At 08:02 PM 9/6/2000 -0700, zootpatutie wrote:
>Biomechanics is the key. If you correctly adjust motion into the vertebrae,
>it will improve the condition of the disc. Has a lot to do with disc
>nutrition, proprioceptive nerves (position, balance, and motion senses), and
>previous injury. I tell my patients I can't make them younger, but I can
>roll back the mileage. Everything has limitations to matter however, so
>either do the maintenance, or watch it fail prematurely.
>Todd
>A9
>DC
>(Keep it working.)
>----- Original Message -----
>From: "Paul Kneisl"
>To: DSN_klr650@egroups.com>
>Sent: Wednesday, September 06, 2000 6:08 AM
>Subject: [DSN_klr650] Back Pain 101
Hey there's a doc in the house..... cool.... Even better is that he is
knowledged in the ways of posterior pains
Here's my pennies for those who don't think you can't or shouldn't DS with
back problems.
I have DDD (degenerative disk disease) Everyone on my Dad's side is also
lucky enough to have it as well. Well a person with DDD can live there
entire life without complications if they take proper care of their
back.... ie., they're in a COMA! I wasn't lucky enough to stay away from
the activities of youth, Hockey Soccer, DownHill Skiing, Martial Arts, Off
Roading, Dirt Biking, Road Racing, Bungee Jumping..... Ok well I'm still
not...
Those activities usually have adverse effects on your body. DUH!
Well my Neurosurgeon rolled back my mileage last Thanksgiving. Tried a
year of PT (the Army whipped my back into shape, I figured I could do it
again .. WRONG), tried acupucture, tried chiropractic adjustments, tried
steroid epidurals (didn't work) then I decided reluctantly to get cut. AM
of surgery I was barely walking, PM after surgery I was cranking out laps
at the Hospital. Doc told me to walk two laps around the ward every
hour.... Well I wasn't comfortable in bed so I didn't sleep all night,
every hour I got up and walked 2-3 laps.... For a grand total of 4 miles
before dawn. Doc released me the next day (thanksgiving), went to grandma
in law's house and ate lots o bird. Granted I only had a Partial Discetomy
of L5-S1 to get rid of the pain but a rather major surgery for most people
nonetheless. Doc went in micro through a 1.5" diameter tube but when he
got in there he wished he had gone bigger. I'm left with a small incision
and only memories of crying on the floor from the pain.
Spent 3 months in rehab/PT, cleared for light gym stuff. Another 3 months
and Nerve Doc gives me a clean bill of health, no two footed landings while
jumping and very strategic lifting with only proper form. I feel better
now than I have in the past 10 years. In '91 I was mis-diagnosed with
Periformis Syndrome, luckily it was pretty much the same rehab, but what I
really had was a disk that was peeking out from under the covers. After
the pain subsided I prematurely resumed my abusive lifestyle. Luckily I
have always been into working out and believe it or not I have a very
strong back. When I got twisted up, those muscles would hurt me more, but
when I was properly aligned and stretched out.... I was king!
Now it's daily exercises, stretches and the like. I have no restrictions
physically, only the thought of leaving my family fatherless keeps my
activities somewhat subdued. I DS, I play Hockey, study martial arts, I
will ski again this winter and I still have other disks that are
potentially problematic. L4-L5 is desiccated and bulging (not causing
pain) and L3-L4 is desiccated.
Here's a few things that you may consider when your getting pains down your
legs and into your feet with maybe numbness. All my pain was in my Upper
Right Glute and down my right ham, my left Big toe is no longer numb
either. My lower back, from years of weight lifting and improper muscle
compensation had no lordosis (curvature), PT fixed that after surgery, I
also found out that one leg appeared to be about 1/2" shorter than the
other, causing a twist and improper muscle compensation. It wasn't really
that much shorter, my hips and ailing back were super compensating, I wear
a 1/8" lift in one shoe and I now have perfect alignment. One hip was
posterior and the other was anterior, again PT fixed that.
My point is that before you jump into any regime, make sure you go to a
good ortho guy who'll examine your every bone and joint before attacking
soft tissue, a good PT specialist will also be able to see your every twist
and know how to fix them. I was good as new very quickly and I owe it to a
medical staff that really knew what end was supposed to be up.
My other point is that unless you are grossly overweight, don't have heathy
exercise habits and are pretty much a slug then your back will enjoy your
DS rides as much as you do.
My back feels great after a romp in the woods, its like a message. Yeah
I'm careful and very mindful of my back but I generally don't let it keep
me from doing the things I enjoy.
With proper conditioning, your back will get tired long after the rest of
your body, but if you back gets tired then you are increasing the likely
hood of an injury.
Doc is right, maintain it or watch its demise. I know first hand how
difficult it is to get out of bed in the morning, I also know first hand
that the last thing in the world you want to do when you hurt is to stretch
and exercise.... Suck it up and do it anyway.
Stay Healthy, Stay Safe and Ride Hard.
LaterZ
Dash