Joe said: <snip> >>>Speaking of Doug, where's he been? It's been too long since the last hair-raising tale (no offense to the other trip reporters).>>> Been real busy. Got real grumpy too. Not at all sociable, therefore been lurking mostly as a courtesy to the list! Blew my back out weight lifting 6 weeks ago (more of a progression into pain than sudden). Been doing some tame paddling with club members who can help me carry my British heavy off the car. Paddling helps get one's back, back in shape, and places me back in a decent frame of mind. I tried 6 weeks of chiropractic care and warm baths/light stretching on his advice. I finally told my chiro guy to blow it out his ear, and went to ice and anti-inflammatories, keeping up the stretching. That is working. Bought an expensive mattress too (now gearing up to make a turned, four-poster bed). Has anyone else out in PW land dealt with lower back pain (the kind where it hurts to stand, and you need to sit down every few minutes)? Any other ideas for recovery? Also, anyone had trip-onset back pain on a multi-day excursion, and what did you do about it? BC'in Ya Doug Lloyd (Grumpy middle-aged man who still thinks he's 20) *************************************************************************** PaddleWise Paddling Mailing List - All postings copyright the author and not to be reproduced outside PaddleWise without author's permission Submissions: paddlewise_at_lists.intelenet.net Subscriptions: paddlewise-request_at_lists.intelenet.net Website: http://www.paddlewise.net/ ***************************************************************************
Doug My back first went out over 20 years ago. Continued to about twice a year. Hurt so bad (lower back) it took 20 minutes to get out of bed. Tried doctors, chiropractors and pain killers. The only thing that worked was pain killers and time. Then a few years ago I got transferred at work and was no longer in a car all day and not sitting at a desk. I was mostly on my feet and I lost a bit of weight. After a year I realized my back had not "gone out". I agree that kayaking is good for the back and mind, but IMHO sitting for long periods of time, day after day, is terrible for people like me who are prone to lower-back problems. Folks who worked with me in cars all day and have since been transferred to stand-up and walk-around jobs have had similar experience. Extra weight makes it worse, but that's a whole 'nother subject. For the boat I added a set of Hully Rollers and use a cheap little set of wheels that drop right into the hatch to get across the parking lot to launch. That has made it so convenient I go out far more often for short paddles that would not have been worth the trouble without the rollers and wheels. Get Well Bob ----- Original Message ----- From: "Doug Lloyd" <dlloyd_at_telus.net> To: <PaddleWise_at_lists.intelenet.net> Sent: Wednesday, April 05, 2000 1:49 AM Subject: [Paddlewise] Back-talk > > Has anyone else out in PW land dealt with lower back pain (the kind where > it hurts to stand, and you need to sit down every few minutes)? Any other > ideas for recovery? > Also, anyone had trip-onset back pain on a multi-day excursion, and what > did you do about it? > > BC'in Ya > Doug Lloyd (Grumpy middle-aged man who still thinks he's 20) > *************************************************************************** *************************************************************************** PaddleWise Paddling Mailing List - All postings copyright the author and not to be reproduced outside PaddleWise without author's permission Submissions: paddlewise_at_lists.intelenet.net Subscriptions: paddlewise-request_at_lists.intelenet.net Website: http://www.paddlewise.net/ ***************************************************************************
Doug ... I have been dealing with back problems since I was 16 (hitting many thousands of gold balls) and am now 52. I went through a serious painful period about 8 years ago. I was diagnosed with a "bulging disk" which caused a nerve to be pinched and pain in my legs. The bad news is that it took me months to recover - partially due to having to travel every week for work and carrying luggage through airports. Here's what finally worked. I went, on doctor's advice, to physical therapy. I learned a number of exercises and did them religiously under supervision and on my own. But this was not enough. After several months I decided to just rest. I did not do any aeobic exercise for one month, any medium to heavy lifting (i used porters at the airport), no golf, nothing strenuous (except sex). After a month I gradually started exercising - aeobic and back exercise every morning (if you do them first thing in the morning you avoid coming up with excuses for not doing the exercises regularly). Thankfully, the above regimen has kept with back pain free for years. I admit I do not do the exercises as regularly as I should. Here are the exercises (I will try to find a reference to them so you can see some pictures): 1. sit-ups - with legs bent and feet flat on the floor. 2. legs lifts - one leg at a time with other leg forming a triangle with the floor - this takes pressure off the back. 3. lie flat on your back and push your back into the floor and hold for 2-3 seconds. this is an isometric type exercise. 4. lie flat on back - pull one leg up to chest and hold 5. lie flat on back with feet flat on ground - your legs form a triangle with the floor. Move both legs side to side trying to touch knees to ground (move both legs at same time). In those days I played a lot of golf. I would take an advil before starting to play to provide some lubriant for the joints. Took another one after nine holes. I hope some of this helps. I will try to find some exercise references for you. The goal is to strengthen the back and stomach muslces. best wishes, sid *************************************************************************** PaddleWise Paddling Mailing List - All postings copyright the author and not to be reproduced outside PaddleWise without author's permission Submissions: paddlewise_at_lists.intelenet.net Subscriptions: paddlewise-request_at_lists.intelenet.net Website: http://www.paddlewise.net/ ***************************************************************************
Hi Doug, Sorry to hear about your back. I can relate I have had back and neck pain all my life. > [mailto:owner-paddlewise_at_lists.intelenet.net]On Behalf Of Doug Lloyd> I tried 6 weeks of chiropractic care and warm baths/light > stretching on his > advice. I finally told my chiro guy to blow it out his ear, and > went to ice > and anti-inflammatories, keeping up the stretching. That is > working. Bought > an expensive mattress too (now gearing up to make a turned, > four-poster bed). Wow, I'm really surprised the Chiro wasn't recommending ice at first and then later in your recovery heat or alternating. Might want to see another back cracker. Unfortunately my experience has been that time is the greatest factor in the healing process. The last time I really screwed up my neck it was troublesome for almost a year. I did find that a new mattress and pillow helped with my troubles, especially my neck and shoulder joints. > > Has anyone else out in PW land dealt with lower back pain (the kind where > it hurts to stand, and you need to sit down every few minutes)? Any other > ideas for recovery? > Also, anyone had trip-onset back pain on a multi-day excursion, and what > did you do about it? I was getting ready to leave for a tour I was leading 2 years ago and was putting my paddle into the van when suddenly my whole middle and upper back went into spasm. It was unreal, I had a hard time breathing and all I could do was lay on the lawn and wait for it to let up enough that I could get a full breath again. It let up enough to breathe but I was in severe pain, you know the kind where it's hard to speak because your teeth are clenched and your eyes are involuntarily watering. I had a tour that was expecting me to show up 2 hours south of my home (I had all of the boats) so I felt I had no choice but to go. I popped some anti-inflams and got a tennis ball and by placing the tennis ball between my back and the seat and doing self massage I was able to reduce the pain to a less than screaming level. Driving down I thought that I would have to tell my assistant who was meeting me there that she would have to lead the tour herself that I was headed for the Doc's. After arriving and performing some gentle stretching and taking more meds I decided that I would be able to paddle (the trip was in a location where stopping and walking out was an option). I was really stiff in the boat but by about noon the pain had abated considerably. I have had my back and neck misbehave on longer trips and I have always medicated and carried on. I do have concerns and I would now think twice about long true wilderness trips in exposed conditions. This really isn't a problem for me anymore because I don't have the time to do this kind of tripping anyhow. I have little help to offer other than to say that my injuries are less likely to rear their ugly heads when I am at a good weight and doing lots of daily stretching and getting regular exercise, mainntaining proper hydration, and keeping stress at a manageable level. The only other tip I would offer is to use four people to a boat when moving heavy kayaks. Just wanted to say that I know where you're at, I know it stinks, and I hope you're felling better soon. Cheers, -- Rob Cookson 3 Hats Design INTERNET PRINT ILLUSTRATION 5201 15 Ave NW Suite 220 Seattle, WA 98107 206.851.8202 direct line 206.784.1641 main office phone 206.784.2231 main office fax mailto:rob_at_3hats.com http://www.3hats.com *************************************************************************** PaddleWise Paddling Mailing List - All postings copyright the author and not to be reproduced outside PaddleWise without author's permission Submissions: paddlewise_at_lists.intelenet.net Subscriptions: paddlewise-request_at_lists.intelenet.net Website: http://www.paddlewise.net/ ***************************************************************************
This archive was generated by hypermail 2.4.0 : Thu Aug 21 2025 - 16:33:12 PDT