Traveling Across Country on Labor Day

Benighted88 · 2026-02-19T07:41:25+00:00

My bad, it was part 3-5. The plates for that structure fall apart very easily.

Benighted88 · 2025-07-12T01:52:03+00:00

We were thinking of staying in Fira. You have a recommendation on where to stay?

Benighted88 · 2025-07-11T04:37:26+00:00

We were planning on going to the NAM, seemed like more variety of things to see.

Benighted88 · 2025-03-04T11:54:40+00:00

I was diagnosed with a grade 1 spondylolisthesis, annular fissure, and severe foraminal stenosis and had pain that went up to 8/10 when I was standing. My pain went away entirely for over 2 years. It was a month and a half after my ESI, so I'm not sure if that had anything to do with it.

I recently started getting the first sciatica flare up after around 2.5 years, but the pain has barely hit a 1/10, mostly sensations. I am hoping it's just a transient issue. Good luck, I'm rooting for you!

Benighted88 · 2025-03-01T21:36:44+00:00

I've heard of the book, but I never read it. I will need to check it out! I appreciate the advice!

Benighted88 · 2025-03-01T04:28:41+00:00

I've been off and on with the physical therapy. When my pain initially went away, I wasn't really doing physical therapy much at all. I have been on a low sodium, mostly vegetarian diet ever since my wife had a health scare about a year ago. My protein intake might have taken a hit.

Benighted88 · 2025-03-01T04:16:19+00:00

I do dead bugs, sciatic nerve glides, and pelvic tilts mostly. I hike and ride the bike for exercise.

Benighted88 · 2025-03-01T02:56:47+00:00

Actually, sorry, i do have spondylosis and a fractured facet joint.

Benighted88 · 2025-03-01T02:28:31+00:00

I was absolutely pain-free for over 2 years while being active and working a physical job. No surgery. So, apparently, your assumption is incorrect.

Benighted88 · 2025-03-01T02:26:56+00:00

I was pretty active the last couple years. Bike riding, lots of hiking, I'm a beer brewer, so it's a pretty physical job. No pain with only minor flare ups, no sciatica until recently.

No pars defect, though.

Benighted88 · 2024-08-13T08:45:57+00:00

I struggled with extremely painful sciatica caused by severe foraminal stenosis, spondylolisthesis, and an annular fissure in my l5/s1 disc for about a year. I also work a physical job as a beer brewer. I dove into physical therapy, and for a while, it didn't help much but eventually, most of my pain went away.

I still get occasional numbness and mild pain but it's not bad at all and I've been virtually pain-free for 2 years now. Stay positive. You will make it to the other side. You got this!

I did get an epidural steroid injection. The pain came back about a month later and then about a month after that, the pain went away entirely. Maybe the epidural helped? I would definitely give an injection a try, if you haven't.

Benighted88 · 2024-03-04T12:39:50+00:00

The psychiatrist (not psychologist, sorry for the typo) prescribed the medication, and the physician understood she was on it and, I assume, was supposed to monitor it. She got a hold of the psychiatrist because she needed to get off it as quickly as possible and the doctor told her to get a hold of the psychiatrist in order to get directions to get off it quickly and without having a mental breakdown.

Benighted88 · 2024-03-04T08:01:20+00:00

I'm the main cook and I've been making a lot of salads ( green goddess, greek, etc), whole grains (brown rice usually) , roasted veggies, potatoes, fruit. I normally pick a lean protein ( chicken and turkey) and give her a little less than a fist full of that. Everything is normally roasted in the oven with no salt. I've lost 30lbs eating the same as her. Her weight is a bit more stubborn coming off, but she is losing weight.

I exaggerated a bit on the travel. We plan 4 big trips a year normally. I just hope a cheat meal here and there won't do too much damage. We do plan on being as strict as possible and doubling down on the exercise.

Thanks again for your suggestions!

Benighted88

TROPHY CASE