Need help with back problems

[WayneS]

I am looking for some real help here folks. My wife suffers, and has suffered for many years, with back and hip problems that make her life quite difficult. We have always had to be very careful about what we do but up till this week end we wre able to get by.

However, on the beat back up the Solent on Sunday things got the better of her and we had to turn on the iron horse and drop the sails. The rolling and pitching, with the bracing to counteract this took it’s toll and she cracked.

I fear that unless we can make life a whole lot more comfortable while sailing I could be staring the end of my sailing career in the face.

Now I know that there are a lot of you saying that it’s time I traded her in or took up solo sailing, that is not an option so please o not even go there.

Are there any of you out there who have had similar issues and somehow managed to solve them?

Some of the thought sin my mind are:

1. Would a bigger boat have much less motion and so help.
2. Should I somehow convince her that sitting on the leeward cockpit seat would be better, even though it is closer to the wet stuff
3. Would a cat be much better

Am at a bit of a loss so looking for help folks.

Cheers

Wayne

 

[snowleopard]

my swmbo has frequent back problems but the boat doesn't make them any worse. i suspect sitting facing abeam and trying to brace agains roll and heel is the culprit here. i'm sure a cat would be a good idea (as in boat with proper number of hulls, not feline replacement for swmbo /forums/images/graemlins/wink.gif )

 

[graham]

An Osteopath made a dramatic difference to my wifes back problems in one single session. She manipulated it back into place and suggested excercises to improve strength.

3 or 4 years later all is still well ,touch wood.You and your wife have my sympathy ,I know how limiting it can be,I hope you get it sorted.

 

[FullCircle]

Is there any form of chair you can construct with supportive firm cushioning that can be used n both sides (or two of them), with bracing built into a comfortable position. Then there is just the need for tacking. I presume that the boat can be set up for single handing. After all the sailing is only a fairly small portion of the weekend if you are cruising around. I always found sitting in the lee side more comfortable as you arent straining. Is the boat 'wet'?

Jim

 

[ongolo]

Hi Wayne,

You considered a bigger boat, but you should look at comfort factor too, even if a boat is bigger, a shallow hull, will still be bouncy. There is a formula that calculates the comfort factor for what it is worth. For the rest, I will send pm.

regards ongolo

 

[kandoma]

I have a similar problem, but not as bad as your wife. Surgery is not recommanded. It may get worse. So I followed the advice of my doctor: buy a box with 100 Voltaren and use it in advance. No, not when it hurts. Thats too late. One tablett in advance does less damage. When the going gets bad, I take one in advance. I can survive now a 13 hour flight in wooden bench class without any back problems. No,no, not in the airplane. Thats to late. When I leave home, I take one retard and thet helps. Sailing is less demanding and carefully observing my lifting capabilitys and taking one tablett from time to time helps. Mhmm, not always......


Peter

 

[l'escargot]

Can you perhaps take away the problem?

I have a back problem that is often worsened by sailing. Three years ago, it took me best part of an hour to climb off of my boat at Lymington Town Quay and I spent the next hour walking to the hospital using a boathook as a crutch (much to my daughter's amusement) - I wouldn't get in a car as I didn't think I would get out again.

I got the boat back the next day, having been given a cocktail of drugs (I tell you that's the way to sail through 3 Cowes week start lines - but that's another story) and made an appointment with a McTimoney Chiropractor. Sorted me out 4 sessions and I've been back on about 3 seperate occasions since when I have felt a problem coming on. It's not an aggressive technique and certainly worked for me.

 

[mirabriani]

Dearheart has suffered in the same way.
She has a good man (as well as me) to treat her
We also find a little exercise helpful
I recomend you get proffesional advice first

I sincerely hope this helps
Regards Briani

 

[tim3057]

Had bad back problems until I started using 1000mg Glucosamine Sulphate every day, recommended by several different people. I have not had a 'bad back' for 3 years.

 

[jimi]

A friend of mine uses glucasamine for sore knees and it works ... but it gives her persistent foul smelling flatulence, have you noticed a similar problem?

 

[ashanta]

Wayne,

the only answer is to get professional advice and find the root of the problem. I had back problem from playingrugby and being in 2 tug of war teams for eight years. In the end, I did have to have surgery and I have never had problem since (i was 30 now 51) But this because it was what I needed. Your partners back and hip pain could be due to many different reasons and until she can get a thorough examination and possible Xray or scan you will not find the answer. On a personal note I believe that Chiro's serve a very good purpose but in my case they could do nothing other than cost me small fortune. Drugs may mask the problem but doesn't go away.
I hope she gets the treatment she needs and you can both continue sailing.
Good luck.
peter.

 

[bruce]

if she has degen bone desease, damaged bones in spine with pain shooting down the leg, there is a proceedure where novicane is injected into the area of the spine, and if it takes care of the pain, a second injection is done to kill the nerve in that area. it is an outpatient proceedure over here. we are talking about damage to the spine that shows on xrays.

 

[BrendanS]

I think what you need here is advice from other people who have similar problems, and have had managed them onboard.

Not lots of remedies for the 1001 possible causes of back pain, all of which are different, and probably none of which will do your wife any good, and some of which may cause harm.

 

[ShipsWoofy]

I have quite aggressive AS. On Saturday night after quite a busy day getting the boat ready I was nearly in tears as my back, hip, feet, fingers etc were all on fire. A pain I could only describe as having someone cutting through your bone with a blunt saw and you can feel every tooth.

The next morning I was better, not great but better. Sleep and good rest is as important to me as the cocktail of crap I subject my stomach to, have found co-codamol is causing me to feel sick on passage, an ailment I never suffered before.

We have decided to spend a near fortune on our double bunk. I am looking at the options now, almost definitely going to dump the foam and find a proper sprung mattress. Staying warm though the night is also important, but leaving the heater on is horrible as it gets too warm, I need lots of air otherwise I struggle to breathe, lots of air is usually cold at this time of year, no answers to that one yet.

We have a catamaran which really helps. Yes she is not a massive boat, even to snowleopards standards, but her movement is slow compared to a mono even though she pitches and poles, it is often a gentle effect. If I am having a particularly bad time, I wedge into the corner of the cockpit with cushions from the saloon until the painkillers kick in.

Often though, standing or sitting at the helm is better as you can see it coming or brace on the wheel. One quite bizarre thing though. On a rough passage I struggle, but the next morning I feel great, the constant movement is obviously not as bad for me as the pain at the time would suggest, getting muscles working that I probably allow to spasm on land to protect from the pain are given a good stretch. There are very few specialists or physiotherapists who will suggest lying on the sofa when in pain, they all suggest you keep moving.

Have you considered cannabis, used in small doses as a pain killer it can be a miracle worker, also apparently stops sea sickness.

I, from personal experience would have a look at your boats sleeping arrangements, make sure she gets full rest. Then before jacking it all in, consider a catamaran it really does make a difference.

J

 

[VicS]

As others have said you really need proper profesional advice from a Physio, Chiropracter or Osteopath but beware of those who keep saying come back next week, they will cost you a fortune!

FWIW: I have found that regular swimming is great exercise for combatting back pain.

I have also found that firmer foam in my bunk cushions makes things a lot easier on the boat.

Prevention/cure is a much more sensible approach than consuming vast numbers of pills.

 

[WayneS]

Replying to myself for everyone's benefit.

Thanks for all your responses folks. They are truly appreciated.

I guess that one thing that I did not make clear in my first post was that the issues my wife suffers from have been there for nigh on 25 years now.

We have been to every Chiro, Osteo, Physio, Orthopaedic Surgeon that you can imagine. She has had MRI scans which show up nothing. She has had Collagen injections into her SI joints. She has had cortisone injections into her facet joints. Is I see one more "professional" say that nobody needs to live with back pain I am going to shove his stethoscope so far up his backside that he chokes on it. She takes massive doses of Voltaren et al.

Again, I appreciate all your advice so please keep it rolling in. I hope that one of the ideas that you give me will be the magic solution.

One thing that has come up time and time again in your responses is that of sleep and bunks. That is a big issue for us which we must address. We are sleeping on very old foam mattresses which cannot be helping. What's more, the only "double" is in the forepeak but there is so little headroom that she battles to get in there. As a result she sleeps on a very narrow quarter berth. Time to do something about that I think. Decent foam or sprung mattresses.

Thanks again guys.

Wayne

 

[WayneS]

This is def something that I am going to think of. My wife is rather "Under Tall" so bracing across the cockpit is a full stretch for her.

I do most of the sailing part myself so having her firmly wedged into a chair and not helping is not too much of a problem.

Cheers

Wayne

 

[William_H]

I can imagine her sitting on a cockpit seat body facing sideways looking ahead and bracing with every movement. What might work is a semi reclined sports car type seat with lots of side support and head support even restraint belts so that she can fully relax while being outside in rough water. The seat should be rotatable so she can face anyway she wants without twisting body and if possible on a track to move to windward side.
Alternatively when it gets rough put here in a bunk with good mattress and tight lee cloths so she does not have to brace against the movement.
I think it is important to not stay in one position for too long unless she can be fully relaxed. Lastly swimming is the best relief for back pain. Not necessarily swimming up and down but just in water deep enough so bouyancy removes the weight from the back. Use a lifejacket if necessary.
Yes my sailing buddy (mainstream GP) takes and recommends Glocosamine. No don't buy a bigger boat yet just pick better weather. good luck olewill

 

[D3B]

Sorry Graham

i keep well away from osteotw@ts

following a visit a severalyears ago had burst disc which needed removing and finally had to have spinal fusion.
not nice i assure you.

physiotherapist was marvellous
straightened out back and gave me exercises to alleviate pain
all in my experience
Doug

 

[Superflid]

I suffer from Psoriatic arthritis which, within 3 years of appearing, had me in a wheelchair, a bit of a downer for a mountaineer! (this is how I came to boating....)

After a couple of years of specialists, drug cocktails and illness caused by drug cocktails I decided to try something myself.

Lots of different ideas about diet have been talked about, all conflicting. My action was a bit drastic but that's how I am!
The only foods thought not to have any possible adverse reaction in the body are rice and pulses, so my diet was boiled rice and peas followed by a nice glass of water. No tea or coffee, absolutely bugger all else.
After a couple of days it gets a little (A LITTLE!!!!) tedious....

Within 4 days I felt better than I'd felt for years and the wheelchair has rarely been used since then.

After proving that a large part of my illness was being caused by food I had to introduce one food at a time (a couple of days for each new food) until I discovered which it was. It turned out to be milk, I'd become lactose intolerant. A glass of milk will have me flat on my back for a couple of days, I know as I wasn't 100% convinced and did a "test"! (twice......sceptic, me?) The biggest surprise was finding how much lactose, whey and milk (all the same to me) was in so many products I'd been eating. As an icecream addict this was a blow until I found a dairy-free version.

Your wife might have no problems with food, but I have a friend who had been in a similar situation for many years and tried my suggestion, she found it was potatoes and wheat making her illness worse. It's got to be worth a try.

Best of luck with it, you are far from alone with it!