playing with back troubles
- Thread starter billf59
- Start date
This happens to me, it may actually be your hamstrings tightening up. I stretch before and while I play for an extended period, it seems to help me.
Stretching is great, but always warm up the muscles first. It's never a good idea to stretch cold. The analogy I use when training a client is to imagine putting a rubber band in the fridge then stretching it. It breaks. I know it's an extreme but you get the idea.
If your body is physically out of shape, that is your problem.
leg and back help during play
if playing on a ball return table, use the time when you are taking the balls out of the ball return to squat down completely which stretches your quads you've been using to partially squat down to shoot. for some reason this also seems to help keep my back feeling good while playing. what I mean is that when we usually get balls from the ball return we stoop down a bit and get 3-4 balls in each hand a couple times to get all the balls onto the table and we strain our back while doing so. INSTEAD, completely squat down and reach a few balls at a time up over your head onto the table. this is consitent with the idea of "lift with your legs and not your back." this can also help disguise from your opponent that you may be a bit fatigued. he or she will just think you have a different habit of retrieving balls. if drop pocket table, alternate hands to pick balls out of pockets, and try to not bend straight over to do so. avoid anything repetitive unless you can balance it with the opposite motion. hope this helps.
if playing on a ball return table, use the time when you are taking the balls out of the ball return to squat down completely which stretches your quads you've been using to partially squat down to shoot. for some reason this also seems to help keep my back feeling good while playing. what I mean is that when we usually get balls from the ball return we stoop down a bit and get 3-4 balls in each hand a couple times to get all the balls onto the table and we strain our back while doing so. INSTEAD, completely squat down and reach a few balls at a time up over your head onto the table. this is consitent with the idea of "lift with your legs and not your back." this can also help disguise from your opponent that you may be a bit fatigued. he or she will just think you have a different habit of retrieving balls. if drop pocket table, alternate hands to pick balls out of pockets, and try to not bend straight over to do so. avoid anything repetitive unless you can balance it with the opposite motion. hope this helps.
I use pain pills and coffee 
Though sometimes I get itchy 
Though sometimes I get itchy 
I'm not really sure how mine will be from now on. I have at least one degenerative disk in my lower back. As I told Mike Gulyassy today, no more 6 hour sessions for me:embarrassed2:
I also have arthritis in both hips and this may affect how long I play more than the back.
Officially disabled, now
I also have arthritis in both hips and this may affect how long I play more than the back.
Officially disabled, now
RX for low back pain
I have the same low back pain. Before a session I use 20 minutes in a hot tub, 2 muscle relaxants, Ibuprofen 800 mg, and a Loratab 10 followed by a Tiger Balm patch directly over the muscle. Not recommended without a physicians order but it's good for about 6 hours.
I have the same low back pain. Before a session I use 20 minutes in a hot tub, 2 muscle relaxants, Ibuprofen 800 mg, and a Loratab 10 followed by a Tiger Balm patch directly over the muscle. Not recommended without a physicians order but it's good for about 6 hours.
You didn't say, but if you have just recently returned after a hiatus from playing, your lower back and leg muscles may need some time to reacclimate to the rigors of pool play. Keep your sessions brief for awhile, and try some Aleve. :wink:
Motrin can be your best friend. I cant do marathon sessions like I did 15-20 years ago, but I still like to play for 5-6 hours at a time. I usually take a few before I go out and a half dozen when I get home. The pain doesn't bother me while I'm playing but once I'm home and sitting down for a while.... Holy hell I settle sore.
Chuck
Chuck
Regarding Rivercity's use of of Motrin (Ibuprofin). Repeated use can be extremely damaging to your kidneys. Just a comment, check it out to YOUR satisfaction. Don't intend to step on any toes.I have been dealing with back problems for over 3 years now. It has really taken it's toll on my pool game. That and workmens comp probably wouldn't like me playing pool much. Whenever I did play I was told by a my doctor to in gauge my core muscles 10 percent. After I started using this method it seemed to help out a bunch. Between using that method and the pain pills I am on I could play for a few hours straight before it became unmanageable.
Give it a try. It definitely can't make you any worse.
Give it a try. It definitely can't make you any worse.
Posted a similar thread recently, got some good feedback....I found a little bend in my back leg helped a lot...
http://forums.azbilliards.com/showthread.php?t=217830&highlight=back
http://forums.azbilliards.com/showthread.php?t=217830&highlight=back
I've been dealing with degenerative disk disorder for several years that got significantly worse a couple of years ago. The Xrays didn't show anything else but a recent MRI showed ruptured disks. I can't stand for more than a several minutes without feeling an extreme "weariness" in my lower back which gets exponentially worse as time goes by. I'm going in for some sort of injection treatments the first of the month which I hope will help.
Sherm,
Good luck with those. Mine didn't help and I had 3, but I know several people who did get relief. One friend got 1 injection 10 years ago and said he has been good ever since.
I just had fusion on L5 s1, and we are waiting to see how I do before doing l4/l5.
Have you tried a chiropractor? Also Robin Mckenzie has a book on excercise to help your back. I can send you the book if want to try it, it is only 70 pages and I got it used at amazon, but if you have numbness they say not to use the book.
Good Luck
Mark
Good luck with those. Mine didn't help and I had 3, but I know several people who did get relief. One friend got 1 injection 10 years ago and said he has been good ever since.
I just had fusion on L5 s1, and we are waiting to see how I do before doing l4/l5.
Have you tried a chiropractor? Also Robin Mckenzie has a book on excercise to help your back. I can send you the book if want to try it, it is only 70 pages and I got it used at amazon, but if you have numbness they say not to use the book.
Good Luck
Mark
I came from the factory with misaligned/fused L4-L5. Almost kept me out of the Army.
Acts up more as I age. Occaisionally crawl on hands and knees for a few days at a time. If I play long pool sessions, I pay a price. Lay on floor, pull knees up to your chest-slowly. Very slowly-to stretch lower back.
Back problems make ya grouchy.
Have a nice fkn day.
Take care
Acts up more as I age. Occaisionally crawl on hands and knees for a few days at a time. If I play long pool sessions, I pay a price. Lay on floor, pull knees up to your chest-slowly. Very slowly-to stretch lower back.
Back problems make ya grouchy.
Have a nice fkn day.
Take care