Question for those with Back issues.

[Bobby Buggs]

I had a Nerve conduction study and an EMG today. Bad news as I have progressing nerve degeneration in my lower leg causing significant muscle atrophy. Tests showed it in the L4 level area. Now the fun part. I had a disc cut in 2005 but it was a L5-S1 and the MRI of last week confirmed that. It also said quote "The remainder of the lumbar spine demonstrates no significant disc bulge or Herniation, No significant spondylosis or facet arthrosis". WTF??? how is this L4 in trouble??

Just wondering if any of you have been through this, what procedures you had and were you able to ride after. Of course I’m not expecting to see any time on the hill this season as I know the drill. If there is a compression in the L4 it must be dealt with ASAP or risk the permanent damage.

[DiveBomber]

Im not familliar with back/spine issuses except to say that I saw on the news about a week ago a lady who was in a car crash and it messed up her spine causing all sorts of trouble/pain, and they were going to fuse a couple of vertabrae, but instead they put in 2 plates between them that acted like a ball bearing, and that relieved all the issues she was having.

[Bobby Buggs]

WOW, Im the only one that has back issues that rides

[Istvan]

Not really.... I also had a slipped disc (disc bulge) but there was no need to cut it back then. After I seriously broke down a couple of times and spent a few days lying on the floor I went to see a kyropractor who didn't just do the massage part but also gave a lot homework, i.e. exercises to do on my own at home.

Obviously I was also prohibited to do snowboarding, boxing, squash, motorbiking - all the things I typically do... as you can imagine I did not really keep this....

After a year of exercising and regular treatments from the kyropractor it got really okay, still not like when I was 18, but I can live with it and still can do all the sports above. It's like a wife... you know it's there, you can't help it, but you got used to it....

Those neoprene belts designed to lose weight help to keep your muscles and joints warm during snowboarding and also give a bit of support. You might want to give it a try.

I guess your back is in a worse condition than mine, but maybe the above helps.

Cheers

[Ernie00]

Last year I injured my back teaching at my high school. Since then things have been pretty bad, I had to stop work May - June and now it's still pretty bad. I've ridden once this year for a few runs it looked OK. I need to keep on stretching everyday. I need to pass and an MRI soon and now seeing a back specialist. Looks like my hip flexors are way way way too tight and it brigning my hips out of alignment creating a lot of tension in the back muscles.

I'm also worried about my seson... and I have a new coiler to try !

[MUD]

WOW, Im the only one that has back issues that rides

No, I just think it is a very individual thing.

In my life I have only met 2 other people that have the same problem I have with my back, and one of them is my brother. I have "loose" sacroilliac (sp?) joints. A slight slip makes one leg seem like it is longer than the other, applies pressure to the siatic (sp?) nerve and well, I am sure you know how it spirals from there.

My solution is I NEED to stay in good shape with a strong core, if I don't it sucks.......

[Cindy Kleh]

I've had back problems for the last 12 years, and I've found a few things that help: hot springs, massage, traction (sounds medieval but it works to stretch out the vertebrae) and Biofreeze, a gel that is not found in stores but works like a mofo. Snowboarding is such an asymetrical sport that it always wacks my back out. Biking seems to be the antidote for everything bad that snowboarding does to my body.

Also, instead of an office chair, I use a Fitball because it keeps my back constantly moving, strengthening core muscles and burning 10% more calories than just sitting.

And yoga helps me get in touch with what's really wrong and what is needed for healing. Also helps with asymetrical issues. (JMHO)

[Galen]

WOW, Im the only one that has back issues that rides

you might want to check this thread in the OT forum:

http://www.bomberonline.com/VBulletin/showthread.php?t=16886

[skategoat]

Has anyone tried skiing with a lower back problem? It's gotta be a bit easier on the back than snowboarding, I would think. I have to do something this winter other than lying on the floor, posting on Bomber.

I also have a traction device in the form of an inversion table. I haven't used it much but it definitely eases the pain by removing the effects of gravity. The only problem is, I have to reach down to put the inversion boots on and I can't do that when I'm having an acute episode.

One thing I find really frustrating about a back injury is the non-linear nature of recovery. I feel like I'm on a roller coaster of pain. Up and down. One day, I'm feeling as spry as a 60 year old, the next day, I'm an 80 year old man again.

[BadBrad]

I've had chronic back pain the last several years. I have scoliosis, so that makes me more prone to back problems. I have been to spine specialists, scoliosis specialists, and physical therapists. None of them helped much (physical therapy helped a little). I have tried acupuncture, which did nothing. I have done regular chiropractic visits, which didn't help much. I started doing yoga regularly, which helped improve flexibility and balance and strength, but didn't reduce my back pain (some poses actually made the back pain worse). I stopped running for months but that didn't help. Swimming irritates my back, but after I swim and stretch out in the hot tub I feel fine. Cycling doesn't seem to hurt or help.

I had gained some weight and my core muscles got weaker over the past several years, and I figured this was a contributor to my back pain. I started doing pilates and more core training and general strength training, and these are the things that have helped the most. My brother-in-law has some disc problems, and strength training also helped him significantly.

Some folks here mentioned traction. If gravity boots are too difficult or inconvenient or not safe for you, simply hanging from a bar by your arms helps a lot. There is a pullup bar at my gym that I can just reach standing on my toes. I can really feel a good stretch in my lower back when I hang from it. After hanging for a minute or two I can go from standing on my toes to having my feet flat on the ground or even walking my feet forward slightly, so it much be stretching and lengthening my back and shoulders. Plus, it feels really good.

[carverchick]

Yoga or Pilates is a VERY good way to help deal with most types of back pain. I highly recommend also try taking Flexamin. This has MSN, Hyloronic Acid, Condrontin (sp?) and Glucosamin (sp?)in it. It can be purchased at Walgreens, CVS or most grocery stores. It will take 6 weeks for it to kick in, but you'll start to feel much better. I wouldn't be able to snowboard, waterski or walk for that matter without yoga and taking Flexamin.

[dano]

I've had back problems for the last 12 years, and I've found a few things that help: hot springs, massage, traction (sounds medieval but it works to stretch out the vertebrae) and Biofreeze, a gel that is not found in stores but works like a mofo. Snowboarding is such an asymetrical sport that it always wacks my back out. Biking seems to be the antidote for everything bad that snowboarding does to my body.

Also, instead of an office chair, I use a Fitball because it keeps my back constantly moving, strengthening core muscles and burning 10% more calories than just sitting.

And yoga helps me get in touch with what's really wrong and what is needed for healing. Also helps with asymetrical issues. (JMHO)

What's up with this biofreeze stuff??? Do tell.

My lower back has been tweaked forever and all that has helped is no heat, ice packs, ballsitting at work, and advil by the bucket. If I had any self control I would lose like 60 lbs....I'm sure hauling around the belly is not helping....

Sorry to hear about your pain Buggs, try everything.

[Guest GQuentin]

I broke my L1 10 years ago. I got a full recovery but still have to put up with the pain. As long as you use commonsense while boarding, like stay on the ground, you will be ok. In terms of handiling the pain, Carverchick is right, yoga is great, stretching is important. I started Bikram yoga and love it. Also doing sit-ups is essintial. A strong core is a must. I personally like going to a chiropractor. Made a huge difference with the pain. I think if you do all the above mentioned in all the posts, your pain will become managable. Bottom line is a bad back sucks. I'm only 28 and am pist I have to deal with the pain. Above all never, ever let it stop you from doing what you love

[spaamport]

I herniated a disc in about... 2002 or so. It was a total bitch and I didn't ride the winter after it happened (due to being a broke ass student teacher, not because of the back), but I played a lot of raquetball that year and anything high impact totally flared up my back and set off my sciatic nerve all the way down my leg.

It got to the point where I could barely tie my shoes, stand up, sit down, lie down, everything was painful. REALLY painfull. I got a ton of physical therapy and was on pain killers and all kinds of crap and nothing helped.

I finally saw an orthopedist and basically he said to take it easy for 6 months and to stop doing things that irritate it. Anything high impact. That includes running, raquetball, basketball, tennis, horseback riding, anything that would be jarring to the spine.

I took it easy and the daily pain that I lived with day in and day out is now gone. Granted, I don't run or do much except ride in the winter, but even the occasional jog or even a couple years ago I played a season of men's league lacrosse and it was fine for the most part. A little bit of sciatic pain the day after a game, but only for a day and not bad like it was when it first happened. Walking, hiking, fencing, (yes, I fence) have all been fine. And most importantly, snowboarding has been fine.

So you may just have to suck it up and take it easy until your back calms down and then you can get back into things. It's not going to happen overnight though.