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Breaking Your Broken Back Again


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#1 kermit

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Posted 23 December 2007 - 02:31 AM

I am really just passing on information for everyone down the line. I have been in a chair since 1979 (T8 & 12) and I have been blessed with good health for most of this time. But this year has been a disaster. What happened is that my osteopath broke my back in a new vertebra (L2) in March, but I was clueless about it. My telltale symptom was HUGE sweating below my break - particularly at night. From the hips to the ankles I was leaving a dead man's imprint on my sheet. Plus I had big fevers. The doctors couldn't work out what my problem was (to be fair my spinal xray looks like a Picasso painting - very abstract). Plus my posture was more lopsided than usual. Anyway I tried to carry on working not realising I was so crook - until the fever spiked and I went to hospital again. It took ages to heal at home ~ partly as I kept falling out of my chair "damaging" the healing. I usually fall out of my chair several times a year. But eventually the sweating went away and my life returned to normal around September. No bedrest at any stage. Anyway other lessons I have learned is NEVER EVER let an osteopath do spinal manipulations once you've been in a chair for more than 10 years. They really don't know what state your bones are in. My spine is now being tested for osteoporosis. I knew my leg bones would be weak, but the spine was news to me. I also now have a turtle-like hard back (J2) on my chair which gives much better support - instead of the fabric backs which are much lighter but don't give any support. May even get some lateral supports. Whole idea is to help support my vertebra, and retain a reasonable posture for the rest of my life.

#2 Cheshire

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Posted 23 December 2007 - 03:10 AM

yikes!
I've always been leery of "adjustments" and the like...hope luck smiles on you for quite a while to offset this.

#3 nomis

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Posted 23 December 2007 - 03:37 AM

Yeah, that's a worthwhile warning Kermit, both re the osteopath and if I ever get prolific sweats down low.
I got a rigid Jay back a few years back and love it. Helps keep my posture healthy and good support when on the move, which more than compensates for the little added weight. I'm now using a JetstreamPro carbonfibre one which is lighter but maybe not quite so comfortable (still evaluating).
"It's the notion that there is no perfection ~ that this is a broken world and we live with broken hearts and broken lives but still that is no alibi for anything. On the contrary, you have to stand up and say hallelujah under those circumstances. " - Leonard Cohen

#4 jass1

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Posted 23 December 2007 - 06:18 AM

THANK YOU GOOD INFO




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