Frustrated with my health!

[SJan3]

Yes, it's a Teeters table. I use it every day, generally for ten minutes per session. It's my only truly indispensable piece of gear!

Wow! Eye opener!!

 

[StyleOverShow]

Sixty eight and gigging with two bands. Genetics have a lot to do with it.

Been lucky that I've not fallen off a roof, or motorcycle and damaged major bones.

I exercise now, first time in my life and watch my diet. It sucks but I keep at it.

I can see the end a comin...

 

[SJan3]

I'm in my early 50s and have endured lower back issues since the mid 80s. And so over the years I have switched to lighter basses, amps, cabs, etc. All is good for now. One day, I may have to adapt again, who knows? It probably helps that I've been a runner since the early 80s, take supplements, don't drink, don't smoke, don't take drugs, do light lifting daily, and such. It's all about making the necessary changes to stay in the game. I hope the very best for you.

You're smart! I need to get honest with some lifestyle changes. I need to lose weight but, man, I love to feed this Italian body! You know we believe food equals love.

 

[GwenOnBass]

More problems here at 62 than an early Mets game. Bought a musician's throne to ease some of the strains on my body. It works as intended.

 

[SJan3]

More problems here at 62 than an early Mets game. Bought a musician's throne to ease some of the strains on my body. It works as intended.

LOL!! I grew up 10 minutes from Shea Stadium. I saw my 1st Mets game in '62?? Man, they were terrible but I became a fan. I loved Shea Stadium! Haven't been to City Field yet.

 

[glocke1]

So, at almost 63, I suffer from lower and mid back pain(2 herniated discs) along with bad shoulders(rotator cuff surgery).
I cannot take the gigs I'd like and really am not self sufficient to move my own equipment.
I feel my days as a player are limited or certainly restricted.
I'll have to seek out an acoustic/semi acoustic gig that requires no more than 1 bass and a small, lightweight combo.
AND, I'll have to sit. I cannot stand any longer for 3/4 sets.
I feel that my woes are not so common at my age. Anyone else out there with similar issues or are you "fit as a fiddle" in your 60s?

Im 50, fairly fit but have shoulder issues and a hip issue that makes 3-4 set gigs painful and unpleasant at times. Even sitting isn't any guarantee of comfort and I suspect that at some point in the next 5 years I'll have a hip replacement.

Honestly its making me realize my days playing live are numbered so for now I push through the pain, however at the end of many gigs Im left feeling almost like i am crippled due to my joints being so stiff.

As an FYI exercise and stretching does help with his stuff, but only so much.

 

[gregbackstrom]

Wow! Eye opener!!

Life saver!! I was able to cancel my scheduled laminectomy. My surgeon told me I would most-likely need "hardware," since the disks were adjacent to each other (L2-4). If he had been able to get me in sooner, I'd be living with that hardware (and the cost of installing it) today. Absolutely the best $325 I have ever spent in my life!

 

[4SG]

I definitely feel you, although I'm just 54. I gave my beloved '77 Precision to my son because I just can't play it for any measurable length of time. I bought a Rumble 200 for small gigs because it's super light. I rehearse with a Danelectro Longhorn Pro to save my back. (I know you're a 34" scale guy but, even though the Dano is short the wide horns let you use the whole fretboard--might be worth a look.) And I'm patiently waiting for Mesa Boogie to come out with an ultralite 4x10 so I can trade in my 100 lb. Powerhouse he wrote while looking directly at Aged Horse. Lots of helpful workarounds suggested. Best ones, in addition to the clever stands and stools, involve fitness. I stretch and ice every freakin' day in order to do all the things I like to do.

 

[4SG]

I also use a chair made for bass players, that almost gives the appearance one is standing.
View attachment 3000472

Ingenious. I saw Horace Panter from the Specials using that same chair a few years ago.

 

[JRA]

how much of these back issues does everyone attribute to a lifetime of hauling bass amps & cabs around?

for me: not bass gear per se, but abusing my back/body when younger just the same.

I'm vested in ibuprofen.

i like the stuff. i take 1-2 most days, but on gig days i might take 3-4 before (600-800mg) and 1-2 at the very end of the day. it works but i don't like the idea of it: i'd rather use my liver for drinking.

I'm still alive, and I can still play!

me too!

I can see the end a comin...

say it ain't so.... i use 'denial'...i'm decent at it, and it's very cheap in the short run!

 

[jim nolte]

Lower back pain is the #1 ailment in American adults.
it's no wonder with all the overweight people out there.

but the age bracket of 60's - 70's will certainly bring out the pains associated with various injuries from youth. Getting old sucks and that's the truth of it.

time to get a Class D amp and a neo cab...2x10 works great for most situations.

Actually even a 2x10 is too much to lift for my back, I'm looking at 1x10 and stacking them

 

[Jim622]

It just sucks getting older and there's no way around it. I just made the decision to retire about 5 years earlier than planned from my reserve unit, because the constant demand to pass the physical requirements every 6 months is doing damage to my knees that my doctor told me will require surgery if I don't give them a break. I can't require people to maintain standards I can't. They are willing to look the other way, but I'm not. I don't play out, but acoustics sets have always been satisfying to me. Adjusting to limitations suck.

 

[Bunk McNulty]

So, at almost 63, I suffer from lower and mid back pain(2 herniated discs) along with bad shoulders(rotator cuff surgery).
I cannot take the gigs I'd like and really am not self sufficient to move my own equipment.
I feel my days as a player are limited or certainly restricted.
I'll have to seek out an acoustic/semi acoustic gig that requires no more than 1 bass and a small, lightweight combo.
AND, I'll have to sit. I cannot stand any longer for 3/4 sets.
I feel that my woes are not so common at my age. Anyone else out there with similar issues or are you "fit as a fiddle" in your 60s?

I had rotator cuff surgery when I was in my 50s. Except for the excruciating post-surgery exercises, it was great. I had a note from my doctor that I couldn't carry anything heavy for three months. The rest of the band became my roadies. Don't get me wrong: I do not recommend rotator cuff surgery as a lifestyle choice. But I got a laugh out of it during a time when the laughs didn't come so easy.

 

[jim nolte]

Ingenious. I saw Horace Panter from the Specials using that same chair a few years ago.

And Jack Bruce was using something similar on the Cream reunion DVD.

 

[Acoop]

I'm 65 going on 66 and still hauling my Aguilar single 12" rig around doing small, local upright and electric gigs. ... There are days but, over-all I'm pretty lucky. ... I can remember about 40-years ago, meeting a woman in her 70's who could kick her leg up as high as her chest. ... I was amazed and said "I want to be like you." ... I started playing upright at the age of 40 and started feeling lower back, wrist and muscle pain. So, I started swimming, doing Tai Chi and it made a world of difference. ... Today. I swim when I'm in the pool and do Tia Chi when I'm near a park. ... I might get away with another 10/15 years.

 

[SJan3]

Im 50, fairly fit but have shoulder issues and a hip issue that makes 3-4 set gigs painful and unpleasant at times. Even sitting isn't any guarantee of comfort and I suspect that at some point in the next 5 years I'll have a hip replacement.

Honestly its making me realize my days playing live are numbered so for now I push through the pain, however at the end of many gigs Im left feeling almost like i am crippled due to my joints being so stiff.

As an FYI exercise and stretching does help with his stuff, but only so much.

I had rotator cuff surgery when I was in my 50s. Except for the excruciating post-surgery exercises, it was great. I had a note from my doctor that I couldn't carry anything heavy for three months. The rest of the band became my roadies. Don't get me wrong: I do not recommend rotator cuff surgery as a lifestyle choice. But I got a laugh out of it during a time when the laughs didn't come so easy.

You mean like this??

 

[arbiterusa]

I tore a nerve root in my back, early thirties which really caused me some issues for a number of years. Still numb in places on my back and right leg. Didn't know if I wasn't going to be able to walk a hundred yards let alone load a rig into a car. A strict regimen of yoga (as others have mentioned) and most importantly, losing about 50 pounds has got me back in the saddle. I can even toss my old 95 pound Goliath cab on the car if I feel like hauling that monster out, but there's rarely a need. The neo cabs I'm running nowadays sound identical to the heavy one and the SWR amps weren't that heavy in the first place.

I do usually sit for rehearsal these days but will not do it for a gig. That's my line in the sand. If I can't stand for a full set I don't need to be gigging, I need physical therapy and for that to be the only priority.

I wish you all luck. Getting old is not for the timid or weak. It's brutal.

 

[SJan3]

I definitely feel you, although I'm just 54. I gave my beloved '77 Precision to my son because I just can't play it for any measurable length of time. I bought a Rumble 200 for small gigs because it's super light. I rehearse with a Danelectro Longhorn Pro to save my back. (I know you're a 34" scale guy but, even though the Dano is short the wide horns let you use the whole fretboard--might be worth a look.) And I'm patiently waiting for Mesa Boogie to come out with an ultralite 4x10 so I can trade in my 100 lb. Powerhouse he wrote while looking directly at Aged Horse. Lots of helpful workarounds suggested. Best ones, in addition to the clever stands and stools, involve fitness. I stretch and ice every freakin' day in order to do all the things I like to do.

Yea, I bought a Fender Mustang for that added comfort but I am just not ready to give up my P and J Basses. I did go the lighter cabinet route so I'm good there.
But, yes, fitness is the answer for many of us. Otherwise, age is a reality and the body tends to fail in ways.

 

[Kukulkan61]

You are an inspiration! Glad you're able to carry on..

Thank you I hope you get better and things work out for you..

 

[SJan3]

I tore a nerve root in my back, early thirties which really caused me some issues for a number of years. Still numb in places on my back and right leg. Didn't know if I wasn't going to be able to walk a hundred yards let alone load a rig into a car. A strict regimen of yoga (as others have mentioned) and most importantly, losing about 50 pounds has got me back in the saddle. I can even toss my old 95 pound Goliath cab on the car if I feel like hauling that monster out, but there's rarely a need. The neo cabs I'm running nowadays sound identical to the heavy one and the SWR amps weren't that heavy in the first place.

I do usually sit for rehearsal these days but will not do it for a gig. That's my line in the sand. If I can't stand for a full set I don't need to be gigging, I need physical therapy and for that to be the only priority.

I wish you all luck. Getting old is not for the timid or weak. It's brutal.

Many are suggesting weight loss.
I could afford to lose 50 lbs.
How did you lose the weight??