I know I’ve been writing about the benefits of craft beer lately, maybe too much. But I’m in a bad way right now. You see, I have the spine of a 75 year old man, at least that’s what the doctor said 10 years ago. I guess that makes it 85 now.
Apparently I have a lack of padding between a couple of vertebrae in my lower back, technically called desiccated disks. Every now and then my dried-out old-man back goes wacky and nerves and bones collide, which can be quite ouchy.
Anyway, I’ve been keeping myself lean and mean the last few years and that has helped keep the lumbar demons at bay. It’s been a great motivator to get in the best shape of my life. But we recently got a new puppy (a black standard poodle, and she’s a whip-smart lunatic) and my schedule has been disrupted.
I usually wake up at 5am and workout before the household gets going. Gotta love P90X. I’m a little obsessive about it, and I start to get nuts if I sense something is going to interfere with me getting at least 7 hours of sleep.
So I tried to be smart and press pause on the workouts until the the pup was on a schedule. This way I would eliminate the stress of trying to sleep with a crated puppy 5 feet away in our room. It was a good idea, and it let us all settle in without the added stress of me getting all crazy about 3am wake ups.
The problem arose when I resumed working out this week. I made it through Monday without issue, but after warming up on Tuesday, I recognized a familiar twinge in my lower back. I quickly pulled the plug, but it was too late – I had taken too much time off between workouts and my core muscles flabbed out a bit, allowing my spine to shift just enough to make me miserable.
So I spent all day yesterday in pretty extreme pain. It’s the worst it’s been in years. Walking was a challenge, and going up stairs was almost enough to make me black out. But I’m pretty stubborn when it comes to my back (I refuse to let it slow me down) and I went to work like I would any other Tuesday.
By the time I got home last night, I was pretty much exhausted from the pain. I had spent all day compensating for the icepicks in my back and I needed relief. Enter craft beer, the best medicine I know.
A couple of the brews that helped me considerably last night.
I learned the value of beer as a pain reliever many years ago in New Orleans. My wife had taken me along with her to the Big Easy for a conference, and my back had gone haywire the day before we left. Good thing for me that booze is everywhere in New Orleans. A steady supply of Abita kept my central nervous system mellowed out enough to keep the pain at bay. It was an awesome tripand my back pain didn’t get in the way. Since then, I’ve relied on beer to help take the nasty edge off my back when it flairs up.
And that’s what I did last night. With the help of our friends at Founders (and Victory and Oskar Blues), I was feeling MUCH better after coming home. I didn’t go crazy, but good beer is a great way to take the edge off of lower back pain. The pain subsided, my back was much more flexible (the muscle spasms stopped) and I felt close to normal for the first time all day.
I’ve heard a lot of talk about medical marijuana, but I’ve never really seen craft beer get its due as a remedy. I’ll tell you from personal experience that craft beer can be a godsend when you’re hurting.
Your mileage may vary, but for me, it’s the best medicine.
Beer & Whiskey Brothers 
Jim, I’m very sorry to hear that. My Dad has a similar problem…a very rare form of osteoporosis. We were sledding a rear and a half ago and hit back broke…that’s how they discovered the problem. ANYWAY, he could relate with you.
It makes sense. Alcohol is a natural muscle relaxer. Drink up! Hope your back feels better and good luck easing back into the workout regime.
Thanks, Nate. It’s mostly a blessing in disguise. My old man back has made me take care of myself much better than I would if it was healthy. I’m way too young to be hobbled, so I fight back by keeping in shape. I’ve been golden for a couple of years until I recently started slacking off.
Anyway, I’ve decided to look at my current predicament as reminder that I have to keep the pedal to the metal when it comes to fitness. it’s like working out with a gun to your head, or in my case, a knife to your back.
Jim… I’m with ya. I got a disc that’s bulging. So, my PT recommended I hold off on the plyometrics mainly. The bouncing combined with twisting was what did me in last time. Possibly take it easy with the KenPo too.
The difference between medical marijuana and medical craft beer, is that craft beer is legal in all 50 states. The weed is illegal at the federal level, and in most states (let’s see how CA handles the situation).
Plus beer tastes better, too.
I did P90X for over a year without injury and I love/hate plyo. It’s done wonders for me. I got screwed up doing Max Plyo Circuit from Insanity, which is an entirely different beast.
When I get back on the horse, I’ll do straight P90X for a bit and then tiptoe back into doing some Insanity. I will not be beaten!!!!!!! Or I’ll learn my lesson all over again. Either or.
I feel your pain! Really I do, I’ve been sidelined with back spasm for the last 3 weeks. Just started Tae Kwon Do again monday. For me it was the max dose of Neproxen that helped me. My doctor offered up some vicoden type stuff, but I passed on that. That stuff really messes with my head so i refuse to take it.
I’ve finally got rid of my lower back pain, but like you it was taking me over 2 hours to get to a standing position with out literally crying in pain. I can take some pain (love my tats) but this was unlike anything I’d felt before even working through years of back pain, knee surgeries, and shin splints. My fear is not if it will come back, but when.
For me, I really never noticed a difference in the pain after a couple beers, Maybe it wasn’t the right dose 🙂
Sounds awful, Peter. I’m glad you’re on the mend.
I also refuse the pain meds and ran out of anti-muscle spasm meds years ago. Both made me woozy and I don’t like the idea of where popping pain pills can lead. Drinking German Pils is a whole other story.
And yeah, up the dosage. See if a couple of DFH 120’s won’t cure what ails ya!
Wow, that sux Jim – at least you have some consolation in good beer. Imagine if all you know was Bud and Coors type stuff? Life would be baaaaaad.
Feel better man. Tony Horton is waiting for you.
Thanks, Scott. I have found solace this eve in Founders Cerise and New Holland’s El Mole Ocho. Thank god for Michigan!
I was at my Physical Therapist today getting stim on my back and he told me that I “Should” be drink a beer or two a day since it is a muscle relaxer! So, there ya go, official Medical Opinion says beer is good for US!!! 🙂
That’s how you know you are dealing with a pro, Peter. Did he say if drinking an award winning homebrew has any additional benefits?
I ruptured 2 discs while on active duty as a marine. I concur that a couple of beers takes the edge off of the pain and relieves muscle spasms. God bless beer.