Bro! I don’t know how I missed this! I had a back surgery in 2005, so please heed my advice: listen to your body and trust your gut. Everybody, including myself, will give you their opinion on what works best for back pain and injuries.
That being said, I’m with
@LeanEngineer in that Chiro has been my saving grace. In fact, I’m convinced if I’d tried chiropractic care back in 2005, I might have avoided my surgery. That being said, what I’ve learned over the years is that hydration and stretching can keep a back healthy. Our discs lose water as we get older, and our modern day lifestyles that are filled with sodas and other drinks don’t help the sacs keep their fluidity. Plus muscles recover better when they are properly hydrated. You probably drink plenty of water, but if you don’t, try focusing on that more. And of course stretching. Sounds like you got that bit down. One other thing if I may, check out the e-stim machines. Now when I throw my lower back muscles out of whack I’ll throw that on immediately and am usually good to go about a day or two later, which is faster than before I purchased the e-stim machine.
Anyhow, holler if you need to bend an ear. I am always happy to share my thoughts, experience, strength and hope!
