Help Please!!! DH has done his back in!!!

[Booknut]

I need your help please, my DH has somehow hurt his back...his mum (a nurse) says its a recurrence of what he's had before, a twisted muscle. His dr told him it could be a slipped disc. Either way he's in pain and walking with a stick.

He can walk not too bad but standing still hurts him and he's going to be pretty doped up for the next little while.

In the meantime, we are meant to leave in ONE WEEK!!! DH is so worried our holiday will be ruined he's saying maybe we should cancel it. But we both really want this holiday to happen, its been a hard year for us.

Any advice on doing a long-haul flight with a bad back and enjoying WDW with a bad back? I'm in hyper panick mode!!! Help!

 

[edcrbnsoul]

Sitting on the long flight I can't help you with but you may want to rent an ECV (scooter) while touring the parks.

 

[PamNC]

I don't have any advice but I'm hoping somebody will. My DH has the exact same thing you describe - the term is sciatia. His muscle is probably pushing on a nerve. My DH had an MRI and it is not a slipped disk. He's walking with a cane too and doped up on medication. We were suppose to go in August, but we had to cancel for other reasons...good thing because I don't think he would have enjoyed it. He's in his 6th week of pain. We go on 11/18 and God knows I hope he'll be better by then.

My suggestion is this - get him to a massage therapist immediately. They will massage out the twisted knot and show him some stretches. Do this before the trip. My DH is going friday for his massage and a lot of people have told us this will help.

Good luck - I hope your holiday isn't ruined. I love it when folks from the UK call it a holiday. We'll be there in London next Spring - my husband is performing at Pegasus Opera. I've never been to England or anywhere out of the US.

PamNC

 

[binkyboots]

if you're insured I'd say cancel and rebook, I know it's a horrible prospect, but if you go and he doesn't enjoy it, you've gone a long way and the holiday is gone...

I speak from experience here, dh is disabled, we've canceled one holiday and persevered on another, we should have canceled and I would if I could live it over.

 

[minkydog]

~Ow~ I herniated 2 discs in my back last fall and I can tell you, there's no way I could have done a transatlantic flight. I couldn't even sit in a chair for more than 15min. I was utterly miserable with my back for about 4wks, out of work, etc. Has the doctor examined him yet? The only way to tell if it's a disc is with MRI or CT scan. If those haven't been done, it should be. Then you'll know whether to cancel or carry on.

 

[flortlebap]

Hire a wheelchair for touring, or an ECV if he can manage it.

FWIW my mum went with 3 slipped discs years ago... had a wheelchair but managed fine. Even did most of the rides she wanted to!!

 

[Booknut]

Thank you all for your advice. DH doesn't want to cancel. I thought we could just re-book for December but he wants to go now. He reckons if he's going to be in pain he'd rather be in pain in a nice resort with a pool than at home with no pool

Our wonderful Dreams Unlimited TA has gotten us a ground floor room at our resort so that is going to help tremendously as well as DH isn't doing stairs too well at the moment.

I think the ECV might help if the walking becomes a huge problem. It's just not going to be a very 'ride focused' holiday and more of a 'relaxing' holiday. Here's hoping for some healing Pixie Dust!!!

PamNC, how exciting that you're coming to England, if you need any help with your trip etc just PM me!

 

[sjcmi]

As a person who has had back problems, 2 herniated discs and many pulled muscles. Go back to your Dr. and find out if it is disc or muscle. If it is a pulled muscle ask for a tens unit treatment. I think that is what it is called, they place pads on the sore muscle and use a small electric curent to loosen the muscle. Its like the worlds best message. If it is a bad disc there is treatment and physical therapy for that as well. I lived with mine for about ten years before I had surgery, let me tell you this can be the most excrutiating pain you will ever go through. I am not too sure I would want to be at Disney with it. Good luck and best wishes

 

[MamaQuack]

Eloise - I have sent you an email. Hope it helps.

MamaQuack

 

[klwdisney]

Definitely see a massage therapist!! And if you are at WDW and he's sore, make an appt at one of the WDW Spas for a massage also! Enjoy! Hope it all works out!

 

[MinnieGirl33]

I agree to head straight for the doctor's & what he/she can do. Physical therapy, muscle relaxers or pain meds may be a good idea.

DH herniated 2 discs a few years ago just before a trip w/a 10 hr. car ride. He was able to lay the seat back & get relatively flat so that was a help. Your flight, I imagine will be the most difficult.

ECV's are a great idea.

So is lounging by the pool & taking advantage of the hot tubs. Just remember to be careful of those lovely frozen beverages if he ends up on paid meds.

Good luck!

 

[pilferk]

From someone who has a bad back, himself:

On the long flight...well, not much he can do except get up and stroll the cabin as often as practical. In addition, talk to your doc about Ibuprofen. 1000 MG of that 4 times a day seems to help me better than the narcotic (perkiset) solutions, even. As I said, though, check with your doctor first. You can also buy Thermacare Heatwraps here in the states. Not sure if they have them in the UK, but this is a link to them:

http://www.thermacare.com/lowerbackwraps.jsp

They work just great at keeping my back muscles "warmed up" and preventing them from siffening up.

At WDW, itself, besides the aforementioned Ibuprofen and heat wraps I find that time in the pool or, if available, the hot tub/spa/jacuzzi works wonders. The ECV might help, too, but...well, sitting is what hurts ME the most..walking and standing, once the muscles loosen up, is actually more comfortable. Not sure if it's the same with him.

 

[noodleknitter]

I don't have any advice but I'm hoping somebody will. My DH has the exact same thing you describe - the term is sciatia. His muscle is probably pushing on a nerve. My DH had an MRI and it is not a slipped disk. He's walking with a cane too and doped up on medication. We were suppose to go in August, but we had to cancel for other reasons...good thing because I don't think he would have enjoyed it. He's in his 6th week of pain. We go on 11/18 and God knows I hope he'll be better by then.

My suggestion is this - get him to a massage therapist immediately. They will massage out the twisted knot and show him some stretches. Do this before the trip. My DH is going friday for his massage and a lot of people have told us this will help.

Good luck - I hope your holiday isn't ruined. I love it when folks from the UK call it a holiday. We'll be there in London next Spring - my husband is performing at Pegasus Opera. I've never been to England or anywhere out of the US.

PamNC

A massage therapist is the only one who seems to be able to deal with DH's back when it goes. We tried everything else, and then someone recommended her. One visit did the job. Amazing.

I second the ECV rental. They are easy to run, and he could try one out at Walmart before the trip. Good luck!

 

[kimmikayb]

Thank you all for your advice. DH doesn't want to cancel. I thought we could just re-book for December but he wants to go now. He reckons if he's going to be in pain he'd rather be in pain in a nice resort with a pool than at home with no pool

Our wonderful Dreams Unlimited TA has gotten us a ground floor room at our resort so that is going to help tremendously as well as DH isn't doing stairs too well at the moment.

I think the ECV might help if the walking becomes a huge problem. It's just not going to be a very 'ride focused' holiday and more of a 'relaxing' holiday. Here's hoping for some healing Pixie Dust!!!

PamNC, how exciting that you're coming to England, if you need any help with your trip etc just PM me!

Hi! I'm sorry this has happen to your DH! I've been through it and let me tell you it can be horrible but there is pain management he can do!

First, if he can get to a physical therapist who can do ultrasound massage, it is wonderful. They will also direct him in ways to handle the pain and give him exercises to help.

Second, a few days before you leave see if your doctor will prescribe a steriod shot into his spine. Yes, I know that sounds horrible but for anyone who has gone through this pain, let me tell you it is HEAVEN! It relieves a great deal of the pain for weeks.

Third, and many might not agree with me but acupuncture really, really helped me. I know it is not traditional but it really helped me. See if he can get several treatments in before your trip. He has to be open to the concept but I was amazed at how it helped me. You might even be directed to pressure points that will temp help relieve pain while gone.

I agree with others....get a ECV or wheelchair. Make sure he has a cane. But also make sure he moves around. It's not always best to be still and sit with this type of injury.

The last bit of advice I have to give is this... I was heavily medicated also and I missed out on a lot of things because of that. If he can tolerate it...have him off the heavy dope. He can alternate motrin and tylnol to help with pain. I know sometimes that doesn't cut it but if he can leave the heavy stuff for night or naps (and the flight). Tell him...it's ok for him to go back to the room and rest!!!

Hope it goes well for you!

 

[Spine_DR]

Sciatica whether from herniated disc, bulging disc, SI syndrome, facet syndrome, or pyraformis(muscle that goes rith over the sciatic nerve) syndrome. As a Chiropractor I have had great results with decreasing and eliminating pain, espacailly coupled with massage and phys therapy. Some of my patients had great improvements in as little as 2 or 3 days others it took weeks.
You might want to consult a local Chiro to see what they can do for your husband he might be the type that responds quickly.

 

[tootsiemolly]

I did the same thing this week!!! And I leave on Sat. I got a massage yesterday, and my orhopaedic Dr. Said to ICE, ICE, ICE with my feet elevated. I lay flat on the floor with my legs over my ottoman. Let me tell you I am 100% Better. I was not going to cancel. I put crushed Ice in a large ziplock bag, and I lay on it for 20-30 min. 6X a day. It has make a huge difference! Along with the Motrin 4X a day.

 

[cmm]

I have messed up my back many, many times. The most recent was on Super Bowl Sunday. I was in excruciating pain and could hardly walk. I had to get around with a broomstick handle. I went to the doctor. All they did was load me up with drugs, and I mean really high doses of pain killers and muscle relaxers, which did NOTHING to relieve the problem or the pain. I was going to go to the physical therapist again, for the umpteenth time, but a friend talked me into seeing her chiropractor. This man saved my life. If you can find a good chiro, please send your husband. My pain has not returned, and the chiro gave me some exercises to do on a balance ball every day. I highly recommend it. Physical therapy only got me so far, and they never could get rid of the pain. My chiro is wonderful! If you lived in VA, I would give you his name!

 

[SueM in MN]

He can walk not too bad but standing still hurts him and he's going to be pretty doped up for the next little while.

If he is doped up, an ECV would not be a good idea. He needs to be alert to drive one.
If you can push him in a wheelchair, the might actually work better. He could alternate between riding in it, parking it and walking and pushing it to provide a little bit of support.

 

[MarylandPizzaman]

Sent you an email

 

[Booknut]

Hi everyone,

Thanks again for all your kind words of advice. We were lucky enough to get an appointment today for DH to see a chiropractor and hopefully if he has a couple of sessions he will feel better.

He is doing a bit better today but the drugs really zonk him out so he doesn't want to take too many of them. He thinks its more muscular than a slipped disc because he can still bend down and stretch etc but its very sore, he says he feels like he's been kicked in his lower back (it wasn't me in my sleep either! )

We will wait until Monday and if he isn't feeling better we may have to cancel/postpone our trip, maybe to end of November/beginning of December. We don't want to do this but there's no point him going if he isn't going to enjoy it.

Thanks again for all your helpful advice. Just send lots of healthy pixie dust our way and hope he has a restful few days!!!

Eloise