Looking for ways to help a weak back

[silverfish]

I hope this is the correct forum for this subject.I am recently certified ow. Now I am preparing for my first blue water dive, therefore looking at gear to buy.
I am a small to medium build woman with a history of back injury due to multiple tramas.I have had four back surgeries, the most recent being two years ago.It was kind of a lower spine rebuild.Two fusions with the implant of rods and bone grafs.All is well now,I am fully functional.Currently there is a slight problem with a disk in my neck,but I am working to keep it under control.

My question is , does gear make a difference?One of the forums in Women in Scuba on BC's suggested a unit with low back supports helped someone.I am wondering if a ladies BC would be better in terms of positioning the weights and getting them more off the hip and onto the waist area.I plan to use the smallest tank available and rent as to not have to carry the tank.I want to get gear that is as kind to the spine as possible.

Any advice before I start buying gear is appreciated.

 

[large_diver]

Some ideas --

-- High Pressure steel tanks tend to be lighter and smaller for the same amount of gas capacity. For example, the Pressed Steel HP 80 tanks are anywhere from 4-8 pounds lighter (weight on dry land) than AL 80 tanks. You might want to invest in a little hand cart to carry your tanks.

-- Weight integrated BC -- lets you wait until the last minute to put your weights in and also lets you take them out either before boarding the boat or just afterwards. Also prevents you from having to lug all your weight on your weight belt. Adding weight with 10lbs. on a belt and 5lbs. x 2 BC weight pockets is easier on your back than trying to pick up a 20 lb. weight belt all at once. In order to take advantage of this "add at the last minute" benefit, the weight pockets must be easily put in and taken out.

-- Fin straps -- one of the toughest things to do if you are not very flexible is to get your fins on after donning all of your other gear. Look at fins that have easily operated straps.

And I know this goes without saying -- lifelong exercise to keep your back strong.

Hope these ideas help.

 

[Liquid]

I think the best thing is to have a strong buddy. Than your buddy can get the gear to the water, you can wear it in the water. Once in the water, the weight of the equipment isn't as big an issue as before. I had several students with back problems, and I'd usualy assign them to the strongest person in the groupe. Work with them more thouroughly on wearing the gear in the water instead of walking with it.

 

[kelpmermaid]

One thing you could try, depending upon conditions, is learning to put your BC on in the water. For this purpose, a weight integrated BC would work well. You could put the weight pockets in, INFLATE IT FIRST (don't ask,) then get it into the water and put it on there. Let a little air out then to get your arms through more easily. Obviously, though, this would be difficult in a current.

 

[ScubaBaby]

on the intergrated weights.

I have serious kidney problems and am not aloud to lift heavy amounts of weight (inc. dive gear!)

I have always had to wear weight belts when hiring and when i brought my own....i had intergrated weights....its brilliant for keeping the weight off your back!!!

If I were you, I wouldn't get a womans BC - down to the similar fact they are normally higher cut on the back to fit a woman. If you get a general BC they will be formed lower down the back giving you a more even spread of weight.

My only other reccommendation would to be ensure your wetsuit and BC aren't too small at all....cause that would restrict you more and logically put more pressure on your spine.

Anyway, good luck with the hunt!

 

[The Chairman]

Hey Silverfish,

I have just gone two months without getting wet due to a bad back. The amazing thing I found is how many boats will accomodate you!!! Let you don and doff your BC in the water, and put it there and retreive it to boot! They will carry your tanks from the car and even help you set up. Once in the water the zero "G" is just plain wonderful on the spine.

 

[silverfish]

You all have offered some good ideas. I had thought I would only rent tanks in order to avoid carrying them,but , the cart is a good idea and I had no idea the difference in weight steel vs. alum.
Outside of walking, diving is the first thing I have been able to do in quite a while.I can tell that I love the sport and I have every intention of being proficient at it.
I will never be satisfied with just having a strong buddy.I don't want to impose on others and it is important to me that I manage my sport as independently as possible.

I don't mind asking and expecting help from people I hire and will let them know of my limitations when I book services.I will ask for help when I need it, but I think it will be more fun for everyone if I learn to manage on my own as much as possible.Careful planning should be a signifigant factor in pleasant diving for me and my buddies.

By the way...I do take Nsaids(Celebrex or Naprosyn) on a regular basis for inflamation. Also Skelaxin is sometimes a necessecity for daytime spasms.I did use both RX's during my check out dives and had no prob. Anything I need to be aware of I haven't thought of?

 

[Ontario Diver]

Call DAN to check on the "diveability" of your meds. Also if you can find a doc in your area that is into hyperbaric medicine (pressure medicine, the guys that run the recompression chambers), It might be well worth your while.

Don't worry about imposing upon a buddy or anyone else in the dive team. For me, good buddy practise starts in the parking lot. And if someone on the boat/trip doesn't have a good time, neither do I. (I could mention a dive buddy who forgets dry suits and I happily go and get them, but I promised that person that I wouldn't ) I for one like helping and am always happy to help. Just be gracious and say thanks when I offer. (Must be the boy scout in me)

I know that I love this sport and I love sharing it - I'd carry you tanks anytime (unless you buy those steel 121's and start diving doubles )

 

[silverfish]

OD,it is this very spirit that has caused me to think..."I may truly love this sport".

Quite honestly at the quarry for my first check out dive,after I put on all that heavy gear , then trekked over (reallY just a little) rocky terrain and started swimming only to discover my weights were WAY crooked...I thought if don't drown today I will live to hate this.What the hell ever caused me to try this!?!?! LOL There was only one person at the site I even really knew,my dive buddy. I didn't know anyone else at all except the DI and really didn't know much about her.

At the end of the day , when I looked back on it.(As the adrenolin settled some.)I realized everyone was "a buddy". Everyone watched out for each other. You could see some people were closer than others,but,everyone was welcome and watched out for the other. I could hardly wait to get back the next day to dive and learn from this wonderful group of people.I have never experienced such commradory (sp?) in and out of the water.Really, just like here. I had never met any of you and unfortunatly probably will not get to meet more than a few.But from the get go, it seemed you were all behind me, and anyone else that expressed a common interest.

If this is what the diving community is all about I am proud to be a part of it.

Ontario Diver I think you must have been a wonderful boy scout!!!

;-0 Tears of Joy

 

[Laine]

Silverfish,

I FEEL YOUR PAIN.

4 years ago my left arm went paralyzed following a ruptured disc. I had to have a discectomy fusion at C 4-5 with use of a bone graft. Fortunately, after surgery I regained total use of my arm. Unfortunately, 8 months later I had to have a laminectomy at L -5 S-1. I was lucky because I had a great surgeon (the same one for both) and a wonderful physcial therapy rehab program. The first year of rehab was hard and sometimes frustrating, but the trick was to incorporate all those time consuming exercises into my daily life now and forever. Last year I completed my first 25K roadrace, I mountain bike twice a week spring through the fall, scuba whenever I can and this summer I purchased a Kayak.

At first I felt the same way about asking for help, but I realized that I would just be putting myself at risk if I did the lifting of gear and luggage. So my buddy is now affectionately also called packmule! I make sure that I communicate with the diveshop and staff regarding my special needs, and I have never had anything but competent cheerful assitance in both getting into the water and out.

I am now 99% and completely medication free. So keep those back muscles in shape (don't forget to keep those opposing Ab muscles strong too!), know that most fellow divers will always help, and enjoy that wonderful sense of relief that scuba gives.

Laine