Back worst than seasickness!

[Frank]

We launched the suncat on sunday as the wind was up and sun was out here at home. Had a great afternoon sailing and upon nearling the ramp I went up to lower the sail. No lifting or pulling...just the way I turned...my back went out! The nice relaxing day went bad very quickly. In bad pain, I managed to get the sail down and badly tied. I crawled/flopped into the cockpit and started the OB. Put it in gear and it instantly stalled. Tried again...same. Every pull reaching over the transom was agony! I realized the rudder "pull up" line had fouled the prop! I tried...nearly in tears, to reach it. Nope. We were now drifting towards a rocky island. I managed to get the anchor out and dropped it over. Holy shat ...every movement hurt! After several failed attempts at clearing the prop..Vicky finally jumped in with a lifejacket on (still cold water in the river) and cut the prop free. Getting the anchor out of the mud was so painful that nearby boats must have thought I was getting shot continually. Each tug felt like a knife in my back.Things were super painful at the ramp but we managed to get the mast down (thank goodness for the suncats easy folding mast) and made it home. I couldn't help but think how useless I was and how debilitating back pain is.....and as bad as things went...how things would have been so much worst solo! Then I was thinking of tying in a simply reef while on a gulf stream crossing and how bad it would be solo with wind picking up. I've only felt seasickness once (didn't hurl, but would have paid to) and how bad it feels but I'm here to tell you when your back goes out your are truly out of commission. Kind of unsettling to think of all the scenarios. Anyhoot...had a massage therapist this morning and a bone snapper tomorrow. Hope to get moving again. I look like I'm 106 when getting up out of a chair. Even putting socks on is a AFV moment. Anyone else every had this while out?

[CharlieJ]

Yessir- pulled something in my back while on a delivery to isla Mujeres . Rode a wheel chair in and through every airport coming home- Cancun, Dallas, Corpus Christi.

Then worked on a repair on a hurricane damaged tri and used the guys golf cart to get from my house to the boat-4 houses away- because I couldn't walk that far.

Took almost two months to get over it

[s/v Faith]

Frank,

  My friend every thought and intention is with you for a rapid recovery.  As you know  my head hurts most of the time, pain can put a real strain on anyone or any activity,  I am thankful that we have free will and can choose not to be controlled by  it, but hope you receiver quickly and fully.

[Frank]

Thanks Craig. My concerns though are...like you...I solo sail a lot. This could be dangerous if it happened "out there" when you were alone. What would you do? Can't shake the thought...

[s/v Faith]

You would get through it, it would suck but you would get through it.

Certainly yet another argument for smaller boats.

[Captain Smollett]

Get well soon, Frank!

I hear ya about "what would you do."  A few years ago, I had a kidney stone and, well, I was completely, totally and absolutely debilitated.

My wife and I have talked about this a number of times...what would I do if something like that hit again...while "out" alone or just me with the children?

Of course, I use this kind of scenario as ammo to push for her competence aboard (for when she's with us) and also for the children have some competency as well.

Ya just never know.

But, then again, every day is a bit of a  c r a p-shoot; ya rolls your dice and takes your chances.

It dawns on me that this is another argument in favor of smaller, simpler boats.

(Edit: Craig, we simul-posted...haha...smaller boats for the win!)

[Travelnik]

Frank,

My thoughts, prayers and well wishes go out for you, too.

Don't let the fear of being "out there if it happens again" stop you. Don't forget that it could happen to anyone, even someone that has never had any previous problems in their life can have a first time. And then, it may not ever happen to you again.

I know how helpless it can make you feel. I have had many back problems throughout my life, starting with a complete paralysis in the 4th grade. Later in life, bicycle, motorcycle and car crashes compounded the problems.

My advice would be to keep your back in shape by doing daily stretches and bends. Keep the joints and muscles loosened, and you may reduce the chances of any future problems.

Take care of yourself, and again, best wishes for a speedy recovery.

[CharlieJ]

Thanks Craig. My concerns though are...like you...I solo sail a lot. This could be dangerous if it happened "out there" when you were alone. What would you do? Can't shake the thought...

Frank- what do you do? You deal with it, you handle it. If single hand, and are "out there", you have two choices- handle it, or possibly die.

As just one example- in 1942 an Argentine sailor named Vito Dumas sailed single hand round the world as a gesture that the world was one place. On one of his longest legs (did it it in three legs)  he was thousands of miles away from shore, with a severely infected arm which he realized was going to kill him. Had laid out all the tools to  begin to amputate ihis own arm, and fortunately passed out. When he woke, the infection had split open, the arm had drained, and he went on.

And yes, it CAN be- "do or die"

[Captain Smollett]

My advice would be to keep your back in shape by doing daily stretches and bends. Keep the joints and muscles loosened, and you may reduce the chances of any future problems.

This is an excellent addition to this discussion.  Grog to you.

I hurt my back in Colorado and ended up having to do some physical therapy.  They gave me a about a 30 minute per day routine of exercises to do, and after a couple of weeks, not only was I feeling better from the injury, but was stronger than I was BEFORE the injury. 

Fast forward a few years, and I learned that the exercises they had me doing could be found in a normal, every day beginner yoga routine.  I was fascinated by that discovery.  (Yoga can be pretty hard core, but this stuff was basic).

Some simple stretches and 'strength' for back and core can go a long way for preventing back injuries.

Note to self: get back into SOME kind of routine exercise.

[CharlieJ]

Note to self: get back into SOME kind of routine exercise.

Ditto on that. I USED to exercise daily. Got out of the habit. NEED to start again

[Frank]

was at a massage therapist yesterday...helped a lot. Man they know how to torture you  >:(  Chiropractor tomorrow and massage again Friday. The therapist suggested Yoga...I laughed but she explained how helpful it would be. I asked if they have "fat, stiff, old man class's"  :o I will check it out but I'm NOT wearing LuLu Lemon yoga pants!!!  ;D
I guess the reason I posted was I know how aweful I felt with seasickness that one time and how every movement took SO much energy...but I COULD move. This was far worst and it was/is hard not to think about what I would do "out there". No worries...I'm certainly not turning into a dirt man...I will be "out" again (God willing)....but it brought potential situations to mind.
PS...thanks for all the well wishs. PSS..me getting out of bed could easily win on "Americas funniest videos"

[Captain Smollett]

The therapist suggested Yoga...I laughed but she explained how helpful it would be.

Yeah, we guys do have some preconceived notions of yoga to be sure.  I did it for a couple of years, and it can be pretty hard core.  Found out that a lot of the more serious martial arts guys do it, too, for the exercise and flexibility aspects of their routine.

Once we get over our 'notions' about what it is and who should be doing it...I've got to admit..yoga is a pretty awesome form of exercise.

I asked if they have "fat, stiff old man class's"  :o

Get into beginners classes, obviously.  You'd be surprised the range of people doing them.  Folks recovering from surgery or other med issues up to serious fitness geeks.  Yoga in general is "low impact," so not a lot of jumping around, which I would hate.  The music is soft and mellow, not thumping headache inducing 'house dance' stuff.

But, as I said, don't let the mellow music and low impact nature fool you.  Yoga takes real strength and balance, and for someone starting out, it will develop those quickly.

Find an instructor that is not too far over on the whole "see with your third eye" thing unless YOU are into that.  :)  Like many things, you get different experiences with different instructors.

For starting out, avoid classes with labels like "Vinyasa", "Power", "Core" and stuff like that.  Really do 'beginner' at first, especially if you are addressing a specific medical issue.

Link for the levels and some terms:

http://www.yogaglo.com/bestforyou.php

Within the first year, we were doing Level 2-3 Vinyasa.  Definitely don't start there.  :)

Here's another link, just to show there are many varieties, styles and instruction levels:

http://www.balancedyogastudios.com/?q=classes/class-descriptions-levels

Important to match what you need with the class. 

I will check it out but I'm NOT wearing LuLu Lemon yoga pants!!!  ;D

Haha...I hear ya.  I wore a t shirt and regular running/gym shorts.  Few we saw wore "outfits" like that. 

And for the record, no male ever should wear "yoga pants."  That's just wrong.   ;)

Good luck with it if you decide to do it.

[Tim]

poop Frank, I wasn't paying attention, I thought this thread was about seasickness and passed it over during this busy week.

Sorry to hear, something very similar happened to me about 10 years ago which laid me flat for a week, also was a main factor in my early retirement (best move I ever made). Complete rest of it for a couple weeks, then slow stretching, yoga or whatever. I started to get regular massages, now every other week and started some kind of regular exercise. Since then I have  never had a recurrence of that kind of pain, even when I have screwed up and tried to lift from a twisted position.

Just make sure you rest it until the pain is completely gone then slowly get back into shape. I want to be able to look you up this Fall. ;)

[Bonzai]

I fully feel ya! I broke my back over 30 years ago.... one completely severed vertebrae and 3 fractured ones. Blew 3 discs. Back goes out sometimes with no explanation or warning. I can still use upper body when it does although very painful. I do yoga stretches and inversion table daily to manage pain. Can't overstress the value of either! DO NOT fall victim to the pain and become inactive. That will mean the end I am certain. Inversion table wonderful thing once you learn to relax the muscles, plus I grab the bottom of frame while hanging and pull for the traction effect. You can actually feel the discs decompress when you do that right.Those discs are little fluid pumps, and if you pull/relax/pull/relax etc. it allows them to refill with fluid and helps them regain shape to perform their intended function. 
   Just one more thing we have to learn to deal with as we age. Broke my back when I was 26, now 56 and still doing what I want, it just hurts a little....lol.

[Jim_ME]

Early spring before last I bought a Widgeon 12-foot hull and the guy delivered it in a pickup. I was carrying one end on ice (maybe 150 pounds...too much since I wasn't as active as in previous years) and slipped out of good posture, and injured my back. Ruptured an L-3 disc I believe from the pain pattern in leg. chose to take it easy (not lift more than 20-30 pounds) for a year. took a long time to heal...very slowly.

Interestingly, as I've been rowing again...out to the boat and back (maybe a mile), my back muscles feel tired, but the back itself feels good. I expected it to strain the backbone, but it has been the opposite. Maybe strengthening these back muscle groups with rowing, has been much like yoga...   

[Frank]

Follow up:  I had flights already booked for a week later to go down and board up the cottage and pull sandspurs before they went to seed (spurs will be WAY less next winter) After putting out my back...the next week I went twice to a chiropractor and twice to a message therapist. Unbelievable how much better it was!!! All was good until my return flight home. I asked for an aisle (sp?) seat and got it...boy did I GET it! This is NOT  an overweight person rant. The window seat had a 30ish yr old women about 325lbs....the center seat had her mom at about 350lbs! There was no way the armrests could be put down and I was left with about 1/2 a seat. Not wanting to make a scene or embarrass anybody...I squeezed in. We pulled out but sat for over 45 minutes as the tower re-routed flights around a lightning storm. I was extremely uncomfortable and there was no way I could get comfortable or straighten out my back. I was in pain and getting frustrated. There I sat...all cockeyed and squished in...I look over and the nice lady was snoring...totally comfortable. The flight was full. I will leave out my thoughts on the airline allowing this or the mother/daughter combo not buying 3 seats. It was 4 1/2hrs of the worst flight I ever had. After I hit "post"...I'll be calling the chiropractor...again..........

[Cyric30]

Frank sorry for your flight troubles, next time you go let me know ahead of time, i have a short electric cattle prod that should keep them hemmed up in there own seats pretty well just be ready for lota jumping and kicking befor they figure out what they supposed to do ;D

[Captain Smollett]

Maybe strengthening these back muscle groups with rowing, has been much like yoga...

I thought about mentioning this earlier.  I am very, very far from an expert or even necessarily "knowledgeable" on such things, so consider this as only one story from one person's one experience.

When I hurt my back and was seeing the Physical Therapist, I learned that a BIG part of "back health" is not merely strength in those back muscles, but also "core" strength...abdominals, essentially.

I think we (or at least I) get into a mind of thinking "get the back stronger" and things will be better, but I was taught that a big part of spine support comes from the 'core.'

For what it's worth, Yoga has a strong emphasis here, too.  A lot of the 'balance' exercises/positions in Yoga require strength in the core; you might not recognize it just looking at someone doing the pose, but when YOU try to do it, that's what it takes.

Incidentally, I learned this in rock climbing, too.  I had the opportunity to climb with a very skilled, very strong climber on some overhead boulder problems (that is, HE was doing those...haha) - think climbing on the bottom side of a horizontal "ceiling," and while it looks to an outside observer that arm and upper body strength is the key, the trick to that kind of climbing is strength in the abdominals as well.

The point is that I personally see a recurring theme here.  As we (well, I can only speak for myself) get older, we (I) let our "middle" go a bit.  Yet, that's where a LOT of the strength to keep other parts (back) healthy needs to come from.

The other thing, too, is "posture."  When I was in PT, I learned I had very bad "professor posture" habituated by too much desk work.  Yoga helps a LOT with that, too, by focusing on "alignment" and such.

Just thoughts...not meant as "advice" or anything...

[Frank]

Frank sorry for your flight troubles, next time you go let me know ahead of time, i have a short electric cattle prod that should keep them hemmed up in there own seats pretty well just be ready for lota jumping and kicking befor they figure out what they supposed to do ;D

Too funny!!   Near the end...I would have used it!!!

[Cyric30]

;D

Frank sorry for your flight troubles, next time you go let me know ahead of time, i have a short electric cattle prod that should keep them hemmed up in there own seats pretty well just be ready for lota jumping and kicking befor they figure out what they supposed to do ;D

Too funny!!   Near the end...I would have used it!!!