I love Zookeeping

[urbpan]

But it's really bad for your back. I've got separate upper and lower back strain injuries from lifting and carrying things, and I can really feel them when I bend and stoop, which is pretty much constantly at work. If health insurance was sane and logical, the zoo would be sending me to the gym to build strength in my abdominal muscles and upper body so that I would be less likely to injure myself and more able to lift and carry. Instead health insurance seems to mainly cover emergencies, like when you throw your back out and have to miss time at work.

I should go to a gym on my own, but it's just too expensive. Also, all these people that go to the gym all the time, when do they actually do it? My dad goes right when the gym opens at 5 or whatever. Other people seem to go after work. I guess there's time if you are willing to sacrifice it, but I feel like we have to grasp for all the time we have already.

Comments

[nutmeg.livejournal.com]

If it is obviously from work and really affecting your ability to work, you could try to get workman's comp to cover physical therapy, which would largely help you strengthen those muscles.

When I was in desperate straights, I did some living room you tube yoga to stretch and strengthen some largely ignored muscle groups and that helped a lot.

I've replaced my monthly visits to my osteopathic manipulation doc (like a chiropractor with a medical degree and more training) with a gym membership. At 40 dollars a visit for the Osteopath vs 30 dollars for the gym, I figured I saved enough money to pay a trainer to show me how to safely exercise the muscles that cause the vast majority of my chronic neck pain and MAN has it helped my quality of life. I know my insurance company covers a gym membership if you visit 150 times in a year they will reimburse you 150 dollars toward your membership. I don't like going to the gym and I do feel like I should be doing other things, but my quality of life has greatly improved with weight training, so I estimate I've gained more time than I've lost.

I hate chronic pain and I hope you can find a way to strengthen your back (and also your abdominal muscles) to help with your pain.