Injured...again.

[drdaven]

JPH,

So.....now your "psychic"?   Can you tell me if I am going to shoot buckzilla???? LMAO

Sorry, couldn't resist.

I know the feeling about switching gears during the hunting seasons.  I have done that for years and years.  The last 5 years I have trained and completed various triathlons.  This last Sept. I competed in an Olympic length race in East Tawas.  I was in some of the best shape of my life and completed it under my goal time and placed 5th in my age bracket.  Pretty sure I couldn't have caught the #4 guy with a motorcycle.   He and the guys ahead of him all do this as more than just a hobby, if you know what I mean.

Between my family, work and training for my races, I stay pretty darn active.  But, then hunting season starts on Sept. 1st.  Starts with early goose, then early doe, then the youth gun, the regular bow season along with reg goose, then gun season followed by more late season goose and bow hunting and just when we think it's all done, I go crow hunting and varmint hunting in the cruel Michigan winter.  My wife tells me "enough already", but it keeps me out of trouble and I tell her that I could have worse vises.

This next race season I am going to complete a half ironman.  This will eat up even more of my time but I feel placing this goal in my mind will force me to continue my training throughout the winter.  Well....this and the fact that I am going on an archery elk hunt next Sept. in Colorado.  Gotta get ready for those mountains, ya know! [;)]

Maybe we could prompt each other by posting our weekly achievements, as they relate to fitness.

[JPH]

ORIGINAL: drdaven

JPH,

So.....now your "psychic"?   Can you tell me if I am going to shoot buckzilla???? LMAO

Oops! Haha!

Yeah posting here is a good way to keep myself accountable. You're on!

[drdaven]

Okay, but just so we are clear.  I live way out in the sticks.  The only access I have to a gym is to kick one of my wifes clients to the curb and take their place.  (she is a fitness trainer)  Being this close to a gym, one would think I could be working out nearly everyday in her gym.  NADA!  She is booked pretty much solid.  As a result, most of my workouts involve the outdoors.  This and simple bodyweight manuvers make up the bulk of my workouts.

So lets get it started....as the song says.

[wack]

 First off I thank you guys for the advise and input. I had another flair up after I posted last, I had my appointment today and the news wasn't good. The diagnoses is Degeneration of  Lumbar or Lumbosacral Intervertebral Disk, and  Lumbago. It was explained to me that I have a bulge in the disk and that the disk is dry and less flexible than it's supposed to be. They told me that 50% of patients get 50% relief from surgery. Not real good odds. They told me it will never get better and I have an appointment with the chiropractor tomorrow in hopes he can give me temp relief until I can see the pain management specialist (Refer to physiatry for eval) Thursday. The nurse said not to go to any Chiropractor more than a few times.  I asked if foot arches could help with the back pain, they suggested i see a foot doctor for that answer, it may help whats left of my disk last longer. I got news for that pill doctor, I'm going gun hunting. Don't care if I'm in a wheel chair, I'm going. One of you rocket scientists figure out how to get a Lazy boy reclining chair to climb a tree and I'll be all set. lol       

[mightyfofaad]

ORIGINAL: wack

 I got news for that pill doctor, I'm going gun hunting. Don't care if I'm in a wheel chair, I'm going. One of you rocket scientists figure out how to get a Lazy boy reclining chair to climb a tree and I'll be all set. lol       

Block & tackle WACK ... block & tackle. [:D]

[msbadger]

Wack...so sorry..I had asked DrDaven if he'd heard of or knew of a therapy where they put you in a body harness..... and slowly stretch you to help alleviate the pressure and pain...there's a group of Drs. out here in Buffalo New York...but I can't remember what they call it.....Ask your Chiro. about it he should know If they have it in your area..... and whether it would be an option for you...Good Luck

[drdaven]

Wack,

First, let me apologize for not getting back with you until now.  Life has been nuts!

Glad to hear you are seeking help from a Chiro.  I think he/she should be able to help you out.

In regards to your diagnosis.  Don't sweat it.  A degenerative disc is really nothing more than RUST.  They like to describe them as thinning, dried out structures (which they are), but this process has taken years and years to develop.  The fact of the matter is, even though the hinge (your spine) is rusty, this doesn't mean that the door can't work.

The bulging disc is also no real news.  They did a study a while back to determine the validity of an MRI as it relates to the definitive diagnosis of disc bulging.  They found that the asymptomatic population has an 87% chance of a bulging disc diagnosis.  So, what I am trying to say is.....the bulging disc may or may not be the source of your pain.  The fact that less than 50% of disc surgeries are successful might just answer this.  Gotta figure that if they are successful at reducing the intruding disc, then the pain should go away.

In regards to the comments from the nurse about seeing a Chiro "a few times".  The only thing I can say is HA!  Ask her if seeing a Physical Therapist "a few times" is all that is required.  Restoring proper function to the kinetic chain takes time.  The spine is just a part of this chain of events.  A good Chiro will give you a series of treatments along with some homework to be performed every day.  Following this there will be a period of time that your frequency of visits will taper off, then you will be asked to help maintain the integrity of the new found motion patterns.  Let me say this though.  Beware the Chiro that wants to straighten your spine in "X" number of visits or the one that wants to set you up for multiple appointments over the next 6 to 8 weeks.

BTW......stay out of your Lazy Boy.....they are killer on your spine.

MsBadger,

The unit you are talking about is a DRX9000.  A new way of performing an old tractioning method.  Supposed to be able to treat a disc lesion successfully.  Only problem with it is the published research behind it was all performed in house, by the manufacturer.  By now, they may have done more studies that I am not aware of. 

[msbadger]

That might explain why there is only one in Buffalo and I haven't heard of them in the Rochester or Syracuse areas...Thanks for the info.....I'm so blessed that what was causing my pain ...left when I fell...bless anyone with back problems....

[drdaven]

JPH,

How is the shoulder?  Are you back to hunting yet?

Let me know how your exercises/stretches are going.

[JPH]

ORIGINAL: drdaven

JPH,

How is the shoulder?  Are you back to hunting yet?

Let me know how your exercises/stretches are going.

Healing slowly. I still feel a little stiffness when I get up in the morning and I am afraid to do any upper body exercises, but I can shoot my bow and climb with very little discomfort.

I have only hunted twice this year, but I can only blame the first half of October on my injury. The second half has been eaten up by illness within the family. I have been a care giver rather than a hunter, but that is where I am called to be right now. I begin a long vacation tomorrow, so I hope to get out soon.

To be honest, I have not been as good about the stretching and rehab as I should have been. There were about 6 days where the only workout I could squeeze in was running up the stairs as I visited the hospital. My workout plan for today is a warm up with the jump rope, a core routine and some stretching. Just trying to stay healthy at this point.

Thank you for your concern. Hopefully I'll be posting less and hunting more soon!