Being in a car that much would cook anyone’s back, and just because it held up better this week, all that time sitting is the real issue imo. Is there no way you can do less driving? Just trying to help,
I agree. My job involves a fair bit of driving. I could probably look to manage the longer trips a bit better. Having the young fella makes it tricky because while he's asleep you don't want to stop. It's pretty rare for me to have to do that many k's in a week but I still do over 1000 most weeks. I've made as many adjustments to the car seat as possible and got a lumber support cushion too.
This year I'm trying to get all my scoping out of the way while it's cold and we're not working much so I don't have to do as much running around in work season. I've got more than half of it done and the rest is much more localised.
The fact that this time around it was so much more manageable is huge for me though. I reckon it was about 1/5th of the pain and discomfort compared to after long drives a month ago.
I just want to debunk a few things. There is no correlation between scoliosis and back pain, "slipped disc" is not a thing, it's a label that has been used, a diagnosis given for the sake of giving a diagnosis.
Your pain is real, but you need to look at other factors. Like Ben said, it's not just your back. Yes you drive more in your new job, but with your new job has come increased stress. You've also become a parent, moved interstate and taken away your self soothing substances. Stress affects how sensitive we are to pain.
We have all these drugs and passive treatments to help make us feel more comfortable while our body heals, but ultimately sometimes our body just needs more time and graded exposure. Graded exposure is easing back into activity that the body can tolerate. Too much too soon means your body will tell you that you've done too much. With this though you may have some pain as you increase your tissue tolerance, so if you do more than you did the day before, you might be sore, but it doesn't mean you've gone backwards.
Sorry, when referring to my mum, by slipped I meant herniated. I should have specified that. When referring to my grandmother, I didn’t mean to so imply that scoliosis caused back pain, just that it’s not a good think to have. But I can see in the way I’ve written it that it could be read that way.
Thanks heaps for those resources. I’ll have a read tomorrow when I’m at work. On my lunch break, of course.
Whatever the case I’m feeling a lot better, sleeping better and have a slightly more positive outlook, placebo or not I’ll take it!
In other news, I started The Resilience Project today and watched the Australian Story on Hugh today as well. Already wish I’d started it sooner. Maybe I should have taken your recommendation much sooner! It’s great so far!
Lots of people have a scoliosis, many don't even know they have one. It's not bad or good, it just is :) some are more severe than others which means you can physically see it.
There is nothing wrong with a good placebo :)
There is no right or wrong, just do whatever makes you feel better :).
Glad to hear you're onto the Resilience Project :D, better late than never. We will never run out of content to feed our brains with.
I think the issue is the 4000kms in the car, not your back.
How do you mean? My back was worse before I did the 4,000kms. The last time I did the same trip it was torture. This time it was far more manageable.
Being in a car that much would cook anyone’s back, and just because it held up better this week, all that time sitting is the real issue imo. Is there no way you can do less driving? Just trying to help,
I agree. My job involves a fair bit of driving. I could probably look to manage the longer trips a bit better. Having the young fella makes it tricky because while he's asleep you don't want to stop. It's pretty rare for me to have to do that many k's in a week but I still do over 1000 most weeks. I've made as many adjustments to the car seat as possible and got a lumber support cushion too.
This year I'm trying to get all my scoping out of the way while it's cold and we're not working much so I don't have to do as much running around in work season. I've got more than half of it done and the rest is much more localised.
The fact that this time around it was so much more manageable is huge for me though. I reckon it was about 1/5th of the pain and discomfort compared to after long drives a month ago.
I just want to debunk a few things. There is no correlation between scoliosis and back pain, "slipped disc" is not a thing, it's a label that has been used, a diagnosis given for the sake of giving a diagnosis.
Your pain is real, but you need to look at other factors. Like Ben said, it's not just your back. Yes you drive more in your new job, but with your new job has come increased stress. You've also become a parent, moved interstate and taken away your self soothing substances. Stress affects how sensitive we are to pain.
We have all these drugs and passive treatments to help make us feel more comfortable while our body heals, but ultimately sometimes our body just needs more time and graded exposure. Graded exposure is easing back into activity that the body can tolerate. Too much too soon means your body will tell you that you've done too much. With this though you may have some pain as you increase your tissue tolerance, so if you do more than you did the day before, you might be sore, but it doesn't mean you've gone backwards.
https://www.painscience.com/ has some great articles.
https://www.oregon.gov/oha/HPA/dsi-pmc/Pages/module.aspx this is a great module on pain.
https://open.spotify.com/episode/7JOYyDspKPvp6bkaeYaeNB?si=942c169e655345bd Joshua Pate has written some great kids books that aren't just for kids when it comes to explaining pain and a mate of mine recommended this podcast ep.
I may add more later as I think and reflect on it more but these are my thoughts for now :).
Take Care Sam, and be kind to yourself <3
Sorry, when referring to my mum, by slipped I meant herniated. I should have specified that. When referring to my grandmother, I didn’t mean to so imply that scoliosis caused back pain, just that it’s not a good think to have. But I can see in the way I’ve written it that it could be read that way.
Thanks heaps for those resources. I’ll have a read tomorrow when I’m at work. On my lunch break, of course.
Whatever the case I’m feeling a lot better, sleeping better and have a slightly more positive outlook, placebo or not I’ll take it!
In other news, I started The Resilience Project today and watched the Australian Story on Hugh today as well. Already wish I’d started it sooner. Maybe I should have taken your recommendation much sooner! It’s great so far!
Lots of people have a scoliosis, many don't even know they have one. It's not bad or good, it just is :) some are more severe than others which means you can physically see it.
There is nothing wrong with a good placebo :)
There is no right or wrong, just do whatever makes you feel better :).
Glad to hear you're onto the Resilience Project :D, better late than never. We will never run out of content to feed our brains with.