I'd rather have a Swayback than a bad back! - Winner Drawn!

[Jack Black]

The people of Kansas City object to your BBQ post sir

I read it on the internet, it must be true . And I am jealous of the bbq you have available in KC :thumbup:

:thumbup:

Hi Jack. This is a very generous give away. My back problems are finally starting to subside. I have lost 35 lbs so far and that has gone a long way to alleviating the back strain I had been experiencing.

Thanks, and congratulations on the weight loss, that's a good achievement :thumbup:

Thank you very much for the opportunity and generosity Jack! This thread has already been awesome to get some insight into what people love about the places they call home. Really sorry to hear about your back and I hope you continue to get some relief. I have been fortunate to never have back problems, but in the last seven years Have had one shoulder rebuild and two knee surgeries with number three around the corner. Another surgery is probably avoidable but at the cost of discontinuing the activities I love I'd rather take the risk.
...

Thanks my friend, I'm sorry to hear about your own health problems. I hope you can continue pursuing the things you love. Those are some incredible pics, but as a long-time (and now sadly former) rock-climber, this one steals my heart :thumbup:

Like you, I know back pain well. I have a dead disc between my L4 and L5 vertebrae, as well as a bone spur that intrudes into my spinal nerve cluster, so I have suffered with shooting sciatica and back pain in various locations for many years - it really limits my mobility and what I can do. I can handle the pain fairly well, but what gets me is that I am limited when playing with my young 6 year old daughter. Of course insurance doesn't pay for disc replacement surgery and I refuse to get my spine fused, but C'est la vie... But as bad as back pain can be, just count your blessings that you don't have a kidney stone - now that's pain!

Ouch! Sorry to hear about your back problems. When my kids were little, I hurt my back quite a lot. Having seen the suffering they cause, I dread kidney stones!

Hi I live in the village of Hamburg New York. Yes a place where they do believe they came up with the hamburger. Hahaha

:thumbup:

Sorry to hear about your back problems. I will suggest that you try to maintain good health on your piriformis and obturator muscles, as they can compress the sciatic nerve and exacerbate the problem. I'll let your physiotherapists/doctors advise you on how to do so, unless you come here for a visit- I'll do an assessment on you!!
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]

Thanks a lot for the advice. I have always wanted to visit your part of the world (though at the moment, I don't think I'd fancy the long flight). Fantastic pics, looks like a great place to raise kids my friend :thumbup:

Huh? When I lived in St. Louis, I rented an old house that had a bathtub fitting that description.

Shhhhhh! :thumbup:

 

[CUTS LIKE A KRIS]

Good point on the flight my friend, you would have more fun here with a good back! It's a nice place, could find worse to raise a family in!! Feel better!

 

[Jack Black]

Thanks a lot my friend. Hope you have a great weekend :thumbup:

 

[StoneBeard]

Thanks for the compliment on the pic Jack. Wish I could take more credit but I'd say 98% goes to Yosemite. I'm sure you've guessed by my other posts that I also enjoy climbing and Yosemite and all its beauty gets me every time. It's truly heart wrenching to hear that you spent years climbing and that your back will no longer allow you to enjoy the feeling that only climbing brings. My Dad fell 16' off a ladder when I was young causing him constant back problems to this day. I know when he was younger he got a lot of relief from acupuncture. Personally I've never had acupuncture but I thought I'd mention it as an option to possibly help you get some relief. was your initial injury one that developed over time or was it a single event injury? I really do hope that you find a routine that gives you enough relief to get back to the things you love.

 

[ralphk]

I'm living in Mannheim, Germany a kinda large city with a population of 300.000.
Knife laws kind of suck over here, it's forbidden to carry fixed blades with a longer blade than 12cm as well as one Handed open locking folders :/
I'm in love with opinels, and luckily they are legal to carry here.

Gesendet von meinem SM-N9005 mit Tapatalk

 

[Jack Black]

Thanks for the compliment on the pic Jack. Wish I could take more credit but I'd say 98% goes to Yosemite. I'm sure you've guessed by my other posts that I also enjoy climbing and Yosemite and all its beauty gets me every time. It's truly heart wrenching to hear that you spent years climbing and that your back will no longer allow you to enjoy the feeling that only climbing brings. My Dad fell 16' off a ladder when I was young causing him constant back problems to this day. I know when he was younger he got a lot of relief from acupuncture. Personally I've never had acupuncture but I thought I'd mention it as an option to possibly help you get some relief. was your initial injury one that developed over time or was it a single event injury? I really do hope that you find a routine that gives you enough relief to get back to the things you love.

A beautiful composition, and a great frame for your knife :thumbup: Thanks for appreciating just how much the loss of my climbing has meant to me (you're quite right, there's really nothing like the sheer joy of vertical movement), though my back injuries weren't caused by it, so far as I know. They were a factor in my having to stop, but I have a number of other injuries, which were more directly related, including severe tendonitis, both at the bicep and elbow, on both arms, which got worse and worse over time. I have a steel rod in my leg, which restricts my knee, and now I have arthritis in my hands, feet, legs, and shoulders, as well as some injuries to my shoulders. I weigh too much to climb now anyway! I tried acupuncture for a neck injury some years ago, but unfortunately it didn't work for me Enjoy your climbing my friend :thumbup:

 

[JB in SC]

Jack, sciatic nerve pain is very difficult to resolve. Like most nerve issues, it can rear it's ugly head seemingly at will. My thoughts are with you, best wishes to a speedy recovery.

 

[Jack Black]

Thanks a lot Jerry :thumbup:

 

[Ronin_Jedi]

A beautiful composition, and a great frame for your knife[emoji106]Thanks for appreciating just how much the loss of my climbing has meant to me (you're quite right, there's really nothing like the sheer joy of vertical movement), though my back injuries weren't caused by it, so far as I know. They were a factor in my having to stop, but I have a number of other injuries, which were more directly related, including severe tendonitis, both at the bicep and elbow, on both arms, which got worse and worse over time. I have a steel rod in my leg, which restricts my knee, and now I have arthritis in my hands, feet, legs, and shoulders, as well as some injuries to my shoulders. I weigh too much to climb now anyway! I tried acupuncture for a neck injury some years ago, but unfortunately it didn't work for me Enjoy your climbing my friend :thumbup:

Unfortunately Jack, I can relate to much of what you wrote here, though for other reasons. Won't hijack your thread with my gory / not so gory details.

Besides camping and general outdoors though, the one passion I was on my way to really enjoying was scuba diving. Alas, not realistically ossible.

Best to all on this forum!

Sent from my Sero 7 Pro using Tapatalk

 

[supratentorial]

Either I have bad information gleaned from a quick internet search for "St Louis Fun Facts", or your tub was indeed illegal . Most likely the former.

Shhhhhh! :thumbup:

Ha ha!

 

[Chief]

Born and raised in Oklahoma, central part of the USA, Indian Territory until 1907. 24 years in the Air Force moved me around a bit, but retired back in OK. Most of the land here is flat as a pancake, wheat fields, but there are some scenic areas like the Talimena Drive in the fall.

Unfortunately I too know the pain of sciatica, neuropathy, etc. Pain has to be pretty intense to allow docs to dig out the blown disc then install a fake disk, titanium bolts and screws in your spine.

When that doesn't calm it down, an SCS comes next.

 

[Jack Black]

Beautiful colours on your photos John, but the X-ray pics are horrific, looks like you've had it bad my friend. Have all the operations at least put things in order? I certainly hope you're not still in pain :thumbup:

Unfortunately Jack, I can relate to much of what you wrote here, though for other reasons. Won't hijack your thread with my gory / not so gory details.

Besides camping and general outdoors though, the one passion I was on my way to really enjoying was scuba diving. Alas, not realistically possible.

Very sorry to hear that Ronin, hope you manage to find other passions :thumbup:

 

[Grump01]

Best Wishes on the outcome of the Sciatica. Been there , Done that. Chiropractor is what got mine straightened out after being over 20 years since I had been to one. Hearing Rochester mentioned in the Chiropractors office and asking you mean Indiana? led me to finding out I had went to school with her Mother and Uncles and Cousions.

Grew up in Akron, Indiana and after 3 years Military, working on the Railroad led me to live in Greensburg, In and then Anderson, In where I have lived since.

 

[Chief]

Have all the operations at least put things in order? I certainly hope you're not still in pain :thumbup:

Thanks for your well wishes. Operation(s) stopped the physical deterioration but the nerve damage remains. The SCS provides the most relief with the least side effects, but recharging it is a literal pain in the behind (that's where the CPU / battery pack is located).

 

[abcdef]

Thanks for the gaw. I would do a pic if I could.

I am familiar with back pain, and wish you as much relief as possible.

 

[Jack Black]

Thanks for your well wishes. Operation(s) stopped the physical deterioration but the nerve damage remains. The SCS provides the most relief with the least side effects, but recharging it is a literal pain in the behind (that's where the CPU / battery pack is located).

Ouch! That's terrible John

Very sad to learn just how many folk here suffer with serious back problems. Thanks again for the well wishes.

 

[StoneBeard]

A beautiful composition, and a great frame for your knife :thumbup: Thanks for appreciating just how much the loss of my climbing has meant to me (you're quite right, there's really nothing like the sheer joy of vertical movement), though my back injuries weren't caused by it, so far as I know. They were a factor in my having to stop, but I have a number of other injuries, which were more directly related, including severe tendonitis, both at the bicep and elbow, on both arms, which got worse and worse over time. I have a steel rod in my leg, which restricts my knee, and now I have arthritis in my hands, feet, legs, and shoulders, as well as some injuries to my shoulders. I weigh too much to climb now anyway! I tried acupuncture for a neck injury some years ago, but unfortunately it didn't work for me Enjoy your climbing my friend :thumbup:

Thank you again Jack. Really sorry to hear about the extent of those problems especially from the shoulder all the way to the hand. I also have dealt with bicep and elbow tendonitis sometimes to the point where it's painful to grip or hold things. Like lots of injuries it generally flares up with over use. One thing I can personally attest to that has given me significant relief at least with tendonitis is dry needling. I'm far from a doctor or therapist but but the release of tension in all the sarounding muscles and tendons when done once a month keeps me going strong. I was turned onto it by the physical therapists available at work and now is a part of my maintainance routine. Hope this is helpful and again hope you have a speedy recovery. To everyone else with the laundry list of incredible surgeries and injuries I hope you all get some relief and keep fighting to do the things you love.

 

[Dschal]

I'd very much appreciate a chance to win a Lambs Foot! I was pretty gung-ho about the idea in one of our Forum Knife threads: http://www.bladeforums.com/forums/s...Crossroads!/page11?highlight=2016+forum+knife It's post 205. Then I spoke up in support of the idea several more times. I appreciate all the background and info you shared Jack.

As far as 'home', that's Bethlehem, New Hampshire for me. What a privilege it was to grow up in a small town in the White Mountain National Forrest. The woods and the mountains were my backyard and playground. Sadly my parents had to move away almost a year ago because of health. So now a visit there with my family will never be the same. My wife and kids have grown to love the area over the years, but now 'my home' is no longer my home! It feels weird.

Here's a picture from Bretzfelder. I had lots of Cub Scout and Boy Scout activities here and where I first learned important knife skills with my first knife a Buck 500. I bought it myself after saving up for it from tips from my paper route.

Here's Bretzfelder this morning (from a different angle)!

I'll post the large format picture after I develop it.

 

[Pomsbz]

Thanks for the opportunity! Not a Yorkshire lad myself, born in Tyne and Wear and grew up in Lancashire so bordering you.

 

[Jack Black]

Thank you again Jack. Really sorry to hear about the extent of those problems especially from the shoulder all the way to the hand. I also have dealt with bicep and elbow tendonitis sometimes to the point where it's painful to grip or hold things. Like lots of injuries it generally flares up with over use. One thing I can personally attest to that has given me significant relief at least with tendonitis is dry needling. I'm far from a doctor or therapist but but the release of tension in all the sarounding muscles and tendons when done once a month keeps me going strong. I was turned onto it by the physical therapists available at work and now is a part of my maintainance routine. Hope this is helpful and again hope you have a speedy recovery. To everyone else with the laundry list of incredible surgeries and injuries I hope you all get some relief and keep fighting to do the things you love.

Thanks my friend, and I'm sorry to hear of your own tendon problems, very common among climbers as you know (like ingrowing toe-nails - I've had a couple removed myself!). I injured my bicep tendons early in my climbing career, but the tennis elbow was even worse, I found it painful just to shake hands or mash potatoes! At least there are proper sports-inclined doctors and physiotherapists today, when I first consulted a doctor about a tendon injury, he simply told me to give up climbing! I've also found dry needing to be good, along with old heat/ice treatments :thumbup: I've had cortisone injections too, but they merely kill the pain.

I was just admiring your camera in the EDC thread, looking forward to seeing the photograph :thumbup:

Thanks for the opportunity! Not a Yorkshire lad myself, born in Tyne and Wear and grew up in Lancashire so bordering you.

Thanks for entering neighbour :thumbup: