Back pain

[RedVines]

I arrange my belt so that there's nothing on the back when i sit. Nothing in the back pockets either. lighten up the belt as much as you can

[TrailerparkTrash]

What do other LEO members do for their pain.

Thank you,

Usually the liquid diets that come from Scotland, Tennessee or Kentucky work.

[mixicus]

Work with a sports med team (sports med doc, physical therapist, chiro and massage therapist). You should be able to get a referral from your primary care doc.

Change your workouts to address your needs. That may mean different lifts to address imbalances or yoga. I work out differently in my 40's than previously. I picked my PT's brain when recovering from a shoulder injury. More focus on core and back lifts as opposed to 'beach muscles'.

[M1NM]

Usually the liquid diets that come from Scotland, Tennessee or Kentucky work.

This in addition to perscribed opiates.

[veeklog]

Nineteen years on the job, forty four years old. Had more than my share of injuries to include a ACL reconstruction on left knee fighting someone in 2000. Had a really bad automobile accident on duty in August, no major injuries but found out I have a bone spur on my lower lumbar pinching my sciatica. On top of that, my orthopedist said I have arthritis in both knees now, and should stop hard running on pavement. Sucks getting old in this job!

I would take Ibuprofen and ask your doctor for the 800 milligram pills. Have done wonders; stay away from the opiates. I have seen them ruin more careers than help

[esy]

I have the HSGI sure grip slotted belt on the way. Going to weave my duty belt into that and see if it helps take some weight off of the hips and back.

[Abu Riyah]

Not LEO, but I've had four spinal surgeries over the last 21 years, the last one after an injury in Iraq in 2011. Pain pills have their place. I took them them as needed from 1995 until about 2015 with no problem. I never got addicted at all or had any liver or other health issues from taking them. Of course, I wasn't popping 40 a day either. Aleve (Naproxen Sodium) is what works for me now. I usually take 2-3 of the OTC ones when I need something and they work the whole day. Ibuprofen (800mg) helps, but it only lasts about 3-5 hours and it definitely can tear up your stomach.

If you're sitting for hours in a car every day, look for a high quality seat pad. I recommend the Purple brand gel cushion ($99 on Amazon). Build up your core more, increase the stretching and yoga, find a good chiropractor, preferably one that has massage therapists on-staff, acupuncture can help, but it becomes less effective after a few weeks of treatment. A little $35 TENS muscle stim unit with the pads that stick to your skin can do wonders. Many chiros use them, so see if it helps and see how they do it before you get one for yourself. To be honest, it is those little things that you mention that hurt the most...like washing dishes at the sink. I avoid them as much as possible.

As suggested above, go see a good doctor, preferably at a place like the Spine Center at UCIMC where they can do the full work up and see if there is something identifiable as the cause. You probably need a good set of digital x-rays, an MRI, and maybe a CT Scan to let the doc really know what is going on in there and then they can present you with options. You will probably never be completely pain free, but you can get into the manageable/tolerable range. Even if you end up looking at surgery, you could be 99% pain free, walking two hours after the operation, and back at work in a few weeks, depending on the condition and procedure. Just get checked out at a good place and consider all options.

[HUTCH 7.62]

Yoga and core exercises. Also stretching.

THIS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[Rogue187]

This for those of you LE's who use alternative methods of carriage of your duty belts.
I have been wearing a duty belt for coming on 28 years and now my back is paying the price.
Waiting for approval for surgery.

Do you use suspenders or a vest?

Did you have to provide your agency a letter from your doctor to authorize the usage of suspenders or lightening up the equipment?

I'm sure I will need to provide that to my work in order to get suspenders when I go back to work.

Any recommendations on which suspenders work best?

Thanks!

[SMarquez]

OP, where are you located?

Have you filed your WC claim yet?

All good advise here, you can't go wrong with any of it. Consider a physical medicine specialist. It's kind of a new thing but it will be a clinic where an ortho
doc supervises your case with a PT, radiology, pain management, etc. all working under one roof. My wife goes to one in Loma Linda and is the first time she has ever seen 2 docs in one appointment. She usually sees the pain managment doc first, she consults the ortho then he sees him with treatment plan as needed.

[Chewy65]

Very good advice here, but one thing I didn't see was any comment on your working out 4X Week. While you may feel better after a work out, it may actually be aggravating your problem. You need to see someone such as others have suggested and get their input on your exercise routine.

[Blue]

[bocephus223]

Everyone has a different situation. For me it was stretching and core workouts. The best exercise for me was a one sided farmers carry. I️ m not sure of the actual name of this, but it has really improved my back pain. Good luck.

[packnrat]

not a leo. but am a class A driver, now 58 years old been driving big rigs for over 35 years now.

but my back, joints, head, ears, insides. all have problems.
not legal to take any of the good drugs to help with the pains.

all i can say is if you want/need to keep working.
or if you can quit and not work is the question.

i need to work might just die behind the wheel. but i just live with the pain.

would like to retire. but have these bad habits of eating and living under a roof.

[Widdle]