Major body farkle needed before EOM

[Fred W]

Man... I've been chompin' at the bit to get to EOM this year. I got my reservations. My new rear tire (I'll need). I'm all geared up, bought myself a new route capable GPS (2820) and a flash MP3 player (Sansa Clip). I've got the routes planned to get there, taking 2 days down and back and lined up a riding partner for the trip down who also wants to split the rent down there...

So now my *******, mother humpin' back starts to act up from a strain that I put on it 3 or 4 weeks ago when moving my son into college. I messed something up in the thoracic area, up between the shoulder blades, and last Friday it decided to go spastic.

So, I'm doing my physical therapy at a feverish pace (under doctors orders, 'natch) at the local Sports Therapy place, and it's helping a lot. Ultrasound, Electro-STIM, traction... But time is of the essence, and I don't know if I'm gonna run out.

So if anyone has a good used back they can lend me for a week, just name your price.

I'm down, but I'm not out, yet.

I feel so old and I'm only 51... :angry:

 

[cota95]

Fred, it must be catchy. I pinched a nerve in my neck a couple of weeks ago. Difference with me is that the pain goes away when I put on a helmet and ride. Doc says it's positional so I need to do more riding. Who am I to argue? :yahoo:

PS: Hope your squared away before Wednesday.

 

[Gizmo]

Hey Fred,

I got an OK back and no FJR, yet . So I'll loan you mine for EOM. That way, I'll be able to have some more money to put towards the right FJR :clapping:

 

[k7lvo]

Fred, I can REALLY sympathize with you! I managed to get a pinched nerve in my neck a few weeks ago. So, there's nothing really wrong with my right arm, but it HURTS. I've been giving my gas money (++) to the chiropractor and it's getting better, but it's surely been a wake up call for me. I'm 55, and I'm going to enjoy life day by day. I may not feel all that much like enjoying it by the time I can retire.

 

[rushes]

Chiropractor!

I'm jus sayin..

Try it, you'll like it... :thumbsup:

It seems like voodoo but it works!

 

[Scab]

Find a hooker and get the kinks blown out. Best spinal therapy I can think of.

 

[Fred W]

Find a hooker and get the kinks blown out. Best spinal therapy I can think of.

I like your thinkin' here...

And on my MP3 player right now is Neil Young singing: "It's gonna take a lotta love... To change the way things are..."

 

[rockmurf]

I just got back from a FL to NJ ride and back and by the time I got home I could barely walk. I am feeling better and am going to give it all I have to get to eom. good luck and do gentle stetching if there is no pain. If pain do not stretch.

 

[HaulinAshe]

I have two herniated disks myself. I rely on Aleve to control the swelling and make the pain tolerable without clouding my head.

If you can gain access to a swimming pool that's the best advice I can give you. You probably can't afford a hooker AND EOM.

 

[Scab]

You probably can't afford a hooker AND EOM.

But if you can, bring her to EOM. Me an Jeff have never seen a real hooker before.

 

[dcarver]

Hey Fred,

Just Ride. You may hurt now, you may die tomorrow, so why not ride today, even if it hurts?

Unless you risk furthering the injury, pain is just a part of the process, so Just Ride.

Signed - "I really need a good long ride too"

[SIZE=8pt]but my back is killing me too, and work sucks right now, and the lawn needs to be mowed, and the truck needs to be washed, and some holes need be dug, and the back deck is falling apart, and the rental house has leaky plumbing, and the bank account is near empty...[/SIZE]

[SIZE=10pt]Think I'll just go for a ride after all. [/SIZE]

 

[Powerman]

Herniated and a bulging disk in lower back, never would let them cut on me. Wife blew her back out in yoga class, two disk operations and a then back fusion. Wifes little lap dog hurt his back, $159 vet bill.

I did some yard work on a Saturday pacing myself, then rode Sunday to the races at VIR.

Monday I spread two heaping truck loads of mulch, Tuesday I woke up and I could hardly move.

Drugs from the doc and I took it easy for a few days on the three day weekend. My wifes out of town, she keeps calling me " you're not working in the garage are you"

I work on boilers for a living, tuning, repairs etc. "light work". Busiest summer we ever had, and we have one helper left. My helper got called back into the Army to go to Iraq! So I have been doing stuff I don't care to do at 50 yrs old, 36 inch pipe wrenches and 10 foot cheater pipes was not in the cards. My other young tech is big (soft) with the upper body strength of a grade school girl.

Last three days I have been working by myself, my boss keeps saying "your help will be there any time". I called him today on the way home, he answered " I know I screwed you again, things keep coming up" My wife comes home, your backs hurting again, you don't want to be messed up for your MC trip. Yeah, no ****.

(Sinus/allergy doctor rides by and catches me riding in the T-Bird with the top down smoking a big cigar, busted)

 

[germany]

Acupuncture.

I injured my back 3 years ago, couldn't stand up straight and spent 4 days lying on my back in the living room because the doc couldn't get me in. On the third day, I hobbled to an acupuncturist. A few needles and a 30 minute nap later and I was able to stand upright again.

Also worked great when my right arm wouldn't stop tingling after 3 days of demolition work.

 

[bikesniffer]

Hey Fred

Do not over do the physical therapy and pop muscle relaxant on a daily basis. Visualize the ride a notice that it doesn't hurt anymore... a young pup like you will overcome.

Get well soon. :clapping:

 

[Fred W]

Thanks for all the words of encouragement.

The PT they are using is pretty cool. Focused ultrasonic deep tissue heating, light traction, electro stimulation and manual massage. The STIM seems to have the greatest effect. I wish I could go in twice a day for that stuff or get my own STIM pack setup at home.

I'm laying off the pain killers, and only using the muscle relaxant (Skelaxin) at night. Going with the 800mg ibuprofen around the clock to keep the swelling down. I am no stranger to back pain. My lumbar spine is a mess, most likely from a combination of football and hockey abuse as a teen. But all the herniated disks dried up many moons ago, so it is pain free there now.

I will definitely be doing some test riding sometime this weekend. Saturday looks like the best bet weather wise. I'm hoping that I can find a good MYRP position that is pain free. If so, I'll spoon that new rear tire on the bike on Sunday while the remnants of Ike pass us by and be setting out on Weds. afternoon. First scheduled stop is my Son's place in Albany for the night.

 

[TheAxeman]

Boy oh boy, this is the FJR forum....can you imagine what this thread must look like on the Gold Wing forum? :lol:

 

[cota95]

Boy oh boy, this is the FJR forum....can you imagine what this thread must look like on the Gold Wing forum? :lol:

 

[luvtoride]

Wow, I've heard them say on other forums that the FJR crowd is the pipe & slipper crowd. I'm seeing this is true.

 

[brazos parker]

This may be counter-intuitive but it works for me...

I never had back problems until a couple of years ago...lifting sacks of mulch, something go "boom" in the back, couldn't tie shoelaces for abt a week. Periodically, I have recurring lower back pain. Now, the counter-intuitive part...

When I ride my bike, maybe it's the vibrations, maybe it's the slight stretch to the grips but, it seems to make MY back feel better. Although I sometimes have a bit of trouble swinging a leg over the seat. So, maybe the ride to EOM will work miracles for you...hope so.