Hi Jesse, I agree with you on the stretching and I can do that to a certain degree. My back problems started at age 26. I woke up one morning with a herinated disc. No feeling below my knee for 6 months. Never did relate to a specific injury. I did eventually start weight training and even played softball again.
A few years later, I herinated it again, lifting a pt. They said surgery I said no. They diagnosed dengenitive disc disease. I got bk up and tried to accept the limitations. However, one more time with the same disc and I lost it. Bone on bone, I also managed to herinate one in my upper neck. That time I begged for surgery the pain was so bad. If they had suggested cutting my head off, I would have agreed.
Workmans comp said it was previous injury, untrue but I did'nt have the strength to fight. Took me 6 mths to realize they had me overmedicated. Took me another 6 months to get out of the floor. I know I have a one disc in the middle of my shoulders that bulge and probaly one more alittle lower.
I am not suppose to lift over 5lbs. BULL! I do what I can and practice correct lifting procedures but I cant run, jump, and coming from an old athlete its been hard to accept. I enjoy mowing always did, so thankful for that even if takes me double the time and enough breaks to be able to tackle it again. Today, I noticed that I had more energy once I rested then I had had in quite sometime. I am following along with pilantes tapes and doing what I can in the routine.
Thanks for the reminder though, I have more mowing tomorrow, lol.