Trying to get all my crap packed and last night tried to drag my enormous gym bag filled with clothes into the next room. Now I'm too mangled to do anything significant today. D'oh.

Is this your back?

and legs and hips. I'm kind of useless. It sucks. I just hope I can get everything done. 

Getting old sucks.... but it beats the alternative I suppose.  LOL

Any surgery you could have? I've had chronic back pain since I was 20 after an awkward twisting motion goofing off on some monkey bars one night. It's always there but every now and then it flares up and makes me pretty damn useless. In fact I have a number of injuries which "flare up" every now and then...you do accumulate these things as you get older! 

Surgery likely won't help. It's a genetic thing. They were gonna hack me open at one point but said there was only a 50/50 chance of success and it would likely just screw up again in a year or so. Not only that it would only fix one part of a much larger problem.

Just my personal cross to bear. I shouldn't have tried to drag that bag around but I get pissed off and just want to get stuff done.  

Exercise.... yeah, I know it's a dirty word to lots of folks.

I had a chiropractor tell me one time when I was in to get a back "tuneup" that if people would simply exercise to strengthen their back and neck muscles, he would have less work to do. 

A few minutes a few times a week doing some strength training is all it takes to keep muscles in shape.  When we don't use them in normal work or exercise, and then we overuse them doing something...we suffer the results. 

This is a little beyond that. I do what I can but traditional exercise is out of the question. Seriously... I'm messed up.

I'm with you Beep... I had to work a little yesterday. I am semi-retired and have arthritis. Left hip, low back, thorassic spine disk problems. I did OK working but I was almost in tears by the time I got home. I could NOT get my truck seat comfortable, I forgot to mention... I have a slight curve in my spine, right in the middle of my back, it is nothing you would know by looking at me but man... once it flares up it is relentless. I managed to watch the Falcons beat the Saints.. YES!!!! Then went to bed. I was still a mess this morning so I took extra meds... sometimes it helps to sort of reset.
Do you go to a pain management doctor? If not, you should. They have some really good new treatments and if that don't work, they have really good meds. Of course you will have to go to a "bone and joint" specialist first, then get a referral to a pain management doctor. The cost isn't anything compared to the relief. Pain can and will rule your life if you don't address it. Then again if you live in a state that allows medical weed that may be a good option too but I don't know because I don't and have not tried it. I stick (almost all the time) with what is prescribed and with the dosages or lower. In ten years I have never run out of meds before the next refill. If you have any questions... I have tried most everything. One thing you can try if that may work well for you is Cymbalta and your regular Dr can prescribe it. It is used for nerve pain, fibromyalgia, and diabetes releted pain. It does not help muscle pain but works wonders for some people with nerve pain.

Really, I hope you feel better soon... and finally... ibuprofen is safer that tylenol as far as kidneys.

Julien

Cheers, man. I've been dealing with this for a decade now. Been to all the docs. I have a rare condition that snuck up on me and bit me in the ass. Not much that can be done except try to manage it. Pain is my ruler. Maybe some day I'll break free but it happening any time soon unfortunately. 

Feel better, julien.