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Sciatica Problems

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merrykalia
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Post  chuck Sun Mar 24, 2013 12:44 pm

The DR says my back pain is Sciatica. I am gonna try some exercises, etc to help. It isn't always bad.. it comes and goes. The first week was awful.. I took a week off work and couldn't walk the first day.

Now... I am aware of the pain and try to be careful.. but most days I move pretty freely. Last night after pushing a grocery cart around WALMART for an hour.. I was hurting pretty bad. I think the gradual leaning over the cart caused the problem. I have walked around (without a cart) before and was ok.

I am really concerned about my ability to hitch up my camper and do the other things necessary to set it up. Lifting the WDH and putting it in the receiver has me worried. I think if I can get it in there.. I may leave it attached all camping season. Not sure how hard cranking down the stabilizers and attaching the sway control will be. The bending, twisting and lifting seems to aggravate the condition.

Anyway.. I am going to do the April trip to River Plantation and see how it goes. I am hoping the trip will be easier than I anticipate.. I hate to think about selling my camper.. but the possibility seems all to real.
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Post  KralCamper Sun Mar 24, 2013 7:46 pm

Sorry to hear about this Chuck. You know we would be happy to help if we are camping together, or maybe we can come up with some things to help make it easier for you to complete your setup and tear down.
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Post  Life is Good Tue Mar 26, 2013 1:12 pm

I have seen alot of people using cordless impact wrenches for their stabilizers.
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Post  merrykalia Tue Mar 26, 2013 3:10 pm

We have an impact wrench for the stabilizers and we also bought a power tongue jack that Butch says is the best thing we ever bought for camping.

Butch had back surgery about 20 years ago and he is usually pretty careful about doing stuff to mess it up again. Have someone else put the WD hitch on and leave it. You just have to remember that it's back there when you start to back into a parking space and things like that.

I still say go see a chiropractor.

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Post  chuck Tue Mar 26, 2013 3:29 pm

I actually have and use a power drill with a special socket for the stabs.. but I am concerned more with the bending and stooping to use it..

I believe I will leave the WDH attached all summer.. once I get it in the receiver.

Just hoping for a good trial run in April.. thanks for your thoughts.
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Post  jb_simerly Tue Mar 26, 2013 5:57 pm

If you need any help setting up I plan on arriving Thur. Evening be glad to lend you a hand
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Post  Richard Tue Mar 26, 2013 10:10 pm

Hey Chuck, first of all I hope your back gets better and you do not need any help. Still, anytime I am camping with you, do not wait around or ask, just tell me what I can do to help. You know I am glad to do whatever to help if I am around. I bet that the same goes for just about anyone in the club. Just don't be stubborn and try to do things yourself when we are so willing to lend a hand. It is no bother, it is what real friends are for.
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Post  merrykalia Tue Mar 26, 2013 10:30 pm

Same goes for us!

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Post  chuck Wed Mar 27, 2013 8:26 am

I know everyone is willing to help.. and I do appreciate that. The hardest part about this, for me.. is not being able to do things for myself that were once no problem. Sometimes I think I am over-reacting and I just go ahead and lift something.. or bend over and pick something up.. and get a quick reminder.

One thing I have been trying to do, that has helped.. is lose some weight. It isn't good to carry around too many pounds in any condition.. but with back problems I am sure the weight load is multiplied. I've lost about 20 pounds since mid january and it seems to help.
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Post  SouthWestyKim Wed Mar 27, 2013 1:14 pm

Sorry your having so much back pain Chuck, I honestly feel for you since I've had two back surgerys myself. Your doing the right thing in trying to loose weight though, good for you . One thing you might try is "inversion". That helped me greatly relieving the pressure on the siactic nerve. If you have med insurance talk to your doctor about getting an inverstion table for your home. I would also ask your doctor for an MRI if you havent had one already. We cant have you selling your camper!!!!
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Post  Crawford Wed Mar 27, 2013 11:48 pm

I know my select comfort air bed at home and my Class C has one, best thing I ever did for my back. My buddy also says his inversion table is grate hanging up side down straighten out the spine takes off pressure off disks. I tried it and it is wounder full. Very Happy
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Post  chuck Thu Apr 04, 2013 9:23 am

I hesitate to say too many positive things concerning my back problems.. because it can change in a second. Anyway, I mowed the yard yesterday and I feel pretty good. Granted.. it was on the riding mower.. but I had to do some extra lifting, turning and stooping. After pulling the mower out of the shed.. the battery was dead. So I had to dig the charger out of the back of the shed, etc, etc. I know it doesn't sound like much.. but believe me.. I did more bending and lifting yesterday than I have been able to do in several weeks.

With this little test.. I am more optimistic about setting up the camper. I hope the improvement continues.
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Post  SouthWestyKim Thu Apr 04, 2013 9:33 am

cheers cheers cheers
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Post  merrykalia Thu Apr 04, 2013 5:14 pm

SouthWestyKim wrote: cheers cheers cheers

DITTO!!!

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Post  chuck Sun Apr 07, 2013 8:31 am

Washed the camper yesterday.. cleaned the wheels and scrubbed the awning, top and underside. During the process I even lifted and moved the WDH. It was a chore.. and took some extra effort.. but my back lasted through it. Waited til this morning to comment.. to see how I felt. Happy to report that I am a little stove up.. but nothing like a few weeks ago. I am really pleasantly surprised at what I could do.

I think the exercise and weight loss has helped.. down from 302 to 275, since January.
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Post  merrykalia Sun Apr 07, 2013 8:43 pm

That's a lot of weight to drop, Chuck. Congratulations. Keep up the good work so you can camp with us.

Butch has dropped about 50 since summertime and he is feeling much, much better.

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