General Medical issues thread

[Renato1]

Well as I’ve ranted here, I had back surgery almost 30 years ago and have issues on and off but not enough to scurry to the doctors. I’ve learnt to manage. Last night I was putting something in our small rubbish bin in the kitchen and my back completely seized up. After all the heavy duty lifting (have stopped now for about 2 weeks) I kill my back scraping the dishes into the bin. Could not even work out how to straighten up let alone move. Finally and gingerly I did. Took two Nurofen before sleep. I can still feel it this morning. So it ain’t the big stuff that can get ya.

Ouch. Might not hurt to see if you have something minor that some more back surgery can easily fix, or that some exercise can alleviate.

Fortunately for me, I can still chainsaw wood, split wood, mow half an acre, and brush cut. My main issue now is the pain from long flights and the pain from attending 9 hour long Italian weddings and receptions in Italy (which took my back three days to recover from).
Cheers,
Renato

 

[Quickstatus]

Ouch. Might not hurt to see if you have something minor that some more back surgery can easily fix, or that some exercise can alleviate.

Fortunately for me, I can still chainsaw wood, split wood, mow half an acre, and brush cut. My main issue now is the pain from long flights and the pain from attending 9 hour long Italian weddings and receptions in Italy (which took my back three days to recover from).
Cheers,
Renato

The next toy I gotta get is a chainsaw.

Need recommendations on size, and where to get training

 

[Pushka]

Ouch. Might not hurt to see if you have something minor that some more back surgery can easily fix, or that some exercise can alleviate.

Fortunately for me, I can still chainsaw wood, split wood, mow half an acre, and brush cut. My main issue now is the pain from long flights and the pain from attending 9 hour long Italian weddings and receptions in Italy (which took my back three days to recover from).
Cheers,
Renato

Had plenty of exercise renovating the house and have filled three 1 tonne skips in the last few weeks. Lost quite a bit of weight in the process. Fitness isn’t the issue but it’s sometimes the simplest things - an awkward twist for example, and it’s on. No more back surgery for me.

 

[Quickstatus]

[QUOTE="Pushka, post: 1862579, member: 28862]have filled three 1 tonne skips in the last few weeks..[/QUOTE]
Why not 1x3 tonne skip?

 

[Pushka]

Why not 1x3 tonne skip?

Too big for the electrical cables in our driveway as the builder found out. The trucks can’t lift it high enough. We have to put skips on our property due to Council by laws. I hadn’t planned on anything bigger to be honest but once the clean out bug hit, well, I just kept going. I used the Bunnings trailer things which were great. I never thought we’d accumlated so much carp given we’d only been here 15 years. My kids will love my downsizing one day. Another round to go but this will be to a furniture place for furniture that’s quite valuable but too heavy.

 

[Renato1]

The next toy I gotta get is a chainsaw.

Need recommendations on size, and where to get training

Stihl and Husqvarna are generally highly prized by those doing lots of chainsawing. Cheaper ones are okay for general infrequent use. Mine is Husqvarna.

Must haves are steel capped gum boots and metal mesh face mask from Bunnings - unless you want to look like the tragic figures who were too confident and didn't wear them.

Plenty of YouTube videos on chainsawing.

For chainsawing tall branches, I bought a cheap Dingotool unit which comes with hedger and brushcutter as well, and poles that can take the small chainsaw up to six meters high (though I can't hold that length). This is pretty safe to use as the chainsaw is so far from one's body. Best $250 I ever spent.
Regards,
Renato

 

[Renato1]

Had plenty of exercise renovating the house and have filled three 1 tonne skips in the last few weeks. Lost quite a bit of weight in the process. Fitness isn’t the issue but it’s sometimes the simplest things - an awkward twist for example, and it’s on. No more back surgery for me.

My wife was like you for many months after her operation, but fortunately has gotten better.
Regards,
Renato

 

[Pushka]

My wife was like you for many months after her operation, but fortunately has gotten better.
Regards,
Renato

Mine was 30 years ago. I’m as recovered as much as I’m ever going to be. It was emergency surgery to prevent further damage to my spinal cord but damage had already occurred.

 

[JohnM]

The next toy I gotta get is a chainsaw.

Need recommendations on size, and where to get training

As well as face, foot and hearing protection, make sure to get a pair of chainsaw chaps for leg protection.

 

[tgh]

Chainsaws are deadly masters , all the protection in the world will be useless without comprehensive training.
addendum.. and like a drivers licence the training will just be the start.

 

[Quickstatus]

The medical consequences are very very bad without proper training

 

[JohnK]

Constant pain down the left side of the left leg even sitting down but worse when walking. Think something pushing against the nerve.

And to make it worse the left elbow has decided to go out in sympathy making it difficult to pick up anything.

It would appear I'm fast approaching worst case scenario. Life without golf will be very difficult.

 

[suze2000]

Sounds like sciatica @JohnK - but you should get it checked out in case it's more serious than that. Like you said, something pressing on the nerve - could be quite serious.

 

[Pushka]

Constant pain down the left side of the left leg even sitting down but worse when walking. Think something pushing against the nerve.

And to make it worse the left elbow has decided to go out in sympathy making it difficult to pick up anything.

It would appear I'm fast approaching worst case scenario. Life without golf will be very difficult.

Maybe involving the cervical area if it’s all one side. Get it checked. Sitting will make it worse if lumbar area.

 

[JohnK]

Sounds like sciatica @JohnK - but you should get it checked out in case it's more serious than that. Like you said, something pressing on the nerve - could be quite serious.

Checked out by who, when and how? Time is half the battle. I just had 18 x-rays last week which were ordered by rheumatology and don'thave another appointment until February. Shoulders, neck, knees, ankles. Nothing for the hip as we already know both hips have osteoarthritis.

The knee area was quite painful today as I'd walked over 1 hour at lunch. Off to Thailand in less than 1 week.

 

[Pushka]

Rheumatologists don’t deal with nerve issues.

 

[JohnK]

Rheumatologists don’t deal with nerve issues.

Good point. So now we need to introduce a new specialist? Neuroligist? I try to avoid private specialist appointments so need to be referred by one hospital outpatients clinic to another hospital outpatients clinic could take a while.

And that is assuming this is a nerve issue. I'll see if I have time and see GP before next week.

 

[Pushka]

Good point. So now we need to introduce a new specialist? Neuroligist? I try to avoid private specialist appointments so need to be referred by one hospital outpatients clinic to another hospital outpatients clinic could take a while.

And that is assuming this is a nerve issue. I'll see if I have time and see GP before next week.

Unexplained Pins and needles and numbness are things to watch for.

 

[drron]

JohnK to see if it is indeed sciatica you need to have a nerve conduction study.These are done by neurologists.In the public system the waiting list can be very long.However in QLD a private neurologist has set up a company that does many neurological tests and bulk bills.Ask your GP fora referral.

 

[JohnK]

Unexplained Pins and needles and numbness are things to watch for.

Agreed. Not the case here. Feels more like a strain. Wonder if I've somehow done a hamstring?

This could be fun trying to diagnose.