Back pain milling

[Sixacresand]

I ran my mill today.  I've been laid up with severe back pain for the last 3 1/2 weeks.  After two weeks of chiropractic  adjustments and ice treatments four times a day, the pain has subsided enough for me to feel like standing and running a mill.  Nancy, my wife, insisting on doing the offbearing work (mainly so she could yell at me if I bent over or tried to lift something heavy)   ;) After two hours I could not get back on a ice pack soon enough. It was nice make some sawdust.

[Dan_Shade]

best of luck with the back pain. 

moving heavy slabs isn't very good for your back....

[sawguy21]

I really empathize with you. Motrin and Tylenol are my constant companions, beat my back up over the years and am now paying the price. I am involved in a project I am enjoying too but we both need to know enough to slow down and when to rest.

[Gary_C]

Try this, especially before you go to work each day. It's especially important to stretch your back muscles before you put them to work each day.

Back Exercises

Worked for me.

[Ianab]

Do you know what's actually causing the back pain? Can be all sorts of reasons. Some can be helped by chiropractors, some can't. Muscle injury, cartilage or bone problem? All can give you grief, but the "cure" may be different.

Also from the work point of view, some saw horses and roller stands can cut down on the actual back work. If you can keep things at waist height and swivel and slide things around it's just less stress on the spine, no matter what the actual problem is.

Ian

[Magicman]

 

 
I do not saw or really do anything that requires bending or lifting without this.


 
Notice that it is visible above my leather waist apron.

[drobertson]

Hate to hear of your pain, but glad you got to get into the saw dust.  Little by little, maybe you will get back your back!

[LittleJohn]

I agree on the back pain btu I notice that I get back pain more when I run the mill, then when I am the off loader. Me and the old man switch off. 

If we have to saw for more than 2 days in a row, I saw first day, he saws second, then I saw til we are done.  Old man has a metal hip and crummy shoulders, so for him to lean over the log all day and look at his cuts is hard on his back.  I have to convince him someday to upgrade to hydro's (the old WM lt40g18, is all manual)

[Sixacresand]

When I am milling, I wear gloves and a back brace.  I use roller stands to move boards/slabs off the mill.  I pick up only then ends of boards, never the whole board.  I am very conscience of doing stupid stuff around the mill.  But it seems anything goes for picking up grand children (where the problem started).  Those two are lots heavier and awkward than most boards I deal with.   :D 

[woodsteach]

Man do I feel your pain.  I've been laid up going on 6 weeks with only one sawmill job completed.  I teach woods and welding during the day sitting on my butt since standing up kills.  3 days / week chiropractor lots of ice and advil.  Things are getting better.

MM those are great stretches this should be another link to some that I do.  http://www.gbpersonaltraining.com/13-hip-mobility-exercise-to-ease-lower-back-pain/