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| Windsurfing
and sports back injury question |
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Question:
I injured my lower back a couple of months ago when I uphauled a 7.5 in
moderate winds and put far too much effort into it. At the time it wasn't
too painful, but ever since then the lower back has been sore when bending,
or driving my car.
Now that was two months ago and it's still not better. In those two months I
have refrained from windsurfing - just a bit of swimming.
Here's my dilemma. I'm meant to be going on holiday windsurfing next week,
but am really worried about completely messing up my back injury. I know that if I
get on a board it will not be possible for me to take it easy given the
nature of our sport.
Should I forget the holiday completely, and stop windsurfing until I sort
the back out 100%? I appreciate these are difficult questions but I could
do with advice ( I know should really ask my GP), but I would value input
from windsurfers who have had back problems before.
Answer:
In my opinion stay away from chiropractors, they are modern versions of
snake oil salesman, it only works if you BELIEVE.
Go see a real sports medicine doctor, one that specializes in sports-related back injuries. Insist on an MRI. If you do not
have any pain, tingling , or numbness in your legs you are probally ok. Also
find a windier location if you have a week back you should be water starting
only
and use nothing bigger than a 5.8 on 75carbon mast or higher for light
wieght and a carbon boom. Also carry your sail rig to the water's edge
seperatly from your board. And have someone else down haul your sail when
rigging up.
I hurt my low back the same way. it was a season ender for me, and I got over it
the next year. lower back was fine for 4 years then one day I hurt it getting
out of bed too fast, and its still not right. moral of story: never stop PT.
ever.
but it is possible that if you are have not been treating it properly, and start
doing so now, it will be better in a week, even if it didn't get better in 2
months. if it is just a muscle strain this is reasonable. rest and moist heat
is the cure and can't hurt. also regular doses of Advil.
I would have moist heat on nearly 24/7 until the pain subsides. the best thing
you can get for this is the "Thermophore". get an inverter and you can use it
in your car. or just a microwaveable heat pack will do. if it does not respond
to rest and moist heat, then you may have a herniated disk, and your season is
probably over. but even these will usually heal on their own if they are minor,
albiet in a much longer time frame.
On the matter of chiropractors:
There are many kinds of techiques they use and
many different skill levels. some are very good and
some can hurt you. the only reliable way to find a good one is by word of mouth.
even a good chiro can't help everyone: manipulation apparantly only helps
certain types of conditions. it is therefore not correct to say either "they are
no good" or "go see one". I don't think I'd be seeing one at this point.
especially if what you have is most likely a muscle strain. My philosophy is
that they are a tool, not a doctor. do NOT make one your primary source of care.
there are chiropractors who are very skilled at what they do but are idiots at
what they say: "keep coming back and I will fix all your problems". I am
convinced that they can sometimes help but this whole business of "cummulative"
adjustments is total B.S.. about the only thing it does is increase their chance
of eventually making an adjustment that helps. and sometimes adjustments make
you feel worse.
You should see a sports-friendly doctor if for no other reason than to get a script for
P.T. Learn the exersizes they show you and keep doing them. forever. I like to
use a swiss ball for low back strenthening but its very easy to over do it so be
careful.
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