Monday, October 25, 2021

Dealing with a "bad back"


https://www.huffpost.com/entry/best-mattress-for-bad-back-back-pain-neck-pain-lower-back-pain_l_5c992e71e4b0f7bfa1b53fb6

I have been dealing with a "bad back" since around 1980.  I have a lumbar herniated disk (L4-S3) which occasionally causes sciatica down my left leg. 

Cobra pose (yoga) helped me in the initial stages.

Also these 2 steps repeated as I can/feel comfortable doing:

  1. Lie on my back on a hard floor (tiled floor + yoga mat) for ~ 30 minutes
  2. Walk around (slowly) for ~ 20 minutes - preferably outside

I have also recently tried applying heat or cold to the area affected.  (I used this belt to keep the heating/cooling pads in place.)  I applied heat first and that had some positive effect.  Then I tried cold.  It worked better for me.  I tried alternating and then just settled with applying cold.

Finally, over the counter NSAIDs really help.  I take Ibuprofen for a few days and that reduces the pain significantly.  

This next exercise is more preventative – so do it regularly after you recover:

Standing up relaxed, breathe in and stretch your arms up and try and 'pull' your spine straight by raising the crown of your head as high as you can.  Hold this 'stretched' pose and your breath for as long as you can.  Repeat as often as you can/feel comfortable doing.

This book - Back Mechanic - by Stuart McGill  - comes highly recommended.  I haven't read it, but a friend recommends it highly.  Let me know what you think if you do read it.


 

Wednesday, July 21, 2021

Fruits of Mauritius - Zamblon

This fruit used to be very common when I was growing up.  We used to be able to buy it from street vendors - they were sold in paper bags, often with disel piment (salt and chilies).  I think they used to grow on the sides of the mountains.  One issue with them is that they would stain your clothes and it was hard to get rid of the stain.


Image from https://sowexotic.com/products/jamun-syzygium-cumini

The fruit is also called:

  • Jamun Berry in India
  • Java plum
  • Indian Blackberry
  • Jambul, Jamblang, Jambolan
  • Black plum
  • Damson plum
  • Duhat plum
  • Portuguese plum
  • Syzgium cumini (botanical name)

Links:

Sunday, May 16, 2021

Miss-information

Most people are aware nowadays of the fact that not all 'news' is true; particularly the ones spread via social media.  Here is a little game that teaches you about how those kinds of news are generated, in the hope that you will be able to spot them in the future.

Friday, May 14, 2021

Communicate to Heal

I am presenting a session at the Toastmasters District 84 conference in May 2021.  The session is titled Communicate to Heal.  I have a survey associated with the session.