Back problems when fishing.

[NOVA Angler]

When I spend 4+ hours on the water, my lower back starts to hurt.  I'm standing almost the entire time since I usually flip grass.  Eight hour tournaments really do a number on my back.  During the last tournament, I sat down to retie and almost couldn't stand up because it hurt so bad.  I'm a pretty young guy to be having these kind of problems.  I'm just curious if any of you have lower back problems and if you have found some sort of back brace that can help on long days out on the water?  I have a tournament tomorrow and I'm not looking forward to the potential pain.  Thanks for your help.

[bigtimfish]

Get a leaning post. The one that the butt rest lays almost vertical and you lean your lower back up against it.

[Grey Wolf]

You need professional help by a doctor.

[Big-O]

1) change the type of shoes you are wearing to excellent sole support

2) always have you pro seat on the deck and set at high position for leaning

3) Take time to bend and touch toes if your not catching alot of fish and bending to land'em

4) Take some Aleve a couple of hrs. into fishing

No more back Problems.....

After the back surgeries, I would have quit fishing a long time ago if I hadn't learned this stuff, now I can fish all day and I'm OLD  

Big O

www.ragetail.com

[Koop]

I'd say try wearing a weight lifting belt, it will support your lower back and sides and keep your back aligned properly, should help.

[shootermcbob]

second the doctor suggestion. If nothing is "wrong", ask about therapy to include stretches and strengthening exercises for lower back and abdomen. They actually support one another.

[90x]

I'm 15 and I had the same problem. For me it was 2 hours into the day. At some points I could not even fish and had to leave. I started strength training and it eventually went away. Start working the back and you will eliminate the problem.

[Marshfisher]

Wait, it just keeps getting better with age. Then you reach the point where getting up in the morning becomes a chore and painfull.

[rally]

It's from the trolling motor. If you think about it, holding your foot 5-6 inches off the ground all the time makes your back in a funny position. It kind of tweaks it. That is why guys love the recessed tray.

[cart7t]

Stretching exercises before you go out in the morning.

Get some supportive shoes.

Take up your front deck carpet and put a layer of anti-fatigue matting down before gluing, new, 24oz carpet back down.

Invest in one of the pro-control style recessed trolling motor trays.

Take Ibuprophen throughout the day.

Good luck.

[SirSnookalot]

I doubt there is a real cure, many things you can do as mentioned for temporary relief.  I'm 64 with chronic back problem but I'm fortunate to have high pain threshold which I call desire.  I go anyway and have never missed a day of fishing, golf or even running my business due to sickness or injury.  

If you have real injury, see a doctor.

[tnhiker44]

I agree with SirSnookalot. Fishing is not a typical physical activity for most of us. If, at work, you are a desk jockey, try standing up for a whole day. If you work on the go try sitting down all day. Things will start to hurt no matter your age or stamina. I tell my non fishing friends that fishing is a lot like work... and they do not get it. Not only do you have the trolling motor operators fatigue (fighting wind and waves), but casting and reeling takes its toll after several hours. I am pretty sure this is not an uncommon problem with almost all of us.

[Catt]

Do not listen to amateurs seek professional advice

[Crestliner2008]

Do not listen to amateurs seek professional advice

X2 - And get that help soon. Back problems don't go away on their own, especially if you continue doing what's created the problem in the first place.

[Triton21]

Do not listen to amateurs seek professional advice

X2 - And get that help soon. Back problems don't go away on their own, especially if you continue doing what's created the problem in the first place.

Xs 3!!!

I hurt my back in a coal mining accident when I was 37.  Have had both hips replaced and 9 back surgeries and still fish tournaments.  I have to sit to fish  and can fish every technique out there well  except flip so I just pitch when my co-angler is flipping.  Learn to  adapt to the situation.  I am 66 years old and still fish at least 2 tournaments  a week and it is  extremely rare that I don't have any discomfort.

Kelley

[KYntucky Warmouth]

Do not listen to amateurs seek professional advice

X2 - And get that help soon. Back problems don't go away on their own, especially if you continue doing what's created the problem in the first place.

No they don't.  I joined this site last year because back problems had me bed ridden for a few months.  Get it checked out as soon as possible.  I thought the same way you do, thought I was too young to have problems.  I'm 24 now, and this started 3-5 years ago, kept blaming my bed, pinched nerve, pulled muscles, etc... until I finally couldn't walk, and finally went to the doctor.  Had an MRI, found out I had two bulging discs and a severe rupture, and two days later I was in the OR.  Back surgery at 23, and had I done something sooner, it would have been at 20 and could have spared me years of pain.

The worst thing is to put it off, it just gets worse.

I also wouldn't recommend strength training until you get it checked out.  It can be beneficial or detrimental depending on the causes of your pain.

[Skinnyh2ofishin]

Everybody is right, especially those who said see a doctor NOW!  I find that more and more people around my age (24) are having some sort of back problems and I think much of it stems from poor posture compounded by the fact that many of us tend to "fix it" ourselves.  Basically, every recommendation under the sun will work to help back pain, but it doesn't mean they will necessarily help YOUR back pain if you don't know what is causing the pain in the first place.  

See a doctor and then go with their recommendations as to how to treat the problem that YOU are having.  As many have already said, it could save you a world of hurt in the future!

Good luck!

[SirSnookalot]

Leaning over while sitting at the computer causes a lot of my problems.

[Nitro 882]

I am 62 and retired. I fish 3 to 4 days a week from 8 to hrs/day. I thought old age was settin' in as my back started bothering me and I had to fish the last half of the day in agony. I was fishing one day with my 32 yr. old son and when I started complaining about old age and my back, he informed me that he had the same problem and that age had nothing to do with it. Its the standing in one place with little body movement that is the usual culprit.

Sure enough, when I recall the days when I've caught a lot of fish (to d**n few), I had no pain.

I guess I'm writing this so you don't get discouraged as I was. The guys have given some good tips that I will use also. Main thing, if you don't have a medical condition, just remember to move around a little more.(Or catch more fish.)

Best of luck.

[3H]

second the doctor suggestion. If nothing is "wrong", ask about therapy to include stretches and strengthening exercises for lower back and abdomen. They actually support one another.

/seconded.

No they don't.  I joined this site last year because back problems had me bed ridden for a few months.  Get it checked out as soon as possible.  I thought the same way you do, thought I was too young to have problems.  I'm 24 now, and this started 3-5 years ago, kept blaming my bed, pinched nerve, pulled muscles, etc... until I finally couldn't walk, and finally went to the doctor.  Had an MRI, found out I had two bulging discs and a severe rupture, and two days later I was in the OR.  Back surgery at 23, and had I done something sooner, it would have been at 20 and could have spared me years of pain.

The worst thing is to put it off, it just gets worse.

I also wouldn't recommend strength training until you get it checked out.  It can be beneficial or detrimental depending on the causes of your pain.

/thirded

I used to have the same amount of lower back pain since I've been around 15, standing for more then 4 hours did a HUGE number on my back. Then I began working out and I decided to one night when we did back to go all out, I was sore for about a week in my lower back and then my muscles grew and haven't had any lower back problems since. I must have just had weak lower back muscles :'(

[Under the Radar]

Five most dangerous words...

Maybe it will go away!!

[fishfordollars]

Check this out:

Six neck surgeries

Three plates with close to a dozen screws in my neck

Three pins in R. hip

I am fused at: C2-3, 3-4, 4-5, 5-6

Do I fish with pain? You bet I do

Can I stand in the bow all day? Yes

Just depends on how bad you want to be on the water

Get to a doctor, have several opinions before going under the knife, and be aware that surgery is no guarantee the pain will go away.

I live with pain day and night. You make of it what you want.

Good Luck!!!

[MALTESE FALCON]

The best advice I can give you is, SEE A DOCTOR.

Falcon

[TommyBass]

Second the doctor thing.  If your young you shouldn't be having those problems yet unless your into some kind of crazy contact fishing Im unaware of. There could be something more wrong than bad posture or a kink.  Im 25 and don't have any issues yet in tournaments.  A good seat, whether you lean on it or sit on it can help tremendously.  I also second the shoes idea, poor shoes/soles can lead to tons of problems.

[flechero]

1) change the type of shoes you are wearing to excellent sole support

According to several doctors I've seen over the years for back issues, the wrong boots/shoes can cause tremendous back issues... so the right pair can solve an equal number of issues. Simply wearing a different pair of shoes in the boat took care of most of my trouble.

But don't neglect a real problem, get checked out and ask the Dr. about shoes.