LOL! I'm married and my wife, all 112 lbs of her, is more than willing to help me. I chose well.
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Not sure if ears have been mentioned yet.
Tinnitus in one ear and both ears have become super sensitive to live sound volumes, and we are a musical pop covers band but still loud enough to cause me huge distress.
Without fail I have to wear fitted ear plugs which in some venues will reduce the whole thing to a mushy drone......frustrating?..certainly is. And if I was to loose an ear plug on a gig that would be it Id have to go home....
And tiredness?...Some gigs leave me almost comatose for the next couple of days especially if there was a long schlep from car to venue and back......old age huh?
Tinnitus in one ear and both ears have become super sensitive to live sound volumes, and we are a musical pop covers band but still loud enough to cause me huge distress.
Without fail I have to wear fitted ear plugs which in some venues will reduce the whole thing to a mushy drone......frustrating?..certainly is. And if I was to loose an ear plug on a gig that would be it Id have to go home....
And tiredness?...Some gigs leave me almost comatose for the next couple of days especially if there was a long schlep from car to venue and back......old age huh?
Man, I'm sorry for your discomfort and losing something that you've done and loved for a long time. Truly a time to morn.
I have a few years on you, but other than an arthritic knee thanks to a missing ACL that I donated to an Industrial Leage Basketball game, and a little inflammation of the falanges, I'm in pretty good shape for 65. Still hauling my 150+lbs of gear to gigs. As an astute poster here pointed out a little while ago, " for now".
Not really sure how much longer I'm going to play. Frankly I've played enough notes, played enough venues, crap, I've been on stages since I was 3. There are two things that keep bringing me back however. One, it's the creative process, not necessarily the performances that trips my my trigger. The other is the personal relationships I have with the musical fraternity of players I've worked with over the years. And that's the hardest thing to give up.
My friend, I wish you well, and hope you find comfort from the pain.
Much appreciated and I will say that I'm not out of the game yet!
I'm working on getting my body back in order and seeking an appropriate gig. Kudos to you for moving a 150lb gig at this point.
I've learned that I have to govern myself carefully so as to not make matters worse.
I hear you on the creative process which often eclipses stage performance. I still practice and seek out new ways to make music. I'm just frustrated with the current restrictions my body has placed upon me. Still, I've been more than inspired by the many outstanding posts by people with issues far more serious than mine! They, and you, have given me new motivation to move forward as they have done. So, thank you for you positive words and thoughts. So very appreciated!
Thanks, after reading some of the other posts in this thread my problems have been put firmly in perspective. Best of luck to you as well.
I feel you. Literally. But at a younger age. I'll be 51 this year. I have gigged regularly with the same band for 13 years this month. For about five years, until last September when I got a transplant, I did that with kidney failure and on dialysis. For three or four years before that, my kidneys were in the process of failing. Due to the access in my arm for the dialysis, I am not supposed to lift. My bandmates were always really understanding of this and I never had to touch my cabinet. If they had anything to say about it I wouldnt carry anything else but I tried to help out as much as possible. I felt bad about not being able to lug my own stuff so I finally downsized a bit. It is still above the amount the Dr. wants me lifting, but I can manage this at least. Still, I have to sit some on gigs. It is what it is. At least we are still at it arent we? I hope to be doing it as long as I can. Don't try to do more than you can. Most people understand I'm sure.
Keep on Rockin!
BnB
buldog5151bass
Kibble, milkbones, and P Basses. And redheads.
Is that stand an Omega? If so, I believe Alex Lifeson of Rush holds the patent for that. Always wanted one of those.
BnB
You, sir, definitely belong to this group and I have respect for you're drive in the face of challenges! Glad you're still laying it down, even if in the chair. The notes sound the same sitting or standing, right? Carry on, sir.I feel you. Literally. But at a younger age. I'll be 51 this year. I have gigged regularly with the same band for 13 years this month. For about five years, until last September when I got a transplant, I did that with kidney failure and on dialysis. For three or four years before that, my kidneys were in the process of failing. Due to the access in my arm for the dialysis, I am not supposed to lift. My bandmates were always really understanding of this and I never had to touch my cabinet. If they had anything to say about it I wouldnt carry anything else but I tried to help out as much as possible. I felt bad about not being able to lug my own stuff so I finally downsized a bit. It is still above the amount the Dr. wants me lifting, but I can manage this at least. Still, I have to sit some on gigs. It is what it is. At least we are still at it arent we? I hope to be doing it as long as I can. Don't try to do more than you can. Most people understand I'm sure.
Keep on Rockin!
BnB
Microdisectomy: Benefits, Procedure, and Recovery
This procedure I had done in the mid 90's. Solved the problem in 20 minutes! Walking three hours later and doing stairs as well. Haven't had an issue since! (My amp is 90lbs and my cab is 95lbs!)
Fishheadjoe
This procedure I had done in the mid 90's. Solved the problem in 20 minutes! Walking three hours later and doing stairs as well. Haven't had an issue since! (My amp is 90lbs and my cab is 95lbs!)
Fishheadjoe
Don't remember the brand, I've had it for over a decade.
I first saw Pat Metheny use one live, for a 12 string he could walk up to and play at random.
It looks like the one Lifeson used for the same purpose. If you read the liner notes on Rush's album "Exit Stage Left" and maybe a couple of others from that era, there is a thank you mentioned to "The Omega Concern" and I believe that was the Omega stand people that Lifeson was involved in.
BnB
Firstly, @SJan3 , thanks for steering me toward this thread...it's truly helpful to know that I'm not in it alone and that, while I have been at the extreme threshold of my own experience with pain, there are others who are in a much "worse" situation that are doing a great job not letting their situation hold them back from playing/gigging and that is truly inspirational!
My own situation is that I have 3 herniated discs which entered my life last July. I'm 51 yrs old, 6'3", and I have weighed 220lb for the last 10 years or so. Back in February, I was watching TV and saw a commercial for one of those weight-loss reality shows ("Biggest Loser" or some such) and thought to myself "Man, it must suck to carry around that much weight!"
I'm not obese or anything but with my situation (neck, middle back, and lower back disc herniation) ANY attempt at locomotion has been extremely painful. I basically had that "lazy man" belly (you know, the one we're immune to before 40) but figured losing 20 pounds from the meat-suit I have to carry around couldn't be a bad thing.
The question (for me) with weight-loss and diet regimens in not short term loss/gain but rather the long-term efficacy of a true lifestyle change (and let me tell you there have been quite a few for me in the last year!) which allows for a healthier state of being for me which is sustainable. I found out about a diet plan which is being called "intermittent fasting."
The principle is basically that you need to shift your body's energy-conversion mechanism into a state of ketosis on a regular daily basis so that your body can use stored fat for energy.
But how do I do that??
It's actually pretty simple: many folks have reported immediate tangible results by eating anything they want for 8 hours a day, and to have zero calories for the other 16 hours in the day. These time blocks must be consistent. Eating for only 8 hours a day (and fasting for 16 hours) every day over a long period of time did not sound appealing to me since I know that I can't comfortably sustain that over the long haul.
I opted to implement an intermittent fasting plan in which I could eat for 10 hours a day and fast for the other 14 hours (rather than the conventional 8/16 plan.) I chose to eat from 10AM until 8PM every day.
So what have my results been since February? I lost 30 pounds in 13 weeks and I can eat whatever I want. WHATEVER I WANT. Since I cannot perform any exercise which can even slightly tug on my back/neck/shoulder, I have decided to level off (90% of my gut is gone) since I am not kidding myself that all 30 of those lost pounds are fat only...there is going to be a lean-tissue (read: muscle) loss and I am terrified of long-term muscular atrophy. I have shifted my routine to a 12/12 plan where I can eat (anything!) from 7AM to 7PM for the past week and have only regained about 2 pounds although that's still a work/experiment in progress.
I haven't seen any "negatives" to this diet plan other than having to deliberately squeeze in salads/vegetables and nutritional supplements (B6, C, and Omega-3)...in other words, my nutritional intake is actually better than it was before the diet.
Positives I've noticed:
1. IT'S EASY!
2. I have a bit less chronic/muscular pain overall (read: quality of life) but the heavy-hitting skeletal nerve-impingement pain is still a killer (although a bit less frequent)
3. My ability to sustain chronic pain while I go for walks and climb up/down the 2 flights of stairs to my place throughout the day have noticeably increased
4. I feel great! There's a real clarity (mentally and physically) which is helping me in many ways (physically, socially,etc)
5. I do not feel that it will be too difficult to sustain a static plan of eating/fasting over the long term...so I'm not worried about the bounce-back which is always on the horizon with calorie-intake-deprivation diets
That's my experience, I hope it helps someone.
This is pretty amazing, and doable. Thanks for a great share. Hopefully, others may benefit as well!Firstly, @SJan3 , thanks for steering me toward this thread...it's truly helpful to know that I'm not in it alone and that, while I have been at the extreme threshold of my own experience with pain, there are others who are in a much "worse" situation that are doing a great job not letting their situation hold them back from playing/gigging and that is truly inspirational!
My own situation is that I have 3 herniated discs which entered my life last July. I'm 51 yrs old, 6'3", and I have weighed 220lb for the last 10 years or so. Back in February, I was watching TV and saw a commercial for one of those weight-loss reality shows ("Biggest Loser" or some such) and thought to myself "Man, it must suck to carry around that much weight!"
I'm not obese or anything but with my situation (neck, middle back, and lower back disc herniation) ANY attempt at locomotion has been extremely painful. I basically had that "lazy man" belly (you know, the one we're immune to before 40) but figured losing 20 pounds from the meat-suit I have to carry around couldn't be a bad thing.
The question (for me) with weight-loss and diet regimens in not short term loss/gain but rather the long-term efficacy of a true lifestyle change (and let me tell you there have been quite a few for me in the last year!) which allows for a healthier state of being for me which is sustainable. I found out about a diet plan which is being called "intermittent fasting."
The principle is basically that you need to shift your body's energy-conversion mechanism into a state of ketosis on a regular daily basis so that your body can use stored fat for energy.
But how do I do that??
It's actually pretty simple: many folks have reported immediate tangible results by eating anything they want for 8 hours a day, and to have zero calories for the other 16 hours in the day. These time blocks must be consistent. Eating for only 8 hours a day (and fasting for 16 hours) every day over a long period of time did not sound appealing to me since I know that I can't comfortably sustain that over the long haul.
I opted to implement an intermittent fasting plan in which I could eat for 10 hours a day and fast for the other 14 hours (rather than the conventional 8/16 plan.) I chose to eat from 10AM until 8PM every day.
So what have my results been since February? I lost 30 pounds in 13 weeks and I can eat whatever I want. WHATEVER I WANT. Since I cannot perform any exercise which can even slightly tug on my back/neck/shoulder, I have decided to level off (90% of my gut is gone) since I am not kidding myself that all 30 of those lost pounds are fat only...there is going to be a lean-tissue (read: muscle) loss and I am terrified of long-term muscular atrophy. I have shifted my routine to a 12/12 plan where I can eat (anything!) from 7AM to 7PM for the past week and have only regained about 2 pounds although that's still a work/experiment in progress.
I haven't seen any "negatives" to this diet plan other than having to deliberately squeeze in salads/vegetables and nutritional supplements (B6, C, and Omega-3)...in other words, my nutritional intake is actually better than it was before the diet.
Positives I've noticed:
1. IT'S EASY!
2. I have a bit less chronic/muscular pain overall (read: quality of life) but the heavy-hitting skeletal nerve-impingement pain is still a killer (although a bit less frequent)
3. My ability to sustain chronic pain while I go for walks and climb up/down the 2 flights of stairs to my place throughout the day have noticeably increased
4. I feel great! There's a real clarity (mentally and physically) which is helping me in many ways (physically, socially,etc)
5. I do not feel that it will be too difficult to sustain a static plan of eating/fasting over the long term...so I'm not worried about the bounce-back which is always on the horizon with calorie-intake-deprivation diets
That's my experience, I hope it helps someone.
I will be 65 in August and have had 4 herniated discs since 1983. Toning exercises that I learned in physical therapy in the 80's is what keeps me going. That and playing in a band with no backline. DI to the PA with IEM. It's a great way to go for us older guys.
