God bless brother. My father was an alcoholic (probably due to self-worth issues) so whenever I hear about alcohol being used as a crutch it breaks my heart. Obviously pain is horrible. I have experience with back issues/pain myself, including surgery, but I am relatively young so I am able to work on strengthening via yoga and mind-body (somatic) training (i.e., the woo-woo suggestion).
Swimming helps me too.
Not a crutch, you misunderstood me, that is cool. I tried swimming, and I have a pool. Every action in it, hurts me. My main problem, in my opinion, my neck surgeon prescribed no therapy. Years later, my therapist told me that my neck muscles are the weakest they have ever tested. Too late, too bad, whatever... I have had l-spine surgery too, from a football injury in high school...got speared, cracked a vertebrae, I played the next week.
I have been in many pain forums as well as this one. I love this forum, and like I said, unless you been there personally, I don't judge, because I have talked to many, and all are different. I, personally, have tried almost everything, and I am still open to advice.
I love my pool, but only for soaking. My therapists have advised me to NOT exercise...as did my chiropractor. Only exercise that I can do is on a recumbent bike.
Don't miss my point, anyone...do what works for you, because it is a quality of life issue, quality of life.... trumps anything else.
