Job Discussion Forums

[bharrell]

I hurt my back in the gym; old age creeping in I suppose. An MRI revealed a herniated disk pressing on a nerve. I have always tried to be professional and honor contracts, do the right thing, etc. But maybe I can't deal with this near constant pain. I would think that this would be a valid reason to get out of a contract, but when I mentioned it to my University I got icy glares and dirty looks and suggestions that I go to the blind massage guy. I've done that and it helped a little but not enough. Even my Chinese woman doesn't want me to leave. Starting to feel like a prisoner. This is a valid reason to leave mid-contract right? I have to give 30 days notice, but the school is closed until mid-February. Not sure I want to endure that long.

[muffintop]

[jk.photog]

[chinatimes]

Recently, I had something similar happen. I went shopping and bent down to get an item from the lowest shelf and sprung up quickly.

Sitting makes it worse, and if you are using a computer then you create an arch with your back. Not good.

So, standing and lying down are the best things. Don't sleep on a soft surface. Put a mattress on the ground and try to maintain a straight position. When teaching, don't sit.

I have only done this a few times with temporary relief. Take a towel and fold it in half so it is as long as possible. Then put it in warm water and wrap it around the area that has discomfort. The heat will relax the muscles.

Wherever you go, your back will go with you. So, I don't see why quitting is going to make it better unless you are specifically planning on getting surgery.

[Bud Powell]

DISCLAIMER: I am not a doctor, and I've never slept in a Holiday Inn Express.

There's an underlying (and possibly unfixable) cause) to your herniated disc, and you can expect a recurrence of the pain in the future, though the disc may not become herniated again.

Everything you've been told is good advice. I suffered a herniated disk almost 20 years ago, and I still experience awful pain from time to time. If the disc is still herniated, you will feel numbness (usually) in the leg(s). If there's no numbness, you don't still have both a herniated disc AND a pinched nerve.

Visit the Mayo clinic website for more info:

http://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/back-pain/basics/causes/CON-20020797

For exercises to help you with the most common causes of back pain, visit this sara mayo site for exercises:

http://www.mayoclinic.org/back-pain/SLS-20076265

I do these exercises 3-4 nights per week. If you go to a physical rehabilitation clinic, this is what you'll do. Save yourself some money and read both pages before you engage in any exercises so you don't do further damage. Talk to to whoever read the scan and ask what you should do next. Herniated discs have a way of popping back into place unexpectedly.

I was in absolute agony when they put me on the scanner. I couldn't even crawl off the gurney. Two big orderlies lifted me onto the scanner. When it was over, the orderlies lifted me off the scanner and suddenly, the pain was gone. The scan showed the herniated disc. I didn't have a second scan after the pain suddenly subsided, but I was told that such things are common.

Fast forward ten years. I'm in China, and I was sweeping the floor of my apartment with one of those brooms that are made for midgets, and I suddenly experienced severe back pain. My friend took me to a reputable masseur who gave me two very therapeutic (but sometimes painful) massages. I swear, I had no back problems after that for five months.

That might work for you. Going home may not produce better results. I'd stick with the blind masseur for a few more times. (Mine was blind. He wanted me to give him an American name the first time I went. I gave him the name Ray Charles. The second time I went, he presented his card that said Ri Shao Li !--- or something like that).

[bharrell]

Thanks, guys. I think I will give it some time/wait and see. Much of the problem is panic that I am in China and not able to navigate the medical system. I do have leg pain, so the nerve is pinched. I haven't exhausted all my options yet and can try a few more things before bailing.
In China I don't see any real Pain Management practice like exists in the west. They don't do epidural injections except in Hong Kong, Thailand, etc. OTC codeine/ibuprofen tablets help some, and I will try those exercises that Bud suggested. Disconcerting that I may be lame for life, though.

[Banner41]

I have three herniated disks in my back that I have been living with. Nothing worked for years and was told only fix was surgery. I came to China and had acupuncture done at the hospital and it changed my life. I was pain free for about a year so I went back and had it done again. It worked again. I now go once a year and have it done. You need to do like 5 days in a row of treatment at a time. Was a better option than surgery for me at the time.

[Bud Powell]

WLamar:

Sometimes I think you should take your own advice. Really.

[kungfuman]

I have run into the same problem - sudden back pain.

Was walking across my room and WHAM! this numbing pack pain. Spasms and pain.

LUCKILY I just returned from the US and have a trove of pain meds - Alieve, Ibuprofen, and Tylenol. Truthfully I don't think they helped much but may have reduced the swelling.

For 2 days I was a cripple - I couldn't move and when I did I would drop to my knees in pain.

I didn't miss work but climbing those 4 floors of stairs was painful. Looked high and low for a heating pad - to no avail. Not even on Taobao. THANKFULLY the Chinese girlfriend temporary heating pads in Mannings.

Fast forward a week (this just occurred last week) and there is still some pain but not body numbing pain. I have been stretching and trying some exercise to help the get the parts back in the right places.

Also I found using a bathhouse for a long hot bath helps.

According to what I read the causes are dehydration, lack of potassium, and calcium deficiency. There may be some truth to this as I don't drink so much water lately and there were some weeks when all I drank was Coke.

Did I think about going home? Yes, very much as my last interaction with a Chinese hospital didn't work out to my satisfaction.

What I did was increase my liquid intake - Gatorade mainly - and eating more calcium rich foods and bananas. This may have helped...

Back's still sore but I didn't leave.

ps the blind man massage was recommended to me as well. I didn't go yet but I think I will try a Thai massage and see if that helps.

[JoeKing]

[kungfuman]

Joe Philippines are NEXT week

Went home for Xmas.

tell you I get bored sometimes - not many FACEBOOK posts these days either

[YAMARI]

I am an expert and if I had your problem I would either go the surgery route or the alternative therapy path. Chiropractic and acupuncture can help as long as you take the proper amount of visits. This is not a thing where you can just pop a pill or have a quick fix unless you have surgery.

Pain meds or anything that masks the problem will only allow you to live in denial while the problem gets worse.

If you are in a tier one city go see a western Chiropractor or make a trip in to get xrays and a western opinion.

Tier 2 or tier 3 ask around and try a good acupuncturist. Don't let Chinese trained massage practitioners or doctors manipulate your spine.

Even surgery will not address the problem that your lifestyle is putting more stress on your body than it can handle.

Changes in stress, diet, drinking, smoking will allow this disc to be a warning to move in a new direction.

Ignoring it or trying to numb it will lead to more severe health problems in the future.

[kungfuman]

I bought a lumbar back support brace from Decathlon. 169y.

It has helped the problem tremendously. Whatever was out of place seems to be have put back into place.

Hopefully some swimming in warm water next week will help.