Dad threw out his back 5 days before we leave for Disney!! Help!!

[belledreamer]

My dad just called from work and said that he has thrown out his back and is on his way home. Can barely walk, bend over, etc. Can still sit and drive though without a problem.

We leave for Disney in 5 days! Everything pretty much set in stone to go... Are there any tips or is there anything I can do for him to help him recover quickly? This is his first time getting to go to Disney with all the perks, (staying on the grounds, Magical Express, Meal Deal, etc...) and I'd hate for him to have to spend it in the hotel room...

Any tips you can give would be greatly appreciated! Thank you!

 

[The Mystery Machine]

Go to the ER, get a shot, some meds, and take their advice. My DH just did that 3 weeks ago. He had to recover so he could move dd into the college dorm.

 

[starann]

If he won't go to the ER, make sure he goes to the Family Dr....the drs may be able to give him some pain meds and some steriods (if it is a disc problem rather than a muscule problem).


REST, REST, REST the next few days.

 

[The Mystery Machine]

If he won't go to the ER, make sure he goes to the Family Dr....the drs may be able to give him some pain meds and some steriods (if it is a disc problem rather than a muscule problem).


REST, REST, REST the next few days.

That is true. We don't have a reg. doc yet. He is getting somebody now.

Anyway he was in alot of pain and needed to go to the ER. He has low pain tolerance.

 

[jnykly]

My DH has done this before and went to the chiropractor. The doc put him on an electrode type machine that sent shocks in the muscles in his back. He went in literally crawling on the floor and walked out of the doc's office an hour later.

 

[Praying Colonel]

My dad just called from work and said that he has thrown out his back and is on his way home. Can barely walk, bend over, etc. Can still sit and drive though without a problem.

We leave for Disney in 5 days! Everything pretty much set in stone to go... Are there any tips or is there anything I can do for him to help him recover quickly? This is his first time getting to go to Disney with all the perks, (staying on the grounds, Magical Express, Meal Deal, etc...) and I'd hate for him to have to spend it in the hotel room...

Any tips you can give would be greatly appreciated! Thank you!

Same thing happened to me about 10 days before our 06 trip. We were driving and I was very worried that after driving 13 hours I wouldn't be able to stand up straight, much less do a vigorous week at WDW.

I went to DW's chiropractor, who worked on me several times before leaving. I felt a lot better before we left.

That, plus ibuprofen, morning soaks in the CSR hot tub and heat balm on my back got me through just fine. In fact, I think the Orlando heat and humidity actually helped, too--my back felt better as the week went on.

 

[Cheshire Figment]

I would suggest going over to the disABILITIES Forum. Both to ask the question and to look at the disABILITIES FAQs thread.

 

[ols386]

My DH has done this before and went to the chiropractor. The doc put him on an electrode type machine that sent shocks in the muscles in his back. He went in literally crawling on the floor and walked out of the doc's office an hour later.

I had a problem with my neck and back recently. My doctor gave me a prescription for prednizone, and it worked wonders, very quickly. Then I started physical therapy, and that has helped dramatically too.

I also had what I think you are referring to, it's a type of ultrasound that sends shocks, as you said, deep down in to the muscles. Oh my gosh, I can't even begin to say how much that has helped. And it feels so good when they are using the ultrasound.

So, depending on what the problem is, there is really alot they can do to make a person feel better faster.....but whatever the ultimate problem is, needs to be addressed and dealt with also.

 

[SNylund]

If he has no problems sitting, just plan on renting one of those electric scooter thingies and he can just wheel around everywhere.

 

[belledreamer]

bump

 

[Pea-n-Me]

This happened to us earlier this year.

DH slipped on (a shoe on) the stairs and in trying to break his fall, hurt himself - badly.

ER doc @ 3am (when DH got up to use bathroom and couldn't move leg) diagnosed strained hip ligaments and gave him scripts for valium and percocet.

Saw our own doc who ordered an MRI, and turned out he had two bulging discs compressing the nerves to his leg. (Good thing we had an MRI.)

He had a steroid injection the day prior to our trip and was told to take it easy, which he did. He was uncomfortable but managed to have a pretty good time anyway.

Several weeks later he had a second injection and that helped him a lot (doc said sometimes it takes two or three). It still bothers him if he overexerts, but it's not nearly as bad as it was.

If it were my dad I'd be sure he got the most thorough, expert work up possible before going away. I've heard lots of stories of these types of things getting worse if they're not treated correctly from the start. Good luck.

 

[mariethecat]

This happened to me last January. 9 days before my trip I had a very painful herniated disc. I was put on strong pain medication (hydromorphone) and after a week was mostly pain free with medication. I could have cancelled the trip and got my money back as I had cancellation insurance. The biggest concern was that I would have no medical coverage in the US as it was a new and unstable medical problem. I decided to take a chance anyway and was fine as long as I had my medication on a regular basis. It was not an easy decision to make but I did not want to disappoint the other members of my family by cancelling the trip.

 

[merekc]

My vote is chiropracter.

I've thrown my back out twice. The first time I thought it would get better on its own, after several days I went to the chiropracter. It took me a month to be pain free.

The second time I went to the chiropracter that day. I was pretty much pain free within a week. My recovery time was greatly shorter.

 

[belledreamer]

Thanks so much for all of your advice!

He's actually doing much better today. He's walking around, still not 100%, but we're getting there. He did do the ice packs and heating pads, tried to get a doctor's appointment (without sucess... ), got some good medication and is at a chiropractor this morning.

But he's determined to get better, and knowing my dad, he'll make it. Packed our clothes last night, (I had to pack for him... ) Now, off to Disney!

I have to say, this vacation will make quite the trip report when I get back...

Thanks again for all the help!