Okay, I went and did it. After a little professional wrestling re-enactment with my 11 year old son, I ruptured one disc, and compressed another, in my back, L4-L5 and L5-S1. It's been about 4 weeks now, and a couple of steroid shots later, and I am feeling much better, but am not kidding myself over full recovery times. What I'm looking for is anyone who may have gone and inflicted a similar injury to themselves and how it affected their sailing. Adding a bunch of enabling equipment to the boat (power winches, windlass, etc), while attractive, is not in the budget. I know that I'll be looking to my wife and kids to be pulling their weight (figuratively and literally) a lot more this season than in the past. While I don't see taking the helm as a problem, hauling up the main will be a challenge. Trimming the jib I have my winches, trimming the main?? And I hope they are up to hauling up the anchor when we're done out at the cove, cause that will be out of the question. I just don't know if standing for long periods on a heeled deck is going to work or not. So how anout it, anyone else been there and done that and able to offer me some words of encouragement? T J
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hey TJ, not sure if this counts but
Im going in for Thyroid sugery tomorrow, removing half,,,hopefully the most Ill have is a sore neck for this weekends bottom work....Im being optimistic...Good luck in your recovery! Rob
Im going in for Thyroid sugery tomorrow, removing half,,,hopefully the most Ill have is a sore neck for this weekends bottom work....Im being optimistic...Good luck in your recovery! Rob
Been There !
Ruptured L5-S1 in April of 2005. Physical Therapy may be your best bet. I did a few weeks with a therapist who gave me specific core building exercises for sailing. Luckily my crew was a big help with the heavy lifting and pulling until my back started to feel better. Avoid twisting while sitting in the cockpit. I also found that one of those foldable travel seats from W/M helped with back support. Best of luck!
Ruptured L5-S1 in April of 2005. Physical Therapy may be your best bet. I did a few weeks with a therapist who gave me specific core building exercises for sailing. Luckily my crew was a big help with the heavy lifting and pulling until my back started to feel better. Avoid twisting while sitting in the cockpit. I also found that one of those foldable travel seats from W/M helped with back support. Best of luck!
I now limit the wrestling to my 4 yr old grandkids
the 11 year old is too big. I ruptured my l5-s1 disc in 1984. After screwing around with the doctors, xray, Catscans, and physical therapy for 6 months my sciatica went from bad to worst. My leg became completely paralyzed. they finally found the collapsed disc with an MRI which was new technology back then and not covered by insurance. I received back surgery where a terrific surgeon cut a 1/2" window in the vertebrae and removed the bulging part of the disc that was pushing against the spinal cord. After another 6 months of painful recovery I was and remain as good as new. Early on I was receiving therapy before the operation that helped somewhat for a while. It was a chiropractor’s bed that had a roller in it that lift and separated the vertebrae thus drawing in the bulge for a while. I finally gave up on the therapy when the last time that I went I couldn't get out of my Porsche and had to go back home and honk for a neighbor's help. Best of luck, Frank
the 11 year old is too big. I ruptured my l5-s1 disc in 1984. After screwing around with the doctors, xray, Catscans, and physical therapy for 6 months my sciatica went from bad to worst. My leg became completely paralyzed. they finally found the collapsed disc with an MRI which was new technology back then and not covered by insurance. I received back surgery where a terrific surgeon cut a 1/2" window in the vertebrae and removed the bulging part of the disc that was pushing against the spinal cord. After another 6 months of painful recovery I was and remain as good as new. Early on I was receiving therapy before the operation that helped somewhat for a while. It was a chiropractor’s bed that had a roller in it that lift and separated the vertebrae thus drawing in the bulge for a while. I finally gave up on the therapy when the last time that I went I couldn't get out of my Porsche and had to go back home and honk for a neighbor's help. Best of luck, Frank
Rather than power winches....
since you'll only be out of action temporarily (hopefully
), why not look into getting an adaptor for a large cordless drill that will attach it to a regular winch? I read about an adaptor like that in a sailing mag a year or two ago - they even had a wife crank her husband up the mast with it. You could certainly hoist the mainsail with that. Also, I doubt you have a lot of chain on your anchor rode, so if you install a bow roller, you can get the anchor up by leading the rode back to a winch in the cockpit, pulling by hand until the anchor is loose, then using the winch. But the best idea is your kids.... if they're old enough to really help, let them! And let them figure out good ways to do things. Most especially, give them real responsibility - anchoring, sail trim, helm, docking, fueling, etc. Soon you'll be able to promote yourself to Commodore, and the Commodore to Admiral, and enjoy! I wish I had gotten into sailing when my kids were younger..... only the oldest has gotten the bug - he's about to crew on a boat sailing from CA to Tahiti via the Marquesas.... I'm green with envy. ;D Cheers, Bob s/v X SAIL R 8
since you'll only be out of action temporarily (hopefully
), why not look into getting an adaptor for a large cordless drill that will attach it to a regular winch? I read about an adaptor like that in a sailing mag a year or two ago - they even had a wife crank her husband up the mast with it. You could certainly hoist the mainsail with that. Also, I doubt you have a lot of chain on your anchor rode, so if you install a bow roller, you can get the anchor up by leading the rode back to a winch in the cockpit, pulling by hand until the anchor is loose, then using the winch. But the best idea is your kids.... if they're old enough to really help, let them! And let them figure out good ways to do things. Most especially, give them real responsibility - anchoring, sail trim, helm, docking, fueling, etc. Soon you'll be able to promote yourself to Commodore, and the Commodore to Admiral, and enjoy! I wish I had gotten into sailing when my kids were younger..... only the oldest has gotten the bug - he's about to crew on a boat sailing from CA to Tahiti via the Marquesas.... I'm green with envy. ;D Cheers, Bob s/v X SAIL R 8Here's an idea
Last year while trying to manhandle the boat into a slip for a haulout I screwed up my shoulder to the point I was in constant pain for about six months. Not as serious as your back but really painful and I couldn't raise the main without a lot of pain. Friend of mine suggested a Milwaukee 18V cordless right angle drill with a winch bit and it worked great not only for raising the main but you can trim the jib in a heartbeat. Lot less expensive than a power winch, I think the drill was a little over $200 and the bit cost $20 on ebay. I've been told that some folks run the anchor line back to a winch and use it to raise the anchor too. Hope this helps and good luck.
Last year while trying to manhandle the boat into a slip for a haulout I screwed up my shoulder to the point I was in constant pain for about six months. Not as serious as your back but really painful and I couldn't raise the main without a lot of pain. Friend of mine suggested a Milwaukee 18V cordless right angle drill with a winch bit and it worked great not only for raising the main but you can trim the jib in a heartbeat. Lot less expensive than a power winch, I think the drill was a little over $200 and the bit cost $20 on ebay. I've been told that some folks run the anchor line back to a winch and use it to raise the anchor too. Hope this helps and good luck.
Ruptured Disks
15 years ago, I ruptured two disks(L4&L5) and couldn't work or do much of anything. I finally went to see a neuro surgeon. He scheduled me for surgery five days later. It was an outpatient surgery where they removed 2/3 of each disk. I went into the hospital around 11:00am and walked out around 7:00pm. They had me do excercises every four hours to stretch the spine so that there wouldn't be any build up of scar tissue on the spinal column. I did everything that they told me to do including walking 1.5 miles every day starting the day after my surgery. I haven't had a problem since, and I know that I wouldn't be sailing today if I didn't have surgery. I went back to work within three weeks. The scar from the surgery was only about 1.5" long. If you're interested,the doctor's name is Thomas Wascher of Neuroscience group in Neenah, WI. I would recomend him to anyone.
15 years ago, I ruptured two disks(L4&L5) and couldn't work or do much of anything. I finally went to see a neuro surgeon. He scheduled me for surgery five days later. It was an outpatient surgery where they removed 2/3 of each disk. I went into the hospital around 11:00am and walked out around 7:00pm. They had me do excercises every four hours to stretch the spine so that there wouldn't be any build up of scar tissue on the spinal column. I did everything that they told me to do including walking 1.5 miles every day starting the day after my surgery. I haven't had a problem since, and I know that I wouldn't be sailing today if I didn't have surgery. I went back to work within three weeks. The scar from the surgery was only about 1.5" long. If you're interested,the doctor's name is Thomas Wascher of Neuroscience group in Neenah, WI. I would recomend him to anyone.
Cut your losses
T.J. welcome to the L5-S1 Alumni Organization. You are among an august body that may well have included the likes of Benjamin Franklin and others. In my own case I have opted for the surgical solution not once, but twice. In my circumstances if was the correct choice offering the shortest path to recovery. I cannot stress how important physical therapy is to the whole picture. And by physical therapy I do mean the twice daily exercise schedules. The steroid shots at best buy you some time to build yourself up. Don't waste a minute and Good Luck Amigo. Ol' Dave
T.J. welcome to the L5-S1 Alumni Organization. You are among an august body that may well have included the likes of Benjamin Franklin and others. In my own case I have opted for the surgical solution not once, but twice. In my circumstances if was the correct choice offering the shortest path to recovery. I cannot stress how important physical therapy is to the whole picture. And by physical therapy I do mean the twice daily exercise schedules. The steroid shots at best buy you some time to build yourself up. Don't waste a minute and Good Luck Amigo. Ol' Dave
It's Called the Arnold Schwarzenegger Syndrome
One of Arnold's most recent news events was a skiing accident in the Rockies where he broke his leg. So, this syndrome is named after Arnold ...... you know, that's when your mind is younger than your body is! This age thing gradually creeps up and if you were in good shape in your younger years it can take a little longer but it still happens. To help combat this awful aging process I'm starting to put together some exercises for myself that fall into categories: Stretching, Mussel building, and Cardio. I'm just starting to learn about this stuff so it's all new to me. The other area to work in is eating and vitamin supplements - making sure the body gets all the stuff it needs, nutritionally. Then the last but not least area will be psychological - including rest. My doctor says I'm getting too much into this but it's all interesting and a good rainy day filler. Last spring I pulled a back mussel doing something and it was irritating but I kinda got over it. A couple months later I was working on the boat bottom, leaned over to pick up a piece of sandpaper out of a box, went to stand up and ... whoops, pulled it again. Thats when I started to find out about stretching exercises. The good news it it looks like your recovery will be fairly easy. The bad news is, it seems if it isn't one thing it's another. Have fun with those kids!
One of Arnold's most recent news events was a skiing accident in the Rockies where he broke his leg. So, this syndrome is named after Arnold ...... you know, that's when your mind is younger than your body is! This age thing gradually creeps up and if you were in good shape in your younger years it can take a little longer but it still happens. To help combat this awful aging process I'm starting to put together some exercises for myself that fall into categories: Stretching, Mussel building, and Cardio. I'm just starting to learn about this stuff so it's all new to me. The other area to work in is eating and vitamin supplements - making sure the body gets all the stuff it needs, nutritionally. Then the last but not least area will be psychological - including rest. My doctor says I'm getting too much into this but it's all interesting and a good rainy day filler. Last spring I pulled a back mussel doing something and it was irritating but I kinda got over it. A couple months later I was working on the boat bottom, leaned over to pick up a piece of sandpaper out of a box, went to stand up and ... whoops, pulled it again. Thats when I started to find out about stretching exercises. The good news it it looks like your recovery will be fairly easy. The bad news is, it seems if it isn't one thing it's another. Have fun with those kids!
Me Too!
Wow, what a sad lot we are...!, How timely, I had L4/L5 removed (lamenectomy/discectomy) in 1999 - and just blew out L3/L4 and have been going through major issues - specifically wicked sciatica. (I wrestled through college so got a kick out of your wrestling theme - my little guy is only 5 but still need to take it easy) Doctor so far has decided another surgery not the answer so working through some serious exercising/stretching and I share your concerns for the upcoming season. One thing that I worry about is lifting the dinghy outboard on to the boat - this was hard with a good back - I'm thinking of getting one of those Forespar lifting arms or something similar? and was wondering anyone's experience with these. I really want one that disappears when not in use. Other main concern is anchor - I have a Hunter 33.5 and not much room for a windlass - I think I can still muscle all sheets and halyards (or get wifey to!)but the anchor can be a bear! I guess I'll be reserving more moorings this year...
Wow, what a sad lot we are...!, How timely, I had L4/L5 removed (lamenectomy/discectomy) in 1999 - and just blew out L3/L4 and have been going through major issues - specifically wicked sciatica. (I wrestled through college so got a kick out of your wrestling theme - my little guy is only 5 but still need to take it easy) Doctor so far has decided another surgery not the answer so working through some serious exercising/stretching and I share your concerns for the upcoming season. One thing that I worry about is lifting the dinghy outboard on to the boat - this was hard with a good back - I'm thinking of getting one of those Forespar lifting arms or something similar? and was wondering anyone's experience with these. I really want one that disappears when not in use. Other main concern is anchor - I have a Hunter 33.5 and not much room for a windlass - I think I can still muscle all sheets and halyards (or get wifey to!)but the anchor can be a bear! I guess I'll be reserving more moorings this year...
Hey Guys, You need to schedule more
carefully. I had a wicked diverticulitis attack late fall and surgery in early January. Lost about ten inches of gut but am back to work and doing great. If you are going to have a shipwreck do it when you can take time out not when it will screw everything up. ;D
carefully. I had a wicked diverticulitis attack late fall and surgery in early January. Lost about ten inches of gut but am back to work and doing great. If you are going to have a shipwreck do it when you can take time out not when it will screw everything up. ;D
This is a large club
Two surgeries five years apart. 1995 was the 2nd. Good PT and a little attitude change and I've been about 95% since. Don't overdo it! Let the crew handle the lifting and pulling for awhile. You may find that you can't sit for extended periods of time. I walk a mile every morning and do some light weight training to keep the body weight down. You shouldn't have too many issues sailing. The surgery is the last resort. PT can help. I step and unstep the mast on our 23' each year, so it's not the end of the world.
Two surgeries five years apart. 1995 was the 2nd. Good PT and a little attitude change and I've been about 95% since. Don't overdo it! Let the crew handle the lifting and pulling for awhile. You may find that you can't sit for extended periods of time. I walk a mile every morning and do some light weight training to keep the body weight down. You shouldn't have too many issues sailing. The surgery is the last resort. PT can help. I step and unstep the mast on our 23' each year, so it's not the end of the world.
Guess I better give up my complaint....
of 'oh, my aching back'. I'm one of the lucky few, looks like. Cheers, Bob s/v X SAIL R 8
of 'oh, my aching back'. I'm one of the lucky few, looks like. Cheers, Bob s/v X SAIL R 8
Jeez, we're all a bloody mess!
Boy, what a crew we all are! I herniated the L4 (or was it L5?) last summer -- probably in a slip-and-fall on a wet dock. Little by little the sciatica set in, and by mid-autumn I was a bloody mess. It felt like someone was alternately sticking a hot barbecue fork in my leg and then whacking my leg with a rebar. (I won't even go into the lovely vise-grip sensation on my left gonad.) Lots of medication, two epidural steroid treatments, PT, and I'm probably back to about 85-90%. Hopefully, I'll be close to 100% by sailing season. If not, my orthopedist will be the first to know. (I've been told to check out chiropractice, but my wife, an RN, won't even hear of alternative medicine.) Good luck, TJ. One way or another, it should get better. Like it or not, patience is part of the prescription. Pete s/v EmmieLou (Oday 322) Little Silver, NJ
Boy, what a crew we all are! I herniated the L4 (or was it L5?) last summer -- probably in a slip-and-fall on a wet dock. Little by little the sciatica set in, and by mid-autumn I was a bloody mess. It felt like someone was alternately sticking a hot barbecue fork in my leg and then whacking my leg with a rebar. (I won't even go into the lovely vise-grip sensation on my left gonad.) Lots of medication, two epidural steroid treatments, PT, and I'm probably back to about 85-90%. Hopefully, I'll be close to 100% by sailing season. If not, my orthopedist will be the first to know. (I've been told to check out chiropractice, but my wife, an RN, won't even hear of alternative medicine.) Good luck, TJ. One way or another, it should get better. Like it or not, patience is part of the prescription. Pete s/v EmmieLou (Oday 322) Little Silver, NJ
Help
Hugh, Please, please let me know exactly where to look on e-bay for the bit that fits into the winch. I already have the drill. I also already have all the crap being discussed in this thread. It's a veerry large club for us 60 somethings.
Hugh, Please, please let me know exactly where to look on e-bay for the bit that fits into the winch. I already have the drill. I also already have all the crap being discussed in this thread. It's a veerry large club for us 60 somethings.
Pool Therapy
TJ, I had a microdiscectomy on December 26th,2006. After 14 years of suffering with sciatic pain, and yes the testicle pain also I finally can say I have relief for the most part. My problem was in the l4-l5 disk, and s1 may be a future problem. I had regular therapy twice, and six epidural shots. I have been doing pool therapy for three weeks now, and feel like a million bucks most of the time, and I am finally back to work (sometimes a very physically demanding job). I like you am wondering what to expect from myself aboard this year. I wish you all the best, and know what you are going through. Please keep us updated. Oh yes my point was how well the pool therapy has helped me, if you can try it. It is very low stress stretching. Best of luck, John
TJ, I had a microdiscectomy on December 26th,2006. After 14 years of suffering with sciatic pain, and yes the testicle pain also I finally can say I have relief for the most part. My problem was in the l4-l5 disk, and s1 may be a future problem. I had regular therapy twice, and six epidural shots. I have been doing pool therapy for three weeks now, and feel like a million bucks most of the time, and I am finally back to work (sometimes a very physically demanding job). I like you am wondering what to expect from myself aboard this year. I wish you all the best, and know what you are going through. Please keep us updated. Oh yes my point was how well the pool therapy has helped me, if you can try it. It is very low stress stretching. Best of luck, John
I think that we have gotten of the age
when they find the need to start doing repairs. If we could just last like the wonderful one horse shay. Built to last without repair for one hundred years and on that day it fell apart completely. http://www.readbookonline.net/readOnLine/1157/
when they find the need to start doing repairs. If we could just last like the wonderful one horse shay. Built to last without repair for one hundred years and on that day it fell apart completely. http://www.readbookonline.net/readOnLine/1157/
The best protection for your discs
are the muscles sorrounding them. Excercise often and keep them in tune. When I bicycle and do strech exercises my back does not give me a problem but if I lay off any twisting, turning or bending in the wrong way will throw me into 4-5 days of missery. I find I can still sail with backpains if I have a couple of Mount Gays and water.
are the muscles sorrounding them. Excercise often and keep them in tune. When I bicycle and do strech exercises my back does not give me a problem but if I lay off any twisting, turning or bending in the wrong way will throw me into 4-5 days of missery. I find I can still sail with backpains if I have a couple of Mount Gays and water.
Winch Bit
Scott just go to ebay and type in winch bit. The one called the Cranker is what I have and it costs $19.95 plus shipping. The Cranker is square the other one looks more like the bit on your winch handle but costs $44. The Cranker works fine for me.
Scott just go to ebay and type in winch bit. The one called the Cranker is what I have and it costs $19.95 plus shipping. The Cranker is square the other one looks more like the bit on your winch handle but costs $44. The Cranker works fine for me.
OUCH!!!
TJ I have the same problem L4-L5, L5-S1 ruptures. Not much fun at all! The two biggest problwms I have had is sitting in the cockpit for extended periods and making sure you have stable footing. A slip or jerk always seems to make things tingle a bit. Other than that I have not really had any problems. It does make it a little tougher to crawl down in the lockers to work on the motor but not sure if some of that is just old age rearing it's ugly head. Benny is right tho...work on those muscles. It made the biggest difference and has the most lasting effects. My wife has also become a more involved first mate. I have complete confidence in her ability now to run the entire boat and that is a unexpected plus to all of this. Good luck and heal fast! William
TJ I have the same problem L4-L5, L5-S1 ruptures. Not much fun at all! The two biggest problwms I have had is sitting in the cockpit for extended periods and making sure you have stable footing. A slip or jerk always seems to make things tingle a bit. Other than that I have not really had any problems. It does make it a little tougher to crawl down in the lockers to work on the motor but not sure if some of that is just old age rearing it's ugly head. Benny is right tho...work on those muscles. It made the biggest difference and has the most lasting effects. My wife has also become a more involved first mate. I have complete confidence in her ability now to run the entire boat and that is a unexpected plus to all of this. Good luck and heal fast! William
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