Is my season over??

[nicho]

Four days! - that's the amount of time Prophecy has spent at sea this year. Six weeks ago, a 5 weeks holiday was abandoned before it started due to my back problems - since then, I've had three weeks in bed, excruciating pain, muscle wastage, trapped nerves, more disc problems that Tony blackburn, leg numbness etc etc. Not only that, it appears I'm now addicted to my codeine based pain killers, and am going through "cold turkey" every night!! No real sleep for weeks!

What's next? - Specialists appointments, MRI scans and God knows what treatment, and of course several weeks of "taking it easy" i.e. no lifting, winching, pulling on halyards, lines, sheets or whatever! Like I say, it looks like my season's over before it even started.

Am I depressed? Do I need counselling? U betcha, but looking on the brighter side, at least I cannot inflict my jinx on the Cherbourg trip this year.

Happy sailing everyone, and when you are on a nice beam reach, in a lovely, warm Force 4 and 24 degrees of sunshine, try to give a thought for me holed up here.......and keep the posts coming thick and fast - SB is all I've got left...sob, sob!!

Yours etc (feeling very sorry for himself)

Nicho.

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[BrendanS]

Why don't we all pop over with some nice cold buckets of salt water and fans. We can prop the bed up at an angle, and chuck buckets of water at you, while you throw tenners back at us. After 10 hours of this, we can all sit around with some drinks and a nice meal

Maybe not quite the real thing, but will be similar to a Cherbourg trip /forums/images/icons/laugh.gif

<hr width=100% size=1>Me transmitte sursum, caledoni

 

[nicho]

A cracker Brendan - first larf I've had in weeks!!

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[andyhythe]

Hi Mike,

You poor old thing, I wondered why Jimi looked happy. Now I understand, his benny has less bird muck than your bavy. I'm only kidding she's still looking pristine (dam annoying being you can't be bothered to get out of bed to clean it though). By the way he borrowed you rudder as a spare for his hols !!!

I knew this would happen, three things are wrong that you need to fix.

1) Your SHMBO is much to young for you.
2) You were always meant to be power boater.
3) Merc seats are just to hard for an old softie (really a power boater) like you.

There is another upside to this, my whisky lasts longer.

Take it easy, we all hope to see you soon.

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[nicho]

A few things have come out of your post:

1) SWMBO now has a big grin on her face - she thinks she's a bloody teenager again!

2) Pleased to hear that you are taking care of my boat and that you've kindly volunteered to keep it in pristine condition! (The polish is in the starboard cockpit locker.)

3) You have no idea how hard your whisky is going to get hammered when I get back!!

4) Do you think I should charge Jimi (send him an invoice I mean - not report him to the police!) for borrowing my rudder?

5) Don't know about motorboats but a nice caravan might be the answer. On second thoughts ...... no!

Hopefully see you soon - love to Char.

Mike

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[AJW]

Nicho,

You do have my sympathies - I went through a similar experience couple of years ago. In my case a slipped disc, excruciating sciatica and 3 months off work doing very little. Sadly I also had to accept that bashing the crap out of my spine in a RIB in any sea state was not the way forward and sold the boat. The plan is to get a yot at somepoint but more immediate life events have put that on hold for a while.

The bugger about the back problems is there is no easy cure. A good Osteopath is a boon. Not tried Chiropracters but may also help. Its really time, pain management and then developing the muscle groups to help shore it all up. (Here a good Physio is the thing.) Losing the hard earned result of too much beer and food would also help but todate this is proving the most difficult thing for me! At all costs avoid any suggestion of corrective surgery as its not usually the answer I'm told.

Fundamentally though its a bloody awful thing and for a while I thought my boating life was over at the ripe old age of 33! It does get better with time so be patient and think happy thoughts. Oh yes and erm, you could always lend your boat out to other forumites. Just to keep it used and looked after of course!

AJ

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[Rowana]

You have my deepest sympathy! I've suffered from back problems on and off since I did a bit of damage in my 20's. I now go to a chiropracter every 3 months. Aussie chap, absolutely 1st class, and I haven't been too bothered for the last couple of years.

Good luck, and I hope it's not too long before you are back at the helm.

Jim

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[nicho]

Thanks for your comments - I'm seeing a Consultant Orthopaedic chappie on Monday PM, (who's pretty good evidently), then it will be MRI scans etc to decide what to do. The real pisser is that, as I've had a history of back problems spanning some 20 years, as a result of 30 years of motor rallying (same sort of bashing as a RIB), it is excluded from my private health cover!! No matter how costly though, it will be worth it, 'cos I ain't waiting in pain for several months for the NHS!!

Cheers

Mike

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[nicho]

I too have been going every 3 months to a chiropractor for many years (mainly as a form of preventative maintenance). The problem this time though, is that I'm not at all sure this nerve damage (if that is indeed what it is) wasn't caused by the Chiro himself, after some pretty aggresive manipulation to free off the lower back. I'll say no more at present, 'cos i don't want to be sued by the Chiropractic Profession, but it's knocked my confidence in them a little at present!! We shall see what happens next week.

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[jhr]

I'd be a bit wary about chiropractors. Interesting article in the Guardian this week, <A target="_blank" HREF=http://www.guardian.co.uk/health/story/0,3605,1269872,00.html>here</A>

<hr width=100% size=1>Je suis Marxiste - tendance Groucho

 

[pragmatist]

four days ! That you should be so lucky. V sorry to hear you're so unwell and best wishes for recovery.

I don't dare think what our boating has cost per hour this year but if you divide winter layup, copper bottom, new furler etc etc by about 10 hours then you get to a v frightening figure. Considering changing Rival for one of those little yachts you use on a pond as being a cheaper option !

<hr width=100% size=1>a pragmatist is an optimist with a boat in the UK

 

[Oldhand]

Sorry to hear about your back problems. I have been through it too and have had spinal surgery. The good news is my back likes motion thus sailing is good and sitting is bad, the bad news is I'm still on 11 pills a day. Hope the MRI scan shows it to be a fixable problem, I was very lucky mine was. I have found properly targeted formal excerising was the best way back into sailing post op. and continue to keep it up.

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[nicho]

I must say that this has knocked my confidence in Chiropractors a bit - I hope my bloke is in the clear, because he has 'saved my life' on numerous occasions over the years.

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[AJW]

Hmm, article is more about neck and upper back whereas I'm guessing your problem is lower back. Have to say I chose Osteo rather than Chiro partly through a desire not too have bones cracked. Osteo is all about soft tissue manipulation which I felt more comfortable with.

Bit of a pisser about medical insurance - mine covered it although they have just got to the stage where they are balking at paying for regular osteo sessions. (I tend to go once every couple of months for "care and maintenance!")

Who did you rally cars for?

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[TonyS]

Mike,
I assume you are on the internet all day and have done some searching.
Have you seen the following:-
http://www.mybacksolution.com/
http://www.backache.md/
I also have problems because of golf but find that rest in bed is the worst action and to start exercises immediately is the best. Exercises to strengthen the back and stomach muscles are the best way as a long term preventative measure especially as one gets older. They only take 20 mins a day but keep the problem away.... unless I find a reason to forget.
This site gives some good exercises:-
http://www.spine-health.com/topics/conserv/sciaex/sciaex01.html
The second site can really pinpoint which disc is affected and where on the disc without MRI etc.
Best of luck and hope to see you sailing soon.


<hr width=100% size=1>Tony

 

[Jools_of_Top_Cat]

was there a season?

bloody hell, I missed it!

<hr width=100% size=1>Julian

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[Jools_of_Top_Cat]

Mind that codeine, or eat lots of roughage!

As a long term back sufferer with a progressive problem I fully understand where you are right now. Interestingly enough though, I have found a day out in fairly bouncy weather does my back no end of good.

Think of it as subliminal exercising, just standing up and moving about on the boat means using often stagnant muscles in your back. I often wake the day after a long passage dreading what sort of pain I can expect for the day and am surprised by the fact I feel better than usual.

Maybe it is time to get out on the boat, go as a passenger and let SWMBO do all the work and you sail as passenger.

Fairwinds, hope you get sorted soon.

<hr width=100% size=1>Julian

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[BrianJ]

Re: Hey come on

Nicho.. its a temp. problem.. I went through the same when I had open heart surgery.. even sold my beloved 36'van de stadt as I knew I would never be able to sail again.. what a fool I was , now fitter than I have ever been,walk daily , 45 pushups each morning and saile din the Pacific.. also dr ive the club 36' rescue boat.. am just waiting to win the lottery before buy my 68' steel yacht

Regard it as a " layover" .. you will be back on deck soon >>I promise.
BrianJ

<hr width=100% size=1>BrianJ

 

[nicho]

That codeine is a real killer - I ended up with about 7days worth of "by product" in me - getting rid of it was very "stressful" to say the least!! No one told me of this side effect - sorry, a bit too much information I think!!

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[Nick_Pam]

Nicho......must be in the name!!

20 years of back problems after being knocked overboard by a Sigma 38 boom during Cowes week, unfortunately got a lot worse in the last few years as I get older!!

Co-Codamol and an accupuncturist.........worked for me for the last 5 years!!

Originally did chiropractor/osteopath etc and had 3 MRI's which didn't find a thing and then I found a "needle-man" who has helped a lot.

Whatever - hopefully you'll be better sooner rather than later.

Best Wishes

Nick

<hr width=100% size=1>Byeee...Gone Sailing!!!!