Abdomen. TMI - Ever since having my 2nd C-section, I get Charlie horses in my abdomen and to get rid of them I have to completely straighten my body, even arch backward if possible. Of course most of the time I get them I am going to the bathroom and cannot just stand up…fun times. Thanks kids!
I’m not sure stretching will keep you from getting Spinal Stenosis… Gotta say that not a great gift for my 70th b’day. Alters everything… 1/2 numb from chest/back down… Elimination is truly altered… I am a Retired Nurse and always used good body mechanics… Not sure if it was just an age thing or trying to deal with my Sister’s hoarding crap when she died. The gift that keeps on giving…
Read the reviews, good and bad.
IMHO, a lot of the bad reviews came from people who didn’t use it properly. You have to place it EXACTLY right and at the correct angle. The instructions are very explicit about this. And there are videos on YT showing correct usage (but there is one I question, it shows jerking instead of slow tension – don’t do that).
Some of the bad reviews amount to having used it once or twice and not getting miracle results. Your back didn’t get out of whack overnight; don’t expect it to be restored overnight either! This is not surgery, it is stretching so that everything can get aligned properly again and rebuild some strength.
I didn’t have really bad back issues, just some aches and stiffness (so I cannot claim magic results). Regular use of this device seems to have relieved that to the point that I don’t have issues any longer and haven’t even thought about needing it any more, in several years.
Also, it is not painful to use (other than what you might already have on a usual basis). You control the tension, so you shouldn’t be causing extra stress or pain. Slow and steady use should help alleviate stiffness and then rebuild strength to support your frame. Aim for continuing improvements over time.
@Mandamm I should have mentioned: the way it works might not be obvious from the pictures and is pretty simple and not at all mysterious.
With your knees bent, the device is properly placed against your thighs , and then you steadily and gently push the device against them, forcing your shoulders back away from your hips, pulling your torso with them and stretching your back and lumbar region.
Again, the placement and angles are critical to get the alignment correct. Follow the directions carefully for that.
There is actually very little movement when done properly, as you will note from watching the videos, just the stretching-in-place force.
I am a Retired Nurse and always used good body mechanics
Seems to be a lot of us (RNs) on this forum. Not sure if we are over-represented or just overly vocal!
The many years of dragging yourself up and down a tiled concrete hallway probably had an impact, also. Though, as you mentioned, good body mechanics is an absolute must.
@Mandamm@phendrick I occasionally have lower back pain from a “tilted vertebrae”. My solution is an inversion table. It stretches the spine and relieves the nerve pinching. Works for me.
Ortho told me I couldn’t use mine anymore after my hip replacement. There seem to be mixed opinions when you look it up online. Personally … don’t want to risk it.
@macromeh@Mandamm Ditto on the inversion table and OEM parts (so far, though a dr has broached the idea of possible knee replacement). Been a while though since I’ve inverted anything other than my bank acct. I might have to dig the table out later today if I get done with some needed yard work (if I make it through a combination of heat advisory and regional thunderstorms; yesterday we had high of 96 with ‘feels like’ of 114(!) so I hid inside by the AC). Temperatures much better today and tall grass after much rain is calling. Inverting for a while and relaxing would be my reward to self if my sinuses can handle it.
@Arhelger
Absent any trauma testicular pain is something you should have checked out. The last thing you want is a torsion causing blood flow loss to one of your testicles…
@chienfou oh, I’ve had plenty of abdominal trauma in the past year. I think hydoceles is the current cause of my testicular discomfort. You are, however, absolutely right about torsion and it’s dangers. I know a couple of men that have placeholder testicles due to torsion.
@Arhelger@chienfou I had something similar once. Had an ultrasound and doc decided it was just a minor infection. I got a scrip for a course of antibiotics and haven’t had any issues since. (YMMV)
@phendrick Nobody has a stake in it but me, so I’ll just leave it as-is, only adding “on a holiday weekend Sunday afternoon with 2,000 miles of driving ahead.”
The worst I can remember just happening at random was some sort of I assume migraine when I was like 12 or 13. Just kinda curled up on the floor. Thankfully those stopped after a year or two…
The broken ankle/waking up with the screws in after surgery was pretty bad but very transcient.
At the moment I’ll be sore tomorrow from yard work but I should just get in better shape
¯\_(ツ)_/¯
@unksol “… but I should just get in better shape”
I second that. But the condition is likely pretty universal around here.
/showme @unksol and @phendrick and other Meh regulars trying to get in better shape
The worst place for a pain is, of course, the inside.
This week, getting a fever made me feel like I had fallen down four flights of stairs with headaches, arm aches, shoulder aches, hip aches, knee soreness, and nausea.
@phendrick well. I need to loose weight. Working on it. Doesn’t take that long for me but I was cutting down some big branches with the pole saw and walking them back to the burn pile. Then mowing. A shoulder protested for a bit
Need to keep up with the climate acclimation this year so I don’t retreat to the AC.
The people down south with the heat and the humidity… Good luck
Achy Breaky Heart
@heartny At your request!
Teeth
@sarahsandroid
Anywhere in the head because it’s inescapable…
Any arm joint. Every thing you do hurts. Even sleeping.
I’ve had more than my share in far too many places. The back is far and away the worst! (Take care of your back, people… start doing stretches)
PITA not on the list?
That itself is a PITA.
Abdomen. TMI - Ever since having my 2nd C-section, I get Charlie horses in my abdomen and to get rid of them I have to completely straighten my body, even arch backward if possible. Of course most of the time I get them I am going to the bathroom and cannot just stand up…fun times. Thanks kids!
Your wallet or purse.
I’m not sure stretching will keep you from getting Spinal Stenosis… Gotta say that not a great gift for my 70th b’day. Alters everything… 1/2 numb from chest/back down… Elimination is truly altered… I am a Retired Nurse and always used good body mechanics… Not sure if it was just an age thing or trying to deal with my Sister’s hoarding crap when she died. The gift that keeps on giving…
@Mandamm Consider one of these:
https://www.amazon.com/Lo-Bak-EZ-Bak-Lumbar-Spine-Stretcher/dp/B08ZSZJ827
Read the reviews, good and bad.
IMHO, a lot of the bad reviews came from people who didn’t use it properly. You have to place it EXACTLY right and at the correct angle. The instructions are very explicit about this. And there are videos on YT showing correct usage (but there is one I question, it shows jerking instead of slow tension – don’t do that).
Some of the bad reviews amount to having used it once or twice and not getting miracle results. Your back didn’t get out of whack overnight; don’t expect it to be restored overnight either! This is not surgery, it is stretching so that everything can get aligned properly again and rebuild some strength.
I didn’t have really bad back issues, just some aches and stiffness (so I cannot claim magic results). Regular use of this device seems to have relieved that to the point that I don’t have issues any longer and haven’t even thought about needing it any more, in several years.
Also, it is not painful to use (other than what you might already have on a usual basis). You control the tension, so you shouldn’t be causing extra stress or pain. Slow and steady use should help alleviate stiffness and then rebuild strength to support your frame. Aim for continuing improvements over time.
@Mandamm I should have mentioned: the way it works might not be obvious from the pictures and is pretty simple and not at all mysterious.
With your knees bent, the device is properly placed against your thighs , and then you steadily and gently push the device against them, forcing your shoulders back away from your hips, pulling your torso with them and stretching your back and lumbar region.
Again, the placement and angles are critical to get the alignment correct. Follow the directions carefully for that.
There is actually very little movement when done properly, as you will note from watching the videos, just the stretching-in-place force.
Good luck, whatever you decide to try.
@Mandamm
Seems to be a lot of us (RNs) on this forum. Not sure if we are over-represented or just overly vocal!
The many years of dragging yourself up and down a tiled concrete hallway probably had an impact, also. Though, as you mentioned, good body mechanics is an absolute must.
@Mandamm @phendrick I occasionally have lower back pain from a “tilted vertebrae”. My solution is an inversion table. It stretches the spine and relieves the nerve pinching. Works for me.
@macromeh @Mandamm @phendrick
Ortho told me I couldn’t use mine anymore after my hip replacement. There seem to be mixed opinions when you look it up online. Personally … don’t want to risk it.
@chienfou @Mandamm @phendrick Yeah, I can see where that could be a problem. Fortunately, I have all OEM parts.
@macromeh @Mandamm Ditto on the inversion table and OEM parts (so far, though a dr has broached the idea of possible knee replacement). Been a while though since I’ve inverted anything other than my bank acct. I might have to dig the table out later today if I get done with some needed yard work (if I make it through a combination of heat advisory and regional thunderstorms; yesterday we had high of 96 with ‘feels like’ of 114(!) so I hid inside by the AC). Temperatures much better today and tall grass after much rain is calling. Inverting for a while and relaxing would be my reward to self if my sinuses can handle it.
@Mandamm @phendrick
)
Kind of sucks getting old. (But I guess it beats the alternative…
After suffering through a week of the worst acid reflux where everything I ate hurt, the stomach is the worst ache.
@Fuzzalini Drink pickle juice. It really works. My Dad would drink a shot of pickle juice before going to bed.
@Fuzzalini @ironcheftoni that’s basically Gatorade (salt) and yogurt (cleansing bacteria)
For me it’s definitely the testicles. Maybe the prostate but I’m going to stick with the testicles.
@Arhelger how often do you have testicular pain?
@kittykat9180 Lol, I just woke up from a nap and have testicular pain. So, not every day but definitely more than I’d like.
@Arhelger @kittykat9180 Well nuts to that!
@Arhelger I have never experienced testicular pain.
@Arhelger
Absent any trauma testicular pain is something you should have checked out. The last thing you want is a torsion causing blood flow loss to one of your testicles…
@kittykat9180 You’re not missing anything.
@chienfou oh, I’ve had plenty of abdominal trauma in the past year. I think hydoceles is the current cause of my testicular discomfort. You are, however, absolutely right about torsion and it’s dangers. I know a couple of men that have placeholder testicles due to torsion.
@Arhelger @chienfou I had something similar once. Had an ultrasound and doc decided it was just a minor infection. I got a scrip for a course of antibiotics and haven’t had any issues since. (YMMV)
As a migraine sufferer, my brain.
I had a migraine so bad about a week ago that I threw up.
At first I misread this as “The worst place to get an acne is in:”
I imagine that there are more really bad places to get acne than on your face.
Lower back. When my back hurts, I’m pretty much immobile.
Seattle.
@werehatrack is there a story back of that we should hear?
@phendrick Nobody has a stake in it but me, so I’ll just leave it as-is, only adding “on a holiday weekend Sunday afternoon with 2,000 miles of driving ahead.”
The worst I can remember just happening at random was some sort of I assume migraine when I was like 12 or 13. Just kinda curled up on the floor. Thankfully those stopped after a year or two…
The broken ankle/waking up with the screws in after surgery was pretty bad but very transcient.
At the moment I’ll be sore tomorrow from yard work but I should just get in better shape
¯\_(ツ)_/¯
@unksol “… but I should just get in better shape”
I second that. But the condition is likely pretty universal around here.
/showme @unksol and @phendrick and other Meh regulars trying to get in better shape
The worst place for a pain is, of course, the inside.
This week, getting a fever made me feel like I had fallen down four flights of stairs with headaches, arm aches, shoulder aches, hip aches, knee soreness, and nausea.
@phendrick well. I need to loose weight. Working on it. Doesn’t take that long for me but I was cutting down some big branches with the pole saw and walking them back to the burn pile. Then mowing. A shoulder protested for a bit
Need to keep up with the climate acclimation this year so I don’t retreat to the AC.
The people down south with the heat and the humidity… Good luck