Hiking with back problems

[Tough_Boots]

Hey folks,
I need a little input from some people that might have some experience with this. After the year from hell, I'm having back surgery to fix a herniated disc (trust me, this is my last resort) + two degenerated discs I'm stuck with forever. Does anyone else here with back problems hike a lot? Does this effect the distance you can go or how strenuous the hikes you do can be? Any "I better turn around" signs you've noticed with yourself? I can't wait to get back on the trails and I'm hoping this won't handicap me too much.

[big_load]

I have back pain that approaches unbearable when I don't get enough exercise. It actually gets better on the trail. The only thing I've experienced that seems like a warning sign when bumping something with my arm or shoulder causes lumbar pain.

[Grasshopper]

Does anyone else here with back problems hike a lot? Does this effect the distance you can go or how strenuous the hikes you do can be?

In Oct'94 I was in a very serious car accident in a remote area on the way to a weekend backpack trip in Anza-Borrego Desert SP in CA. I had a helicopter ride to the emergency room in Escondido, CA, with a burst-fracture of my L1 spinal cord. I was told I was within 24 hours of being a paraplegic. Very fortunately for me there was an excellent orthopedic surgeon on duty that Saturday morning. I went through living hell for a one year rehab period with all my effort to again regain my strength back for hiking. My one plus year recovery period went well and with hardware still in my back from the surgery, and some permanent secondary neurologic disabilities that I will have forever, I have regained all strength back in my back with absolutely no back pains or discomfort from my hiking since the recovery period ended in early 1996. So, it can turn out well! For me I think it was having a great surgeon and my never ending desire to work to "get it back the way it use to be".. Good luck to you too!!

[Tough_Boots]

Grasshopper:

Sir, you are tough as nails.

[cathymocha]

Grasshopper:

Sir, you are tough as nails.

Agreed!!!

My son hit a bridge at 60mph which broke his back in three places. He says that exercise and stretching are important to get past the initial pain. It's been 20 years since that happened and he is able to run, hike, etc...just remember after you are recovered, to stretch.

[Grasshopper]

Grasshopper:

Sir, you are tough as nails.Agreed!!!

Thank you both for the complement! For me during this challenging recovery period, I do think it was more just a commitment to show up each day for the battle, having faith, close friends, keeping a positive attitude, perseverance, and a strong desire to win the battle. Every day since this win I try to remember to give thanks for all those small things in life that I took for granted prior-to.. ;)

[te_wa]

I try to remember to give thanks for all those small things in life that I took for granted prior-to..

dont leave hammocks out of the equation. they have saved many from inability to sleep in the wilds. ive actually seen this rig, a Jeep Wrangler with a hammock strung up inside of it.. and it made me think of you Hank. Cheers!

fyi, this photo is copywright from JustJeff, one of the first pioneers of real camping hammocks, and has a great website still used as a resource by us hanging veterans. http://www.tothewoods.net although some of the links are bunk/out of date, its still filled with any thing you may need to stay warm, dry, and back-pain free.
of course, you'll just need a te-wa underquilt to complete your happiness.. ;)

[Grasshopper]

In response to te-wa:
very !

[cathymocha]

Every day since this win I try to remember to give thanks for all those small things in life that I took for granted prior-to.. ;)

Is true for my son as well.

[imike]

Not sure my experiences relate, but I had a chronicly bad back through my 20's, 30's, 40's and into my 50's.... one wrong little move and I would be bed ridden for 4-10 days. The pain would be exceptional, and my body would be bent over double... not really able to walk. The typical pattern was to have to spend numerous days in bed and slowly regain function. It seemed to happen more often when I had neglected abdominal excercises, and when my body weight was higher. Usually had two or three episodes each year. About ten years ago I was training for a 50 mile run and it went out... and after about 24 hours in bed I was so pissed off at all of the wasted training that I foolishly drug myself out of bed and hobbled, bent over, down to the Rillito... and started just slowly slogging along through the sand. After a mile my posture came erect and I was able to move a bit faster... by three miles I was really running. I managed my full sand run (Craycroft to Harrison down the Pantano) and back... but as I left the sand and moved back towards the house, going slower and slower, my body bent back over. By the time I was home I could hardily walk. After reflecting on the experience it occurred to me that the activity was self correcting... and the normal response of laying in bed was an action that perpetuated the problem. Since that episode I have not lost a single day to the displaced back problem... ten years of good after 30+ years of bad. My dad had the same obvious problem and in his 50's had surgery fusing his lower spine...

I'm sure we are all different... but, for me... simply asking/demanding/cooperating with my body to do more has worked... so far...

At 60 I am stressing it to some new limits and it seems to be responding in very positive ways.

Good Luck with your situation...

[Tough_Boots]

thanks for the input, folks!