My Aching Back

[Swamp Yankee]

I'm trying the I refuse to get old method, but Mother Nature isn't helping.

Looking for a suggestions particularly from those more "experienced" (nice term for old ___), that have back issues and how you deal with them when working with wood.

About 6 years ago I went down for over a year with a disk and sciatic issue. Finally got back on my feet and have been cutting, though not to the extent that I would like. Anyway, before I start and when I finish, I stretch my back and legs as the physical therapist taught me. I try not to overdo it in terms of lifting and bending, but hey there's only so much you can do.

Anybody else care to share some helpful hints or practices they use to keep from getting laid up with back issues.

Take Care

 

[JONSEREDFAN6069]

when cutting firewood, i alway's have my pickeroon handy i can pick up a couple peices put it in my arm then pick another peice and carry it to the wood pile or even putting it in the wheel barrow without bending over. just a thought

 

[urhstry]

Right from the doc..... stretch first and take some ibuprofin beforehand. Works great for me.

 

[crashagn]

16 screws and 2 rods in my back. 1 rib removed to be grinded up for replacement stuff in my vertabra. When i even start to get stiff or sore i qill take longer breaks. I dont sit down and relaxe i move around and stretch and drink plenty of water regardless. 1 time i was cutting wood and had a buddy with me that wanted some firewood. Told him i cut it and he loads it and he gets half of it.. unsplit. Nowadays i have a 360 deg rotating hoist inthe back of the pickup with a 2500lb atv winch to drag and lift whole logs. To unload em all i wrap a log chain around the back of em and hook up the tractor and drag em off and move em were i want with the forks. Dont forget to take the tailgate off. My personal experiance with my self is when i get sore and if i sit down or lay down thats when i really get sore so i stay on the move and keep flexible until the job is done, then i can go home and let it set in over night

 

[treeslayer]

Usted habla espanol? amigo's es muy bien.


Hire a younger back, what else?

 

[Tesen]

I have lower back issues (30 years of age). My long term solution is my 9 month old son. Another couple years and he can get muddy with me

Seriously though, I understand your pain. Limbing is the worst thing for me. If you want to move quick at it you end up in a crane like motion - I hate limbing because of it. Keep hydrated, have people help you and keep the tiger balm handy and oh, don't stop and sit. Sure put down the saw, or stop picking up the logs but I find if I sit, I lock up and I start to hurt. If I need a break I take a walk, maybe in circles, maybe just around the wood pile a few times, it helps!

The worst is on the trip home if you don't cut on your own land, the drive can be a PITA. Apply your favorite topical agent, get home, grab a few beers. Lay on sofa, pillow under knees and watch the tube if you're in pain, unloading can wait

Tes

 

[Swamp Yankee]

Usted habla espanol? amigo's es muy bien.


Hire a younger back, what else?

Good Thought.
Tried that once upon a time though.
If I could find someone younger with a good back that didn't mind using it, that might be a plan. When I had my firewood business going good a few years ago, I seemed to be able to find a lot of strong backs that thought they were being paid to watch me work.

Take Care

 

[fishercat]

what helps me.

i start out splitting a little by hand with a maul.seems to stretch the back out.inversion tables also help a lot.

 

[PA. Woodsman]

Go over to the Arboricultural Accidents and Fatalities forum and look up "How many of you deal with backpain"? TONS of answers and suggestions over there on this subject!

 

[banjobart]

I blew out a disc and had surgery in 2000. At that tinme I was in great shape and strong. Now I am 55, growing old, fat, stupid and ugly. It has taken this long to get back to normal wood cutting, lifting and splitting, on an occasional basis. I have cut and hauled six full pickup loads this fall which is about what I did in the previous three years. Next year I am hoping to cut and haul a dozen full pick up loads with all the dead ash around Michigan. I give it away to friends and neighbors. I try to lift and stoop right and never lift anything before noon, you need to be warmed up. If I overdo this activity I take a Vicodin with a glass of bourbon then sleep well and feel great in the morning. I have eaten a lot of ibuprofen in the past, but I cut that out a couple years ago. Hard on the stomach when you go through a lot of it.

 

[stihl sawing]

Right from the doc..... stretch first and take some ibuprofin beforehand. Works great for me.

Exactly what i do. The ibuprofin really works.

 

[KodiakKen]

32 yr old..thinking

I am still a young feller..I am 280 and split 70% of my wood by hand but just a thought from a youngster..more stomach muscles = a stronger back. I know carrying around (according to the charts) almost 100 pounds more than I should be..(uh hem..bullspit) is not helping me but I try to keep my stomach muscles in some kinda shape. the more you use your stomach the less your back will hurt unless you have something wrong with the bones and what not..just my .02

 

[cmetalbend]

I'm trying the I refuse to get old method, but Mother Nature isn't helping.

Looking for a suggestions particularly from those more "experienced" (nice term for old ___), that have back issues and how you deal with them when working with wood.

About 6 years ago I went down for over a year with a disk and sciatic issue. Finally got back on my feet and have been cutting, though not to the extent that I would like. Anyway, before I start and when I finish, I stretch my back and legs as the physical therapist taught me. I try not to overdo it in terms of lifting and bending, but hey there's only so much you can do.

Anybody else care to share some helpful hints or practices they use to keep from getting laid up with back issues.

Take Care

Use a longer bar, not ness, a bigger saw, but it helps some, When moving rounds or other peices to the splitter, I found that a Dolly(Handtruck)works nicely. And a few years back I developed a tool for carrying peices (one on each side) that I didn't have to bend over to pick them up. They work almost too well. I've carried rounds 16-18" long and 3-18" in diameter with little to no problems. They seem very forgiving about shape and size. If you think they could help PM me and I take a pic. My main problem is I am too young and stupid to remember to take them along.:bang:

 

[carvinmark]

I'm going thru it right now too. Got two discs blown in 07 and trying real hard to come back. I just got a fancy back support that Velcro's on, Doc says not to wear it more than 3 hours a day and only while doing heavy work. They want to make sure the muscles don't get too wimpy. I take my pain meds (I hate pills) , stretch and try to not stop once I've started so I won't lock up and be in agony.

 

[brian660]

weight lifting belt, not those crappy nylon covered velcro braces a nice thick leather lifting belt.


while i`m not quite "experienced" as you put it but i`ve had back fusion in two seperate areas amongst other problems and refuse to be handicapped

 

[carvinmark]

weight lifting belt, not those crappy nylon covered velcro braces a nice thick leather lifting belt.


while i`m not quite "experienced" as you put it but i`ve had back fusion in two seperate areas amongst other problems and refuse to be handicapped

I just got my velcro one and have only used it twice, it did make me feel better. I may have to try the leather belt too.

 

[Zodiac45]

16 screws and 2 rods in my back. 1 rib removed to be grinded up for replacement stuff in my vertabra. When i even start to get stiff or sore i qill take longer breaks. I dont sit down and relaxe i move around and stretch and drink plenty of water regardless. 1 time i was cutting wood and had a buddy with me that wanted some firewood. Told him i cut it and he loads it and he gets half of it.. unsplit. Nowadays i have a 360 deg rotating hoist inthe back of the pickup with a 2500lb atv winch to drag and lift whole logs. To unload em all i wrap a log chain around the back of em and hook up the tractor and drag em off and move em were i want with the forks. Dont forget to take the tailgate off. My personal experiance with my self is when i get sore and if i sit down or lay down thats when i really get sore so i stay on the move and keep flexible until the job is done, then i can go home and let it set in over night

Good advise. While I don't have any specific injuries other than the occasion muscle sprain, I find that stretching and taking my time (as I get older) is best for me. If I start to get sore I'll just slow it up a bit till I'm done. If I stop and chill (for more than 15 min.) I'm done. It seems to work better when I just gradually work it down. I always have a cant dog and pickeroon in the truck too help the process.

 

[ASEMASTER]

54 and ten cords

did ten cords off my land this year, the helper= pickeroon for shure-fiskers axe and split while it lays on the ground then pick up the pieces-2wheel cart or wheelbarrow, never walk with a load on your back-lots of short breaks to rest and acess the cituation -longer bar on the saw= less bending-after the work is done , some sort of anti inflam. and ice on the lower back while laying on the floor only about 15 min. strech before, during and after the workout.

 

[Laird]

Was diagnosed with a slipped disc in 91. About every year after that I would have a period of back pain that would last 2-3 weeks. Never could say what exactly brought it on every year, but it always bit me at some point. I started taking 600mg of ibuprofen every day and went 6-7 years without a problem. Then I lost 150 pounds (on purpose) and thought I'd see if I still needed the pills. 1.5 years later I am just now getting better from a 2-3 week attack of back pain and have started taking the ibuprofen again.

 

[Orange Hill]

Good advice KodiakKen. In 1989 I was water skiing and I was slung out of a cove and was carving a long turn when the tip of my ski hit a big wake and the tip went under and caught me unaware as I still was holding on tight to the tow rope. I tore the right muscle tissue in my back. I was 17 and had the back of an 80 year old. I found the best thing for my back was keeping it strong by digging ditches. If I get out of shape I start to get back problems because I get unbalanced. Now my problem is muscular so I know this may not apply but for people with disc problems, but for me this is key to back health.

I found ketoprofen (Orudis KT, Actron) which was made an over the counter drug by the FDA is very effective. I found ketoprofen after my second back injury (carrying a 60# basket of broccoli and unexpectedly sneezing without dropping the tray ). They gave me four different prescription pain killers that did not work well and then they gave me prescription for 50 mg ketoprofen and it was a wonder drug. Shortly after that it became an OTC drug at 12.5 mg. I doubt you can find it as nobody bought it because there was no real ad campaign so both manufactures stopped making the OTC products. If you do a search you will find a strong following of the product in the arthritis community. I would suggest talking to your doctor and see if you can get a prescription for it as it really does work. It is in the same drug family as ibuprofen but I find it more effective.