Get off my LAWN! "Grumpy Old Farts"

[BassmanPaul]

@Basically Bob that is indeed beautiful work. That your friend’s kids wanted something like that for their dad is wonderful.

 

[Basically Bob]

....thanks Paul! I think I am more excited about it than anyone.
They are a really “tight and caring family”.

 

[Basically Bob]

Those Freddie Matara straps are pretty expensive. Maybe I should stop making cell phone and other cases, amp covers, and switch over to guitar straps and belts. I have done a few but they were just plain straps, they were less expensive to purchase. The advantage of making them is that the length can be tailored to fit.

What turned me on to leatherwork was the tooled leather cover that Elvis had Marcus Van Story make for his 1955 D-28 Martin acoustic. Elvis apparently wanted one because Hank Snow had one.

That and the Tandy Leather catalog. Today it’s their web site and videos. Their leather prices are a bit high but my other sources, tanneries open to the public and shoe makers, are drying up as the old tradesmen retire. I still buy tools from a Tandy store. Fun place to poke around in.


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In addition to Freddie’s skills, I really appreciate that he runs his business like a business and that he is able to charge what the product is truly worth. There ARE people out there that appreciate hand skills and will pay accordingly. The trick is to find them.

Nice to find another leather worker here.

 

[G-Dog]

Don't mean to whine here, guys, but has anyone had any luck correcting lumbar disc compressions pinching nerves? It's been VERY painful in my right leg, especially the right hip.

I've got an appointment for vertebrae injection(s) in a few weeks. Really hope that helps.

Otherwise, it's the "s" word that I don't want to even think about.

 

[beans-on-toast]

Absolutely have it checked out.

There are many types of back conditions. I live with (the threat of) sciatica. This sounds different than a slipped lower disk, what I had occurances of many years ago but no longer occurs.

Pain is in the lower back, into one butt, down the leg, to the toes. When it is at it's worst, for some reason, sleeping at night is difficult. I can't take pain killers so refuse them. I've had three bad occurances, each time it sidelines me for weeks, then the pain lessens enough to allow me to do more to recover. A cane, I use a walking stick, helps relieve stress on the affected side of the back when recovering. It can take months to feel normal again.

What works for me and has kept it mostly at bay are specific exercises for the condition. How I sit is important, so is proper posture. No unbalanced lifting. No heavy lifting, I use cartage. Any one sided sports where you swing one side such as golf or tennis are out. Nothing that pounds the spine such as running or basketball. Good socks and footware is very important. Swimming is fantastic. I make it a point to walk twice a day, an hour in the early morning, longer in the evening. Then keep up the exercises.

 

[SoulReflection]

Absolutely have it checked out.

There are many types of back conditions. I live with (the threat of) sciatica. This sounds different than a slipped lower disk, what I had occurances of many years ago but no longer occurs.

Pain is in the lower back, into one butt, down the leg, to the toes. When it is at it's worst, for some reason, sleeping at night is difficult. I can't take pain killers so refuse them. I've had three bad occurances, each time it sidelines me for weeks, then the pain lessens enough to allow me to do more to recover. A cane helps relieve stress on the affected side of the back when recovering. It can take months to feel normal again.

What works for me and has kept it mostly at bay are specific exercises for the condition. How I sit is important, so is proper posture. No unbalanced lifting. No heavy lifting, I use cartage. Any one sided sports where you swing one side such as golf or tennis are out. Nothing that pounds the spine such as running or basketball. Good socks and footware is very important. Swimming is fantastic. I make it a point to walk twice a day, an hour in the early morning, longer in the evening. Then keep up the exercises.

I have had these symptoms for many years. They have lessened greatly as I have aged. I have lost the belly fat, which places a strain on the back. I have also learned (the hard way) correct posture, especially when reaching, is important. Even reaching for and lifting an empty cardboard box, the wrong way, is bad. The biggest improvement to my condition was to sell my car, which I had to bend down to get into, and get a van or truck. These, you step up to get into. I avoid driving my wife's compact sports car because getting into and out of it, without care, will be back pain for a week. YMMV.

 

[G-Dog]

Thank you, Beans and Soul. Beans, your description sounds just like my experience and, yes, a cane does help a lot.

The injection(s) is what the orthopedist recommended from an MRI. I trust neither of you have had this?

 

[beans-on-toast]

In my case, years of bouncing around heavy gear, including Hammond organs and electric pianos, not to mention amps of all sorts, didn't help. By I blame poor habits such as sitting at a desk or bench for too many hours at a time. Unfortunately, sometimes it takes you a lifetime to learn from your mistakes.

I wish that I had been given advice when I was younger that would have prevented the back problems. Passing on life lesson learned is so importnt. Kids tend to not to listen. They want to follow their own path.

It breaks my heart when I see a parent buying the wrong food for a child. They are setting the kid up with a lifetime of emotional and health problems. Same goes for all the teenagers that smoke and feel that they are invincible.

 

[SoulReflection]

Thank you, Beans and Soul. Beans, your description sounds just like my experience and, yes, a cane does help a lot.

The injection(s) is what the orthopedist recommended from an MRI. I trust neither of you have had this?

I was lucky or had a different diagnosis. In my case, it started 35 years ago when I played soccer and volley ball in a gopher infested field! Doctors recommended exercises to increase stomach muscle in order to support my back. When it would flare up, they would recommend bed rest and alternating heat and cold on my lower back. I found at that time, the only instant relief was to pay a chiropractor to "reset" my spine. It worked and I gladly paid. The one thing that really helped was to put a pillow under my knees when I slept on my back and between the knees when I sleep on my side (s). Something I still do to this day...

 

[beans-on-toast]

I trust neither of you have had this?

There are side effects from cortisone or steriods that have to be considered. It works for some people. The reiief can be sort lived. Same goes for chiropractic treatments.

I prefer alternate approaches to medication whenever possible. Unfortunately, doctors often like to prescribe drugs, surgeons like to cut. Deal medically with the current situation. But ask your doctor what changes are needed to address the root cause. You have to identify and change what you are doing wrong.

The one thing that really helped was to put a pillow under my knees when I slept on my back and between the knees when I sleep on my side (s). Something I still do to this day...

Yes! Also your bed and chairs, including the car, makes a difference.

 

[SoulReflection]

There are side effects from cortisone or steriods that have to be considered. It works for some people. The reiief can be sort lived. Same goes for chiropractic treatments.

I prefer alternate approaches to medication whenever possible. Unfortunately, doctors often like to prescribe drugs, surgeons like to cut. Deal medically with the current situation. But ask your doctor what changes are needed to address the root cause. You have to identify and change what you are doing wrong.




Yes! Also your bed and chairs, including the car, makes a difference.

Agreed...nothing like lumbar support and taking a stand-up, walking break after 30 - 45 minutes of sitting .

Edit: Now I understand why stand-up desks are so popular.

 

[beans-on-toast]

Now I understand why stand-up desks are so popular.

Too much sitting is bad. Too much standing is also hard on the varicose veins and feet.

Hard to win.

 

[dieselman]

I have had the same lower back and sciatica issues. Numbness in the leg to the toes with tingling. Found that a Good Chiropractor that after several treatments was able to get relief. Along with stretching and daily exercise to help.

 

[alaskaleftybass]

Agreed...nothing like lumbar support and taking a stand-up, walking break after 30 - 45 minutes of sitting .

Edit: Now I understand why stand-up desks are so popular.

I'm still working and a few years from retirement. At work I see a lot of the office workers get the adjustable standing desks. After they've owned them a few months, all the desks are laying flat on the original desks and they're back to sitting!

 

[Basically Bob]

Yup, my back has given me grief for about 40 years. About five years ago I was having severe pain - lower back, right hand side. It got so bad that I couldn’t walk half a block or lift anything. Getting out of bed was brutal. Went to a chiropractor, massage therapist, and three physiotherapists. Even tried very expensive treatments in a wonky decompression chair that I felt made it worse. Using a cane also made it worse.

Had an MRI and the results were horrible. Two severely degenerated discs .. blah blah blah. It was very depressing for sure. I’m a pretty active guy and just don’t have time for this sort of thing.

After all this, I was referred to an Osteopath, who, after looking at the MRI report and asking a lot of questions about my lifestyle, asked me to bring in my bass. I strapped it on and showed her how I stood with it.

The bottom line was that she felt that even though the MRI results were really bad, that the pain I was having had nothing to do with the discs.

My pelvis was way out of alignment, which she felt was a direct result of playing my bass with poor posture. (Like a repetitive strain injury) I am a just a hobby player but at that time I was out of the house playing three to five times a week.

Sooooo after several sessions with her, stretching exersizes and modifying my playing style, things got pretty good. It took more than two years, but now I really don’t have any lifestyle restrictions related to my back. (as long as I do the stretches and watch my posture etc..)

I would highly recommend that you seek out a good Osteopath.

 

[hondo4life]

Don't mean to whine here, guys, but has anyone had any luck correcting lumbar disc compressions pinching nerves? It's been VERY painful in my right leg, especially the right hip.

I've got an appointment for vertebrae injection(s) in a few weeks. Really hope that helps.

Otherwise, it's the "s" word that I don't want to even think about.

My father just had a minimally invasive surgery for that. They went in and trimmed the extra bone around the nerves. In and out in a day. Expected full recovery in about a month. It was that, or fusion. I hope this works for him, because I've already had an episode of sciatica, myself, and I'm only in my 30s.

 

[Stumbo]

After 3 years of many and varied treatments, including pills, injections, exercises and such, three things solved my wife's lower back pain resulting from an auto accident:

1) purchasing two adjustable XL twin beds that we setup next to each other to make the equivalent of a king size bed. That way she could adjust it for her own comfort.

Being able to raise the foot end and have it stay in a specific position finally gave her relief. Took the pressure off her lower back. A zero gravity type situation.

Pillows under the knees were useless as they moved around and had no height adjustment.

2) purchasing new trail runner shoes every six months or so. She used to write the purchase date on the inside of one of the shoes. Now she sets her calendar to remind her.

These have more cushioning and less bend. She also uses a gel insert.

3) Wearing really good, cushioned flip-flops around the house to relieve strain caused by hardwood and tile floors.

Hope all of you feel better!

 

[BassmanPaul]

Otherwise, it's the "s" word that I don't want to even think about.

What? Snow?

Sorry for your discomfort! I hope the injections reduce your pain.

 

[beans-on-toast]

Winter is a killer. One reason why those that can live somewhere else during the cold months.

I find that what triggers back stress is slippery streets in the winter. It doesn’t take much to jar your back. Couple that with the weight of the snow covering the ice as well as the weight of winter boots and it affects even those with no preexisting back issues.

The solutions that everyone has mentioned all make me nod in recognition.

If I wake up in pain, I just smile. I see it as your body letting you know that you’re still alive.

 

[beans-on-toast]

You hear about so many people that get hooked on pain killers.

Doctors hand them out like candy. People hear that you have some pain and ask if you want to try one of their pills. They are trying to help but, Yikes!

When I had my wisdom teeth out, they gave me a script for a hundred pills. Why on earth would anyone need that many pills. I didn’t take any.