Back Trouble at Gigs

[Emerald Midi]

I have mentioned before that when doing my regular show I sit on a stool when playing the keyboards and singing. One of the reasons for this is that when I stand in the one place too long my back tends to give me some trouble. But interestingly, when I am doing the Elvis gigs there's no such problem, I suppose this is because I do a lot of movement from one end of the stage to the other and also a lot of mingling with the audience, etc.

I am wondering if other musos suffer back pain when gigging, and if so: how do you cope?

[levi2]

all i can say is i had a disc out in my neck a few years ago the pain was like a horrible aching toothache but it went from bottom side of back up to my left arm it was awful when you eventually got to sleep because you knew you would wake up in pain even though this lasted for about 6/7 weeks i carried on going to work simply because the more movement i had mostly my arms there was hardly any pain so possibly it will be the mpvement from one end of stage to the other that keeps the pain away

[knimmo]

reminds me of the time i turned up for a gig wearing a back belt with steel braces in the back.the lads were good carried all my gear in, so i set up pluged in and nothing but this strange noise,then i remembered the belt and using radio controlled equitment,all it picked up on was the braces in the back belt,had to use good old fashion leads that night

[geraint]

I suffer in the same way as you Pat, if I stand there for too long by the keyboard, I just seem to seize up.

I think its called ageing.

[Steptoe]

I have problems with my left shoulder after years of playing guitar,
I recently had to change to a semi acoustic Tele Thinline to try and lessen some of the weight on my shoulder.

I did a gig as a fill in guitarist with a band a few weeks ago who played 90 minute sets! I was in agony by the end of the second set! Fortunately the third and last set was only 30 minutes..

I think as Geraint pointed out..It's called ageing

[weegeo]

Having drummed most of my career i was usued 2 sitting whilst playing,but as a result of an accident i developed terrible back problems and when i started playing keyboards i tried 2 stand up as this was the `done thing`but it was really sore so it was back 2 the old fashioned drum stool for me lol lol lol

weegeo

[mickyb]

Yup my Back gone as well K pak ,Tramadol and even Botox injections in my lower spine dont work now (oh & old age @44 lol )

[shyamwestwind]

Hi Everyone
Was out of town for a week ......went to New Delhi to have my braces (calipers) made for my left leg. While there I visited all the restaurants and pubs where my musician friends were playing. I t wa nice but I had a terrible time trying to stand up and sing and had to lean against the back wall and grip the chairs and tables. It was one of the worst times I had and I guess it was the fall I had two weeks ago.
I missed my stool , a comfortable seat with a broad round base and a leg rest !! The back pain always lingers and a little shuffling around on the stool and folding the leg always helped. When it was unbearable the last resort was the Ibrugesic tablets but relief would only work its way in after an hour or two.
A good stool is a neccessity and once on it, behind my keyboard with a microphone in front of me, my best medicine is the SONG !! Singing on stage to a good receptive audience cures most every ailment. FACT !!!
My only fear is thinking of a future when I cant get to that stage. The thought is depressing but looks real. I still cant accept wheel chairs in my mind but I'm sure when that time comes, I will still think of ways to make the wheelchair my band stand !! I cant stop singing ever.Its my world,.

[Emerald Midi]

Hi Shyam, good to see you back among your fellow Martians

You said:

I visited all the restaurants and pubs where my musician friends were playing. I t wa nice but I had a terrible time trying to stand up and sing and had to lean against the back wall and grip the chairs and tables. It was one of the worst times I had and I guess it was the fall I had two weeks ago.

I am really sorry to learn of your fall and your ongoing discomfiture, my own physical problems pale into insignificance in comparison. I must say, my friend, that you are a very inspirational individual who, despite your obvious difficulties, still maintain such a positive and energetic outlook on life.

Good on you!

[frankie]

I'm lucky enough guys i never seem to have many probs even though i move furniture during the day and gig at night. Had a problem with a sore neck one time but it sorted its self.

[Emerald Midi]

franky said:

I'm lucky enough guys i never seem to have many probs even though i move furniture during the day and gig at night. Had a problem with a sore neck one time but it sorted its self.

Franky, the rest of us hate you!

Only kidding, mate. It's great to hear you're in such wonderful shape. Keep it up, guv

[a.j.]

Franky, the furniture moving probabaly keeps your back muscles in reasonably good shape, and helps with support.

At the end of last year, I was practicing for a Viola exam, and was having terrible problems with muscle spasm below my right shoulder, and down my spine. I was working long hours as well, and had got out of the habit of going to the gym. Unfortunately, the same shoulder is also affected when I play bass.

Exercising to keep your back strong definitely helps - there's no quick fix, unfortunately.

I find that when I train properly, I don't have a problem with back or shoulder pain when playing.

[thingyy]

www.bakballs.com/www/133/1001127/displayarticle/1001214.html
These are brilliant had mine for a year.

[paulo]

I went to a chiropractor years ago with a bad back.Sometimes my back would just like sieze up like a severe cramp.Anyway the back man asks me when do I get the pain.So I told him anytime I'm standing in one position.So he asked me when was the last time I felt the pain.(is this starting to sound like a bad joke)
Anyhooo I said that my back is always sore every morning when I'm brushing my teeth.So he told me to slightly bend my knees the next time
So I was thinking yeah bloody quack.But ye know it worked for me so Emerald give it a go ye never know!!!!
BTW if it works i'll have to charge you my chiropractors standard rate!!

[shyamwestwind]

Very helpful input, Paulo - change of posture when doing the routine chores really does help. Never thought of it before. Thanks again.

[doodie]

Sounds like "Pensioner Paradise ",LOL aches,pains,LOl, I'm 52 and I feel like 102,LOL I've hurt my back about 15 years ago working in the coal mines,(crushed disk)but hasn't bothered me,a specialist told to carry on with life nothing can be done,well I hurt my back again about 2 months ago,and it;s like hell to sing,and play guitar standing up.We play the first set for 1 hour and half,then break, but I'm lucky to get through 5 songs then Have to sit down,have been going to a chiropracter(spelling LOL) this is my 5th time (today) and knock on wood I feel great,it's like having a smoke after_____.After all that pain, to be able to just walk 10 feet without pain,feels sooooooooo good. The chiropracter(spelling LOL) so far, has done it for me.

[JohnG]

Hi Doodie and all,

Back problems, tell me about it. When I was about 16 I was diagnosed with (wait for it) Osteochondritis Juvenilis! WOW!

Since then I've had doctors and specialists call it scoleosis. Basically it just means curvature of the spine, and many, many people have it to a greater of lesser extent I believe. I've got two moderate curves, one between my shoulder blades, the other, in the opposite direction, just above the hips. The specialist I saw in the early '60s said I'd have been 6 foot tall without it. As it is I'm a runtish 5' 4". (Yea, I know. short@rse.)

But to get back to the point, so far, every time I've had problems, not one qualified, medical practitioner has helped, until I went to a qualified Osteopath.

My first port of call, on someone's recommendation, was to the British School of Osteopathy (BSO) near Trafalgar Square. I had a real problem and the doctors/specialists were talking of operating and fusing several sections of my spine together. After a couple of visits to the BSO the pain diminished significantly and after a month ... wow, pain free. ;D

They gave me some exercises to strengthen the muscles in my back and I can now go years without any problems. As soon as I start to get "twitchy back" I get back to doing the exercises and within a week, problem solved.

Occasionally I do hurt it badly, so I go to my local osteo' and within a week it's usually sorted.

Warning: But do make sure they're properly qualified. There are many who call themselves an osteo after attending a weekend course. The proper qualification AFAIAA (new one?) takes three years. And AFAIK the same for chiropracty.

Of course your experience may differ.
JohnG.

[weegeo]

Hiya vls lol glad to hear your health problems with your back are going good, i wish i could say the same,i was sent for acupunctre 8/9 weeks ago and my advice to anyone thinking about NO as i understand it the needles bring the bodies toxins to the surface and thus pain relieve starts. The only problem with that was i need the toxins in my body as they react with my big C drugs but of course no one seem to tell the other doctors this and the result is i can`t turn my head [so if Cat or Jacqui where walking down the street i couldn`t grab a sneaky look at them lol] my back goes into spasms and i can`t bend. According to the Docs i will be in pain until the toxins `build` up again, for pain relief i am on `Butran` patches which are morphine filled pads with a slow release. Ahh the joys of being `superstars` lol lol lol

weegeo--------------------feeling no better after sounding off lol lol lol

[JohnG]

No WeeGeo,
For back pain no acupuncture for me, and it didn't work for my partner either. It did work once where I had a bad fall and badly hurt my shoulder. A year or so after, the nerves in my shoulder kept firing off, and I got sharp spasms of pain. My osteo' after trying manipulation with little success then tried some sessions of acupuncture, which stopped the spasms ... for a long while.

My osteo always asked me if was taking any other drugs and to tell her if I started taking anything. I guess that's the difference between the professionals and the cowboys.

All the best Wee Georgie,
JohnG.