Bass Fishing With A Bad Back.

[Hyrule Bass]

those that are advocating stretching before fishing are giving great advice. stretching helps to prevent injuries in a lot of cases. while stretching may not fix your back problems, it will, in a lot of cases, keep you from developing more ailments.

 

i get back pain from time to time but rarely does it affect my fishing, which seems kind of odd at times. make me wait in a long line while out shopping or let me just stand around talking to someone and my back will start hurting, but let me stand around the edge of a pond and be fishing and i wont get that back pain, seems kind of weird but im not complaining...

[Mike L]

I've had back problems since i was 19 after jumping head first off a dock which, unbeknownst to me was on a sand bar!.

I fractured the C3 vertebra. 

That was 1968 just before taking my draft physical. (it probably saved my life as everyone I knew was being sent to Viet Nam at the time]

 

Anyway, as the years went by it became harder to stand, sit or lay down in one spot for very long.

as a disc in my lower back, L4 L5 became herniated.

 

About 10 years ago it became so bad I started a steroid epidural procedure that helped...then it didn't. 

On Dec 19 of last year I had spinal fusion surgery.

I now have 4 pins, 2 screws and the minerals from a cadaver to help regenerate the bone.

 

I'll tell you that surgery really knocked me down for a while but after 3 months I was back fishing.

I'm a co angler, and I tell every boater I'm with an abbreveated story and they all were overly cautious running around a lake.

 

I am now pain free, but do get stiff now and then but it's no big deal. 

 

Everytime I see the surgeon I give him a hug.

 

 

The best advise I can give is echo what a few have already told you...Don't wait, get it checked, find the best surgeon you can.

Even if you have to travel to find one.

Don't mess around with it. If you have a disc, vetebre problem or even built up arthritis it won't go away on it's own.

 

Good Luck

 

 

Mike

[ClackerBuzz]

sorry to hear about ur pain...as well as others posting. health problems are no bueno. my father was rear-ended by a car moving 45mph while he was sitting still waiting to make a left turn. this was 25 yrs ago. it blew out his disks and he had never walked more than a 1/10th of a mile since.  and is in chronic nerve pain. he gets at least 2 epidural shots per year which are only a temp solution.

 

i found a stem cell procedure that he is going to try sometime next year.

the FDA has approved stem cells for 'grafting' on hard cells( joints and disk/vertebrae).

i'm doing all the preliminary work to set him up for the procedure.

the woman said it is basically the same as an epidural but they are injecting ur stem cells (taken from ur pelvic area or lower back) instead of steroid. cost can be as low as $500 for one shot to $5,400 for a series of injections to the injury and all surrounding areas/ligaments etc.

he needs to provide a recent MRI and the accompanying physicians report (less than 2yrs old) and they are going to tell him if he qualifies.   they obviously don't guarantee results but in my book it's a no-brainer, esp if its good enough for Peyton Manning. I know they have a facility in CO and PA (don't know if elsewhere too)

here's a video, article and application. maybe it can help others

http://www.rapsmd.com/regenexx-overview/

http://www.wtae.com/news/health/stem-cells-being-used-to-repair-knees/-/9680940/22028630/-/5b4wf2z/-/index.html

http://communities.washingtontimes.com/neighborhood/steps-authentic-happiness-positive-psychology/2013/sep/6/peyton-manning-poster-child-stem-cell-treatment/

[SENKOSAM]

PT may help if you don't have inflamation or some of the other diseases mentioned. A rheumatologist is one way to start finding out causes and maybe solutions for neck and back pain. Usually a simple xray tells the story : reduced disc space, vertebra compression, arthritis, alignment problems (scoliosis), etc).

 

Consider your line of work as a contributor to symptoms that flare up when fishing while standing for hours. For example, sitting in front of a computer or at a desk without proper back support and then going home slouching on the couch for more hours before going to bed, stresses everything in the back that keep irritating nerve sheaths. Good posture while sitting and exercising a few minutes every hour may keep supportive ligaments from stretching and keep back muscles strong. 

 

Construction jobs and driving trucks that pound the body with repetitive stress, do a number on the spine and nerves. Not thinking before lifting or using any muscle beyond the straining point (IE elbow) usually results in spasm that last for weeks.

 

Drug therapy sometimes works right off the bat. I take muscle relaxers, perscritption pain relievers and anti-inflammatory meds such as naproxin as needed for chronic and severe symptoms. A severe back spasm last year kept me bed bound for days until I took those medications from an ER!

 

Recently I found out why my chronic neck and back symptoms weren't helped by drugs or stretching: a lack of sleep and air conditioning !  I have been prone to a viral infection that affects my nerves and muscles when I get chilled for long periods, which has plagued me since I was in my early twenties. I went to Canada in late April earlier this year, slept with the hotel AC on with the draft right on me, went to a church that had the room temp set at 60 (I only had a dress shirt on) and lost sleep on the round trip by car from and back to the states. Getting out of the car without a coat when the air temp was in the 50's didn't help.

 

The factors that did me in: prolonged hypothermia, a virus/ pnuemomonia (that kept me in bed for weeks), driving for hours getting out to only stretch every three hours and most important - lack of sleep!

 

When the viscious cycle begins, it's hard to put a stop to it because you toss and turn with pain thus compromising your immune system. More inactivity due to chronic fatigue lowers the body's endorphine production which helps the body deal with mild aches. Add the above job related factors and no surgery, PT, yoga, chiropratic or medication can help.

 

My symptoms were gone after taking tramadol with acetaminophin for the severe aches, a natural sleep aid and making sure I was warm enough while sleeping!  Overnight, I was cured! The rheumatologist concurred that years of sleep deprivation contributed in a major way, completely understood why a good night's sleep is so important and then insisted on a daily exercise regimen (seeing as I'm over 60.)

 

Many doctors diagnose the wrong reasons we have pain which can go on for months of useless therapies (including surgery or lack of surgery) and many office visits. Sometimes discovering simple reasons are the place to start (diagnostic imaging), followed by life style modifications. Never assume a professional always knows what's best as many of my friends and I discovered after years of chronic pain! A detective is only as good as his methods.

[KyakR]

Get checked out, before doing PT or anything, without knowing what is wrong no treatment should be tried. 

X2, X2!!

I too have back problems. It was a major reason I retired from nursing, which involves lifting patients. I take pills (try to limit 'em), use warmth and a "tens" unit. Stretching, acupuncture and PT too. But SENKOSAM is right.......the back is complicated, and you should proceed with caution. Bassin Lou's suggestions are terrific! But even weight training should follow proper diagnosis. Inversion tables too. Hope you get some relief!

[Topwaterspook]

After having my truck totaled from a rear end crash, I suffered from chronic back pain. A year of chiropractor care and PT only gave limited relief. In desperation I bought an inversion table. Ten minutes a few times a week have brought me relief. Good luck.

[tnriverluver]

I've had back problems for about 20 years.  Had surgery on L4-L5 in 1995 and was doing pretty well until I got rearended in 2001.  After that accident my right leg would just collapse out from under me for no apparent reason and the doctors could never find the cause.  Fished my first tournament of the season shortly after this happened and fell out of my 201 Stratos twice in a 30 minute span into 45 degree water.  Rocking from large boat wakes.  After that I came home and sold all 3 boats I had at the time and completely gave up fishing for 10 years (my only lifelong passion) until my leg finally started working halfway correct again in the spring of 2010.  I no longer stand and fish for very long and mostly sit.  The Tempress highbacks have been a godsend because of their comfort and support.  They don't allow me to sway side to side like most seats when the boat gets to rocking.  I have pain most every day but have learned to just bare it with only an occasional fist full of Motrin for pain relief.

[Throw Back]

Stretch good daily. Not just on fishing days.

another option, just toss out a worm and let her sit. I mean, I'm sure you can catch just as much nothing with one. The important thing is being on the water right?

[bassin is addicting]

i have back pain every time out..at different levels.....some days not too bad....others....bad... real bad...but..

 

i have lessened it with stretching... primarily with the simple "bend over and touch my toes"...trust me...i couldn't come close at first but gradually it is amazing now....i can almost lay my hand flat on the ground.  i stretch every morning....while the coffee is brewing... 

i also stretch while i'm fishing....

i used to use a heating pad....because it felt so good....but my chiroprator said that was the wrong thing to do...now...ice is my best friend..... and if you try it.... it makes a huge difference...

good luck...