Having had a bad back for about 8 years now, the invisible man on my shoulders has been weighing down for far too long now.
From a previous injury that stopped me playing golf (See Golfing and Me) my back has slowly gotten worse and worse over the years to the point that I can no longer lift my daughter and carry her for any prolonged periods. My ability to run has vanished and in return the 2/4/6 pack has been replaced with 2/4/6 rolls.
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For the trained Radiologists among you, here’s a few X-Rays taken a few years ago. There’s a straightening of the neck and a twisting of the hips. These cost me £150 to have and the treatment required was extortionate, I just couldn’t afford to. So again, I stopped training, playing sport and basically doing anything.
The moment I couldn’t lift my daughter I could have cried. It’s ok having pain and the way you stop having a bad back is to stop doing activity, which I did and contributed to me putting on weight. But when you’ve got two daughters that need your attention, need to be active and where you can’t rest up for a second, it all becomes ever so real!
So I decided months ago to do something about it. My weight had shifted up to 18stone and I’d become quite sad. Sad at not being able to play golf consistently, sad at not being able to carry my daughter and play like the crazed dad I am, and sad that I’ve put on so much weight that while my wife is still as beautiful, she’s married to someone considerably larger than when we first met.
In my head there’s three elements to tackle:
Losing Weight:
The need to lose weight and reduce the pressure on my bones and joints is paramount. My body used to have lots of muscle and I’d be weighing in at 15 stone. There’s no way fat and being 18 stone gives my bones the stability and support they need being at 6ft 3ins. Luckily, it was around the time that a friend Tim pointed me in the direction of Rory Flashman Nutrition and between the three of us, have worked together to tackle my weight. This is being documented in my DadDiet pages if you’d like to check them out here. I’m currently 12kg down despite the Christmas parties, flu and cold weather 🙂
Getting Active:
This has taken a back seat out of the three as it’s not easy to get active when the back still hurts and the weight is coming down. It hasn’t stopped me making different choices though. I walk to the local shops on my lunch break adding a mile a day, choose the stairs instead of the lift at work and take a stroll around when I can. Carrying Dorothy as much as possible has also helped. The biggest thing for this is going to be the Hadrian’s Wall Charity Challenge for 2017. I’m going to be training for this as soon as I can get rid of this poxy cold! I’ve had flu then a week of well and now a cold. My body is killing and it’s probably not best to put it through the strain required. I do however have everything ready to start walking double digit miles in a row and I’m looking forward to it.
Seeking Medical Help:
This was probably the hardest thing I’ve ever had to do! After seeking medical advice a number of times throughout the years and not really getting anywhere, it took being in hospital to make me, make a forceful push. So after a number of appointments, blood tests and angry phone calls I got a referral. Below’s my video of the experience and the outcome.
It’s great to know nothing is broken but also unnerving that they don’t know what’s caused it. They think they know but I suppose they won’t truly know until I visit the physic and have the podiatry appointment.
2017 is going to be a big year, I’m glad I’m making positive changes now and hopefully I can sort these issues and be fit and fighting for my Charity Trek in May!
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Oh no, I haven’t experienced back pain much as I’m still quite young and I move a lot but I know from people around me that it’s a proper pain! I hope you get well soon x
I’m so sorry you are going through all of this, back pain is so hard to deal with. I do hope that you are able to get relief and are able to stay more active with your daughters.
Lovely to hear you making so much positive changes! Losing weight is hard, so can’t imagine doing it while in pain. I hope you can get the support you need for you and your daughters x
I had a sporting injury when I was younger and get intermittent back pain now and it’s horrendous when it comes, can’t imagine what it’d be like if it was permanent. Congrats on the weight loss and hears to a better 2017!
Losing Weight:
Getting Active:
Oh no this sounds like a total nightmare.. good thats your implementing some positive changes into your routine. Hope it works out!
Back pain is such a trial – loving how positive and proactive you are being. Good luck!
Oh no, I haven’t experienced back pain much as I’m still quite young and I move a lot but I know from people around me that it’s a proper pain! I hope you get well soon x
I’m so sorry you are going through all of this, back pain is so hard to deal with. I do hope that you are able to get relief and are able to stay more active with your daughters.
Lovely to hear you making so much positive changes! Losing weight is hard, so can’t imagine doing it while in pain. I hope you can get the support you need for you and your daughters x
I had a sporting injury when I was younger and get intermittent back pain now and it’s horrendous when it comes, can’t imagine what it’d be like if it was permanent. Congrats on the weight loss and hears to a better 2017!
Well done for your progress and positive changes. Keep up the great work! 🙂
What a positive post. A big well done with all the changes you are making and I wish you lots of luck. Mich x
Good on you for making such great changes and helping yourself. I hired a PT this year to help me after a neck injury and it has been so great xxx
Good on you for trying to make changes, and good luck with everything in 2017. I’m sure losing weight will take some of the pressure off your back x
I hope you manage to sort out your back problems, it can get so painful.
Well done you for making the changes and I hope between them and your positive change of mind, it works.
Well done on the changes you’ve made! Losing weight helped some of my back problems! Weird how it can effect your body! xo
Well done on making your changes. Losing weight really helped with easing my back pain x
Sorry to learn of your struggle and hopefully once your back is sorted/on the mend you can go back to lifting your daughter
That sounds horrible, I hope these things will ease the pain for you.