Bad back and others hazards

TerdalFarm · Post by **TerdalFarm** » Thu Sep 15, 2011 9:42 am

I've made a few off-hand comments since February about my bad back. I have tried all many of treatments, and finally had surgery yesterday. The photo is of me going in.
I blame W's horses, not my palms

The injury happened during that record blizzard last February. Pipes froze, so I had to carry buckets of warm water from the bathtub in the house out to horses, some of whom were a 1/4 mile from the house. In the deepest snow we have ever had. And have I mentioned that we were briefly colder than the south pole? Can't remember--must be all the percocet

One day a horse tried to kick, presumably for being slow. Still holding 5 gallons of water in each hand, I spun on ice to get away. I did, but hurt a lot. Of course I couldn't stop hauling buckets of water several time/day for another week. The pain, though, does explaiun why I didn't dig out the palm hut and bring indoors all the potted beauties in there (Brahea, Trithrinax, Nannorhops, naini tal); they died, of course

Being a doctor (wrong kind!), I diagnosed a pulled ligament and thought I just needed to move more plants. Hence my weekend job in Spring at the nursery, where my job was to lift heavy plants.

The disc herniation wasn't diagnosed until May, so I quit the nursery job. Then when we had to sell the farm in June, I lifted heavy items. And in August I dug up my favorite palms for their new life in an apartment. Ouch!

So, the take-home: lift plants carefully. If you back hurts, see a doctor. Might help you avoid surgery. For now, I must lift nothing heavier that 2 kg/5 lbs. Hmmm...maybe get into orchids?

<table style="width:auto;"><tr><td><a href="https://picasaweb.google.com/lh/photo/M ... site"><img src="https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-8LoX ... 9208_n.jpg" height="640" width="382" /></a></td></tr><tr><td style="font-family:arial,sans-serif; font-size:11px; text-align:right">From <a href="https://picasaweb.google.com/terdalfarm ... >September 2011</a></td></tr></table>

hardyjim · Post by **hardyjim** » Thu Sep 15, 2011 2:38 pm

DID you make it back to this side again Erik???

hardyjim · Post by **hardyjim** » Fri Sep 16, 2011 8:15 am

??????

lucky1 · Post by **lucky1** » Fri Sep 16, 2011 8:52 am

Yup...we need a pic of Erik coming out.

Orchids = good.
Origami might be better for your back

It's been quite a year for you guys.
Hope the plants love your new place; and that you had other people carrying the plants.

5 lb. limit? Heck, that's a tall Scotch with ice.

Barb

TerdalFarm · Post by **TerdalFarm** » Fri Sep 16, 2011 8:57 am

You asked for it; not a pretty sight:

<table style="width:auto;"><tr><td><a href="https://picasaweb.google.com/lh/photo/0 ... site"><img src="https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-V04o ... 5165_o.jpg" height="400" width="239" /></a></td></tr><tr><td style="font-family:arial,sans-serif; font-size:11px; text-align:right">From <a href="https://picasaweb.google.com/terdalfarm ... site">Drop Box</a></td></tr></table>

oppalm · Post by **oppalm** » Mon Sep 26, 2011 8:31 am

best of luck as you recover. have had a number of friends who have done the back surgery thing and am happy to report all are completely recovered and happy they did surgery.

TerdalFarm · Post by **TerdalFarm** » Mon Sep 26, 2011 8:32 am

Steve,
thanks. I wish I had done this months ago vs. suffer for so long. --Erik

lucky1 · Post by **lucky1** » Tue Sep 27, 2011 10:39 am

Sheesh...what'd they do? put mayo on your legs?

Your tan fell off...

No more lifting heavy plants for you buddy.

Glad you're on the mend, Erik.

Barb

TerdalFarm · Post by **TerdalFarm** » Tue Sep 27, 2011 10:46 am

Those are tights that squeeze your legs so that blood doesn't pool there after the surgery damages blood vessels.
They came off the next day and were discarded.
Given how health care is billed down here, I don't want to even think how much those cost

Anyway, no plant lifting. I did trim some fronds yesterday, and I water small amounts at a time.
Well, off for a walk now. I am supposed to walk as part of the recovery, and with the weather we have now it is a pleasure.

lucky1 · Post by **lucky1** » Tue Sep 27, 2011 11:09 am

Ah, you look good in tights, Erik.
Keep 'em for winter cold.

Swimming is the best exercise for a bad back, there might be a community pool near your new digs.
You might find a few folks wearing tights there too.

Barb

TerdalFarm · Post by **TerdalFarm** » Tue Sep 27, 2011 12:05 pm

There is a pool here, but closed already. Anyway, the surgeon says no baths, swimming etc. for 6 weeks post op so that water doesn't get into that hole he made.
The walking feels good so I'll keep doing that. Everyone's gardens look good right now so I'm enjoying seeing that.

hardyjim · Post by **hardyjim** » Tue Sep 27, 2011 2:15 pm

I was going to say Erik

WTF is that the worst tan in the history of the planet or what?

lucky1 · Post by **lucky1** » Tue Sep 27, 2011 4:46 pm

so that water doesn't get into that hole he made.

I'll leave that one alone...

Barb

DesertZone · Post by **DesertZone** » Tue Sep 27, 2011 6:00 pm

Glad to see things are going good for you. I hope the recovery goes well.

TerdalFarm · Post by **TerdalFarm** » Tue Sep 27, 2011 6:22 pm

That snap shot is embarrassing--I'll have to get W to take one of me looking whole and hale amongst my palms

lucky1 · Post by **lucky1** » Sun Oct 09, 2011 11:22 am

...or maybe pics of you touring Palms in Oregon.
This week? Next week?

Enjoy the Wet Coast...

Barb

TerdalFarm · Post by **TerdalFarm** » Sun Oct 16, 2011 10:42 pm

I hated y'all thinking I was still bed-ridden. I am still in pain, but able to get around and even lift up to 20 lbs.
We are in Portland, Oregon this week visiting family. Across the street from my parent's church this morning we saw some lovely Trachies. I handed my son my cell phone and had him snap a shot to share so you can see I am now more-or-less upright.

<table style="width:auto;"><tr><td><a href="https://picasaweb.google.com/lh/photo/4 ... site"><img src="https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-fLQV ... AG0872.jpg" height="800" width="478" /></a></td></tr><tr><td style="font-family:arial,sans-serif; font-size:11px; text-align:right">From <a href="https://picasaweb.google.com/terdalfarm ... e">October 2011</a></td></tr></table>

lucky1 · Post by **lucky1** » Mon Oct 17, 2011 8:27 am

Glad you're able to get around, hopefully the pain will disappear soon.

Oooooh, what a lovely Trachy.
Presume that "turn back" sign = no trespassing?

Bet Portland has some nice year-round nurseries...

Thanks for the pic.
Barb

TerdalFarm · Post by **TerdalFarm** » Mon Oct 17, 2011 8:38 am

This house was already dressed up for Halloween--there was some fake spiderwebs on this windmill palm, too.
Trachies are street trees here and need no winter protection.
You see why growing up here I think of Trachy as "the" palm tree and anything else is funny-looking.

--Erik

igor.glukhovtsev · Post by **igor.glukhovtsev** » Mon Oct 17, 2011 9:17 am

Erik, thanks for the lovely pic! It's so nice you are walking around. Hope your flight from OK to OR hasn't been too painful for you!

canadianplant · Post by **canadianplant** » Tue Oct 18, 2011 6:08 am

Erik

I dont know how I missed this thread, and its probably late, but I hope everything is well. I got some back problems too, and im super paranoid about it. Had to quit my job last year and not work for 6 months, so I can understand where your at....

And those stockings are sexy:P My mom just got a tumor removed by her heart, and had the same ones.... The jokes were flying around LOL.

I hope your alright dude, like I said I can totaly sympathize when It comes to back problems..

Take it easy!

TerdalFarm · Post by **TerdalFarm** » Wed Oct 19, 2011 10:22 am

Jesse,
I do sit down some when it hurts to walk.
Here is me sitting down at a nursery on the coast, under a Gunnera. They sure grow great here. --Erik

<table style="width:auto;"><tr><td><a href="https://picasaweb.google.com/lh/photo/f ... site"><img src="https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-NSl5 ... unnera.jpg" height="512" width="306" /></a></td></tr><tr><td style="font-family:arial,sans-serif; font-size:11px; text-align:right">From <a href="https://picasaweb.google.com/terdalfarm ... e">October 2011</a></td></tr></table>

lucky1 · Post by **lucky1** » Wed Oct 19, 2011 8:35 pm

Erik,
A concrete birdbath for a chair...ouch!~
If you're doing a lot of walking maybe a set of cushioned insoles and/or arch supports would help.

Looks like the weather's great!

So....what's the verdict?
An "OR" casa? or staying in "OK"? (notice there's only one Letter difference?)

BTW, Seattle, a little NW of Portland, is even warmer for palms!

Barb

canadianplant · Post by **canadianplant** » Thu Oct 20, 2011 6:33 am

lucky1 wrote:Erik,
A concrete birdbath for a chair...ouch!~
If you're doing a lot of walking maybe a set of cushioned insoles and/or arch supports would help.

Looks like the weather's great!

So....what's the verdict?
An "OR" casa? or staying in "OK"? (notice there's only one Letter difference?)

BTW, Seattle, a little NW of Portland, is even warmer for palms!

Barb

They get away with CIDP in OR, if I remember right. Mostly the coast yeah, but still.....

lucky1 · Post by **lucky1** » Thu Oct 20, 2011 7:11 am

They get away with CIDP in OR,

Didn't think a CIDP could handle all that rain.
Rot would be a real risk.

Barb