Bunko.T Loc: Western Australia.

I once heard an interview of an American "Expert" visiting Aust studying the "Bad Back". He reckons most are caused by weak stomach muscles. I tried strengthening mine & it had very noticeable results. I was no shearer but a HD mechanic & a lot of heavy lifting plus a fall off a truck didn't help. Muscles!! Use them or lose them. Works for me.

rox-ray Loc: Earth

About 20 years ago I started having back problems, had x-rays, vertabrae were fusing, started doing yoga every morning. Have done so every morning. I'm careful with what I lift and such but am pain free at age 64. Good luck.

Trevor Dennis Loc: New Zealand (South Island)

I had a spinal fusion in my early teens, and have lived with a bit of pain al my life. Then I fell four metres from the top of the big hedge at the back of our property four years ago, and knocked myself out, broke three ribs, and T6 right the way through. But go into a Kiwi Emergency Department, and you'll find a big jar of harden up pills on the counter.

It took the buggers nearly three weeks before they'd give me a CT scan, because I wasn't making a lot of fuss. So being daft enough to think they knew what they were doing, I did a big wedding job with lights, lots of kit, two helpers, and a whole lot of Oxy.

Because it took them so long to diagnose the broken back, and I was getting on with stuff, the break will never heal, and for various reasons they can't operate without a big risk of leaving me in a wheelchair.

But heck. I'm still walking, and loving my life.

In November I was covering a two day farm show, and the organisers asked if I would also cover the equestrian area. That made it two very long days. I work with two 1D cameras, one with a 24-70mm f2.8, and the other with a 70-200mm f2.8. with a 580EX2 on each camera. Plus a bag with other bots and bobs. Even with the cameras on a BR Dual harness, by the end of those two days I managed to do some serious damage to my broken T6, and it did get a bit more uncomfortable than usual.

Nowadays I do mostly video, and carry a big video tripod with my XF300 rig. Way heavier than the two 1D bodies etc. OK it hurts, but unlike the loonies in a certain other thread, I know we only get the one crack at this life, and I am buggered if I am goning to waste any of it.

BTW It decided it was worth a bit of pain for these two pictures. Two of my favourites from all year in the same weekend.

Click on Download to view larger

serrota65

Cobb, there have been some helpful suggestions here, but I haven't seen any like mine, so here it is. I played basketball for far too many years, and at that time, I was tall enough to play center, which meant a lot of jumping and compressing the spine and knee joints. I know this is different from your situation, but relief came for me upon using an inversion table. This takes away the compression and actually stretches the spine, and other joints. It only takes a few minutes, and it's easy. If you think that might possibly help, I suggest talking to your doctor. Some of the other ideas about core strengthening, lift with the legs, lose excess weight etc are also good.

poluto Loc: lacey, wa

I am handicapped and cannot stand, walk, or bend... I have a Victory 10 electric scooter made by a company named Pride. It will go 8 mph and has several inches ground clearence.. To make a long story short I can load 2 camera bags, lunch, and either a monopod or tripod which sets up on the floor of this machine. Has also a large rear basket and a slightly smaller on on the front. 40 inches long and 24 inches wide without the baskets. At half speed it will last a full days shooting inside or out. Breaks down into 5 pieces and will fit in the trunk of a mid size car. ( I have a friend with a small pickup and I use an inexpensive set of metal ramps. I go to places with semi smooth unpaved trails. I am looking now at its successor which is even nicer.. The Victory 10 I purchased for just under $2,000.00 The newest one is just under 3 Grand... Not for everyone but a life saver for me as I can continue to be very active in my hobby... One other nice thing when I am on a shoot with others they are usually tired out by noon and I am still as fresh as when we started before daylight.....Blessings

I enjoyed this event in a small western washington town..

poluto Loc: lacey, wa

Sorry about the second post but I needed to add that the photo was taken with a real cheap pocket digital camera... I was able to be places at this event that the other photographers could be at because they were to slow if the need arose to get out of the area quickly...

dwightdills Loc: Charlotte, Tn.

I could recommend a better surgeon, I've had two back surgeries and feel great. I had 5 vertebrates fused with titanium and screws.

Bunko.T Loc: Western Australia.

It sounds like if you were any tougher you'd rust.
That's about what happened to me. If one doesn't make a fuss they think you're a malingerer. Toughen up Princess is the motto.

ph0t0bug

Isn't it amazing how many of us have had these back problems? My doc says it's not "just old age", it's a lot of things about how we're made. He says the worst thing you can do is nothing. Then you'll sieze up and it's too late for help. Hang in ther and keep shootin'!

bull drink water Loc: pontiac mi.

see, i'm not the only one with a scooter.i use a monopod between my legs.i can hadle a good size combo.

bull drink water Loc: pontiac mi.

i keep talking about my scooter and camera rig,so i finaly got around to snaping a few pics.it was cold so i didn't reshoot the ones that were under exposed.these pics were shot with a sony a-550with a kit lens on a tripod.i am posing with a sony a-850 with a minolta 200mm G lens an a monopod, in michigan at 22 degrees. the scooter is by Breeze.

out of the van


she's a pip


now you see why i need a big one


set to shoot


grab that shot