Back issues? Rick Perry's excuse? I owe you an apology, sir.

[ChairmanAgnostic]

Joe Scar and friends are discussing something I never knew. That Rick Perry had the same FUCKING surgery that I had on my back.

All of a sudden, I feel bad for all the Perry jokes I've made and blogged.

If you ever were forced to stand in one place, only to break out in a hot sweat because your post op back is killing you, you have no idea what Perry is going through.
If you never woke up with spasms in one or both lower legs, because, despite a "successful surgical result" there still is some nerve constantly being irritated, you have no idea.
If your back muscles are as hard as a granite, regardless of your posture, your movement, or any stretching exercise, and that stiffness leads to pain down both legs, you have no idea.
If you never were stuck in one position, or worse, stuck immobile in the tub, because of unbelievable pain and spasms in your lower back, you have no idea.
If you never have had an internal debate, "Do I try the Advil or Aleve, but I know they won't help much, Do I take the Flexeril, risking sleepiness, but still the same pain, Do I risk the Vicodin and risk memory for a difficult, important project for work? Or do I do nothing, and suffer intense pain?" you have no idea.
(Quick medical instruction: Hydrocodone does NOT kill pain. In fact, despite years of research and studies, tests, and potential discoveries, we have no pain killers that simply kill pain. Hydrocodone, in particular, does not lower your pain. It only makes you unconcerned about it. Unfortunately, that feeling is not limited to your "aching, fucking, back.")
If one of your legs does not act as perfectly as you recall it did, but it drags, or forces a limp out of you, or makes you feel unsteady, you have no idea.

I sincerely hope that none of you ever experience it.

Mr. Perry, if you continue to suffer from back pain, if you are on pain meds, you have all my sympathy and empathy. However, knowing how much my back can impact my quality of life, my day to day decisions, etc, you still have no business running for office. Go home. Do rehab. Take plenty of super hot baths. Relax, and most of all find that one chair that makes sitting tolerable. If no chair can be found, try sitting on one of those large plastic exercise balls. Between constant small movements, natural stretching, and improving your balance, I found that the second most comfortable seat. (funny, the most comfortable seat I have happens to be in my Ram 1500 truck. Great back support, lots of room, just the right height and length of seat, and the perfect mix of firmness and support, and enough softness to making sitting comfortable)

[TBF]

1. Good post - I could've written a similar one

I don't have back pain and wouldn't wish it on anyone, but I do have arthritis. If I had to choose a chronic illness this is the one I'd pick - I do have stiffness sometimes and very little grip left in my hands, but I also have very little pain thanks to my Humira shot every other week. Although I feel pretty darn good considering, I would not be running for office either. The medicine is fantastic but it does cause fatigue. Some days I have more energy than others. When you're in that position you certainly can find ways to be productive (I am tutoring in my kid's school for example), but I wouldn't attempt a job in which I needed to be alert at all times.

[arbusto_baboso]

2. Okay, that's fair enough. But it leads to an inevitable question...

If Perry is suffering from back pain that distracting and debilitating, could he deal with the responsibility of being President of the United States?

[ChairmanAgnostic]

3. especially if he is being medicated.

Hydrocodone is no joke.

[TheWraith]

5. There's that, and there's the question of judgment.

Specifically, if your judgment while being medicated is so poor that you can get up and give a whacked out, crazy speech while high on painkillers, a speech that contributed heavily to destroying your presidential campaign, what the hell ELSE are you going to do while in that state?

[ChairmanAgnostic]

7. don't I know it.

Sometimes, just to keep the mind clear, you have to put up with the pain.

I do find it funny that when i complained to my doc that the impact of enough hydrocodone to kill the pain was affecting my ability to think straight and practice law. He suggested marijuana. Nature's best pain remedy, he called it. Pity Illinois does not have medical marijuana laws, or I would be tempted.

[DesertRat]

8. President Kennedy suffered from debilitating back pain

along with several other ailments. He exhibited an extraordinary strength of will and refused to let his physical ailments interfere with his political duties.

[arbusto_baboso]

9. Yes, but JFK was highly intelligent before the influence of medication...

and apparently retained a lot of that intelligence even when medicated or in pain.

When someone like Perry - who has the intellectual agility of a meatloaf at the best of times - has a similar affliction, how would he be able to cope?

After all, you can't put back pain the electric chair and execute it...

[ChairmanAgnostic]

16. meatloaf with gravy.

[dionysus]

4. when i ruptured a disc, i was hunched over at a 45 degree angle for almost 4 months.

the fire shooting down the leg is something i'll never forget...
i wouldn't wish a back injury on anyone.

[ChairmanAgnostic]

6. lucky no one mistook you for a witch.

a la Monty Python.

obviously your treatment was successful. good news.

[dionysus]

11. LOL. well, i could stand up eventually because my body absorbed the disc innards... now

it's just bone on bone, with spurs starting to form. i guess i can't complain, i'm upright. i can't run but i can still play golf! insurance wouldn't cover a fusion because there was no permanent nerve damage (yet). then again, surgery can be hit or miss so maybe i'm lucky!

[StopTheNeoCons]

10. I live in TX, OP has my sympathy, Perry will never have any of my sympathy..n/t

[Tx4obama]

12. Perry's campaign has already said that he is NOT on medication.

So, apparently there is NO back pain otherwise he would be taking something for it.

Perry is just a ditz, blaming is his lack of knowledge and his gaffes on back pain is a stretch.

[ChairmanAgnostic]

17. that east coast gig?

I know how some wine and hydrocodone affected me. That was Perry in a nutshell, simply replace the wine with bourbon.

[Tx4obama]

13. Did you have a 'stem cell injection' like Perry did?

http://www.politico.com/news/stories/0811/60659.html

[ChairmanAgnostic]

14. Bars and bolts

Nice titanium hardware in me back. Looks great on x rays.

[xxqqqzme]

19. I have titanium in my back too.

stabilizing 3 vertebrae broken in a car accident. I would wish the pain on norquist or rove. Occasionally I wake w/ no pain. I lie in bed and enjoy it for a few minutes because I know as soon as I move it will be there.

[ChairmanAgnostic]

20. mine was caused by a drunk running a red

at 60 mph. We are very very very lucky.

[joshcryer]

15. Nice post.

I don't really understand the sympathy for Perry, but it's still a kind post, and I hope people don't take it the wrong way. You are in a better position to understand where he might be coming from than I.

You're a stand up person for sure. :hi:

P.S. you're right he shouldn't be running if it's as debilitating as you suggest, I wish you all the best in your recovery and long term health!

[lumberjack_jeff]

18. That explains why he executed all those people. Poor fella. n/t

[ChairmanAgnostic]

21. I am SURE he gave it the same consideration that Bush

gave each and every individual case.