Back Hurts?

Terry Erdman said:
Well Captain Hook it sounds like you need to try Glucosamine Sulfate as it is about 86% effective in the studies conducted. They say it takes about 2 months to get it into your system. It does not kill pain what it does is allow the cartilage to hold more water and it hydrates the discs and "cushions" the joint ends. One of my patients told me about it 15 years ago and she said she was only on it 2 weeks and she could tell a difference. She has continued to use it daily. Costco is the least expensive around here and it is about $20.00 for a months supply. Even with a slight herniation of a disc doesn't mean that it is a surgical necessity if there is no nerve encroachment. So we are talking different stages of degeneration. Surgery is very effective for an acute herniation but the chronic degenerative disc problems are better left alone or as a last resort. Those are the ones you hear about needing multiple surgeries with not too good of outcomes sometimes. You should be able to play pool without major problems but you might need to stand a little taller or whatever to relieve some stress on the lower back if that is the case. Stretching the hamstrings and piriformis muscles are great and will allow an easier position pool stance with more flexibility even in older players. I stretch before and during play and I never have any issues with my back. Well only a flair up every 8-10 years but I get adjusted regularly and stretch daily. But I never see any other players so any stretching. Even golfers should stretch but not many do. To make a long story shorter, you can live and play with some degeneration in your back and it shouldn't bother you much at all if you will do some simple daily stretching and strenghening exercises. Pulling both knees to my chest 5-6 times a day(laying down or squating) and putting one foot up on a rung of a chair if standing for any length of time are two things that "save my back." Have your D.C. show you how to stretch your piriformis as it is too difficult to describe in words to get the right position. Also if you ever have muscle cramps or spasms get some Magnesium from your local health food store and they will disappear. Play in good health, Terry
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I started taking the Glucosamine Sulfate yesterday after I ate dinner.
I took it this morning also.
Thank you for the advice, I am going for an adjustment Friday after work.
I have to be Extra careful with my Back this time of year, seems when the weather starts to cool off, I have more problems. For the past few years I have had problems with it around Thanksgiving and X-mas time.
This year I will be doing the stretching and taking the Glucosamine Sulfate
and being very careful not to twist to much, It seems if I twist to much to my Right, like reaching for something, that is when I have problems.
As far as the pain, I had to take 2 Darvocet N-100's last time it was hurting.
Sometimes the pain shoots down my right Leg all the way to the top off my foot, sometimes the bottom. I originaly thought I had a Heel Spur a few months ago, that is when I bought the Glucosamine Sulfate and started taking it. After I found out that was not the case I stopped taking it:confused:
I wish I had not stopped.:mad:

Thank you very much for your advice.:)

Mike
 
You should consider yourself lucky. Everything I got hurts, and if it don't hurt, it don't work! :D I feel your pain buddy.
Purdman:cool:
 
Terry Erdman said:
I am a chiropractor and it sounds like a simple mechanical problem in your lower back, such as misalignment of the vertebrae. If something is out of place it carries weight differently and then a lot of previously "normal activities" will bother a person, such as sitting, standing, or bending. There is a slight chance that it is something else( cancer, tumor, unknown disease which is highly unlikely) causing your discomfort and inability to play one rack without pain. But look at all the other people that are out of shape with big guts hanging over their belts that can play pool for hours without any hint of discomfort. If you can't bend over slightly to play pool for one rack without pain then it is not an pool alingement problem, it is physical. My dad and grandfather were well drillers and I did the same work and at 19 years old I thought I had a "bad back" and I was blaming my pain on the heavy work I was doing. Then one day at work out of town it got so painful I couldn't continue and the driller made me go to a chiropractor. It was a one treatment miracle! ( Which is not always the case as it might take 3-5 treatments to get some results). It should be a real easy fix with just a few adjustments and you will feel better than you have felt in years. I treat many professional athletes who get regular care and without chiropractic intervention their careers would have been over. Pool is not a contact sport and you have not said that you sustained any tissue damage recently (strained muscles or ligaments), so your problem should be easily corrected with very little treatment necessary. So as Dr. Laura says, "now go do the right thing!" Spend a few dollars on your health and you will be happy in the long haul! If you had a tooth problem I would think you would go to a dentist.
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I very much believe in chiropractors.

I recently had 2 herniated disks in my lower back and the chiropractor helped immensely.

But, after buying a tempeurdedic bed (sp?), which cost over 3 grand (the mattress alone), my back is doing a 1000 times better. Yes folks, I can go down and shoot 4 hours nonstop till my back aches and is tied up with muscle spasms, and all I have to do is to plop down on my bed and the next day I am back to normal. This is the best money that I have ever spent and my chiropractor ordered one too. If anyone decides to get one, I would recommend the kind with the softer 'pillow top'. My dogs love it too LOL.

Cheers.
 
whitewolf said:
I very much believe in chiropractors.

I recently had 2 herniated disks in my lower back and the chiropractor helped immensely.

But, after buying a tempeurdedic bed (sp?), which cost over 3 grand (the mattress alone), my back is doing a 1000 times better. Yes folks, I can go down and shoot 4 hours nonstop till my back aches and is tied up with muscle spasms, and all I have to do is to plop down on my bed and the next day I am back to normal. This is the best money that I have ever spent and my chiropractor ordered one too. If anyone decides to get one, I would recommend the kind with the softer 'pillow top'. My dogs love it too LOL.

Cheers.
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Thanx for the Tip. My Wife and I were just talking the other day about getting a new bed. Our Cat's will be Happy also.:D
They sleep on the couch sometimes.:)

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I am going in for an adjustment at 4:00 today.

I have been shooting great all month. I had not been able to play til the first of this month as I had so much pain in August, and I decided to give my back time to heel in September.
I was putting the Ice packs on it 20 minutes every hour that I could when it was really bad. I was also taking Mobic, an antiinflamatory.


:)
 
As a result of flipping a van several times on I-95 a several years back, I have a bad L4 and L5 area which hurts often when playing, especially when the table is a little lower than the norm. The pain often radiates down the back of the right leg. I know that I don't play as well when I have the pain for a couple of reasons. One, I don't get down on the ball because bending further causes the pain to be greater, therefore I am not sighting properly. Secondly, when the pain is on my mind, I can't concentrate on the shot at hand. The distraction it causes is at least as bad for my game as the posture issue.
 
Klopek said:
This kind of percentage type advice is always sketchy at best, and I don't like seeing people give "set in stone" formulas. Everyone will be different, depending on how they stand and their body type/weight.

I happen to be 50% front 45% back and 5% bridge hand. Forgot about the bridge hand didn't you?. This is where a huge portion of your stability comes from, the weight you distribute by pressing into the table with your bridge hand. Tripods are more stable than Bipods.

Another option for someone who wishes to get low on their cue but isn't naturally flexible enough is have them bend both legs so they are comfortable. I can't keep my back leg straight since I'm not very flexible, but I am solid as a rock and have almost no body movement through my shot.

This old school theory about keeping the back leg straight might have cut the mustard twenty years ago when players stood a foot off their cue, but todays players stand very low. As for the snooker reference, snooker tables are taller than pool tables, which makes getting down low easier.

Sorry to pick at you, but you shouldn't throw out "one size fits all" advice.:)
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Did I indicate it was 'set in stone' advice. It is a guideline to go by, from Pool books I read, yes, 45 years ago. I have never shot a foot above my cue ever, in fact, my chin rubs against my cue sometimes. The bridge is a steading force yes, but at 160 lbs, I seriously doubt that I exert 8 lbs pressure on my bridge hand ... lol I used to play with a 7'1" basketball player that stood entirely correct when he shot Pool, so I don't buy into the 'too tall to stand that way' rationalization. His chin was directly above his cue about 1-2" above. And if you are out of shape, you know whos fault that is.

What does keeping your back leg locked have to do with flexibility? Nothing that I can see. And even if someone has a beer gut, it is easier to support with a locked joint than with a muscle that will eventually fatigue.

I believe Snooker and Pool tables are both 32" tall.

I won't belabor the point, but If you don't know the pitfalls in playing Pool from having 'too much weight' on your front leg or playing with both legs bent (like 16 hr. or more playing sessions or trying to keep your back straight with 2 bent legs), then I will just leave you to your own devices, but don't try to sell me your rationalizations for a correct stance as being the correct one to begin with.

On a parting thought - Everything 'new' is not always better, no one has broken Willie Mosconi's Straight Pool record, have they? But, he is just an old timer, isn't he?

Funny, but everyone I see in the news today in the sports world that is getting kudos are the ones being labeled as 'Old School'. Maybe they did know a thing or two! Ya think?
 
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Terry Erdman said:
I am a chiropractor and it sounds like a simple mechanical problem in your lower back, such as misalignment of the vertebrae. If something is out of place it carries weight differently and then a lot of previously "normal activities" will bother a person, such as sitting, standing, or bending. There is a slight chance that it is something else( cancer, tumor, unknown disease which is highly unlikely) causing your discomfort and inability to play one rack without pain.
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crice9 said:
I'm a doctor, but am not going to attempt to tell you the wide variety of things that could be causing your symptoms, but I am going to suggest that you see you own doctor. The kind of pain that you're describing, after playing even one game of pool, is not the norm by any stretch and it is unlikely that your issue will go away without professional assistance. If your doctor can't help, then maybe an adjustment by a DC may help, but start with your family doctor and don't wait forever to see him or her.
Dr. C
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I am often amazed at the support offered on this forum. Good rep given!
 
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