How many of you have bounced back from knee/back problems and gone on to hike again?

[sloetoe]

Originally Posted by SawnieRobertson

This is a wonderful thread. It not only addresses the physical but also the mental/emotional impact of having debilitating injuries. I especially liked Kerosene's, giving specific info about exercises that serve a restorative purpose in all those dimensions and BrooklynKayak's in that it mentions how a little dose of defiance surely can help. I was severely impacted 11 years ago with degenerative cervical spondylosis which should have negated any hope of being able to backpack much at all. That backpack (not too heavy) pulled my shoulders down day after day. By the time I went off trail, I could raise my hands high above my head with no prior thought at all and, certainly, no pain. That was impossible before departure. Our bodies thrive on use--carefully done with respect for any pain that is put there as a guideline. And for whoever wrote "physical terrorists," kudos. That's one situation where cooperating with a "terrorist" is rewarding.--Kinnickinic

+1 here, Kinnnickinnic.

Also, "Become your best doctor." Research, test, retest. Make friends with glucosamine/chondroitan/MSM. Drop the "Vitamin I" in favor of naproxin.

[sloetoe]

Originally Posted by weary

well, Crazypete seems to have an unusual problem, but I suspect most hikers from time to time have had to bounce back from knee and back problems.

I continue to believe that the best therapy for such ills -- many ills for that matter -- is walking on rough, up hill and down, woodland trails, starting slowly and for short distances. Over days, weeks or months gradually work towards faster and longer walks.

When things start to improve, I put on a pack -- empty at first, and then gradually heavier and heavier.

Anyway, that's what works for me. A rough trail is better than sidewalks. The ups and downs, the stepping over logs and rocks, the crawling over blowdowns, the reaching for trees to lend assistance, all provide a workout for multiple joints, muscles and tendons.

Weary

+1 Hate to be a bore, but a "+1" to Weary.

[WILLIAM HAYES]

I use a TENS Unit on my lower back when I have back pain works well for me
hillbilly

[Chaplain]

I have broken right ankle, dislocated right knee, and had seveal vein oblations done that that leg as well as other. Still hiking and riding bicycle. Rode in the Hotter In Hell 100 in Wichita Falls a few weks ago. I find that riding a bike does more to strengthen my knee then other exercises I have done.

[nitewalker]

Originally Posted by crazypete

I've actually been doing as much as I can from the car... reverting to my pre-hiker self. Camping, driving around, smelling that fresh air.

In the past couple days, I've resumed stretching and man is everything super tight and downright painful to stretch but I've managed to get back to descending stairs without knee braces on and only moderate consistent knee pain.

I go to see a "full body" pain clinic in the morning tommorrow and ask them what kind of methods they use and how agressive they are. Like you guys said, some PT's WANT their patients to get better and some just want to go through the motions.

Based on all of your suggestions, I've started taking the msm/chondroitin/glucosamine tabs and I'm going to start on some choral calcium. Noone has anything bad to say about those things.

Pills and excercise.

pete it sounds to me that you need to take it slow. your not going to get yourself back into game shape over nite. physical fitness starts with proper sleep and a proper diet. these two factors alone will help your body become a better body. now if you add in some physical training at a slow pace and steadily increase what you are doing over time your body should become tolerant of the physical impact on it. you need to find what works for you. all people are different and to each their own. listen to what your body tells you and react in a manner as to not overdo it and reagravate what bothered you..a multi vitamin, omega 3, glucosamine and a clove of garlic daily will do wonders for the body....listen to your injuries and adjust the way you feel. im sure you will be on the mountain reel soon or at least sometime around spring......peace





oh yea I AINT NO DOCTA

[crazypete]

Yeah...I rarely do what my body tells me and I guess things finally all boiled over at once. Sleep and diet are two major problems I have, as is home and work stress. When I do something, I overdo it. This whole injury is prompting a change in lifestyle and I've been slowly putting the pieces in place.

[Jayboflavin04]

Contact DAKS on here. He blew out his knee this spring and had surgery. He was out hiking again by July. He has done like 300 miles since then. He just contacted me yesterday and said he blew out his other knww on the trail. What kinda luck is that.

[dmax]

I had a TLIF [fusion] on my back 3 weeks ago. I already feel ALOT better. The doc said the best thing to do now is walk.

Now I need to figure out what kind of pack to use.

Should it be one with really good hip-belts and shoulder straps but weighs alittle more?

Or should I try going with something like a SMD style pack, tent and gear?

I was thinking the lighter weight might help. But, I'm not sure if I don't have proper support by my pack for my back. Any ideas?

[birdog]

No magical formula here but I suffer from intermitent knee and lower back pain from an injury while working(general contractor). It helps to get proper rest but more than anything I do a 15 minute, and I mean really 15 minutes, of stretching helps to lessen the impact of foot hitting trail. The nice people here in Nashville at Baptist Sports Medicine(they work on the Titans) showed me how and I have never felt better.

[dmax]

Now if they could only help the Titans to win a game...

[Schuetzen]

dmax:

Probably not going to happen as long as Bud Adams is around. The best thing (maybe the only good thing) Houston has done in recent history was to tell Bud not to let the city limits sign hit him in the back side on his way out of town.

[harryfred]

Good thread lots of good stuff here. I often hear people tell me they would like to go out and do what I do, but.... Pretty much every joint on the right side of my body, on occasion reminds me I should have slowed that motorcycle down. I have a shoulder that tells me I shouldn't have made that jump. I trashed my lower back at work, It took three years before I could get up in the morning without pain. And the list goes on. I have developed arthritis, I'm overweight and getting older.
A year at a gym , with a trainer that helped me target specific areas help a lot mostly with the back. Starting hiking slow was the best thing I could do small trails with light loads. A 17 mile day with a 40# pack is now doable for me. I gotta get to work.

[Cannibal]

From memory (albiet fuzzy):

Dislocated left shoulder and accompanying surgery
Both clavicles broken
2 surgeries on left knee
1 surgery on right knee
"Chauffeur's fracture" on right wrist along with pins and screws for reconstruction
7 broken ribs
A slew of broken toes
Broken Tibia and Fibula on right leg
Broken Radius on left arm
Approx. 7 concussions
Left thumb is the only finger that has not been broken; most several times
3 broken noses
Jaw broke in 3 places; wired shut for 8 weeks...

...and there are probably a bunch I'm forgetting. Bones heal, chics dig scars, and glory is forever.

Not to mention the fact that my back used to go out on me about once a year. I couldn't walk for a week when that happened. I still decided I wanted to do a thru. Finding hammocks saved my back, of that I have no doubt. I haven't had a problem with my back since I started sleeping in hammocks almost 3 years ago. The AT fixed many of my aches and pains along the way. Muscles that hadn't been used in years started getting exercise again. My mind started actually hearing the body when it had problems and allowed me to address them before they became big problems.

The only 'rule' I gave myself when I started in GA was no double digit mile days the first month. I had some knee problems by Dahlonega, GA, but ice and rest got me back on the Trail in a few days. After that, it was just about moving forward every day until I got my Trail Legs.

[Lyle]

1980-1981: Hiked from Bryce Canyon, Utah to Lewes, Delaware.

Spring 1985: Compressed L5-S1 disk while moving a critical patient from his bed.

Spring - Fall 1985: Off work completely, Bed rest. Could not walk to the mailbox without excruciating pain down my right leg. Would have severe pain in my right foot from opening my mouth wide to bite into a sandwich. Using the commode was a guarantee of severe pain when attempting to get up, could not sit up for longer than 10 minutes at a stretch without severe pain.

Late Fall of 1985: Chymopapain injection. Pain began a slow improvement.

Jan 1986 - Jan 1987: Back to work, limited duties (I'm a Paramedic, was only allowed to dispatch for one year) Was allowed to start backpacking again in Summer of 1986 - Dr. said it would be good for me, as long as I was careful lifting and no jumping.

Dec. 1986: Allowed back to full duties. Only restrictions, no skiing of any kind, no jumping from higher than 2 ft. My back has had no further problems other than an occasional pulled muscle - nothing like a disk problem.

I consider myself fully recovered, had to change to snowshoeing instead of x-country skiing, and have had to give up the idea of skydiving and bungee jumping which had been in the back of my mind. Consider these minor annoyances rather than a real problem. Long, slow, conservative treatment that worked very well. Very lucky and thankful.