Worst part of pool w/ back pain

[u12armresl]

As several of you know, I have a very bad back. Pain pump and all.
I play one pocket and find it to be the least impact on my back, and not near as much "down over the ball" time.

The worst part to me?
Not being able to practice.

Miss that ball and want to shoot it 20 times, sure, but my playing session just got shortened by over an hour total.

Set up that ball you couldn't take out, and made instead, same result of taking time off the amount that can be played.

If I set aside time to try and practice breaking one pocket, or drills, I'm only able to do it for a very short time.

Just want those with back pain out there know they aren't alone, and that I feel your pain.

Wish I could practice more, wish I could play more.

 

[sjm]

... but you've persevered and still play pool, so take a bow for holding on tight to something you love.

I've cut my hours down in recent years because of arthritis in my hands, but like you, I won't let go.

Stay the course. You seem to have a good attitude.

 

[u12armresl]

Sorry for your arthritis, not sure what to do about that, but seeing as how it's either your bridge hand, your stroke hand, or both, that's maybe harder than back pain.

I remember doing transcription work, and having arthritis in my hands from typing. I'd take a break and soak my hands in the coldest ice water I could handle, and be OK for another few hours ugh.....

... but you've persevered and still play pool, so take a bow for holding on tight to something you love.

I've cut my hours down in recent years because of arthritis in my hands, but like you, I won't let go.

Stay the course. You seem to have a god attitude.

 

[mr8ball]

I have been dealing with back pain since 1985 so I know where you are coming from. After have 2 surg's with no success (last on in 06) I have just about gave up myself. I sold all my sticks and case a few weeks ago. I could play for 30 min and suffer for 3 days. Its just no fun anymore. I was better then average player and hate it that I can not play. Going to play in tournaments and playing a few rounds and pretty much quitting because of pain sucks. People that have never been there can never understand it. Hopefully you will find something to help but if you are like me its only a matter of time. I am 56 so I know I would never be a world champion anyway. I am looking for something else to fill the void. Best of luck to you Sir.

This is my back now. It sucks

 

[book collector]

People who have never had long term, debilitating pain, just can't imagine what it's like, just to get through a day.
A few seem to understand what it entails , but most compare it to their normal arthritis or sore knee or whatever.
They play tennis or racquetball or 2 rounds of golf and talk about how bad their back is .
A bad back means you can barely get in the car to drive to the golf course , you sure as hell can't swing a club, or even walk to the tees.
I have had many people tell me they have pain but just "deal " with it.
I want to tell them they don't have pain , they have a baby, boo boo and it will go away.
Real pain brings you to your knees, makes it almost impossible to even think of anything else.
You go to sleep with it {more like pass out} and wake up with it.
If they can shake that off, they are much better men than I .
I will pray you find a way to get rid of the pain and I hope people will pray for relief for me too .
I have been thinking of doing the nerve block at least in one shoulder and see if it helps.
If anyone has had it done I would like to hear from you.

 

[Chip Roberson]

I can understand where your coming from...are you using one of the back belts that are out there?. They have worked pretty well for some folks dealing with this.

 

[u12armresl]

My goal was not to create a contest of who hurts worse.

I've had going on my 17th back surgery.
The scars on my spine have neuromas that are so painful, it makes sleeping without help impossible.

I have a pump with diluadid, I take percocet, I wear lidocaine patches, and I take another strong morphine derivative.

Any of those that aren't present make pain 9/10 of 10 and bring about tears.

So, I do understand. I do NOT try to belittle others pain, rather I sympathize with their situation.

People who have never had long term, debilitating pain, just can't imagine what it's like, just to get through a day.
A few seem to understand what it entails , but most compare it to their normal arthritis or sore knee or whatever.
They play tennis or racquetball or 2 rounds of golf and talk about how bad their back is .
A bad back means you can barely get in the car to drive to the golf course , you sure as hell can't swing a club, or even walk to the tees.
I have had many people tell me they have pain but just "deal " with it.
I want to tell them they don't have pain , they have a baby, boo boo and it will go away.
Real pain brings you to your knees, makes it almost impossible to even think of anything else.
You go to sleep with it {more like pass out} and wake up with it.
If they can shake that off, they are much better men than I .
I will pray you find a way to get rid of the pain and I hope people will pray for relief for me too .
I have been thinking of doing the nerve block at least in one shoulder and see if it helps.
If anyone has had it done I would like to hear from you.

 

[ShootingArts]

a layman's view

I have been dealing with back pain since 1985 so I know where you are coming from. After have 2 surg's with no success (last on in 06) I have just about gave up myself. I sold all my sticks and case a few weeks ago. I could play for 30 min and suffer for 3 days. Its just no fun anymore. I was better then average player and hate it that I can not play. Going to play in tournaments and playing a few rounds and pretty much quitting because of pain sucks. People that have never been there can never understand it. Hopefully you will find something to help but if you are like me its only a matter of time. I am 56 so I know I would never be a world champion anyway. I am looking for something else to fill the void. Best of luck to you Sir.

This is my back now. It sucks

A lot of that looks pretty familiar: Fusion front and rear with instrumentation L4-L5, L5-S1, plus you have the popsicle sticks supporting the joints to try to take some of the load. On the plus side, looking bottom center, it looks like you still have lead in your pecker!

Hu

 

[SlickRick_PCS]

... but you've persevered and still play pool, so take a bow for holding on tight to something you love.

I've cut my hours down in recent years because of arthritis in my hands, but like you, I won't let go.

Stay the course. You seem to have a good attitude.

::GASP::

He might hurt his back even worse!!

Maybe he can just nod his head slightly or something...

 

[Str8PoolPlayer]

Going on 73 and my aches and pains are largely self- inflicted (other than Osteo Arthritis).
I was a AA/Fuel Dragster Pilot & Murdercycle Maniac in my "Yute". Nuf Said !

After reading the OP's posts I will shut my freakin' mouth about MY pain.
Man, I sure hope You can get some measurable relief SOON. Unbearable
Pain will wear the body and mind down faster than anything.

 

[Bavafongoul]

JULY 10, 2009.........The Injury

Pool changed that day for me at 12:08pm (PT)........my workers comp injury.

Since that time I have 3 rotator cuff surgeries, and have to undergo a 4th surgery this year. First one didn't turn out so great.....it was to my left shoulder which is my bridge arm......kinda important.

Well, the last two surgeries to my right shoulder have been compete disasters.....both have failed....tendon ripped off the Humerus bone "again", plus more full tears to the Supraspinatus & Infraspinatus.....blah, blah, blah...... I live with continual pain & discomfort every day from waking to when I sleep which is like never.

I can't even abduct, i.e., lift, my right arm high enough to switch a wall light switch on and off, and in addition, my right shoulder labrum also has 2 enormous tears.....so the pool shooting stance, and the actual pool stroke....Ouch..... personally speaking, it's become more than just a bit of a chore. Oh yeah. I also have a complete tear of my right knee Miniscus that's never healed and so that requires surgery as well.

But I'll keep saying this to my grave......"Even bad pool is better than no pool". Unfortunately, for some of us, the bad reference isn't about how we are playing but refers to our pain level when we do.......NUF CED!

Matt B.

 

[GoldCrown]

Do the best you can and enjoy. Fortunately it's not your livelihood.

 

[u12armresl]

Sorry to all the people who are in pain on here.

 

[Poolmanis]

Ankylosing spondylitis is my case. I dunno if it´s right translate to english or latin but that what i have. I can sure i know what is pain in back. about 8-9 years ago i had so bad back i could sleep only 1 hour per time. after that i had to drop on knees from bed.
doctors said i have to work out coz my disease was not confirmed yet.

Finally i go doctor office and said "you gonna find out what is wrong with me or i gonna shoot my head off. coz 1 year now without decent sleep"

gladly he was rheumatism special doctor and he figured it out...

Rheumatism gonna be with me forever, but medicine and exercise gonna keep it civil and i can still live and play some pool too.

Biggest thing for me is kinda healer guy who pull my ankles and keep my back vertebra level. I suggest traditional chinese healer or anykinda healing massage guy who you KNOW have good results with backpain.
My healer guy is unofficial healer(retired) of finnish hockey champion team. His normal tax is 200$ per hour but i teach billiard for him and he does not charge me at all..

 

[lost]

Just be glad pool is pretty much the least active sport...play on the best we can...next thing in line for us is checkers

 

[Poolmanis]

2 more cents

my suggestion from my experience... best things to keep your back at good shape is :

1. Good bed. not too hard(my case) or not too soft. - Many bed experts suppose harder beds but that was bad at my case.
2. No Extra Weight.
3. Good muscles at back and stomach. One can fix this doing 2x 10 pushups 5 times a week if you can.. keep your body straight when doing it

 

[mr8ball]

A lot of that looks pretty familiar: Fusion front and rear with instrumentation L4-L5, L5-S1, plus you have the popsicle sticks supporting the joints to try to take some of the load. On the plus side, looking bottom center, it looks like you still have lead in your pecker!

Hu

LOL. This thing has beat on me since 2006. They replaced the disk as well and it just never got better. I like many of you have been through countless hrs of therapy but it has never did much for me either. I went and shot pool today for about an hr and it is really hurting. I have not played in 5 weeks and thought the break would do me good. O well. Anyway, I know I am not that bad off. At least I can walk right now. Every time I go into the nursing home and see my wife's aunt and have a look around. I know I am not that bad. I really pray I do not get in the shape of some of those people. God willing I will be gone before then. I can only pray that! Believe me its a whole lot more to life then pool. Enjoy life all you can and if its not playing pool just enjoy what you are doing. Praying for all in pain.

 

[u12armresl]

The other wonderful part of having this back pain is that you tell people you only play one pocket, it's better on your back, a small rest period, not as much up and down on the table. You know what everyone thinks (I don't need to hold up a card for this) you're hustling them.

Sure, I'll play 9 ball, I have to soft break the balls, really soft break them, and I'll play you 5 games, and them I'm done for the entire day and night.

LOL. This thing has beat on me since 2006. They replaced the disk as well and it just never got better. I like many of you have been through countless hrs of therapy but it has never did much for me either. I went and shot pool today for about an hr and it is really hurting. I have not played in 5 weeks and thought the break would do me good. O well. Anyway, I know I am not that bad off. At least I can walk right now. Every time I go into the nursing home and see my wife's aunt and have a look around. I know I am not that bad. I really pray I do not get in the shape of some of those people. God willing I will be gone before then. I can only pray that! Believe me its a whole lot more to life then pool. Enjoy life all you can and if its not playing pool just enjoy what you are doing. Praying for all in pain.

 

[ddadams]

my suggestion from my experience... best things to keep your back at good shape is :

1. Good bed. not too hard(my case) or not too soft. - Many bed experts suppose harder beds but that was bad at my case.
2. No Extra Weight.
3. Good muscles at back and stomach. One can fix this doing 2x 10 pushups 5 times a week if you can.. keep your body straight when doing it

Awesome run in your signature for having back problems.


I know the OP personally and I feel bad for him. He's a pretty sporty guy when he isn't hurting too bad and I know he could play great if it weren't for that issue.


I injured my back competing in kickboxing for several years and also have scoliosis which has put several discs in an unsavory position in relation to my spinal cord.

Theres usually about a 4-5 day sstraight period per month where I do something wrong and I'm just SOL for those days. Can't do anything without it hurting.



Its gotten worse but thankfully I'll have insurance again in a couple weeks and can see if I can get a recommendation for seeing a chiropractor from the doctor so my insurance willcover it.

Doubt anything else can really be done. But I hope I can get it fixed now rather have it get worse for later...

I feel for ya D.

 

[u12armresl]

Thanks man.

You know I love the game of one pocket.
Playing just isn't as much fun anymore with the newest degrees of pain involved.

Oh, and the cold, makes things 10x worse.

Awesome run in your signature for having back problems.


I know the OP personally and I feel bad for him. He's a pretty sporty guy when he isn't hurting too bad and I know he could play great if it weren't for that issue.


I injured my back competing in kickboxing for several years and also have scoliosis which has put several discs in an unsavory position in relation to my spinal cord.

Theres usually about a 4-5 day sstraight period per month where I do something wrong and I'm just SOL for those days. Can't do anything without it hurting.



Its gotten worse but thankfully I'll have insurance again in a couple weeks and can see if I can get a recommendation for seeing a chiropractor from the doctor so my insurance willcover it.

Doubt anything else can really be done. But I hope I can get it fixed now rather have it get worse for later...

I feel for ya D.