Down and out in Cumberland RI

[Saltheart]

Hurt my back monday morning and have been laying low since. Just how did this veteran of 25 years of rock hopping hurt his back......Shaving!! I can't even believe it. Bent over to rinse the soap off my face when done and bang , like I got kicked by a mule. Oh well , thats life. Got some muscle relaxers yesterday and I'm much better today after taking them. Still got to move slow though. The worst thing was that I couldn't even sit for long to tie flies or jigs or builsd some rods. With a million things to do around here , it amazes me how board you can get in just a couple of days when hurt.

Anyway , rather than just saying "hope you get better soon" how about entertaining me a little with some of your own strained back stories. As you know , misery loves company!

[JohnR]

OK, I have a pretty bad back. It started back in my glory days when I lived equidistant from BU and BC and worked at some of the bars frequented by the lovely ladies of that area. Now I know what you're thinking about "bad back: but it was probably more from carrying kegs of beer at theese bars than anything. Between that and moving 21" cad monitors for years - it's really junk now. To make things worse, I blew out my knee, cartilage, MCL & ACL (still no ACL) and the back got worse when trying to be easy on the knee. Add to that the 50 pounds I put on since the bad wheels... The first signs that things were bad were when shooting pool, I had just finnished leaning over from a shot and I couldn't stand up straight. No power to do anything other than stay folded in half.... Since then, 2 times moving #^&#^&#^&#^&#^&#^& - my back went junk. Same thing, can't stand up straight.... Now, between the knee and the back, I can't stay stillfor long, I need to move around - even when fishing, I can't stay on one rock for too long without moving around and stretching....

Saltheart - I hope your back gets better real soon....

[Slipknot]

I can definately relate Saltheart, you may also want to try heat on those muscles, but by now you should be feeling better sounds like you puuled a muscle. Try walking reguarly it helps keep the low back in shape.

4 years ago I was carring a 4 ft. vanity cabinet up some stairs by myself and popped a disc in my low back . I didn't know it at the time. and the next day pain started going down my right leg. That went on for weeks and massages didn't help so someone suggested a Ciropracter but that made it worse. During all of this I may have only missed 1-2 days of working and I continued to build an addition on my house all the while installing kitchen cabinets during the day. Framing did not help matters I got to the point where I had 1/3 of the roof shingled and that was it I went 3 nights without sleep from the pain. Finally I told my doctor nevermind this diagnosis of muscle spasm it is more serios I need an MRI so I found a good surgeon and he operated within a week . When I woke up the pain was all gone. Dr. Schmi#^&#^&#^&#^&(sp) from New Bedford did a great job . I was back to work in about 6 weeks doing light lifting then working my way back to normal. Take good care of your back and your muscles , that's all I got to say.

[Fishpart]

Saltheart,
Sorry to hear it. I try to be careful with my back, unfortunately I over did it one weekend last winter collecting firewood, I was in pain for a week. Get better, there are monster fish that need to be winched in headed this way soon :-)

[eelman]

Well Salty,Hows This? I have had two back surguries,both times I had two disc's removed.When the first disc went in 1988 I fell to ground and had to be taken into the hospital for imidiate surgery,The thing ruptured while I was jackhammering on the highway to install manhole covers! I was never in so much pain in my life! I told them to shoot me and or give me any and every drug they had availible.

After 6 monthes of intense therepy,I returned to work ready to regain my life.A year latter a second disc ruptured and that also had to be removed.I was told if a third one went it would mean a fusion of my lower spine.So, I was legitimatly awarded a disability pension mostly because my employer did not want to be responsible for my back anymore.

I am a veteran of the "back wars" I was hooked on pain killers for a few years mainly Vicodin.I was taking horse size pills of motrin and hurting my liver,I had to stop taking them.Up until about two years ago I had injections of cortisone into my spine almost every six monthes.

I now take the new pill VIOXX Once a day indefinatly and, it has worked wonders.I have permanent arthritis that has set in my back along with scar tissue that acts up every no and again.But, Im young and in relativly good shape so, I am able to do just about anything I want as long as I watch how much weight I lift (exept 50lb bass)hehehehehe..


So, Dont you feel better now?? It could be much worse.

[Jenn]

Well cant say I have had the back problem so much, but a little over a year ago I did real good one on my foot! dropped a REALLY thick based crystal glass over the top of my foot (dont ask!) anyway it shattered and I ended up hitting an artery and very badly bruising it....couldnt walk on it for almost two weeks.....lemme tell ya I wanted to burn that couch that I was layed up in, boring.....very very boring, one can only watch so much tv and read so many books before they go insane.....

[chris L]

I have no spine so .................Im spineless . lol
I havent had any major problems yet . I do get to the point where I have a hard to straightening out after sitting for any length of time . My kids think its funny watching me trying to straighten out . I have enough other health problems so the back and legs need to stay right .

[Got Stripers]

Sounds like we are all a bunch of old horses...who's got the rifle? I'm in pain just sitting at my desk typing and my lower back is constantly a pain. Now my right elbow and shoulder (FW sound familiar) are constantly in pain.

Only real solution is to get on some hot fishing action, so that the pain becomes secondary to what's going on around you. Sorry to hear about your back, ouch I hate that...feel better.

[img="http://www.rgsiroisco.com/fisherman.gif"]
Tight lines.

[mikecc]

First of all sealtheart I'm sure that bundle of Rod blanks under your arm leaving my shop did not help.
Just rember last year when I hurt my back. May 1st fish every were.I was out for 2 weeks could not work.but did not stop me from pullin my biggest fish of the year(41")
Back brace and all.

Hope your up to a little wave hoppin during herring season.

Mike