Would you believe my luck

[Ollie]

Well Ive had my new Canon 400mm f5.6 lens for just about a month now and the weather has been unkind to say the least. What with work and the weather I have only managed a couple of trips out in the field to give it a decent try. One of these at Whisby with Graham (glsammy). Thanks for a great day Graham by the way

Was at work all weekend, but had today (Monday) and tomorrow off. The forecast was good so was really looking forward to a couple of days birding. Not to be so!!, around 8 pm Sunday night I felt twinges in my back, by 9:30pm I was virtually unable to walk. I spent a very painful night with very little sleep.

Morning eventually dawned and I had lost the use of my right leg altogether and was in excruciating pain. Sue the wife took the day off and with a great effort managed to get me in the car and to the doctors who diagnosed a trapped nerve in my back. I am now slightly more comfortable but still in pain and drugged up on a cocktail of pain killers and anti inflammatory tablets. Got the laptop on my knee as I write this.

So no birding for me for a while the doc says I could be laid up for a couple of weeks at least
just hope he's wrong and I improve much sooner.
Roger

[matt_xyz]

Blimey Roger, sorry to hear that. Was it something you did that triggered it or just something that came for no apparent reason? It sounds very nasty either way.

You must be getting frustrated with your new lens gathering dust, but the weather's bound to improve soon and you'll hopefully be back on your feet within a week or two. Just think of all those warblers that will be arriving soon.

Matt

[AlphaZeroOne]

Something of a bummer Ollie! Just remember that we need our bad days in order to fully appreciate our good days! (OMG - who comes up with this stuff). Hope that you are on your feet again soon.

[Ollie]

Originally Posted by matt_xyz

Blimey Roger, sorry to hear that. Was it something you did that triggered it or just something that came for no apparent reason? It sounds very nasty either way.

You must be getting frustrated with your new lens gathering dust, but the weather's bound to improve soon and you'll hopefully be back on your feet within a week or two. Just think of all those warblers that will be arriving soon.

Matt

Nothing I did Matt was sitting at my desk at work completing the end of shift paperwork when it came on. The doc says if there is no improvement by morning I have to go for x rays as there is a very slight possibility I could have fractured my hip, but blimey I hope not. Apparently it is possible for this to happen under normal circunstances especially when you are getting older but hey I'm only 56 and didn't consider myself old. He realy cheared me up when he came out with this.

Going ofline for a while now need to lie down and get the weight off it
Roger

[glsammy]

Originally Posted by Ollie

Nothing I did Matt was sitting at my desk at work completing the end of shift paperwork when it came on. The doc says if there is no improvement by morning I have to go for x rays as there is a very slight possibility I could have fractured my hip, but blimey I hope not. Apparently it is possible for this to happen under normal circunstances especially when you are getting older but hey I'm only 56 and didn't consider myself old. He realy cheared me up when he came out with this.

Going ofline for a while now need to lie down and get the weight off it
Roger

I'm so sorry to hear about this Roger. As a chronic back sufferer, I know the kind of pain your going through.
It's often the simplest of things that can set it off, once with me it was simply picking a newspaper out of the letter box. It certainly sounds like a trapped nerve.
If you do go for X rays, don't expect them to see too much, they rarely do, it's more to eliminate fractures etc.
I'll keep my fingers crossed it improves as quickly as possible.

[Kymba]

Sorry to hear about your back, Hope it improves soon
I know how painful and how easy it is to damage your back. Three years ago i bent down to tie up my trainers before going to work, My back Clicked and a pain shot up my back and down my legs ( never felt pain like it) Couldnt move for a week at all, since then i have been in continuous pain and have little feeling in my right leg most of the time, It has also affected my other leg and both my arms. Three years on they still have no idea what i have done!!
I have learnt to adapt my life according to how my back is... is still a lot I can do and I make sure i go for a walk most days even if only round the garden..

Hopefully yours is nothing as severe

[Boddie]

Every Friday one of my Greek hepatobiliary surgeons stretches a load of us in theatre and often gets us to click. He does this by lifting us up. You feel great afterwards and I really enjoy going in to see him. He literally has queues waiting for a go once he starts

[Kymba]

Originally Posted by Boddie

Every Friday one of my Greek hepatobiliary surgeons stretches a load of us in theatre and often gets us to click. He does this by lifting us up. You feel great afterwards and I really enjoy going in to see him. He literally has queues waiting for a go once he starts

Umm what is a click? and how do you do it??

[jennyb]

Sorry to hear this, Roger. Back pain is really debilitating (spelling?). When my back goes I can hardly move and it is agony. I have just learned what NOT to do (like pick up heavy things).

I did find that a chiropractor helped a lot.

All the best,

Jenny

[Garden Carpet]

Roger I do hope your back recovers quickly. I too have a back problem (seems to be almost a qualifying factor for WABmembership!!!)and I know how desperate it can be when you are stuck and unable to move. Best wishes
jaki

[Paul mabbott]

Sounds like a disc problem? Hope it goes well - rest obviously but get help from a proper physiotherapist asap! Don't be tempted to get involved with quacks and don't get too dependent on the tablets! Easier said than done, perhaps, but in the long term, hopefully, you can get over the worst by adopting 'proper' posture and walking habits. I'm not (yet ) a back sufferer but I've had serious neck problems which have all been "cured" (? ) by minor physiotherapy, exercise and a lot of attention to posture ....
Good luck

Originally Posted by Ollie

Not to be so!!, around 8 pm Sunday night I felt twinges in my back, by 9:30pm I was virtually unable to walk. I spent a very painful night with very little sleep.

Morning eventually dawned and I had lost the use of my right leg altogether and was in excruciating pain. Sue the wife took the day off and with a great effort managed to get me in the car and to the doctors who diagnosed a trapped nerve in my back. I am now slightly more comfortable but still in pain and drugged up on a cocktail of pain killers and anti inflammatory tablets. Got the laptop on my knee as I write this.
Roger

[Blackdog]

Originally Posted by Garden Carpet

.... (seems to be almost a qualifying factor for WABmembership!!!)....

And dodgy knees!

Hope you feel better soon Roger. Like many other WABers, I'm slowly coming apart at the seams so I can sympathise with you. (bring back the 1960's - all is forgiven )

Cheers

Warren

[Boddie]

Originally Posted by Kymba

Umm what is a click? and how do you do it??

I am not sure why it clicks but it is very audible. I am not sure how you do it, wish I did. Very similiar to a chiro or physio manipulating your neck and having it click.

[Wild-Woman]

Aw, You poor thing Roger. That sounds nasty. Hope it clears up pronto for you.

Did hear once that suspension from the ceiling by your feet is good for you.

But I wouldn't try it

Oh well. We'll keep you company on WAB whilst you get better.

Jules

[smartie]

Sorry to hear you are laid up, Roger. As another back sufferer - and with dodgy knees as well, Blackdog! - I really do sympathise. We're lucky to have a really good osteopath next door. So good I think she must be a witch. Derek and I have probably paid for her next holiday between us, but it's been worth it.

[nightshade]

Beware of the Chiropracter!My back was giving me Sciatica and I was
advised to see one.After; acupuncture,stretching,bending,flexing etc.
I decided to pay to see a specialist,one set of x-rays later and the
worn out discs were apparent and the reason for the sciatica?
a trapped nerve if the chiropracter had continued who knows what damage
could have been done
I sympathise with your predicament,but hopefully it can be controlled
without too many drugs,feel free to PM me if you want to talk about it

[Tormentil]

Very sorry to hear of your back trouble Roger. Lets hope with a bit of R&R you'll soon be fighting fit again.

[Ollie]

Thanks everyone foir your concern and kind comments. This is a typical example of how great a place WAB is.

I am still in a certain amount of pain but manageable thanks. In fact it was that lovely a day today my life allowed me to have a chair just inside our front door with the camera and tripod set up to catch the garden birds. They aren't brilliant but I was pleased with them and it brightened my day up for half an hour or so

Collared Dove head shot


Collared Dove


Blue Tit


Sorry, looks like I may have accidently uploaded two of the same shots of the Collared Dove if a gallery editor could dispose of one thanks
Roger

[badgerwatcher]

Great photos, Roger.
I, too, have been there, with the back. Bent to put dog dish on floor, and couldn't walk for a year! A few years ago now, and it teaches you to move and bend properly and carefully.
As regards the pain, go into it rather than backing away from it. If you challange it, it's easier to deal with. It's a technique worth learning.
Take it easy. And don't forget to be careful not to sit with arms outstretched holding any weight, (be careful with camera!) as that is putting strain on your back.

[Ollie]

Originally Posted by badgerwatcher

Great photos, Roger.
I, too, have been there, with the back. Bent to put dog dish on floor, and couldn't walk for a year! A few years ago now, and it teaches you to move and bend properly and carefully.
As regards the pain, go into it rather than backing away from it. If you challange it, it's easier to deal with. It's a technique worth learning.
Take it easy. And don't forget to be careful not to sit with arms outstretched holding any weight, (be careful with camera!) as that is putting strain on your back.

Thanks badgerwatcher. Sounds like good advice to me and I will remember it
Roger

[Paul mabbott]

Oh yes ... if you have tried everything else and are on the verge of death then maybe try a chiropracter (although you'll probably die more comfortably without their assistance) but otherwise stick with qualified medical advice and physiotherapy. Most probelms are curable by simple exercises or, at the most, minor surgery.
What you don't need is a big person pulling your limbs apart (unless that's 'your thing', of course).
Good luck

Originally Posted by nightshade

Beware of the Chiropracter!My back was giving me Sciatica and I was
advised to see one.After; acupuncture,stretching,bending,flexing etc.
I decided to pay to see a specialist,one set of x-rays later and the
worn out discs were apparent and the reason for the sciatica?
a trapped nerve if the chiropracter had continued who knows what damage
could have been done
I sympathise with your predicament,but hopefully it can be controlled
without too many drugs,feel free to PM me if you want to talk about it

[John]

I have to agree with badgerwatcher on this and I speak from experience. My back first went on me way back in 1971 and I was off for two years from it. It went again in 1977 but this time it was so bad that I ended up with a body cast for quite a few weeks. I ended up with a Cortisone injenction into my spine (Epidural) and again I was off work for two years.

I don't envy anyone with the sort of pain you have been going through Roger. I wish you speedy recovery and that you get back to your photography ASAP. Good luck mate.

BTW I love the Collared Dove head shot.

John

Originally Posted by badgerwatcher

Great photos, Roger.
I, too, have been there, with the back. Bent to put dog dish on floor, and couldn't walk for a year! A few years ago now, and it teaches you to move and bend properly and carefully.
As regards the pain, go into it rather than backing away from it. If you challange it, it's easier to deal with. It's a technique worth learning.
Take it easy. And don't forget to be careful not to sit with arms outstretched holding any weight, (be careful with camera!) as that is putting strain on your back.

[Ollie]

Just a quick update to let you all know that things are slightly better. Obviously I am still off work, but with a combination of drugs which by the way I hate taking, painkillers etc I am managing. (and good nursing by my wife Sue) At least I can walk a little again and can get reasonably comfortable on a hard chair long enough to use the camera positioned just inside the front door on the tripod for short periods. Nothing very exciting in the garden except the Long-Tailed Tits that came along early this afternoon and I was having a lie down but they were spotted by my wife, but at least it breaks the monotony of it and I can get very close up shots of anything that does turn up.
Roger

[badgerwatcher]

I hope it's going ok, Roger, and you're coping with it, and recovering.
I find that sitting on the edge of a firm cushion works, as it tilts my pelvis