Relief …. I hope.

Relief – I hope.   I have just come off one of the worst back episodes that I’ve had in many years.   I’d had an injury in 1992, but it had calmed down and gave me very little trouble until I was rear-ended by a hit-n-run in 2008.  That, of course, was when the weight really ‘cemented’ on and I ended up with a 33% permanent disability.   I simply couldn’t be active at that time.  I had many bad days then, but it had seemed to cool.  I honestly can’t put my finger on what it was that caused this episode, but I honestly cried out in pain at the slightest movement. I could sit (for a while), I could stand (for a while) and I could lie down (for a while) but the transition between any of those states?  EXCRUCIATING!

I was desperate for help.  I’ve had every support, cushion and aid known to man in the past but none did the trick.  So a week ago, I found this online and decided to give it a try.  It’s called Backfriend and is made by a company in the UK.   It was shipped from California and surprisingly, arrived quickly. It came in a number of colors so you can attempt to ‘blend’ it in with your sofa and decor.   And no, it isn’t cheap.

I was skeptical.  I sat on it and I won’t kid you, it is HARD.  (They make a more padded version but it is really recommended for very heavy people and I’m not that any longer!)  It is lightweight and is portable, with a Velcro strap that holds the seat and back portion together when you carry it.

However, my back is better.  Actually, I’m almost pain free for the first time in weeks.  There is a downside, though.   Now my tail bone hurts from the hard seat portion.  And some days, the upper portion of my back hurts as well, from sitting on this.  I guess we can’t have it all, huh?

I have ordered the predictably-expensive sheepskin cover to see if it helps with the tail bone pain.  (So much for blending in with the decor.)  At least now, though, I can stand easily, walk upright right away.  Before?  I barely could move and was ‘S’ shaped.

Since most everyone has some sort of back pain, I believe this would be helpful for many.  If you have an interest in purchasing one, please post or email and I’ll give you the links and some info on the US supplier.  The reason I am not going into it all right here at the moment is that I’d initially ordered from one supplier on eBay, and to get expedited shipping was outrageously expensive ($45) especially knowing what the real COST was via USPS for the item ($18).  Also, they were in California and even expedited, I could expect a 10 day wait to receive, I was told.   They were taking unfair advantage of someone in pain.

Thus, I found a company, also in California, and they shipped with a far more reasonable expedited shipping ($24) and shipped within hours.  I had it in two days – no kidding!

Please feel free to post your back experiences and challenges here or on Facebook or on Twitter.