after a really mild, lame 1hr sesh i got a bout of back pain that put me on my arse for 3 days, no walking or standing, i'd strained/pulled facet joints...

keen to know if anyone anyone else suffered the same pain,,,

trying to work out what caused it... was it the supping, was it the long walk down the soft sand beach carrying the board or hopefully something else???

Hey Windy,
A back injury with this was part of the reason I started SUP. Like you I have windsurfed for years. I have first stage degeneration of L4 also.
My advice;
- don't lift anything thats heavy. (no exceptions....)
- lay on one of those blue gel ice packs at the end of each day.
- use lower back support pad like you find at cheap auto (think it was $25). Use it in every chair you sit in if possible, especially your car.
- limit prolonged sitting, get out of you chair often if you have to sit.
- dont be afraid to take anti-inflamatories but make sure you eat before taking them.
- keep you back as straight as possible. bending is not good for it.
- take BCAA (branched chain amino acids) I take 6 after exercise if my back feels sore or if I think I have twinged it. (it works for me like anti-inflamatories) Available at health food shops. Its natural so its not going to rot your organs like neurofen.
- accept that this may be a slow injury. I found it comes on slowly and leaves slowly. I even found sometimes it got worse even when I rested. Its a bitch but you will return fully, its a matter of time, the body will heal.
Good Luck,
Let me know if these things help,
Regards,
SCOTTY

cheers



i was a bit worried at one stage couldn't walk or stand up straight fop 2 days

but on the mend now

i got in early with the blue ice pack, gentles stretches and anti inflams, apparantly this can make the injury last days instead of weeks or months

and after a decent massage from the physio im much better,,, but she says no sup or windsurf for 10 days til i'm full recoverd ...aaahhhhhhhhhh it's going off at the mo wind every arvo and sup swells in the am

not sure about the injections n joint stuffed for ever - physio says there was inflamation and once it settled i should be ok - so hopefully it was just the muscles.