being stupid. tweaked my back :(

[vash]

yesterday I went from cloud-9 to "oh-o!" in nothing flat. being stupid as eff.

I moved my kayak when my friend was nearby, and he even asked "need some help?"

I picked it up like I sometimes do. easy, since it is on its side and I don't even bend to lift it. but putting the end up on my tailgate was a fool's mission. I got it, but I felt it almost immediately. the tightening of muscles. drove home, was much more careful unloading. did multiple trips of light loads.

damn it. mad at myself. my friends and I committed, when available any kayak moves are a two person job. no exceptions.

I usually never park at the boat ramp. I put my kayak on wheels and roll away. no risk of injuries at the truck since I only have to pick up half the boats weight at a time. DUH!!

shower, dinner, ALEVE and off to bed. today is only stiffness and mild muscle soreness. once this is behind me I am going full lower back care program. no more stupidity. and I am going to strengthen my core. maybe start a PPOT "plank challenge" get us to the 3-minute mark.


on the bright side, I caught a GIANT (for me)

[masraum]

It doesn't from your description sound like it's too bad, so that's a plus.

How much does the kayak weigh? Is all of your stuff attached to it when you move it? How long is it?

Yes, core exercises sound like the way to go.

I suspect most of us aren't ready for this, but there are some videos on youtube of some of the ab/core/back exercised done by the folks at cirque du soleil.

https://www.youtube.com/results?search_query=cirque+soleil+abs

[vash]

Originally Posted by masraum

It doesn't from your description sound like it's too bad, so that's a plus.

How much does the kayak weigh? Is all of your stuff attached to it when you move it? How long is it?

Yes, core exercises sound like the way to go.

I suspect most of us aren't ready for this, but there are some videos on youtube of some of the ab/core/back exercised done by the folks at cirque du soleil.

https://www.youtube.com/results?search_query=cirque+soleil+abs

about 80lbs. only thing on it is the seat (middle) and a small battery in the nose (but out at the end with a huge 6 foot moment arm

never again..ever. this morning I sat on the chair just staring at the pair of sock I had to get on my feet. turned out it wasn't bad of a maneuver. hahhahah..

[masraum]

Originally Posted by vash

about 80lbs. only thing on it is the seat (middle) and a small battery in the nose (but out at the end with a huge 6 foot moment arm

never again..ever. this morning I sat on the chair just staring at the pair of sock I had to get on my feet. turned out it wasn't bad of a maneuver. hahhahah..

Wow, yeah, 80lbs is plenty when lifting from the ground or wrong. It'd be one thing if your wife was standing there and you lifted her from a standing position, but 80# from the ground in a long, rigid, unbalanced package is a recipe for a tweaked back eventually. You may be able to lift the thing without hurting yourself 20 or even 50 times, but eventually, you'll be tired or at a funny angle or something.

Try some slow and easy stretching like touching your toes or sitting on the floor and bending forward or if you can, laying on your back and lifting your legs over your head and trying to touch the floor with them or maybe like a runner with one leg out and the other folded in then lean towards the outstretched leg.

[masraum]

I think it's heat that you're supposed to use on a spasmed muscle too, right? Like a heating pad.

[Evans, Marv]

Get down on your knees, put your butt back over your heels, stretch your arms out in front of you on the floor and stretch your lower back. Have your wife sit on your lower back and bounce a bit up & down to stretch your lower back muscles. It will make them feel much better, and your wife might enjoy it too.

[fastfredracing]

I wish I could say it was doing something stupid, but I have to lift heavy stuff all day , every day .
I have been starting to wear a back brace for heavy stuff. A cayenne or Taureg wheel is easily 75 pounds . Imagine having to unbolt, lift up onto tire machine, lever the tire off ( using back muscles again ) , then lift onto balancer, then lift back onto the car X4.
My back has been talking back for the last few years . CBD oil, and ice have been helpful, when I really strain it . I try to be very deliberate about how I lift to not put the strain on my lower back .
I'll hear any other advice any one has to offer .
Hope your back feels better Vash. Gotta be able to lift those monster fish !

[john70t]

Originally Posted by fastfredracing

A cayenne or Taureg wheel is easily 75 pounds . Imagine having to unbolt, lift up onto tire machine, lever the tire off ( using back muscles again ) , then lift onto balancer, then lift back onto the car X4.

I used to work on tractor-trailers. Same parts only bigger. The shop procedures were not ergonomic. There were other factors. I ruined my health at 30.

You need equipment:
1). Put marking tape on the lift for "frame above ground" points.
High-Low marks for different wheels. Every time is precise. Don't even have to think about it.
Tune up oil and seals as necessary.

2). Spend a few bucks on good high-lift wheel dollies.
(bad examples shown)


3). Your back and daily routine are worth far more than any small business investment.

[rusnak]

[jyl]

Hell, I can tweak my back by sleeping wrong. I’m more likely to hurt myself doing nothing because when I know I’m going to lift something heavy I remember to lock the core.

[masraum]

Originally Posted by jyl

Hell, I can tweak my back by sleeping wrong. I’m more likely to hurt myself doing nothing because when I know I’m going to lift something heavy I remember to lock the core.

I used to work at a place that had technicians that went out to oil rigs. Because of that, we had regular meetings (can't remember if it was monthly or quarterly). One of the meetings was on back pain, bad backs, not hurting your back, etc.... The guy said that a ton of people throw out their back while brushing their teeth. (He had some huge percentage that he quoted). I was shocked, but then, I guess not terribly surprised. at the end of brushing your teeth, many/most folks probably bend down to spit in the sink, and I'm guessing that's when it happens.

So Vash, it could be worse. At least you hurt your back doing something pretty darn manly, lifting your kayak after kayak fishing. Can you imagine having to tell everyone that you threw out your back while brushing your teeth?!?

[cabmandone]

Meh... I tried to sprint 400 yards in my hunting boots to my car to avoid getting rained on and ended up with a torn meniscus. It happens.

Go heavy on core exercises and stretching. Several good yoga routines that work on both. Find the one you like that works for you.

[Baz]

I like the core exercise comments here.

I woke up Saturday morning with sharp back pain but by Sunday night it was almost gone and today back to normal.

I don't even remember any event that may have caused this so maybe just how I slept.

It sure put a damper on my ability to do any physical activities all weekend though.

[A930Rocket]

Back pain isn’t fun. Hope you continue to get better.

I’ve really been cognizant of how I lift things, since I wrecked my back hitting a tree while riding my dirt bike 20+ years ago. Everything changed in a second.

Edit: riding alone was really stupid.

[wdfifteen]

I wish I could say I was doing something stupid, but I was trying to save my dog. I was carrying something into the house and left the door open and unguarded for a minute. The little twit shot out the door and headed east toward the state highway at a full gallop. I chased him, climbing fences and running through fields, for almost half a mile. I was so terrified he would make it to the road I didn't even realize I had run out of my shoes and was barefoot.
I caught up with him when he was 100 yards from the highway. Took forever to find my shoes in the tall grass. I spent the rest of the day flat on my back and Owen Walter spent the rest of the day locked in a small bathroom. Happened Saturday and I'm still stove up.

[hcoles]

Many of us have been there and done that.
Happened to me ... bent over to pick up toothbrush then bam.
Physical therapy can work wonders.
Core, core, core.

[masraum]

Originally Posted by wdfifteen

I wish I could say I was doing something stupid, but I was trying to save my dog. I was carrying something into the house and left the door open and unguarded for a minute. The little twit shot out the door and headed east toward the state highway at a full gallop. I chased him, climbing fences and running through fields, for almost half a mile. I was so terrified he would make it to the road I didn't even realize I had run out of my shoes and was barefoot.
I caught up with him when he was 100 yards from the highway. Took forever to find my shoes in the tall grass. I spent the rest of the day flat on my back and Owen Walter spent the rest of the day locked in a small bathroom. Happened Saturday and I'm still stove up.

Glad you got your pup and are living to tell the tale! Take it easy and recover.

[1990C4S]

It's serious when you can't roll over in bed without getting the shooting agonizing pains.

There are actually some good instructional videos on YouTube for rolling over when your back is bad. They helped me get through a month of agony.

[wdfifteen]

Originally Posted by masraum

Glad you got your pup and are living to tell the tale! Take it easy and recover.

Thanks. We were scared to death. MrsWD was crying, sure he was going to run onto the highway. I was so angry I wanted to strangle the little fart, but that would have defeated the purpose of saving him.

[stevej37]

Early on, in my working job, I had to do a lot of lifting. 50..75..100 lbs and I never hurt my back when lifting. In that time period, I had numerous cases like yours, but they all had a common factor....It would appear when I was extending my arms to either pick something up or leaning ahead prior to lifting.
It seemed to be something that would rise up for no reason.
Each time it did...it would take a week or so and then be gone.
Good luck!