Where am I? Why haven’t I been writing?
Well, I got a dreaded phone call a few weeks ago.
My brother is extremely sick and he’s currently back packing his way through Europe.
A few hours after getting the call I was on an aeroplane flying to Holland. It was close to a 40 hour trip, so from Melbourne it was about 8 hours to Hong Kong, a few hours changing planes, then 22 hrs to London (Heathrow airport) a few hours changing planes, and then just over an hour to Holland.
So, you’ve got a herniated disc, radiating leg pain and you HAVE to travel.. this could be a NIGHTMARE.
First thing, go to the doctors. Organise pain medication (I’m currently using digestics, which are a lot better than codine or panadine forte’s ‘etc). Get anti-inflammatories (again I use mobic), and get some valium if you need it (be careful some countries like Greece treat Valium as an illegal substance). When you go the drug store (pharmacy/chemist) make sure you get some vitamins for cramping etc (I found this out the hard way, I got there, and woke up in the middle of the night with lower back cramps, that give me the worst leg pain, and even cramps in my calf and foot). Make sure you have enough ‘drugs’ for the whole trip, you don’t want to be visiting the doctors in foreign countries and trying to fill prescriptions for drugs (it could also be really expensive).
Make sure when you touch down at your destination you get a few bananas, these really help because of the potassium (I think) in the banana.
Also, make sure you WEAR your back brace, if you don’t have one, get one!
It’s tempting to drink the free booze (alcohol) but again try not to, it’ll dehydrate you and make the disc space even smaller, try to drink as much water as possible. Again, try to avoid the coffee as well, or at least don’t have a cup every time they offer it 
Bike riding! Well Holland is famous for the amount of bikes here, and I’ve now been riding the bike for a few weeks, and I can tell you it’s the best thing I’ve done in 12 months. Walking for me is restricted to 5-10 minutes as the pain in my leg gets really bad, I can sit all day not a problem.. but walking is a real pain…. riding a bike gives me no pain, and gives me all the freedom in the world to venture out and take in the sights, sounds and smells of the city, something I’ve missed for the last 12-18 months.. I’m loving it.. and I’ve had no negative affects afterwards. No extra pain, nothing.. if anything it’s helping with the muscles etc, and helping me lose a bit of weight
One last thing… I found these heat packs at our local markets.. they’re very strange, but very useful. You boil the heat pack.. and then let it cool down.. until it goes to room temperature. You wrap it up in the cloth they give you.. and forget about it. If you are out and about and would enjoy a heat pad, basically you unwrap it, and shake it.. it starts emitting heat like crazy. Apply it to your back (or wherever). The heat lasts for about 20 minutes.
Then to ‘recharge’ it you boil it again, and let it rest… and repeat over and over, I’ve probably done it to mine a few hundred times, and it just works… boiling it must somehow reverse the chemical reaction until next time you shake it… then hey presto, you’ve got a heat pad on a plane 10 hrs into a flight… magic!
The last thing, I bought a squidgy neck pillow, it’s awesome cause you can squeeze it anywhere. So I used it as a lumbar pillow, to sleep on, to put under a leg.. whatever I needed to get comfortable.. awesome!
That’s it.
Cheerio
Matt
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September 30th, 2007 at 5:49 pm
Your tips make a lot of sense - I find that just healthy and hydrated healing, plus not rushing yourself too much and asking people for help with your bag or whatever work well. I also have to walk wherever in my special sneakers and put shoes on later.
Has your doctor ever made any comment about not smoking as a way of preventing problems? Mine did; I don’t smoke tho so I’ can’t verify
October 16th, 2007 at 5:45 am
HI-
I have been reading your blogs while laying in bed with a herniated disc at L5-S1. I have tried everything and am now trying spinal decompression therapy. I have read great things about it and am looking forward to healing. I will let you know how it works. Good luck to you.
KIM
November 10th, 2007 at 10:45 am
Yeah my doctor said smoking wasn’t good…. it doesn’t help the circulation of blood near your discs, and it also drys out the discs.. which makes them more prone to cracking (disc herniation)….
So smoking is a definate no no… I stopped completely, and now have the occasional smoke if there is something alcoholic around to accompany it