A question about back injury and kayaking

[Cbad Mike]

For the last week I have been battling intense pain down my left leg.
My days have consisted of just trying to manage the pain through stretches, prescription strength ibuprofen, sitting in the jacuzzi, walking, and using an inversion table every couple of hours.
I barely made it through helping at the JAL tournament and couldn't even sit down to eat while there.
From what I read online it seemed that I had a pinched sciatic nerve.
I went to the doctor today and had x-rays taken and he ordered more tests but seems to think that I ruptured a disc and because of weakness and numbness in my foot that I might have nerve damage also. He also mentioned surgery. I am not jumping to any thoughts of surgery and of course will get other opinions when the time comes. I was given a prescription for a steroid that I took this morning that seems to be helping some already.

My question.....
Have any of you guys had the same diagnosis and if so how has it affected your fishing?

I currently can not even sit in a comfortable chair for more than 10 minutes let alone on a kayak for 10 hours.

Mike

[Fishngolf70]

Hey Mike I've had similar issues with my nerve causing numbness all the way to my toes and top of foot. Went to a chiropractor and saw him a couple times a week for about a month but he fixed me up. Back started feeling better quickly but nerve damage takes longer to heal and lasted over a month but eventually went away. I would go that route before surgery or even the steroids. They treat the cause and make the symptoms go away, first time and I am now a big believer.

[2-Stix]

Hi Mike,
I have had years of lower back pain (construction and sport abuse), dislocated shoulder (dirtbike over the bars on a down hill), broken wrist (stuffed a tree dirt biking) and a hip issue(wresting injury in high school in the early 90's). I was unable to sleep threw the night from the shoulder, constant pain in most of the areas listed above at different times. I have been going to a very naturalpathoic/homopathic chiropractor and nutritionist for about 8 years. I can tell you that the shoulder took about 4-6 months of hard core care, the back is solid 95% of the time, the wrist has just a bit of ache here and there with abuse rock climbing and construction work, and the hip that bugged me for 18 years is now not bothering me as of 2 months ago. Its a longer path, but a better long term result.

[jorluivil]

its called 'getting old'.

[ful-rac]

Greg has sciatica going down both legs...it only hurts a lot all the time...he doesn't let it slow him down though. He just lives with the pain....


To tell you the truth...I think the fucker likes it...


I guess the pain of not going fishing is a pain he is just not willing to bare...

[alanw]

Some people deal with pain better than others, Greg must be one of them. I've had sciatic nerve pain a few times, it would be damn hard to have to learn to live with that.

[alanw]

My son has sciatica. The doctor referred him to physical therapy a few times a week for a few months which helped him out immensely. He now knows the proper stretching techniques and can usually stop the pain right when he feels it coming on by himself, or at least limit it to tolerable levels. If you have a slipped disk then you're on the right track to having it evaluated, but rest it and hopefully you can avoid back surgery. As far as fishing, you already know that you can't really do anything with that sort of pain going on. Good luck!

[Harry Hill]

Originally Posted by Cbad Mike

For the last week I have been battling intense pain down my left leg.
My days have consisted of just trying to manage the pain through stretches, prescription strength ibuprofen, sitting in the jacuzzi, walking, and using an inversion table every couple of hours.
I barely made it through helping at the JAL tournament and couldn't even sit down to eat while there.
From what I read online it seemed that I had a pinched sciatic nerve.
I went to the doctor today and had x-rays taken and he ordered more tests but seems to think that I ruptured a disc and because of weakness and numbness in my foot that I might have nerve damage also. He also mentioned surgery. I am not jumping to any thoughts of surgery and of course will get other opinions when the time comes. I was given a prescription for a steroid that I took this morning that seems to be helping some already.

My question.....
Have any of you guys had the same diagnosis and if so how has it affected your fishing?

I currently can not even sit in a comfortable chair for more than 10 minutes let alone on a kayak for 10 hours.

Mike

when my sciatic nerve acts up it pretty much acts like what you describe, it got to be torture when driving or sitting. It took about 8 years for the sciatica to go away completely. Some people get right over it, others suffer with it for a long time.

[Slug]

I wish fishing was my job but unfortunately I am a physical therapist mon-fri. Please please please go see a PT. You can see a PT for 45 days without a referral from an MD in California. If you will be seeing one longer you will need to get a referral from your MD. Going to see your MD is going to do nothing for you. He/She can give you pain meds that might mask the symptoms for a little while but it does not fix your problem. This is so very common and a combination of stretching, strengthening, positioning and activity modification can do lot. Please don't even mention the word surgery. You do not want anyone going near your back with a knife. The success rate is not as good as you would hope. I would strongly encourage you to not listen to random people on a message and go speak with an outpatient PT. PM me if you have any specific questions.

[Iceman]

I learned long ago, no wallet in my back pocket!

Recent pinched nerve in upper back, several weeks of pain, ibuprofen and alternating heat and ice after several weeks finally subsided.

[YakDout]

When I herniated my L5S1 about 6 years ago, it was really painful. Couldnt tie my shoes for weeks. Out of work for months. Very limited as to what I was able to do. When the injury happened, I felt a pop and immediately fell to the floor and had to be taken to the ER with some help. No surgery just months of physical therapy before I saw any kind of improvement. Been dealing with pain since it happened. Recently what Has helped me was dropping some weight as well as sleeping on a stiffer mattress. Im also trying epidural injections and I have my second one scheduled for this Friday actually. These shots help, but its not a permanent fix. I just had nothing to lose as sometimes my pain is so bad it makes me yell at my fiancé (thats what she tells me).

The last doctor visit I had before the first injection revealed an MRI that I was not hoping for. The disc that was herniated over 6 years ago was solid black in color while the rest were white. Doc says it is because its just worn out so much. I also lost all of my reflexes in my left leg since the injury. Nothing to be taken lightly, but this is why I fish now instead of racing motocross. If it had not been for my injury I would have not gotten back into fishing. So I try to stay positive about it.

When I first started fishing, I was on a tarpon 140 then had a revo and I could not stay on the water for more than an hour or so before calling it quits. Now people will probably knock this but I dont care. When i switched to a hobie with the vantage seat, Ive been able to fish 5-6 consecutive days for 10 hours without needing to come off the water. Now im sure the vantage seat is not a 100% of what helped me but along with that and the other things I mentioned above, Im able to still enjoy the hobby I love.

[TJones]

Originally Posted by YakDout

When I herniated my L5S1 about 6 years ago, it was really painful. Couldnt tie my shoes for weeks. Out of work for months. Very limited as to what I was able to do. When the injury happened, I felt a pop and immediately fell to the floor and had to be taken to the ER with some help. No surgery just months of physical therapy before I saw any kind of improvement. Been dealing with pain since it happened. Recently what Has helped me was dropping some weight as well as sleeping on a stiffer mattress. Im also trying epidural injections and I have my second one scheduled for this Friday actually. These shots help, but its not a permanent fix. I just had nothing to lose as sometimes my pain is so bad it makes me yell at my fiancé (thats what she tells me).

The last doctor visit I had before the first injection revealed an MRI that I was not hoping for. The disc that was herniated over 6 years ago was solid black in color while the rest were white. Doc says it is because its just worn out so much. I also lost all of my reflexes in my left leg since the injury. Nothing to be taken lightly, but this is why I fish now instead of racing motocross. If it had not been for my injury I would have not gotten back into fishing. So I try to stay positive about it.

When I first started fishing, I was on a tarpon 140 then had a revo and I could not stay on the water for more than an hour or so before calling it quits. Now people will probably knock this but I dont care. When i switched to a hobie with the vantage seat, Ive been able to fish 5-6 consecutive days for 10 hours without needing to come off the water. Now im sure the vantage seat is not a 100% of what helped me but along with that and the other things I mentioned above, Im able to still enjoy the hobby I love.

Hope you are doing well. I got rid of my gsxr-1000. I was riding rice since i was 15 . I am lucky I am walking away .I always rode big bikes. I stopped riding for ten years because of the tickets I had acquired. For some insane reason I decided to purchase a new liter bike again. Times have changed. The new liter bikes are ridiculously fast. Redlining first gear is at just under 14,000 rpm. When I popped it into second gear, the digital readout was over 90mph. I estimated the speedo to be off 6-8 mph which is within tolerance. So it is a safe bet that the bike will do over 80 mph in first gear. Because I have a commercial license, I think I barely grabbed the power band of second gear a handful of times which will put you well over 110. The bike feels solid at 150 mph, probably at 200 mph . That is one of the major improvements in the last decade. The massive frame and swing-arm with the suspension components, not to mention gobs of power. Fortunately I found a new hobby. I have seen people killed and get killed on motorcycles and know of many who were injured seriously. I have aches, pains, and scars from many a different sport or hobby. There is nothing more debilitating then a back injury. Thanks again for sharing you'r experience. Hope to see you on the water soon.

[Pocoloco]

2 things that have kept me in a yak. Accupuncture instead of meds/surgery and the vantage seat in my PA. Without those 2 I would only last a couple of hours and would take days to recover.

[YakDout]

ImageUploadedByTapatalk1442407860.477302.jpg

[YakDout]

That is a screen shot of my last MRI. You can see the difference in the one that was injured.

[summers in kuwait]

Im very sympathetic of people with back problems, but I know that each individual is different and manages their pain differently.

When I was 14 I had a back injury. After MRI's, Ultrasounds and Bone Scans the Dr. believed there to be a couple hairline fractures on my l6 and l4. Neither him, nor I wanted to purse surgery due to all the risks, age and continued growth. I was sent to physical therapy, which helped some, but the best things for me at the time were surfing, YOGA, acupuncture and not over doing it when lifting or playing sports.

Fast forward 18 years, I have good days and bad. But stretching/YOGA has been one of the best things for me. Not only is strengthening the back important, but your stomach as well. There are days I can't get put my boots on without laying on my back.

Pain management is another important aspect. When I was younger, they gave me Vicodin and other things that weren't the best for me. I've found more "natural" methods of pain relief and they help and don't have some of the same nasty side effects.

Kayak wise, I used to fight fishing in my tarpon 120 after a few hours. I added a garden kneeling pad to my seat and that gave me another hour or two of relief, but as previously mentioned moving to the new the Vantage seat I can fish all day without the same pain. Im also the guy that stretches on the beach for 10 mins before heading out just like I do when surfing.

Hope you find relief.

[TCS]

Sometimes sciatica is caused by a tight piriformis muscle. Google it. The stretches are easy, cheap and won't hurt you. Worth a try.

[kayakfisherman]

Mike,

I'm due for surgery the first of next year. I too was in total pain at the tourney. But, I'm the opposite. I can't stand. I can sit all day, but can't stand or walk for any given time. This has been going on, off and on, since 2009. That's why I'm having surgery.

My advice is this. Give your injury time to heal. If it doesn't within a month or so, then go and have surgery. Because it's no way to live.

Ice your back as often as you can, and don't aggravate it. Good luck. Yanni

[ctfphoto]

Bummer thread guys .......

... as I sit here NOT Fishing today because of pain in my back, hip, and knee.


I will be doing and researching the stretching route, Considering seeing a PT.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~

I have decided to fight old age by going all in .............. exercise will make you live longer, even if there is some pain involved.

[WARRIORMIKE]

You should go check out one of those Asian massage places. I hear they can fix you right up!