HELP! Injury-need input/support.

Toby, my whole skiing BC career was brought on by the same type of injury you have. I actually injured myself while skiing! I was overweight and not that good a skier.<br>my doc told me loose weight and exercise or go under the knife. Well it took me awhile and a whole lot of NFL level ibuprofin before I could even start exercising. I got into hiking and then back into downhill skiing then the whole telemark thing came into play.hiking and skiing along with strecthing and weights rebuilt my back. at age 58 I still have days when I feel brittle but I expect to get over that! Good luck and see you on the slopes.

Toby - My heart goes out to you, man. Fortunately (for me, at least), I can't say I've had any major back problems (knock wood), so I can't offer any first hand experience and wisdom, but you certainly have my sympathy and support. I can also offer you some nice, slow, geezerly paced touring partners to go out with when you're back on the mend

Toby, this is from Jeff Haddox:<br><br>Toby,<br>Sorry to hear about your injury. I injured myself one month ago, herniated the disc between L4 & L5. I had been experiancing some minor pain for a few weeks then I was running one afternoon and within three steps went from minor to major pain. I was Two miles into a six mile trail run and had to hoble back the Two miles. I'm sure this did not help. Tim and the rest of the gang are probably getting tired of hearing me preach but I feel practicing yoga not only limited the extent of the injury but has also helped the healing process. My doc had an MRI and x-ray done to confirm the problem. He perscribed ibuprofen for inflamation and vicoden for pain. I've not had to use much of the latter. He felt the yoga would help as long as there was minemal pain associated with it. I have my bike set up on a mag trainer and have been doing that 50 minutes a day plus 20 minutes of yoga. I am able to ski. I stay away from any jarring impacts or any thing that requires bending/lifting movements. I still experiance discomfort but it is improving. The doc said it could take as long as a year to heal completely. He also mentioned the possibility of a surgical procedure, but at this time I don't think this will be necessary. For what it's worth, my advice would be to try and do somthing to improve or keep your fitness level up and be cautious. It really sucks to be laying flat on your back stoned on vicoden when all your friends are out skiing. Good luck.<br> Jeff <br>

Toby<br>One thing I forgot to mention in my reply to you via Tim, Glucosamine Sulfate. 1500 mg a day. I started this two years ago after a knee injury. My doctor recomended this based on a study done in Europe that had positive results. It has helped me.

And one thing I forgot and is the most important.<br>go out and BUY SOME NEW EQUIPMENT!Boots skis skins almost anything will do.

It really does ease the mind to hear first hand accounts of recovery(ing) from people who enjoy the same things I do....Robie and Jeff Haddox, hearing that you ski as you recover is great news. I have been told activity is encouraged, but have been wondering what the limit is? (meaning to ski or not to ski) I have been walking and regaining my full range of motion, albeit painful at end range(s). Yoga has been great for the pain process and loosening things up. (my hamstrings/buttock are like tight ropes/knots) And I may have the tightest ass in Whatcom County!!!! Jeff might take Skagit!! I spend all day, every day, on core strength, cardio, stretching, yoga, nutrition, supplements (natural cox 2 inhibitors, glucosamine, omega 3/6/9 oils) traction, ultra-sound, soft-tissue work, proper bending, ect......Some of you may like to hear that as you age,(over50), the nucleus of our disks becomes harder and is less likely to push out through the ligament rings. But proper bending, just like a weight lifter sets up, even for the stupidest dropped object (tissue) can save the back....I am sorry to hear about your injury as well, Jeff. Do you think the original injury was during a bend/lift? Maybe we can get out and gimp around together here in the near future! Thanks for the replies. Toby.