Bad Back Blues
- Thread starter garczar
- Start date
I injured my back in the L-5 region slipping while coming out of the batters box about 25 years ago. I ruptured the L-5 disc 3 yrs. ago.
I went on the net & found that they can heal on their own, I opted for no surgery just rest. When I felt fine I would do something & 'tweak' it & would be in pain & discomfort for weeks. As time went by, the recovery time from the 'tweaks' would lesson every time. It went from 3 weeks to now it's between 1 & 2 days.
I have an electric two(2) 'ball' messager that I get my wife to use on me when it's bad & it helps alot. I have also found that kneeling down with my knees spread & bending foward til my shoulders are against my knees provides some relief as well.
As for playing pool I'm a bit lucky as I have always used a variation of the snooker stance but with both knees slightly flexed. With this non-twisted, 'straight on' approach I was even able to play pool for a couple of hours even when the back had been tweaked.
I Wish You Luck in finding what will work for you.
Regards,
I went on the net & found that they can heal on their own, I opted for no surgery just rest. When I felt fine I would do something & 'tweak' it & would be in pain & discomfort for weeks. As time went by, the recovery time from the 'tweaks' would lesson every time. It went from 3 weeks to now it's between 1 & 2 days.
I have an electric two(2) 'ball' messager that I get my wife to use on me when it's bad & it helps alot. I have also found that kneeling down with my knees spread & bending foward til my shoulders are against my knees provides some relief as well.
As for playing pool I'm a bit lucky as I have always used a variation of the snooker stance but with both knees slightly flexed. With this non-twisted, 'straight on' approach I was even able to play pool for a couple of hours even when the back had been tweaked.
I Wish You Luck in finding what will work for you.
Regards,
I have a slight tear on the disc between L4-L5. Doc said there is nothing to do really. They can give you an injection to help deal with the pain. I bought an inversion table and use it twice a day to help stretch out the disc to keep the fluid flowing in there. That has helped more than anything. Also, exercise the best you can. If let it get stiff it will be more uncomfortable
As English pointed out.
Flex both legs in the stance........squat down.
I hate back pain its almost as bad as a toothache.
John
Flex both legs in the stance........squat down.
I hate back pain its almost as bad as a toothache.
John
stretching really helps. When i shoot a lot of pool my back starts getting a little dodgy, like its about to go out on me. Take a belt and lay on your back, put it under your knees and pull then in to your chest and hold it, do it several times. Then cross your legs and do the same stretch again. Last one, sit up and with your legs out straight loop the belt around your feet and pull yourself towards them. Those 3 stretches will help keep your lower back and hamstrings loose, which is what causes all my pain.
I've had a lot of back problems and tried lots of conventional things (short of surgery.) The thing that finally provided consistent relief was Alexander Technique. It's kind of hard to describe but it's basically just re-aligning your posture and movement.
It's not a one-and-done solution, and I'm not a back expert so your mileage may vary, but it's definitely worth checking out.
It's not a one-and-done solution, and I'm not a back expert so your mileage may vary, but it's definitely worth checking out.
Speaking from experience... I have a terrible back and an artificial knee. I really need to have the other knee replaced with a steel joint, too, but it hasn't been long enough for me to forget how miserable it was the first time.
There are things that can help you immensely. Scottycoyote already brought up "Stretching". I stretch thoroughly before I play. That helps a LOT, but it won't cure everything. I had to accept the fact that between my back and the steel knee, my "old" stance just wouldn't work for me anymore. Well, it would work, but I'd be poppin' hydrocodone like M&M's before the night was over.
Also, I used to get VERY low on the cue. I'm not high off of the cue now, but did find a midpoint where my back is comfortable. After a little adjustment, I can what I need to see from "up there" as well as I could from the time when my goatee had a permanent crease in it from the cue.
Back to the stretching... don't just stretch before a match. Stretch on a regular basis. My neurologist gave me a list of stretching exercises that really help my back. I do them daily.
One more thing is body conditioning. I'm not going to preach much about this, because I could stand to lose another 3 or 4 inches off of my waist, but if you'll notice, MOST (not all, but most) of the top tier players are in very good physical condition. Their physique is more athletic and less like MINE! :smile:
The back issues are my worst problem. I'm 6'4" tall, so to be even a little "high off the cue" is a long ways down for me. I am also built like an NFL Lineman, at 295 pounds. Before the knee surgeries insued, I was at 235 to 240 and that is my current goal. I'm down from 326 (highest I weighed, probably not the highest I got) and the more weight I lose, the better my back feels, on and off the table.
Bob
technoid101
"fades in, fades out"
Time in stance
My issue is very limited neck range of flex . Although I can get down on a shot, I can't raise my head to sight the cue. I adopted a longer pre shot routine where my alignment is done almost entirely in a standing position . Then carefully taking a stance over my cue that keeps my stroke in it's horizontal and vertical planes. My chin on most shots is a good 12 inches off the cue. It took a lot of practice to get my sight line adjusted but by taking my time in pre shot setup I was able to make the transition to a higher upright shooting stance that is a lot less stressful on my spine.
My issue is very limited neck range of flex . Although I can get down on a shot, I can't raise my head to sight the cue. I adopted a longer pre shot routine where my alignment is done almost entirely in a standing position . Then carefully taking a stance over my cue that keeps my stroke in it's horizontal and vertical planes. My chin on most shots is a good 12 inches off the cue. It took a lot of practice to get my sight line adjusted but by taking my time in pre shot setup I was able to make the transition to a higher upright shooting stance that is a lot less stressful on my spine.