@Jack6 - I got you covered man. I do physical labor for a living now cause I like it, no thinking required. I became a Licensed Practical Nurse in 1993 and have been a holistic guinea pig for almost thirty years. I've had multiple fractures from blunt force trauma, TBI, torn ACL, torn Meniscus, degenerative lumbar condition and damn near completely ripped my Achilles tendon from the bone a couple months ago. I only missed a day of work to go to the podiatrist and they had never seen a tendon that large before. They were bringing in people to gawk at it. I was told they do surgery on tendons with 1/8th the damage I had. If MY treatments continue to work, I won't need surgery.
Keep a positive attitude. Make sure you eat right. Steak is your friend as it contains essential amino acids you need to rebuild muscle and strengthen bone. Plenty of green veggies. As has been said, lift with your legs and not your back, and breathing is definitely important. Naproxin with food is a great OTC anti-inflammatory as long as you don't take any blood thinners.
If you have someone to give you back rubs then do the following:
1. Once or twice a week get a light/gentle back and shoulder rubdown with real Apple Cider Vinegar. Yeah it sounds weird, but it will relax strained or sore muscles and tendons and improve circulation to help clear out damaged cells. It also breaks down deposits which don't belong there. You can use it on any sore muscles and tendons and it only needs to stay on a half hour or so, after which, soap it off by taking a nice hot shower. Your skin will be soft as a baby's bottom.
2. Two to three times a week do the same with Peanut Oil, expeller pressed Castor Oil (You want FOOD GRADE from a health food store not those little blue bottles)or a shaken not stirred 50/50 mix of the two. I recommend the straight castor oil, but you can alternate between them too. Don't drink the oils either, you'll live to regret it. Be somewhat generous in the amounts of all of the above. The peanut oil has vitamin E which will help with building and repairing muscle. The castor oil repairs damaged tissue and even speeds healing of bone fractures, cuts, bruises and sprains. Again, soaping off in a nice hot shower after leaving the oils on as long as you can tolerate will do wonders. Castor oil stains clothing so be careful not to get it on your good sheets.
Don't do both treatments on the same day. Alternate them. Apply heat to the castor oil treatment if you can as it will make it more effective. Saran wrap, towel, then heating pad on high. If you have a thin wool or cotton towel to dedicate to the castor oil, then you don't need the plastic wrap.
Considering the injuries I have listed above, I shouldn't be able to carry around 80 pound bags of cement and be on my feet all day pulling weeds and moving gigantic tropical plants. But I can and do with minimal discomfort. I'll be 47 in January. Good luck!
