Back Injury = Digging Dilema

[WiZeR]

Hi All

I had a fantasic first year on the plot growing veg! Lots of produce and lots of inspiration for years to follow.

However, towards the end of summer my Back finally gave up on me. I was laid-up for 3 weeks and was in severe pain for about 10 weeks in total. It has still not completely recovered with the occasional 'set back' and lots of 'twinges'

The dilema is this: What am I to do about digging?

I only worked a 3rd of my large plot this year, the rest has been over grown with weeds. About a month ago I killed off the worst of the weeds with weed killer but there are still clumps of grass and weeds amongst the compacted ground.

It would have been nice to get the plot dug, cleared and prepared this side of xmas to save digging in the bitter cold winter. It's rather depressing as I keep going up there and staring at it wishing I could dig, but am so scared about injuring myself again.

Is my only option to cover with carpet/black plastic as-is and dig in Feb/March?

[andrewo]

Hi Wizer,
Welcome to the club - don't worry you can dig after a while. I would suggest that you look at your tools, is your spade the correct height for you? Do you dig in the right manner e.g. no stooping or bending (believe me, it can be done). However, don't be put off by the no dig method, it works for me and I also do the square foot gardening thing. Trust me, if digging is going to damage your back - STOP NOW FOR THE LOVE OF GOD - I didn't and ended up with nerve/spinal damage, herniated discs and permanent sciatica. It took me months to walk again and at one point they thought I never would again. When your back goes it effects major parts of your body, the nervous system, the urinary tract and bowels and even the liver can be damaged by the drugs they pour into you, and also the kidneys. You've had a warning, so go with it. Don't see it as a hindrance but as an opportunity. You can still garden, I do but I have to take my time and frankly I wouldn't want to be anywhere else. Hope you get better soon.

[bramble]

Wiser have you thought of getting one of those elastic back supports. It will help to strengthen your back muscles.
If i were you i would give it a good spray of roundup and cover until the spring. The rest will do your back good whereas if you continue digging now you may cause yourself further damage.
Remember, your back is for life and if you cause permenent damage you will have to live with the pain indefinitely. Is anything worth that?

[andrewo]

Just a word of warning about the elastic supports, they don't do anything. If you want to strengthen back muscles, then it's yoga, sucking in your gut works to, tense it and release. You need to create a cage of muscles around your abdomen. You can PM me for some exercise tips that are low impact and will give you upper and middle body strength. The elastic supports are fine but I know from experience that you become reliant on them and the damage continues. God, I sound like such a pessimist. But really do want you to get better and you can get a six pack to boot! I use to have the one keg but now!!! Well, that's why my wife married me!

[NOG]

Rotovate........................................................

If you do dig face into the wind to stop it chilling your back and only do 20 mins at a time.

Dont over do it.

[dexterdoglancashire]

Sorry to hear about your back wizer. I think everyone has already given you good advice. (MY OH has back problems as well, so can sympathise with you) Could you not "share" half your plot with someone else? (If I lived closer I'd share with you!) Do take care. DDL

[IanP]

My back used to go quite often, but about a year of yoga at a local sport-centre sorted it out a treat. I did Iyengar yoga - poses held for ages rather tha an aerobic workout so is great for building strength. Worked much better than the various chiropractors and osteopaths that i'd tried.

You also try the no dig method of gardening. There's a web site here http://www.no-dig-vegetablegarden.com/ to get you started. Haven't tried it myself so let us all know how you get on

Personally I try to avoid chemicals as much as possible, so I'd avoid the spraying with roundup route, but that's just my personal opinion!

Cheers,
Ian.

[WiZeR]

thanks for your words of support.

I know what your saying and it makes complete sense. It's just so hard to 'do nothing' (on the plot). I will look into new tools, I have an azada which made things easier early in the year, so I may use that to loosen the ground in the spring. I have 4 large raised beds on my plot and was intending on having 4 more this year. But the plot still needs to be cleared and dug before I can put these in.

Rotorvating is a serious option. I know they spread and multiply the weeds, but the control of weeds is much less strain on my back than digging. Maybe if I rotovate the whole plot, then put the new raised beds on top and fill with topsoil and manure, then cover?

I have seen an Osteo who has been very honest and told me he can't help me. He believes the problem to be muscular, so as you say Andrew, it's a case of working up the muscles around my back and stomach so that they support me better. Believe me I have done nothing but research back pain over the past year. I'd be happy to hear any more advice, but for now i'm finding it hard to get into an excersise regime. I am slowly doing things to make it better. Walking home from the station instead of driving or getting the bus, infact lots of additional walking. Also some basic stretches and stuff.

The silly thing is that I have just taken on another plot with a poly tunnel! So that's doubled the work then! I know if I was fit I would use both plots in their totality. But with these back problems I am seriously considering giving up my current plot.

So i think, for now, the best plan of action is to coverup with caprets and black plastic and work on my back over the winter. It will set me back in my plans but hopefully I can get fit enough to not be affected again.

[Snadger]

Sorry to hear about your back wizer. I think everyone has already given you good advice. (MY OH has back problems as well, so can sympathise with you) Could you not "share" half your plot with someone else? (If I lived closer I'd share with you!) Do take care. DDL

Well said dexter! You've mirrored my sentimnts. Help one another thats the name of the game!

[WiZeR]

thanks Ian, actually I forgot to mention that my Oseto suggested going to a Pilates class. Finally talked myself into signing up and that starts this coming Sat.

Will have a look into no dig.

[dexterdoglancashire]

Sorry to hear that wizer. Only you can decide what is best for you. Best wishes. DDL

[WiZeR]

i'm too much of a control freak to let anyone else 'share' my plot! I'd love to find someone who I could pay to dig it tho. hmm I think even then i'd be too fussy!

[beefy]

WIZer do all the exercises etc that everyone has mentioned . I have a weak back ( as well as a weak mind ), hurt it pulling tug of war .One suggestion when doing any work that strains the back get one of the leather weight lifting belts .I wore one for nearly two years to help my back recover and it did help. Its not comfortable at the start but you get used to it.At the time an operation to remove discs from my back gave me a 50% chance of walking afterwards so you can see where I'm coming from

[Alice]

Hello Wizer, what a shame about your back. I do hope it is on the mend.I do know how painful and limiting it is. The only answer is look after it and muscle strenghthening exercises. I would suggest you find a way to garden without digging. Raised beds, containers and mulches as weed suppressors. It works for me. Be especially careful in the winter when your muscles are cold. It's very easy to damage them then. Anyway, lovely to have you back with us. Missed you for a while.

[Sue]

Wizer
You have my fullest sympathy, I had to have the operation and discs removed, which left me mostly painfree but limited for activities such as digging. I have just resigned myself that its going to be slow but sure, I've had my plot for a year but have only got one third of it sorted out so far. I use an azada, and gradually clear the earth for raised beds.
I planted my potatoes in plastic bags on top of cardboard and when I cleared the last of them was most impressed by the difference to the ground underneath. All the weeds were gone (except bindweed roots) and the worms (huge worms) had eaten all the cardboard so have now put some more cardboard and mulch down and finger's crossed in the spring this will be easy to cultivate. My kind allotment neighbour mows the rest of my plot for me so at least it looks like lawn rather than wilderness.
Good luck and best wishes for the future
Sue