I could use a little advice right about now.

Now this isn't the normal locked in my house, it's because I've become terrified, scared shitless, to the point where the attic has became me new roost.

No it's not the kind where 'oh crap this guy is a fruit and he's going to go on a killing rampage' because well... for one I lost my guns, and two I don't care much for killing things.

No I'm scared because I may become a cripple.

It's not an exciting thing. I mean I could totally dig having my left arm being mangelled, and then getting an awesome wooden arm to beat people with. After many 'Professional' opinions it seems I have the back of an 60 year old man and it's steadily growing worse.

it started when I was 13 I had constant backpain yet I kept working out and doing physical labor, then just recently I tore a muscle in my back. it was back on the mend... then I fell down the stairs because my back litterally folded. and now it's to the point that my whole back locks up when walking for too long.

Now I have no idea if any of you are crippled but this is one person that could really use some help, from anyone right about now.

What do the doc's say is wrong with you exactly? The info may help.

And Pray tell... Why the attic? It would seem that you would be more inclined to be on the main floor where stairs wouldn't be a hindrance.. Just a thought.

yeah..uh...that sucks.

Well the worst thing for you to do is to do nothing.

You should try some kind of rehab therapy, physiotherapy or acupuncture may help.

Do you have other people in your house?

Uncletiggs,

they've told me that my back is pretty much just worn out from too much stress on it. Even though I'm only 19, my back is in the shape of a 60 year old man's and after I tore a muscle in my upper back they say it's getting worse.

and the attic, even though it's up stairs, is about the only place I feel like being. the rest of the house is bigger and alot more empty. a closed in space like this keeps me from completely going into full blown depression. though it would be less painfull if I stayed on ground level.

Kingdom,

lol I guess it does, but thats why I'm here, I guess I'm not really looking for help so much, more like I'm hoping if I do become a cripple people wont look at me and refer to me as a freak, or look away from me because I can't walk normal like other people. I already get alot of stares when walking through the store just because when I walk I resemble Igor except less slumped and no hump.

I don't think you people know how much good you're doing by talking to me, it's a big blow to some one when they have to look at the possibility of being crippled.

masochist,

I have all the excersises that should help strengthen my back, that I got from physical therapy, and I'm constantly doing them yet now my back has started to actually lock up instead of mending. But accupuncture may help, I don't know if it is related but the doctors said because of the stress put on my back from working is why it's in the shape it is now, so if anything hopefully that will relieve the pain, thanks for the idea I hope it works... now to find some one who can do it.

gArGOyLe^^,

yes my mom and soon my sister is going to be moving in and taking over the house, I'm currently trying to find a less physical job so I can keep working and move out of my house back into an apartment.

It sounds to me you have 2 problems not one.

You are a hermit AND you have a back problem. Treating one problem doesn't make the other problem go away. You need to look at them as 2 seperate things...

Now what?

What interests you in the long term job wise? Something that wont strain your back. Are you going back to training?

Drivers often have to sit for hours without getting up which can't be too good for your back. Sometimes they even have to lift stuff into their trucks...

Maybe you should be an artist. Then you can be a hermit too.

We can't suggest jobs for you because we don't know what you are into....so what are you into?

I've worked for the government before for a rehabilitation/accident insurance company. Occupational Therapists would see claimants and list all the jobs that could be suited for them given their injury/ies. Sometimes though, it just isn't feasible to assume that a person can do a job just because their body is able to do it. You need to be mentally suited for the job.

haha thanks guys and you're pretty right Masochist I am a hermit.

I tend to understand computers more then people and thats what I spend every spare minute working on, and learning about.

Inky after I read you're post I immediately went back to what I love most, computers, for a couple of years people have been telling me to do what I enjoy most and it just so happens to be a desk job. So I've sat down and I'm determined to learn C++, Perl, Java, Javascript and anything else I can get my hands on, I sat down and talked with my friends and now I have a group of 5 people willing to work with me who also want to do programming, and anouther who is a pretty damn good concept artist. I may die out but I'm going to try and start a game designing company.

I've really been looking at this all wrong, maybe this is a slap in the face saying 'hey stop doing things you don't enjoy, go for your dreams' I've just been too preocupied by what people may think and by the constant pain to pay attention.

as for what jobs I'm interested in? well anything that involves a computer sitting infront of me... I could be happy doing accounting as long as I got a program running. I've done alot of work, mostly physical. I have been a financial advisor and was making alot of money, but it didn't feel right, it felt more like I was cheating people then helping them. So Computers it is for me.

think this is the happiest mood I been in, in a long time.

Yay! I'm glad you found your way. Just be sure you get up every hour or so - sitting in front of a computers for hours without stretching can be just as bad for your back as lifting stuff can be!

My trick to break up my 8 hours in front of a computer every day is to drink heaps of water. It means that I have to go and get more water every half and hour and I also have to go to the toilet every half hour. Good for your system, your back and your eyes (looking at a screen isn't good for you either!).

All the best.