva, I am pleased to know it usually was fixed in a week or two. But "several times"?

Yes, Curt, but that was "several times" over a period of many years. (I'm not in my late 20s any more  )

I'm very surprised by your account of your (mis)treatment.  I've long believed that the health care system in most European countries is better than in the United States, but your account is making me re-think my belief.

[Shades]

For general treatments and first aid the US healthcare system cannot match (if you take the costs into account).

Specialist treatment costs a fortune on both sides of the ocean, but it appears to me that (only) after the money is transferred, US doctors want to do their job and show that they can do what they do in better, more successful ways.

One thing is the same on both sides, don't expect the best attention if you need insurance to pay for the medical bill.

That was one thing from the army doctors...they do know about back pain, where to look for adequate solutions and do that fast. I was in literally in the last group of people that still had to serve in the Dutch military for 12 months and when I left there were only two more drafters left in all of the southern regiments combined.

[MilesAhead]

I literally threw my back out 10 pin bowling.  I went with 2 friends from work.  I was first up. On the very first ball I thew a strike and I got this really nasty ache in my back.  Not cool to quit and go home on the first ball. So I finished out the string.  Turns out one of the fellows was a league bowler.  He had the glove, the hook spin etc.. In fact every time he rolled this popping noise was produced as his thumb was released from the hole in the ball.  After 6 consecutive strikes he felt pity for us and chucked every subsequent ball into the gutter (or "channel" as educated people my call it.)  Invariably this gutter ball was followed by an exclamation of "aw shucks." I don't know how many hours he practiced a day but it seems the repetition succeeded.  

[Tinman57]

  Well let's see now, after 12 back surgeries and my back is still "out"......

[app103]

I wish I could "throw my back out" in a trash bag, on the curb, and replace it with one that gives me much less troubles. And while I am at it, replace a few other problem parts.

[tomos]

My back used to go out about once a year - often so badly I'd have to spend a couple of days in bed. I've never been sporty so I guess the combination of that and sitting so much at the computer didnt help. I think it was Kfitting here that recommended learning the Gokhale method (dc search if you want more info). That was 4 or 5 years ago now - since then I've had no problems. I've been occasionally doing very hard physical work, e.g. 8 hours garden work in one day this week. The fact I can do that kind of hard physical work just occasionally and 'get away with it' (keeping in mind the non-sportyness, and the mostly at the computer lifestyle) is the best testimonial I could give for any back I think ;-)

FWIW/edit

I think, because of my enthusiasm, some people think I'm spamming or being spammy when I post about this. I realise that peoples wariness increases in direct proportion to enthusiasm shown, but there you go - this one was a life changer for me, so I get enthusiastic :p
Be warned as well - I *will* post about this again (or link to this) in response to any future complaints about back pain. Take it or leave it ;-)

[Curt]

I thought I'd start a thread related to ideas about how we should sit, stand, lift stuff even

Thanks, every time I see something on DC that relates to this area I am reminded to make an effort.

+1

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Besides -
I am impressed how this Gokhale woman has applied some small rubber pieces to the cover of a $60 office chair, and is now selling it for $560... http://gokhalemethod.com/chair

[tomos]

Besides -
I am impressed how this Gokhale woman has applied some small rubber pieces to the cover of a $60 office chair, and is now selling it for $560... http://gokhalemethod.com/chair

hah, you'd have a good laugh if you saw my current chair. It's an old flat bottomed timber chair with one arm ripped off of it. I dont used the arms or the back anyway (I sit upright - I just ripped the one arm out to make it easier to sit down in the thing.)

[MilesAhead]

  Well let's see now, after 12 back surgeries and my back is still "out"......

Ouch!! It hurts just reading that. My back doesn't bother me often. Mostly if I've been crouching like arranging stuff in my pack. Then when I stand up sometimes I have to drive the back of my hands into the kidney area to take the stress of standing up straight. I've been pretty lucky in that respect.  My body is mostly well behaved.

[Curt]

Well let's see now, after 12 back surgeries and my back is still "out"......

Ouch!! It hurts just reading that.

Tinman's post really made me sad; so much pain! Is this why you went for the tinman name? I really thought it was a tribute, rather than a self-description!

[Tinman57]

Well let's see now, after 12 back surgeries and my back is still "out"......

Ouch!! It hurts just reading that.

Tinman's post really made me sad; so much pain! Is this why you went for the tinman name? I really thought it was a tribute, rather than a self-description!

  My nick was given to me in the Air Force.  If I had to give a self description it would have to be Titanium Man for all the titanium in my lower back....

[MerleOne]

If I may add my personal experience in that field : I had very often pains in the back muscles, but no damaged inter-vertebrae discs.  I tried many things to get rid of theses aches, and I finally found something that works well : go to the swimming pool and swim "belly-up".  It really helps exercise most of the back muscles, relieving pain on those who hurt.  It's not always fun, especially in winter, but it really helped me a lot.  Now I have other issues where swimming pool won't help, but that's another story, not relevant here.

[Happy Expat]

Three mega throws, two operations, a truck load of dolcontin (our name for oxycontin) and a disability pension. Sucks. Still, at least I'm no longer expected to go get a sick note

[crabby3]

Specialist treatment costs a fortune on both sides of the ocean, but it appears to me that (only) after the money is transferred, US doctors want to do their job and show that they can do what they do in better, more successful ways.

One thing is the same on both sides, don't expect the best attention if you need insurance to pay for the medical bill.

Not always the case.... my experience in South Florida, USA anyway.  Yes... the doctor, clinic and surgeon wanted their money up-front.
Did not pay the full 'normal' price, for any of it but don't think I received inferior treatment either.  No insurance... all out-of-pocket.

These doctors had/have regular practices.  The operating-theater (clinic) was/is something one might find in a hospital.
So I view them as semi-pro bono.  Not free... but way much a lot cheaper.

Of course I do not speak for anywhere else in the US or even my small part of it.  Just needed this care or treatment very soon.
Sorry Curt, this wasn't back problems but I believe it could have been.  It was eyes.