The Talkbass back pain solution thread...

[Joe Nerve]

I thought it might be a good idea to start a thread compiling our collective experience. I'll try to keep this short, lol ...

Up until 2016 I was certain than anyone complaining about the weight of a bass simply needed to exercise more. I had a few bouts with back pain, but always rested, stretched and exercised my way out of it and got stronger, and healthier...

Then I was putting clothes in the dryer one day, and my life changed. Couldn't move for several days, got over that, but the lower back pain never completely went away. I've since then been to doctors, chiropractors, physical therapists... invested in an inversion table... done lots, got lots better, and then a few weeks ago had another, "dryer like experience," and realized I have to up my game.

I don't think its any coincidence that my back started acting up again as soon as I started gigging heavily again, and at last night's gig - I had a bit of a revelation.

I realized last night that I ALWAYS put all my weight on my right foot. Its a habit that evolved without my realizing it. To consciously shift to my left was an odd, uncomfortable position. But I knew I HAD to do it. I spent the night giving equal time to both sides of my body, while practicing to stand straight (how I was taught in grammar school, but never listened ).

It made a HUGE difference at the end of the 4 set evening... and when I woke up in a lot less pain than usual this morning I thought, I may be onto something big here. For me.

So I thought I'd share, as well as open this up to others.

I have lots more to talk about later in the thread, but wanted to get this going. I thought we could discuss everything here. What works for you, what doesn't, the lightest basses or whatever.

Please share your experience, strength and hope!!!!

 

[Krisfield]

12 years ago I woke up one morning with a stabbing pain in my lower back. Did the MRI, Ultrasound, and various specialist. Turned out to be muscle spasms due to too much stress. Did a short course of Diazepam that helped a lot, but it didn't solve the problem. Turned out the long term solution was to reduce stress as much as possible, and using heat therapy. In particular capsaicin cream like Zostrix 0.075%. It says its an arthritis pain relief, but it works really well for other types of lower back inflammation. This stuff is HOT, in a pleasant way. Apparently Capsaicin stimulates endorphins, and promotes blood flow through the injury. You have to be careful putting it on. So use disposable gloves. You can use a back brace to further insulate the lower back and create more heat, if needed. Capsaicin is a natural substance.

 

[Matty Koff]

One day I opted for an intramuscular injection of antibiotics.. only this time I was laying down, not leaning over the edge of the bed deathgripping the metal corners and gritting my teeth as I have after being diagnosed with strep or something.

As I felt the needle hit my hip I impulsively and almost involuntarily tried to move away from it. She kept going. So did I. It's like that scene from the Deadwood series on HBO except without the brothel and vulgarity.

As I limped out exclaiming how much pain I was in the suggested it was the medicine.. which never felt this bad before. I hobbled back to my car and after about 3-5 days I knew that wasn't the case. Back and forth with my GP for months and what not until he went to test my reflexes and schedule an MRI which immediately made the problem apparent. . Played a gig in this condition and probably should've made the band load and unload my gear. finally after hobbling around in excruciating pain for 5 months at the ripe age of 32 I had a surgery that provided immediate relief the day of.. with some minor pains here and there for a couple weeks after.


7 years later my lower back can get pretty daggum stiff with an instrument hanging around my neck. I'm going to have to try shifting my weight. For the most part I tend to grin, bear it, and pay for it for hours afterwards.


Joe, at least you have your dignity. You threw your back out doing housework. The relative moment that changed my life forever was a needle in the hind end.

 

[RattleSnack]

I am also club member with lower back pain, although I never got immobilised. I noticed any excercise with alternating left and right leg (bicycle) or twisting upper body left-right (elliptical trainer) helps a lot.
My chiro says it's discus hernia - discs are missaligned so muscles compensate by pulling to one side, and all of the body gets crooked. When I'm in shape it all gets much better, so that's what I do.
My condition is not bad, I just have to avoid heavy lifting. I feel sorry for everyone, and I know personaly a few, that got it worse.
Stay healthy, lose weight, and excercise.

 

[two fingers]

This will seem crazy, but it's true for me.

When I changed my diet (for reasons unrelated to daily aches and pains associated with being close to 50 years old) my annoying aches and pains vanished. The main culprit? Sugar. I rarely eat any. Note I did not say carbs. I'm talking sugar. Processed foods contain a zillion chemicals that promote inflammation as well.

The other thing that has helped me (but isn't for everyone) is eliminating squishy shoes from my life. The most sole I have in any shoes are Vans. Most of my shoes are considered "barefoot" shoes or "minimalist" shoes. This helped more with my feet and knees. But it also helped eliminate back pain.

Core exercises. Most of the pain associated with the back is in tue joints and spine. If you support that structure with strong muscles the joints will ache less. One thing I do that looks nuts but really helps is standing rowing. Yep.i get in the shallow end of my pool with my kayak paddle and row...both forward and backward. It works pretty much every upper-body muscle I have.

 

[arbiterusa]

Tore a nerve root in my back 20 years ago clearing a ditch on my mountain bike. Nerve injury, really nothing to be done save work around it. So I do. So far haven’t had to play a gig sitting down, let’s hope it doesn’t come to that.

My weight matters hugely so far as minimizing the effects of this injury. So I try to really keep that down.

The main culprit? Sugar. I rarely eat any. Note I did not say carbs. I'm talking sugar.

I have arthritis at the base of my left thumb. Not really any sort of handicap, mostly just annoying. Like you, when the sugar goes away so does that specific ache.

 

[Joe Nerve]

When I changed my diet (for reasons unrelated to daily aches and pains associated with being close to 50 years old) my annoying aches and pains vanished. The main culprit? Sugar. I rarely eat any. Note I did not say carbs. I'm talking sugar. Processed foods contain a zillion chemicals that promote inflammation as well.

You know my deal around that, and despite my having just destroyed a pint of Haggen daas.... I generally stick to that rule. We don't buy any foods with sweeteners, don't eat sugar, and only do the ice cream thing maybe 2X a month. We're also pretty good with the crap carbs and processed stuff, but have been eating more bread than usual. And pizza has been sneaking its way back into our lives (I know, lots of sugar there ). Hey -- maybe I'm in denial, lol?

The fact that Advil helps makes me believe a big part of my problem IS inflammation, so I'm going to up my game. My wife and I are starting to get into cooking, so it will be fun. I am going to commit to doing core exercises on my total gym, too.

This last bout of pain really scared the crap out me. Thankfully its MUCH MUCH better now (and I did 2 weddings this weekend). I just know its still there... threatening... waiting ...

 

[Joe Nerve]

Here's something I want to put in the original post, but it was getting too long. I stumbled upon this about 6 months ago, and it literally brought tears to my eyes. I listened to what this guy had to say because he pinpointed my pain - I have exactly what he describes, and then he says, "I'm going to make it disappear." Or something like that. I laughed as I've had the pain steady for years now, but I listened. I got on the floor and did what he said. I got up, and the pain was COMPLETELY GONE. He nailed it! Problem is only that it doesn't last. I immediately started doing the easier of the exercises in the vid, and it helped... and then well, I stopped doing them. Duh. Going to dive back into the against the wall exercise here, and follow this guy's advice a little more closely...

 

[Matty Koff]

You know my deal around that, and despite my having just destroyed a pint of Haggen daas.... I generally stick to that rule. We don't buy any foods with sweeteners, don't eat sugar, and only do the ice cream thing maybe 2X a month. We're also pretty good with the crap carbs and processed stuff, but have been eating more bread than usual. And pizza has been sneaking its way back into our lives (I know, lots of sugar there ). Hey -- maybe I'm in denial, lol?

The fact that Advil helps makes me believe a big part of my problem IS inflammation, so I'm going to up my game. My wife and I are starting to get into cooking, so it will be fun. I am going to commit to doing core exercises on my total gym, too.

This last bout of pain really scared the crap out me. Thankfully its MUCH MUCH better now (and I did 2 weddings this weekend). I just know its still there... threatening... waiting ...

With my pinched nerve no amount of NSAID or prescription narcotics really offered any relief, though the latter did help me care less about how much pain I was in.

I tried one dose of an anti-epileptic called Lyrica, which did offer some relief.. but with a mile long list of side effects including "suicidal thoughts" and a very unpleasant disorientation for the day that I took it, I refused to take it a second time. I'm a musician, I got enough crazy without that kind of help.

I'd talk to your doctor before starting a vigorous exercise routine but you may well be on to something.

 

[Chris Fitzgerald]

I have an old back injury, a herniated disc between L4 and L5. A few years ago it flared back up in the middle of the night. Drove myself to the ER and a scan confirmed it. Sciatic pain like nothing I have ever known.

I called my brother in law, who is a hospital doc out west, and who has been through this kind of thing many times. He recommended Invalid Link Removed and even found a therapist nearby. I went in and was assessed, was given some exercises to do regularly, and within 6 weeks of twice-a-week therapy sessions I had gone from "I can't move without crying" to "back to normal". I still do a couple of those exercises daily as a preventative measure. Their goal is to empower you to heal your injury by self mechanical adjustment, and if you are an avid exercise type (as I know you are), it works really well. Highly recommended.

 

[Joe Nerve]

I have an old back injury, a herniated disc between L4 and L5. A few years ago it flared back up in the middle of the night. Drove myself to the ER and a scan confirmed it. Sciatic pain like nothing I have ever known.

I called my brother in law, who is a hospital doc out west, and who has been through this kind of thing many times. He recommended Invalid Link Removed and even found a therapist nearby. I went in and was assessed, was given some exercises to do regularly, and within 6 weeks of twice-a-week therapy sessions I had gone from "I can't move without crying" to "back to normal". I still do a couple of those exercises daily as a preventative measure. Their goal is to empower you to heal your injury by self mechanical adjustment, and if you are an avid exercise type (as I know you are), it works really well. Highly recommended.

Thanks so much for this. I will absolutely be looking into it.

 

[ClusterFlux]

When I was a young lad, I had lots of back problems. I threw my back out one day by sneezing while carrying some cardboard... that was fun.

I'm sure that using heavy instruments, stupidly heavy cabinets, improper lifting, and cheap mattresses exacerbated the issues.

Back pain can be difficult to properly diagnose and treat, and has a wide variety of causes. What works for someone else could easily make your particular condition worse. Therefore, I would not rely on any advice except:

• See the best doctor you can afford
• Go as light as possible with anything you need to lift or carry
• Surgery rarely works
• Seriously, go see a doctor

 

[Jaycat]

"Back surgery is like potato chips. No one ever has just one."
--Billy Gray.

 

[Black Out Jazz]

YMMV I stretch my hamstrings every morning and that helps immensely. Alternate putting a foot on the bed and play a couple games of solitaire on your phone. I do each leg at least 3 minutes.

 

[Joe Nerve]

YMMV I stretch my hamstrings every morning and that helps immensely. Alternate putting a foot on the bed and play a couple games of solitaire on your phone. I do each leg at least 3 minutes.

As odd as I know this may sound, and I don't know other people's experience regarding this , I make a goal of putting my underwear on everyday without leaning on anything or holding myself up in any way, lol. There was a point with my back pain where that was impossible. I often intentionally do it slowly and exaggerated too, to practice balance and make sure I'm getting a stretch in.

 

[Jaycat]

So now we have to wear underwear?

 

[Black Out Jazz]

So now we have to wear underwear?

Oh hell no.

 

[P. Aaron]

The thing I miss most about moving from Michigan to Texas is the loss of my chiropractor, not for adjustments but for the kinetic stretching their office did for me. Since my recovery from multiple myeloma, rather than adjustments, I visited them for stretching about 2x a month. Incredible feeling and energy I got from these visits.

‘I have scoured DFW, an area about 3x the size of metro Detroit trying to find someone to trust. Zip.

Thanks for posting your story and the video. Will be consciously trying these things. If it’s a large stage venue, I go wireless, move about and the gig is easy. If it’s a postage stamp stage and I’m relegated to a corner, I’m near death by the end of the night.

 

[smcgov]

reviving this thread....i haven't had many gigs lately, i have actually lost some weight during the couple of crappy last 2years. I brought my 9lb 10oz spector to a gig last month with a 4inch wide strap, i was a little sore but manageable. Last night I brought my 2 lightest basses, both under 9lbs...I was in a cramped area on stage and could barely move, by the 3rd set i was very sore and when I got home around 1am I was in complete agony. I am still sore today and a little bit concerned, I actually told the wife last night I'm not sure I can keep doing this and had visions of selling all my stuff and not being able to play any more. I have read all of your suggestions, I have a sit down job and although I have lost weight I feel like possibly my muscle are weak at the core.

 

[Black Out Jazz]

Some of you are not going to want to hear this but here goes anyway. I've been dating a 45 yr old 5'8" 145lb bodybuilder for almost 4 months. Working out with her is a lot of focus on shoulders, because that's a bigger deal than biceps or triceps in female bodybuilding. Since I started doing lots of dumbbell shoulder exercises, my left shoulder doesn't hurt at all. Ever. My Geddy jazz is a 9lb 10oz bass and I used to not be able to play standing up because it would be hell to pay the next day. Now I can, and it doesn't slay me the next day anymore. SO the gist is, try doing shoulder exercises with some light dumbbells. Worked for me. Hopefully it will for some of you guys.