Nothing he has taken has helped with the pain.  That's why we think it is a
pinched nerve and not a pulled muscle.
I hope he gets to a doctor as soon as he gets back.  When I called last
night, my daughter said her husband was determined to go to work on Monday.
I said I hope he's right.
However, I really don't think that will be the case. I think he needs to see
a doctor.
His employer is so bad that they wanted my SOL to cancel or change their
wedding date because the company had some important clients coming in that
day and wanted him to come to work. Needless to say, he went to the wedding
instead.  However, I'm sure they will not look kindly on his missing work
again, no matter how much he hurts.
Yes, my daughter can drive them home.  That's no problem.
Annie

(The bottom part of my snowman is still in the yard, about all that's left
of our white Christmas.  The little neighbor girl just peddled by on her
tricycle.  She was dressed in shorts and a halter top. So much for winter in
south Texas.)

Purrs and prayers from Elisabet and Hugo Katt.

Thank you, Elisabet and Hugo Katt. Your Swedish purrs and prayers are much
appreciated.
Annie

Thank you.

 I hope he can get to a doctor tomorrow to get a prescription.

 Meanwhile, nothing he's taken has helped him. I imagine he'll feel every
bump in the road on the drive home.

Annie

Thanks, Grace.
Have a safe trip to Denver and a good time there.
Annie

Thank you.  My husband has been off work the last two years because of his
back.  Part of that time was finding the right surgeon and the rest is for
his muscles and nerves to regenerate.  We expect him to be back to work any
time now.  We certainly don't wish that pain on anyone and hope your back is
doing O.K. now.
Annie

Thank you, Pam and all,
We are keeping you and Rob in our thoughts and prayers and hoping for the
best for you.
Annie

Dan,
Thank you.
Annie

Thanks.
Annie

Oj,
When you stand, do you get pain shooting down your leg?  Maybe numbness at
some spot?  Does leaning against something while standing give some relief?
From what you said about hurting when standing, but able to sit down, it
sounds like what my husband had.  It's called spinal stenosis.  That means
the bone has thickened and is narrowing the passage for your nerve and/or
spinal cord.
It is important to get a correct diagnosis.  We were surprised to learn how
many radiologists and doctors are not able to read an MRI.  If something
does not sound right to you, ask questions and do your own research.
There is help, but you have to be careful.  Don't believe everything you
find on the Internet.
Doctors will tell you what they can do, but will not mention the new methods
that are now available. The traditional treatment is decompressive
laminectomy.  The back side of the offending vertebra is removed and the
muscles are sewn together.
It will offer current relief, but most likely will result in spinal
instability and future pain that may require additional surgeries, hardware
put in your back, a life on pain medication.
Do a Google search using the key words "spinal stenosis" "decompressive
laminectomy"  and "minimally invasive."  You will discover that less
intrusive treatments are out there.  If you are in the U.S. and have health
insurance, there is a good chance your policy will cover it.
My husband had surgery in Pittsburgh, Penn., last April. Dr. Hae-Dong Jho
performed it. (Look him up at drjho.com).  My husband was up and walking
and, except for the incision area, totally pain free, an hour after the
surgery.  His back is not destabilized. If he had a normal job, he would
have been back to work shortly after the surgery.  However, his job requires
that he pass a comprehensive medical exam, and he experienced some muscle
spasms and some pain in his legs as the muscles and nerves regenerated.
Anyway, before the surgery, and afterward to keep his spine straight, he has
used the following:
an inversion table
chiropractic visits
hot tub soaks
alternating heat and ice packs on his back
diet to lose weight gained due to inactivity
a Spine-Worx board
a lumbar roll pillow

After the surgery, he started using an incline bicycle and at fitness center
to rebuild his legs.  He also uses the weights for his arms and shoulders.

I hope you find this information useful and that you find some help for your
back.
Annie

Thank you for the support.  Unfortunately, those people are the ones who
somehow manage to get in positions of power.  I think they play by different
rules than the rest of us.  Too bad it is not obvious to them how
counterproductive that type of management style really is.
Annie

Thank you.  I hope so, too.
Annie

Thank you.  I'm sure the purrs will help.
Annie

Thank you. We appreciate your support.
Annie

 Yes, Jim is much better. Pretty much back to normal.  He's waiting the
disability insurance people to schedule a back-to-work evaluation for him.
He wants to go back the group who said he needed the conventional surgery,
just so they can see how much better the minimally invasive procedure is.
We hope that Jim's example will encourage area doctors to re-think what is
available and what they recommend.
Already it has made a difference here. He's the poster boy of back surgery.
Too bad he had to go across the continent to get what he needed.
Annie

We hope so, too.  I think it is a pinched nerve.  He needs to go to a doctor
to find out what is pinching it.
Annie

Thank you.
I hope your back is doing better.
Annie

Gordon,

Hugs and purrs to you, too, for having to suffer for so long.

Annie