Nasty timing, hope you get better in time!

I'll be absolutely gutted if its not better.

Go see a chiro now and get adjusted everyday for the next week or so.

What sort of fishing will you be doing. If its into the heavies and game, then get a weight lifters type brace, for support and also importantly for reminding you that it hurts.

Take some anti-inflammatories to calm the swelling around the disc. Less swelling = less pain. Just watch you gut with heartburn. Also get any gimble, and preferably fish with a non stiff rod, ie dont fish with a broom, so that the rod action takes pressure off your back.

It might be better to see a Physio to fit and recommend a brace for you, so that the fit and effectiveness is increased.

Be back aware and dont do anything heavy to aggrevate it before and during the trip.

Cheers and good luck

Neels

Yeh, im seeing the physio twice a week at the moment and on im light duties at work. It seems to be helping a little but its a long process i think.. I'm going up to Broome so ill be doing pretty much all the different types of fishing. Mostly with heavy threadlines though, not the big game reels.

Do you guys think that something like this may help..

http://www.rayannes.com.au/daiwa-shimano-reels-australia/braid-belts-harnesses/braid-fighting-harness/

looks as though it might, even though i wont have anything to connect the top hooks to.

I dont think you need that, as that is a standup Big game brace with clips to attach to a big overhead. However there is no harm having on on board your boat just for the situation when you do hook a big one.

But they wont help you with an already sore back. It is designed to use your back and body, and not your arms to fight a large fish like a big marlin or shark in. More designed for tired arms.

cheers

neels

Ah, cheers crasny. So do you think just a normal gimble belt would be more suitable?

I'm an expert on bad backs seeing that I've worked in the building industry all my life Patty T and suggest you go see your doctor and get a cortisone injection into your back and you'll get instant relief that should last you for 4 months. It's only a one off solution as cortisone has a negative impact on your kidneys over a long period of time  but in cases of emergencies  like yours it works a treat. 

You can use a back brace and gimbal with a product call the aftco spin strap. If you can't find a stockist for the spin strap, it seems to just be a bit of webbing with a couple of loops in the end, you wrap it around the reel seat.

I may have to keep that in mind. Could i do more damage to my back if I carry on like there isnt a problem though... and do the doctors agree to doing it without to much trouble?

Of course, but in a harness you're getting much more support than you would if you were just hanging on!

Awesome till, that would defintely do the job. Do you know of any stockists in AUS. Found a few in the U.S

What dates are you away. I need mine for the 7th of July. If you are back, feel free to use mine. Full brace and shoulder straps with large gimbal. Rod clips. Saves you some $.

Let me know if that suits.

Regards

Dave

Thanks mate, Im away from the 6th to the 20th of june but i live in Victoria so it might be a little bit of a muck around.

Ill pm you with what I do. But basically unless a Dr recommends a cortisone shot stay away from them. The reason is for what you are going to do, it will mask the problem, making you think you are superman, pulling like mad and creating more problems in the long term. There is indications for it, and sure if you fit them a facet injection, Nerve root sleeve injection or worst scenario a intra-disc block or epidural will give you relief, but this should be done for medical reasons, not social ones as they kill the pain, but mask the situation.

I think a gimple, then a brace, and looking after it would be adequate, but then it does depend on your pain level ATM.

Neels

Yeh, I think the gimble and brace might be the way to go for the moment. I dont want to do any more damage to it long term. Hopefully in a few weeks it will be showing signs of improvement anyway. Thanks a heaps for everyones responces.

I would have a chat to your Physio/Doc and explain to them what you intend to be doing on your trip and what tools you could use to help manage your symptoms. They should be able to advise you what measures to take to get you through.

Don't push it too much though coz you only get 1 back/spine and they can be notoriously difficult to manage once you injure them.

Thanks matty, I might have a chat to the physio on wednesday. I'll take any measure i can to protect it, to valuable to ruin on a fishing trip.

This is what I use

http://www.plat.co.jp/shop/catalog/default/language/en/cPath/32_423/fishing-gear-accessories/harness-fishing-belt.html

kiaser

If its your lower back then use a gimble that can go across both legs on your thighs, as this reduces the pressure on the lower back when standing up straight. I have bilateral pars defects in my L5S1 accompanied by a slipped disc as well and cant fish with a normal gimble belt, need to use one more like a jigging gimble belt. Dont get a cortizone injection cause once you have one, you will need them regularly for the rest of your life. Try and stand up straight and use a low gimble that rests on your upper/mid thighs unless your problem is higher up your back. If it is higher, basically you should use a handline cause a rod and gimble will just cause you pain and make life a misery for you. Thats just my opinion though, im not a chiro or doctor but have sorted my situation out so I can pull up 50kg rays from the wharf without too much wear and tear!!!

Started with tingling down my leg and epic pain to follow after a sports injury... Was on stacks of painkillers. Accupuncture + physio fixed me up in about 2 months but I didn't want to give up on a planned fishing trip.

With the combination of a gimble and an altered 'lifting' technique using more of my legs to do the work instead of just arms and back I could still tackle with sambos. People may laugh at you :p lol. You don't want to do more damage though - I wouldn't recommend jigging heavy metals or casting big poppers all day. I stuck to regular bait, bottom bouncing and casting slices and stickbaits.

Also make sure you find out from your doctor/pharmacist that your painkillers + sea sick tablets (if u are taking them) don't have any reactions...

Don't let it stop you fishing, but as the other people have said, don't make it worse - it's just not worth it.

Thanks guys, really helpful stuff there. I dont mind if i look like a dork.. as long as I can catch some fish. Still a month of physio so I may come good yet.

negative PattyT but if you are on compo, I don't think you can go fishing, as compo I don;t think  would cover you if you hurt yourself more or agreviate the back injury as its a work related injury,  I could be wrong.  Just ask your doctor if you are covered for your orignal back problem.

 and a boogie board strap that you put around your wrist and cut the middle tongue bit down so it closes down smaller. it will only be a back up anyhow and use a bit less drag.Hope you have a good trip either way.The other trick is if the weather is crap put on a big padded life jacket and sit in the back corner of the boat.You look like a tool but they stop laughing when you can  fish  as soon as the boat stops.I had to do it for 6 days of gamex once and the jacket stops a lot of the knocking around if you get the right angle.

Black Magic is the go because you use your legs not your back.  Keep your knees bent as if sitting and use a rocking motion only winding on the way forward. Though harder to use on smaller fish. We've got a fantastic Chiro up here that always works the muscles before adjusting your spine, Work for me when I stuff up.

Yeh i had a look at the Black magic one, look good... but is expensive! haha

All good with the compo side of things Roberta as Im not actually missing anytime at work, im just on light duties. So that will be alright.

Hopefully broome can turn on some of the glassy conditions iv heard so much about so i get a smooth ride.

Is this the Black Magic one you were talking about Allrounder and Billcollector?... found it on ebay.

Pics will help or a link

haha, im an idiot. Sorry guys

here it is

http://cgi.ebay.com.au/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=120720871834&ssPageName=STRK:MEWAX:IT

Got mine from overeast 350 nice gear you can get them at cambells in Perth

Firstly I’m a Physio, who has had great success with disc injuries.  I have to address the positive/negatives or truths/myths mentioned in this thread:

Discs can NOT slip.  They will fracture the bone before it slips.  You likely have a bulging disc or herniated disc.

Now starting at the top of this post:

Alfred is incorrect if it is truly a disc issue, you should NOT get adjusted.  The chiros I work with would NEVER do an adjustment of the lumbar spine if a disc pathology was the prime reason for your pain.  There are other nerve/neurological techniques that your therapist should perform.  (by the way I do not dislike chiros as many physios do, I work with them very happily).

Crasny1 is spot on regarding the anti-inflammatories in regards to its positive and negative effects.  Off the shelf ones are appropriate, although you may want to consult a doctor to prescribe others that are available. 

Regarding cortisone injections, I would steer clear of these for the reason that you want – ie to fish (as crasny1 says).  Also cortisone does not only impact your kidneys (unlikely scenario anyway), but can in some cases degenerate the soft tissue in the targeted area.  Regarding what mosley2008 says for relying of them for the rest of your life (hence no kidney damage); this is unlikely if you did get one anyway as most Drs would not give more than a few over a year or so, then if no long term effect move on to other possibilities. 

Hk85 is very smart, changing his lifting technique to use legs to pull rather than the back.  I would also avoid jigging and casting large poppers, especially jigging as your require lumbar flexion with large amounts of muscle activity.  I’d say jigging was entirely out of the question.

Roberta’s comment is also on the money.  If you injure your back further and you require hospitalization or surgery, your claim will definitely not be approved after for any interventions after the trip.

Take care of it for now and progress as the physio indicates.  What are your exercises like?  Are they helping? If you have any questions feel free to post or pm me.

(as I have not assessed your back, I have to place a disclaimer on this post saying that any of the recommendations or comments that I have made are at your own risk and you should consult a medical professional, Dr or physio, regarding this information)

Thanks for that info. and your insight gumby. I'm gonna try do everything I can do get right, but im definetly not going to risk injuring further on the trip. There wont be any jigging thats for sure and hopefully the back brace does the job. Put way to much time and money into this trip to stay at home

PM sent gumby