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Posts: 328
Location: MN | Alright guys - I have come to the conclusion this weekend that after being hooked in this sport for 2 1/2 yrs, my back just feels like dog meat after each outing. After a few hrs and a hot shower, I am OK.
I have had some back problems but this was before hard core muskie fishing. Slipped disk (L5S1 or something like that). Every doc wanted to make $10K for a 30 minutes surgey. I go thru some rough times and pain killers work, although if I don't have to take them, I don't! I have the same philosophy with Ibuprofen. I use to get sciatic pains down my left leg but those have seemd to gone away, with the exception that my calf is numb.
I heard that swimming is a great way to strenthen your back?
Just wondering what ya'll do with a similiar back problem? | |
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Posts: 51
Location: Sheboygan Falls, WI | I keep leech and jig rigged up and ready to throw. I had two of the 10k surgergies (20k if you want a good doc) and realize my limits. It is ok to let your partner fish muskies while you mess around for little stuff every now and then. Sometimes I'll just take 5 and watch my partner fish while I sit out a weed bed (after the first couple of casts). Stretch your hamstrings (yes, your legs) before you go out. The chain reaction that causes back pain starts with your legs, and that's the easiest place to stop it. Ask a P.T. and they will show you how to stretch the hams to prevent the pelvic tug of war that will throw your back out. Another thing I do is switch between jerk baits and straight retrieve lures (usually bucktails because they are relatively light). This helps keep things from getting too repetitive and causing one muscle group to tighten and take the rest of the muscles with it. | |
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Posts: 32958
Location: Rhinelander, Wisconsin | I have a permanent C-5 /C-6 injury with some spinal cord and nerve root damage. I used to take 800 mg of Ibuprofen ever 8 hours, with limited success. I get the terrible spasms in the middle of my shoulders so bad I can't cast. Sue recommended Mobic 7.5 mg ( an antiinflammatorywith pretty effective pain killing properties) twice daily for four days, then once daily after that when I am fishing hard, and I have found that to be almost a miracle. See your doc, and get a script if you pass muster as a candidate. I don't use it at all for 4 to 6 hour trips, just flex the neck and back with stretching exercises alot, making those in the boat with me look at me oddly. I only use the stuff if I am going to be on the water fishing all day, and know I will 'cross the line' with the bearable pain. Pain threshold is a funny thing; I can bear it alot better when in Canada for some reason... | |
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Posts: 4266
| I'm going through my second course at Spinecare here in Milwaukee right now. Chronic back pain for 10 years. Unlike you, part of my pain management is 600mg of Motrin 3-4 times daily plus pain meds and muscle relaxers. I have a strenuous job, so I am in pain daily. When I pick up my 7-year old after school, she goes to the fridge and gets a Juicy Juice for herself and grabs my ice pak.
First of all, get you guts in shape and improve your posture. Your abs hold up your lower back, you have to strengthen your "core muscles".
Think...suck in my gut!....all day. It pulls your shoulders back and puts your spine in a neutral position. You'd be amazed how much proper posture helps to take the load off.
Another one that always works for me....ICE! Take it in the boat with you and ice your back when you are in pain. Inflamation and swelling cause pain. Ice takes care of the swelling. Ask Worrall how I get through the day. Gotta have ice. The hot shower is very short term. The heat feels good but has no benefit. In fact, it draws blood vessels to the area and makes the swelling worse.
Drop me an e-mail, and I'll copy my folder from Spinecare and send the excercise diagrams to you.
Don't live in pain and deny yourself some anti-inflamatories or some pain meds. If you need 'em, take 'em. My back doctor is very to the point when he tells me...."I can't make it go away, but I can make it happen less often and make it less severe. I don't write these prescriptions for the hell of it. You shouldn't deny yourself a normal lifestyle because of chronic pain."
There have been lots of studies latley spelling out the differences betweeen dependency and addiction. Some people, especially those with chronic lower back pain, are dependent on pain meds and anti-inflamatories just to make it through the day.
I'm a recovering alchoholic. Been sober for 13 years. My doc says if anybody knows the difference, it should be me. He trusts me and knows that I know the difference between chemical dependency and addiction. He figures that I'm no different than a diabetic or a coffee drinker who needs that shot of caffeine in the morning.
The one thing that troubles me, is the fact that you talk about numbness. That's a warning sign. Don't take it for granted and write it off. Any part of your body going numb is a sign of a nerve getting pinched or pressed on somewhere.
Let me send you those excercises, they might help with some of the problems.
Ask Worrall....fishing with me looks like a freakin' yoga class at some times.
I feel you pain.
Beav | |
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Posts: 2091
Location: Stevens Point, WI | I injured my back on April 14th firefighting and have only worked a few days since then, I have tried all conservative forms of treatment including, steroid injections, physical therapy and medication. An MRI showed a protrusion of my L5-S1 disc with an anterior protrusion that is compressing the S1 nerve root. Bottom line a lot of left leg pain and weakness. I will be undergoing a new minimally invasive surgery on July 15th that has a very high success rate, I will be back to work in about two weeks after the proceedure. The proceedure is called Arthroscopic Microdiscectomy, basically he will make a 1/4 inch incision lateral to the disc and enter with a multi-lumen endoscope, parting the muscle and tissue to reach the bulging disc. This minimizes recovery time due to less tissue destruction, usually they make a 3 inch incision and have to cut a lot of muscle and connective tissue.
After removing the chunk of problematic disc he will use a laser, and high frequency radio waves to ablate (fry) the tissue in the area to prevent a recurrence and desensitize the tissue. Total recovery is only 4-6 weeks with ajunctive physical therapy, home exercise and the most important thing Good Posture.
This surgery is not for everyone of course but has really helped many people who have had other traditional Discectomies and Lamenectomies.
With my medical occupation and experience I have seen many people with back problems and sometimes there is not a real definitive treatment for everyone, unfortunately medicine is not a perfect science. Sometimes we have to we have to make sacrifices in things we like to do...even fishing to maintain our health. Staying active definately helps with most spinal conditions and other maladies, I see too many people who completely give up on their health problems and they really pay for, i.e., depression, frustration, and more physical disabilities from inactivity.
Hang in there everyone, there are more new and exciting advances in spinal care on the horizon that will make people more comfortable and active.
I will let everyone know how things go with my proceedure, I plan on hitting the water a couple of weeks after. If you would like to know more about the proceedure check out www.sciatica.com | |
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Posts: 626
Location: ashtabula ohio | man... i ve felt your pain also. if you got numbness, you gotta stay off it! the longer the better... dont "flip" with the back,jack!...... i had the sciatica thing down the leg years ago, and i was laid up for a couple months...if your still goin out, and you feel IT! sit the hell down for a few and dont push it!! shoes can make a HUGE difference,{ you probably know this} thick soles help immensely!! i love my sandals with the 1 inch soles, or get some insoles for your shoes, good ones cost at least 20 bucks. as beaver says the abs strengthen the back..very true, canoeing helps this alot also..dont push it or you pay...be safe . | |
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Posts: 19
Location: Oshkosh,WI | I am 24 years old and could not deal with the pain and numbness anymore. I had a L-5,S-1 torn and herniated disk. had surgery last august and cannot remember in the past 12 years ever feeling this good. What I can say is that after extensive theropy before surgery I have learned that pain is good. If you have numbness, that is VERY VERY BAD. Numbness comes after pain and before nerve damage. If you still have the numbness and the pain is gone you are very close to loosing your feeling in your feet. What will happen is you will start dragging your foot as you walk. Then, lose complete use of your foot. Get that checked out my friend. I dealt with back problems for 12 years, all of my childhood. I now have a kid of my own and cant wait to play with him without having to deal with the pain and problems. If you chose not to be cut, do your stretches, exercise your abs, and use very god posture. Being healthy is very important. Good Luck.
Troy
Edited by Troy 7/6/2003 11:48 PM
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Posts: 4266
| One more thing that has really made a difference for me. I bought an excercise ball....check 'em out on the internet.
They are huge balls that you do excercises on to improve your strength and especially your muscles that help you balance.
I sit and watch TV on a ball and pick up and extend 1 foot for 30 seconds, then the other. When I started, I could barely hold one foot off of the ground. Now I can go for an hour, balancing while watching TV. Sounds easy, but it pays big dividends when it comes to strengthening the muscles that you don't even know that you have that help you balance. Think that pays dividends in the boat? I do.
Beaver | |
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Posts: 317
Location: Grafton, WI | I had a surgery similar to what MuskieMedic described 4 years ago. Too bad it took me 5 months to get an MRI from the first sign of anything being wrong. I spent the first 5 months visiting chiropractors, therapists, and doctors (just giving out cortozone shots)..... all of these were a waste of time. By the end of the 5 months, I could barely walk, and was so thankful for the orthopedic surgeon I chose. Three days after the MRI, I was on the table, and fully recovered in just over a month. I still have some numbness and pain in my leg, but that is because of the damage done to the nerves prior to surgery.
My advice... the surgery is well worth the money.
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Posts: 389
Location: Presque Isle Wisconsin | Some great suggestions above for you,especially geting checked out thoroughly to see if your doing any kind of permanent damage to your back by continuing to cast . Throwing Muskie lures is an UNATURAL ACT for the human body. Afeter you get a medical checkup I would strongly suggest a good excercise program the conditions the entire body because as mentioned above back pain can originate from weak abdominals, legs, etc. I use a Heaslth Rider device with weight attachments for 25 minutes a day. It tones and strenghthens all major muscle groups esecially the back and does a great cardiovascular workout at the same time.Since using it ive never had a problem with pain and have stayed at my correct weight level without dieting.There is a difference between a tired back and a sore back.I throw a lot of very heavy muskie lures and my back will get tired ,but no pain. If you experience pain definately get a thorough check up. If your problem cant be fixed without quitting casting then sitting with suckers in the spring and fall is an option. Even throwing redtails all season long with the right equipment will sometimes out produce other approaches. The back is a very complicated structure. Dont mess with it. Get the right medical advice. Good luck. | |
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Posts: 328
Location: MN | Thanks guys! I have to go in for another MRI to visit a new back doc in 2 weeks. I am hoping to to do the surgery that was mentioned. I do understand that even through surgey, the numbness may not go away due to damage already from the nerves. And that deosn't really bother me, it bothers me when I cannot pick up my kids or play more than 10 minutes with them!
I hear excercise is the key, thus, I will be beginning a workout for that! | |
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Posts: 1769
Location: Algonquin, ILL | Hey guys if my memory serves me correctly Big Fish Carlson is an Orthopedic Surgeon, He posts here every now and then and also on the Musky Hunter site, maybe he can give you folks some helpfull advice
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Posts: 4266
| Leeches and 3 days of bloodletting should take care of it.
Can we divvy up your stuff?
Seriously, one othet thing that has helped me tremendously is a TENS unit. It sends electronic impulses through stick-on pads that you attach to problem areas......I wonder if they make one that would fit my whole body....the impulses stop the muscles from going into full blown spasm and helps dull pain. Great tool when you can't be taking meds, like when driving or at work. Best part is insurance pays for it.
Some people love 'em, some people hate 'em....I love it.
Beav
Edited by Beaver 7/7/2003 7:21 PM
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Back Problems and what you do?