Can't play because of back pain (hernia) - any tips?

S

skogstokig

AzB Silver Member
Silver Member
i'm totally incapacitated atm, can barely lie down. sitting and standing hurts like hell. played a bit too long the other day + carpentry, i guess that had a role in it. because of the disc hernia (L4-L5) i usually can't play more than 3 hours and i've been a bit careless lately. the main culprit however i think is my bed/mattress, which seems to aggrevate the problem

i know this straddles the NPR line, but anyone with similar problems with any recommendations? just want to be able to shoot pool but that seems far away now. what's a good mattress for these problems?
 
Last edited:
Lots of stretching BEFORE you start to shoot, again after.....Salonpas patch may help.....and lastly (worse case scenario) talk to a good neurosurgeon about a microdiscectomy.
I forgot, heating pads, hot bath, or shower with directed flow so as to act like a massage.......if at all possible massages also give temporary relief.
Hope this helps.....been there and this is what I have to go through to have somewhat a normal life.
 
If your bed is more than a couple years old look into getting a new one the tech has come along way with them. Also look into physical therapy be up front with end goal make sure they know you play and what you need. Or they will run you thru a regular program.
 
skogstokig said:
i'm totally incapacitated atm, can barely lie down. sitting and standing hurts like hell. played a bit too long the other day + carpentry, i guess that had a role in it. because of the disc hernia (L4-L5) i usually can't play more than 3 hours and i've been a bit careless lately. the main culprit however i think is my bed/mattress, which seems to aggrevate the problem

i know this straddles the NPR line, but anyone with similar problems with any recommendations? just want to be able to shoot pool but that seems far away now. what's a good mattress for these problems?
Click to expand...

Rest.

You're in the resting stage, it sounds like.

Don't stretch too much, just rest.

Stretch later.


Jeff Livingston
 
SamShaddey said:
If your bed is more than a couple years old look into getting a new one the tech has come along way with them. Also look into physical therapy be up front with end goal make sure they know you play and what you need. Or they will run you thru a regular program.
Click to expand...

know any mattress in particular? it's not easy navigating through google searches since most hits are sponsored "tests". thanks for your advice.
 
skogstokig said:
i'm totally incapacitated atm, can barely lie down. sitting and standing hurts like hell. played a bit too long the other day + carpentry, i guess that had a role in it. because of the disc hernia (L4-L5) i usually can't play more than 3 hours . . .
Click to expand...
Yo Skogs,

I have the same herniated disc in exactly the same lumbar location as yours.

I'm a lifelong Straight Pool pool player, tool and die maker, and former semi-pro bodybuilder all of which not-commonly tend to contribute to one or more discs becoming herniated.

The back pain you and I experience (and you'll almost certainly already know this) stems from direct vertebral pressure on the formerly-disc-protected spinal nerves.

I solved the problem -- at least in terms of very long-duration cessation of the pain -- 25 years ago when I ordered then installed one of the below inversion units in my home. Doesn't take up a whole lot of floor space and is by far the safest and most efficient way I've ever heard of to quickly decompress the spine. Seventy seconds twice a day does it for me, and any length of time over the 70 seconds doesn't add any further decompression -- so there's no need to exceed that amount of time on the unit. The back muscles seem to cooperatively respond to the initially very regular inversion and I often go many sequential days on end with zero lumbar pain. (And thankfully, zero need for analgesic pills.)

Short of a surgical intervention (which often don't work), this was/is a terrific, "quality of life" solution in my experience. Best money I ever spent on myself.

https://www.amazon.com/Teeter-Hang-...15486266&sprefix=teeter+dex+II,aps,215&sr=8-1

Long-duration inversion of any kind is not good (actually downright hazardous) for obvious cranial blood pressure, arterial reasons. I don't do any of the toning exercises or back massaging the manufacturer includes and describes.

Those 70-seconds do it for me like magic -- solves the pain and allows me freedom to enjoy pool and any other non-vigorous activity I care to. I gave up the heavy weight lifting when I retired, and switched to short slow-burn exercises with much lighter free weights just to maintain muscle tone.

I really hope this helps you as perfectly as it did me, Skogs. Believe me, this approach works. In today's often very bad world, the only real Good we can reliably count on is the good we do for each other IMO. Sounds sappy, but it's true. Feels good to help folks whenever you can.

Arnaldo -- Remember as you look at the below image, you only need to invert like this for about 70 seconds. (I bought a small magnet-backed timer at a cooking supply store for 2 bucks, clipped it on the bottom steel rail, then click it on and off for each decompress session. Battery lasts for years.)
Back Revolution - 1.JPG
 
Last edited:
skogstokig said:
i'm totally incapacitated atm, can barely lie down. sitting and standing hurts like hell. played a bit too long the other day + carpentry, i guess that had a role in it. because of the disc hernia (L4-L5) i usually can't play more than 3 hours and i've been a bit careless lately. the main culprit however i think is my bed/mattress, which seems to aggrevate the problem

i know this straddles the NPR line, but anyone with similar problems with any recommendations? just want to be able to shoot pool but that seems far away now. what's a good mattress for these problems?
Click to expand...
Get it fixed. Why be in pain ? Or is this something inoperable ?
Good luck
 
Gunn_Slinger said:
Get it fixed. Why be in pain ? Or is this something inoperable ?
Good luck
Click to expand...
I just saw you have a herniated disc at L 4-5. I've had 5 low back surgeries since 1983. If its not fragmented , its usually a simple out patient procedure ( in by 8am-out by 3pm or earlier ). Recovery time is short. See a Neurosurgeon, not an orthopedic guy. Many neuro guys specialize in low back surgeries.
Good luck
 
If you have a home table, you can raise it. That might help you play longer with less pain. I did that to my GC4. It is sitting on 5" blocks. I love it. YMMV.
 
Gunn_Slinger said:
Get it fixed. Why be in pain ? Or is this something inoperable ?
Good luck
Click to expand...

in my case they have to go in from the front, shove intestines and organs aside, and even then it's 50% chance of improvement. not too enticed by that option, even if i am a gambler in many other aspects of life
 
I lived and dealt with this for years I tried almost every possible option. For years acupuncture was the only thing that helped noticeably. After some time all the natural healers and medical doctors said surgery was the only way to fix it ( L4-L5-S1 pinched nerves) . I had the surgery September 2018 recovery was 18 months to 24 months. I’d say this is your best bet if it’s causing all aspects of life to be shitty . On YouTube There’s these two chiropractors channel named Bob and Brad they post lots of helpful things you’ll find useful. Steroid injection acupuncture and keeping it so it’s not inflamed are the best things you can do just don’t overdo work or fun . Best of luck to you . Most importantly STAY positive.
 
chefjeff said:
Don't you DARE get cut!

Only as a LAST resort...waaaaaaaaaaaay last.


Jeff Livingston
Click to expand...
Lol. Thats what everyone told me in 1983 ! I had the surgery. I went on to continue to play golf and pool through-out the 80's , 90's until 2010. Procedures have changed dramatically over the years. Most Discectomies now are outpatient procedures ( in by 8am-out by 3pm or earlier ) ! Recovery time is short.
Good luck
 
arnaldo said:
Yo Skogs,

I have a the same herniated disc in exactly the same lumbar location as yours.

I'm a lifelong Straight Pool pool player, tool and die maker, and former semi-pro bodybuilder all of which not-commonly tend to contribute to one or more discs becoming herniated.

The back pain you and I experience (and you'll almost certainly already know this) stems from direct vertebral pressure on the formerly-disc-protected spinal nerves.

I solved the problem -- at least in terms of very long-duration cessation of the pain -- 25 years ago when I ordered then installed one of the below inversion units in my home. Doesn't take up a whole lot of floor space and is by far the safest and most efficient way I've ever heard of to quickly decompress the spine. Seventy seconds twice a day does it for me, and any length of time over the the 70 seconds doesn't add any further decompression -- so there's no need to exceed that amount of time on the unit. The back muscles seem to cooperatively respond to the initially very regular inversion and I often go many sequential days on end with zero lumbar pain. (And thankfully, zero need for analgesic pills.)

Short of a surgical intervention (which often don't work), this was/is a terrific, "quality of life" solution in my experience. Best money I ever spent on myself.

http://www.healthbuilding.com/back-revolution-pro.htm

Long-duration inversion of any kind is not good (actually downright hazardous) for obvious cranial blood pressure, arterial reasons. I don't do any of the toning exercises or back massaging the manufacturer includes and describes.

Those 70-seconds do it for me like magic -- solves the pain and allows me freedom to enjoy pool and any other non-vigorous activity I care to. I gave up the heavy weight lifting when I retired, and switched to short slow-burn exercises with much lighter free weights just to maintain muscle tone.

I really hope this helps you as perfectly as it did me, Skogs. Believe me, this approach works. In today's often very bad world, the only real Good we can reliably count on is the good we do for each other IMO. Sounds sappy, but it's true. Feels good to help folks whenever you can.

Arnaldo -- Remember as you look at the below image, you only need to invert like this for about 70 seconds. (I bought a small magnet-backed timer at a cooking supply store for 2 bucks, clipped it on the bottom steel rail, then click it on and off for each decompress session. Battery lasts for years.)
View attachment 587801
Click to expand...

that's my exact problems you're describing, i was weight lifting for years and together with manual forestry work that busted my back. one bad squatting session and working the forest the day after did me in. day after that i couldn't pick up my chainsaw. this was six years and many painkillers ago

i will be looking right now into buying one of those! if they can be found in europe
 
skogstokig said:
in my case they have to go in from the front, shove intestines and organs aside, and even then it's 50% chance of improvement. not too enticed by that option, even if i am a gambler in many other aspects of life
Click to expand...
I've had 5 low back surgeries. Never heard of that kind. Sounds bad. I've had 1 surgery where they came in from the side. No pain, no trauma. If you haven't had a second opinion, you should get one..or 2...or 3 ! I've been through 40+ doctors in my time until I found one that could do the job right !
I hope you find relief. Back pain for me was very debilitating .
Good luck
 
skogstokig said:
that's my exact problems you're describing, i was weight lifting for years and together with manual forestry work that busted my back. one bad squatting session and working the forest the day after did me in. day after that i couldn't pick up my chainsaw. this was six years and many painkillers ago

i will be looking right now into buying one of those! if they can be found in europe
Click to expand...
That's exactly the right plan, Skogs.

The unit comes in a not-overly-large box and the parts assemble easily with an adjustable wrench or socket-headed ones. With your back presently (and painfully) limiting you somewhat, any handy friend can put it together in a half-hour when it arrives at your place -- whether from a European or US shipper. You'll ultimately be very glad you have the unit, I assure you.

Arnaldo
 
Last edited:
In my early 40s I had disc problems so severe that at times my back muscles would seize up and lock up. At times I couldn't get in or out of a car. I was miserable. I was referred to an old school chiropractor who went to National School of Chiropractic. This guy was a miracle worker. No tuning forks, heat, massages etc. He'd get me to relax my back while on his chiropractor bench and then slammed the discs back into place with my legs flying up and the discs popping like an AR-15 on full auto. In a few months I was completely cured. It was a miracle or close to it. I'd find a chiropractor from a traditional school (National or Logan) and give it a try.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top