alparrott
Diamond Member
I had the privilege of serving 20 years in the Army, during which time I also had the privilege of carrying what amounts to a medium-sized refrigerator on my back for untold miles and jumping out of planes to get to work. As a result, I've had multiple back and neck issues in retirement. I'd like to share what's going on with me in the hopes that if there are any other folks on the forum with similar issues, you might chime in with advice or share your experiences in dealing with your issues.
The first and most expected is a chronic lower back injury that's been around since 2005. In short, I have two herniated discs that when overworked, reach out and punch my sciatic nerve, leading to a spasmed back and loss of function in my right leg. When this happens, I'm in intense pain and pretty much unable to walk for several days until the spasming muscles in my lower back unclench. The first time the injury happened was midway through rehearsals for a musical, probably exacerbated by loading and unloading equipment, but also due to my day job. I was only 32 at the time.
More recently, a lingering neck problem has turned into some bulging discs that likewise pinch my cervical nerve, leading to pain, tingling, numbness and/or loss of function in my left arm and shoulder (cervical radiculopathy). These symptoms can last for a couple months and besides loss of sleep and chronic pain, I lose fine motor control in my left hand and some coordination on my left side. On top of which, the medication of choice for pinched nerves, gabapentin, can sometimes lead to a spaced-out feeling (not ideal for live performances).
I'm seeing a spine specialist and I'm on medication, plus I use an inversion table pretty regularly. I have Tempur-Pedic everything, try to practice good posture, keep my weight down, and exercise regularly. Both the conditions seem to flare up based on singular events (for the lower back, I might be mowing the lawn or lifting a box; for the neck, it's usually a cricked neck from an awkward sleeping position).
While the lower back issue is the more intense of the two, usually it's resolved within a week and other than loading, unloading, setting up or tearing down, it's not affected my playing. I have in the past played through a lower back episode when need be. The neck problem, however, is affecting my actual playing. My left hand feels like a hamburger on a string some days, and most other days I feel a loss of precision - and that assumes that I'm not experiencing too much pain to play in the first place.
Is there anyone else on the forum dealing with similar issues? What's your doctor saying to you? How is your playing coping (or not coping) with the problem? Any more holistic methods working to resolve pain or function?
Hopefully most of you reading this will have years of pain-free playing ahead of you. Please just remember, that when us old guys say "lift with your legs", we have a good reason for it!
Happy holidays, by the way.
The first and most expected is a chronic lower back injury that's been around since 2005. In short, I have two herniated discs that when overworked, reach out and punch my sciatic nerve, leading to a spasmed back and loss of function in my right leg. When this happens, I'm in intense pain and pretty much unable to walk for several days until the spasming muscles in my lower back unclench. The first time the injury happened was midway through rehearsals for a musical, probably exacerbated by loading and unloading equipment, but also due to my day job. I was only 32 at the time.
More recently, a lingering neck problem has turned into some bulging discs that likewise pinch my cervical nerve, leading to pain, tingling, numbness and/or loss of function in my left arm and shoulder (cervical radiculopathy). These symptoms can last for a couple months and besides loss of sleep and chronic pain, I lose fine motor control in my left hand and some coordination on my left side. On top of which, the medication of choice for pinched nerves, gabapentin, can sometimes lead to a spaced-out feeling (not ideal for live performances).
I'm seeing a spine specialist and I'm on medication, plus I use an inversion table pretty regularly. I have Tempur-Pedic everything, try to practice good posture, keep my weight down, and exercise regularly. Both the conditions seem to flare up based on singular events (for the lower back, I might be mowing the lawn or lifting a box; for the neck, it's usually a cricked neck from an awkward sleeping position).
While the lower back issue is the more intense of the two, usually it's resolved within a week and other than loading, unloading, setting up or tearing down, it's not affected my playing. I have in the past played through a lower back episode when need be. The neck problem, however, is affecting my actual playing. My left hand feels like a hamburger on a string some days, and most other days I feel a loss of precision - and that assumes that I'm not experiencing too much pain to play in the first place.
Is there anyone else on the forum dealing with similar issues? What's your doctor saying to you? How is your playing coping (or not coping) with the problem? Any more holistic methods working to resolve pain or function?
Hopefully most of you reading this will have years of pain-free playing ahead of you. Please just remember, that when us old guys say "lift with your legs", we have a good reason for it!
Happy holidays, by the way.