Alembic Guitars Club

Connecting => Miscellaneous => Topic started by: richbass939 on December 16, 2009, 05:06:20 PM

Title: Oh, my aching back!!
Post by: richbass939 on December 16, 2009, 05:06:20 PM: I'm calling out to guitarists or bass guitarists who have problems standing up to play because of back pain.
I am developing a product that will help. I am sorry that I can't elaborate right now about the design details.
I am fortunate that I don't really have problems with my back. I can stand and play for a couple of hours at a time without very much discomfort.
So, I'm asking for a few people who would be willing to volunteer for a little experiment. This is not going to hurt. If you know a guitarist/bassist (yourself included) who experiences back pain while standing to play, and would be willing to help out, please contact me at foster939@msn.com (http://mailto:foster939@msn.com) . In the email subject field please put Alembic so I won't think it's junk mail.
Thanks for your help. Hopefully, in the near future, if all goes well, I will be offering a very reasonably priced item that will help out.
Thanks,
Rich
Title: Oh, my aching back!!
Post by: lbpesq on December 16, 2009, 06:02:20 PM: Rich:

Does this include a bad disk that results in leg pain/sciatica?

Bill, tgo
Title: Oh, my aching back!!
Post by: richbass939 on December 16, 2009, 09:16:39 PM: Bill, I didn't get into enough detail, I guess. Basically, the item is for anyone who has any kind of trouble playing a guitar because it hangs on the shoulder and puts its w-e-i-g-h-t on the back.
I also failed to mention that you don't have to email me. If you want to discuss it on this board that is fine.
Rich

edit - That was weird. When I typed in the word that I later spelled out above, it dragged along a pop-up for some w-e-i-g-h-t loss site.

(Message edited by richbass939 on December 16, 2009)
Title: Oh, my aching back!!
Post by: elwoodblue on December 16, 2009, 09:26:54 PM: I'm beginning to feel some aching after standing
and playing for an hour or more (and that's with just a guitar) so you have my attention.
Title: Oh, my aching back!!
Post by: elwoodblue on December 16, 2009, 09:32:13 PM: That is weird...maybe time for a norton scan?

I hate all that advertising that anchors on keywords in blogs etc.
One reason I like this place so much...hope you can remedy that anomaly .
Title: Oh, my aching back!!
Post by: lbpesq on December 16, 2009, 09:41:24 PM: I jam every once in a while with a bass player who has a custom stand for his bass and just walks up behind it.

Bill, tgo
Title: Oh, my aching back!!
Post by: tbrannon on December 16, 2009, 09:59:39 PM: Odd how the timing of this thread popped up. I herniated a disc in my low back (L5-S1) in 2004 while living in NZ and had to have an emergency laminectomy/discectomy performed. I was pain and symptom free until 8 weeks ago when I slipped while on a run and relapsed the disc. Another surgery and some trimming of the disc proved to be successful- at least for 7 weeks. Last week the searing Sciatic pain returned and after another MRI, it's clear that the disc has nothing left...... I am going into surgery tomorrow morning for a L5-S1 fusion.

I guess that means I'm interested Rich!!!
Title: Oh, my aching back!!
Post by: richbass939 on December 17, 2009, 05:42:35 AM: Toby, sorry to hear that you are needing more surgery, but hope all goes well.
Bill, I'll email you tonight with the details.
Elwoodblue, please email me at the address in the first post and I'll mail you back.
Thank you to you guys for the assistance.

If anyone else is interested, email me or post here.

Sorry about being so stealthy. I plan to patent (if possible) the device and want to be very careful at this point.

Thanks,
Rich
Title: Oh, my aching back!!
Post by: crobbins on December 17, 2009, 06:51:24 AM: It's not my back that bothers me. It's my feet. I get a burning sensation in the ball of my right foot, after standing for a couple of hours.. Ouch...
Title: Oh, my aching back!!
Post by: hydrargyrum on December 17, 2009, 07:32:34 AM: My wife is a Chiropractor, so I guess I'm in luck.
Title: Oh, my aching back!!
Post by: lbpesq on December 17, 2009, 08:12:09 AM: Rich:

I will keep everything on the QT. Consider it attorney/client privileged.

Bill, tgo
Title: Oh, my aching back!!
Post by: LMiwa on December 17, 2009, 09:14:02 AM: Is this meant to help back pain only, or will it help with other instrument weight related issues?
Title: Oh, my aching back!!
Post by: richbass939 on December 17, 2009, 06:25:18 PM: Lmiwa, it might help with other weight issues, I don't really know. It is designed for a specific purpose but might have other benefits, too.

Wow, I hope I didn't just open a can of worms here asking my questions but giving vague, evasive answers. Sorry folks.

Rich
Title: Oh, my aching back!!
Post by: lbpesq on December 17, 2009, 09:49:37 PM: Rich:

Isn't that Hal's job around here?

Bill, tgo
Title: Oh, my aching back!!
Post by: richbass939 on December 18, 2009, 05:58:49 AM: I think so. Sorry. Not meaning to invade anyone elses turf.

Emails sent to everyone. If I missed anyone, sorry, email me again and I will send you one.

Rich
Title: Oh, my aching back!!
Post by: hankster on December 18, 2009, 07:34:25 PM: Sorry to hear about everyone's back issues. I myself have four herniated discs in my cervical spine - the only cause I can guess at is bouncin' my head up and down while playing bass.

for those of you who have back or neck issues that aren't yet at the surgical/fusion stage, i can only say DO ISOMETRIC EXERCISES TO STRENGTHEN THE MUSCLES AROUND YOUR SPINE!. These exercises are easy, take a few minutes a day, and are the key to keeping your nearly-herniated discs in place as you get older. And they are the difference between no pain and excruciating pain. You can ask your doctor about them, and if they are any good, they will know about them. And even if your discs have herniated, these exercises will improve the situation and make your life liveable again.

r.
Title: Oh, my aching back!!
Post by: elwoodblue on December 18, 2009, 08:52:53 PM: Many thanks for the tips Hankster,
I can see if I depend on the inertia of my youth
(long gone as I'm 44 now) I would probably find myself in alot of pain in the future.
much appreciated, : )
Kris
Title: Oh, my aching back!!
Post by: dannobasso on December 19, 2009, 02:48:48 AM: I will also recommend Qi Gong or Tai Chi. It has done me a world of good and it has wide ranging benefits for your health and well being.I have damage in my neck, middle and lower back and I intend to live long and chase the nurses around the place with my zimmer!
Title: Oh, my aching back!!
Post by: tbrannon on December 21, 2009, 10:13:09 AM: Rich,

I am home from the hospital now- pretty drugged up and whatnot, but haven't seen your email. It may have been sniped by my spam filter. If you'd like to resend the email, I'd love to see what you have planned.

To everyone else- stretch, strengthen and stretch some more. I'm a healthy guy and an exercise freak and it's amazing how out of balance we can allow our bodies to become. I couldn't have avoided the original trauma to the disc, but I do think that had I been more flexible and better balanced that I might have avoided what I've just gone through. Pilates, Yoga, Stretching.... do something for yourself, because you only have one back and once it's injured, it's going to always be there.

My surgery went long (over 5 hours), but went well from what the surgeon tells me. I think I am extra sore as a result of my fitness level- the surgeon said that most of the time they get to the point of a fusion, the patient is so atrophied that there really isn't any musculature to deal with. That wasn't the case with me. I have been swimming every day and finished a couple triathlons in August.. As a result, they had to pull, push and manipulate all of those muscles out of the way during the surgery and stretch me out in ways they don't normally have to during surgery. I'm paying the price for that post-op with soreness.

Sorry for the rant.... I am home now and off the morphine, but still packed full of percocet, so if this doesn't make sense, blame the blood chemistry equation I have happening!!
Title: Oh, my aching back!!
Post by: sonicus on December 21, 2009, 10:19:49 AM: I wish you a speedy recovery .
Title: Oh, my aching back!!
Post by: David Houck on December 21, 2009, 07:09:17 PM: Wow Toby! Wishing you a successful recovery.

My contribution to what others have suggested above. Yoga. Everyday.

As mentioned, once we're into our thirties, our muscles start losing their natural elasticity, and can only remain elastic with daily stretching. Thus, a daily routine of stretching all the muscles of the body can be very beneficial as we get older. It also feels very good.
Title: Oh, my aching back!!
Post by: tbrannon on December 21, 2009, 07:40:20 PM: thanks Wolf and Dave!
Title: Oh, my aching back!!
Post by: mario_farufyno on December 21, 2009, 08:27:22 PM: Good recovery, Toby!
Title: Oh, my aching back!!
Post by: richbass939 on December 21, 2009, 08:35:19 PM: Toby, take care of yourself. Better living with chemistry.
Email sent.
Rich
Title: Oh, my aching back!!
Post by: smokinbear on December 30, 2009, 06:20:38 AM: Tbrannon, Glad to see your doing well i am in the same boat with my back i just had my 6th. radiofreq neurotomy last week and fusion of L-5 S-1 is the next step if pain gets much worse. Sounds like post op really sucks for you, i'm 34 and in pretty good health so major surgery is a scary option. Did they go in from the front or back or both? Opiates are a double edged sword, and i am really curious as to the long term pluses/minuses of yer surgery. Be well in 2010. .....Bear.P.s. I almost forgot the original point of this thread, yes i,m interested .
Title: Oh, my aching back!!
Post by: tbrannon on December 30, 2009, 06:57:20 AM: Bear,
I'm now 13 days post-op and I took my last percocet on day 6. I'm only taking Tylenol now, and find that 2 in the morning and 2 at night are all I need to be comfortable. I am up to a 2 mile brisk walk two or three times per day and find that the more I walk the better I feel.

I'm realizing now that all of my post-op pain was the muscles in my back, hips and butt revolting from all the stress they get put through in the surgery, by day 5 I was feeling pretty comfortable and the trick now is to be patient and let the thing fuse properly. The doctor told me nothing but walking for the first six weeks- at that point I should be ok to start swimming.

My surgery was all done from the back, which I'm sure speeds up the healing. Either way, I know I am well ahead of schedule- I just have to take it easy and not screw this up.