The Liberal Gun Club Forum

I've about given up.....

I'm having lower back problems with age. When I started carrying about 10 years ago, I could do it every day with no problem. I've always used either an IWB or OWB belt holster for my SW 642 snub or my Kahr CW9. Now, whenever I try to carry that way, my lower back flares up. It hurts so much I have trouble sleeping. When I stop carrying, the pain goes away after a few days.

I don't want to have to take 8 ibuprofin a day whenever I carry. I have a pocket holster for my 642, but it leaves a big bulge in my pocket. It's obvious I'm carrying. During the summer, it's too hot to wear a jacket.

Any suggestions? Thanks.

Try yoga for back pain it helps out a lot and it is something that I always put off doing as a fey and bougie thing until I actually did it.

Kinda sucks the wind out of ya doesn't it...

how does it feel to carry on the other side?

Backs are complicated...I sometimes light off the sciatic nerve which is something to behold...I've a friend who has a disc issue and another who has muscle things going on. The guy with the disc issue hangs upside down and swears by it, both I and the muscle guy just muddle thru...

rolandson wrote:Backs are complicated...I sometimes light off the sciatic nerve which is something to behold...I've a friend who has a disc issue and another who has muscle things going on. The guy with the disc issue hangs upside down and swears by it, both I and the muscle guy just muddle thru...

I installed a stone patio a few years ago, and needed some help recovering afterwards. I used my neighbor's hanging device to stretch out my back. She is also a chiropractor, and that helped too, but the inversion was the most effective at releiving pain and the relief lasted several hours. I think I suspended myself every day for a couple weeks at least. There are a couple ways of doing this, one with inversion boots that you hang vertically from a doorframe, and another contraption hangs you vertically from the hips and legs. The inversion boots are probably cheaper, but they are more difficult to use. It took me a couple months to recover from the rock work.


I'd also second the yoga suggestion, for immediate effects, and for daily maintenance. I've also used acupuncture for an injury, with good results. Yoga is free and you can do it in your own home.

Maybe the solution?

http://heizerfirearms.com/default.htm

LCP or Keltec. Or similar. Lighter than the LCR or your airweight.
The double action pull on the LCP is light, long and you can see the hammer move.
Easier to hit with than a 2" snubbie.
I have both LCP and LCR.

Van wrote:Maybe the solution?

http://heizerfirearms.com/default.htm

damn...i think i would like to try one of those out...

I had a similar problem last night, the mattress in my upstairs room is about 5 years old, sometimes I get some sleep on it (maybe 2-3 hours) but most of the time I wake up in the middle of the night with extreme stabbing pain in my spine (about 5 inches down from my head). Last night I woke up around 3:30 am (have to go to work at 6:25am) with a sharp stabbing pain in my spine, I almost wanted to cry, not only cause of the pain, but cause I fucking HATE, being interrupted while I sleep. So I went downstairs and slept on a leather sofa, like I did a few times before, fell asleep, but not for long, cause the fucking alarm woke me up. Went to work, felt like shit while driving to work.

But I REFUSE, to pay more than $200 for a good mattress. I dont know how anyone can pay $5000 for a mattress that's ridiculous, I'd rather buy another $500 Glock, and I sure as fuck aint financing one. But either way, I tried sleeping on 3 different mattresses ever since this started happening to me about a year ago. No matter what matters I sleep on I wake up feeling like someone stabbed me in the spine. But, for some reason the leather sofa downstairs, has these 3 large puffy sections to it, and I sleep like a baby, but I cant spread my legs out, my legs kind of hang in the air. I dont know, I heard somewhere that someone can make you a prescription mattress, custom fitted or something?? but I still dont want to spend more than $500 tops. I'm sure I fucked my back somehow, I just dont know if it was cause I slouch in my chair while at computer (sometimes for 6 hours) and I do the same thing at work, (when I have time to sit). Or maybe its just cause I lift 50 pound tires all day.I'm 26 now, I only wonder how I'll feel at 50?

I got hit by a M2 .50 cal barrel once. We were going down the trail in a M113 and I had it in pintel mount but the tip of the barrel hit a branch at 30 mph. Snapped that travel lock right off and spun it into my lower back. Being a young dumb Corporal, I just got back up in the hatch and carried on with training. My lower back hasn't been right in 25 years but hey, I'm not costing the VA anything

1) get a really good mattress. It will help more than anything.
2) I carry in an under shirt shoulder holster.Much more comfortable than any waist band holster I've found. The other thing to try is cross draw.

Good luck.

Zapp Brannigan wrote:Try yoga for back pain it helps out a lot and it is something that I always put off doing as a fey and bougie thing until I actually did it.

good suggestion,my dad did that for his back trouble and it helped alot,also try a soft pillow in the chair behind you if you don't already

Cross draw at about 10 o'clock so it's not stressing the back?

Pocket carry a Seecamp?

I have a Teeter Hangups inversion table and use it several times a week for lower back disk compression, torn disks, basically my spine is turning to chalk. It works like a charm. 5 minutes a few times a week. I don't take Ibuprofen any more at all. That shit will fry your kidneys.

Cabrito wrote:I have a Teeter Hangups inversion table and use it several times a week for lower back disk compression, torn disks, basically my spine is turning to chalk. It works like a charm. 5 minutes a few times a week. I don't take Ibuprofen any more at all. That shit will fry your kidneys.

so you look like the Australian guy on Inquisitors thread? ,,well,at least I thought it was funny

I love my memory foam mattress. Expensive? About the price of an AR-15. A great nights sleep - priceless.

Is there really any reason to carry gun all the time if it's causing you major discomfort?

Mason wrote:I love my memory foam mattress. Expensive? About the price of an AR-15. A great nights sleep - priceless.

Yep, every night we are reminded that one of the best purchases we ever made was our Tempur-Pedic bed.

We got one of these
http://www.dreamnumberbeds.com/compare/c3-bed/
Cheaper than the sleep number brand and the design is better
You can change it according to your mood.
I think they are in Texas. I used the phone and they were a small outfit.

Ask for Susie.

Try the following:

http://www.kangaroocarry.com/

It takes a few viewings to work out what they're selling (you'll see what I mean) but they have several holsters that may work for you.

otherwise try this with a pocket/compact pistol:

http://www.smartcarry.com/

If your back hurts with conventional IWB, I don't see the point... but a shoulder or front holster may very well work.

Van wrote:I've about given up.....

I'm having lower back problems with age. When I started carrying about 10 years ago, I could do it every day with no problem. I've always used either an IWB or OWB belt holster for my SW 642 snub or my Kahr CW9. Now, whenever I try to carry that way, my lower back flares up. It hurts so much I have trouble sleeping. When I stop carrying, the pain goes away after a few days.

I don't want to have to take 8 ibuprofin a day whenever I carry. I have a pocket holster for my 642, but it leaves a big bulge in my pocket. It's obvious I'm carrying. During the summer, it's too hot to wear a jacket.

Any suggestions? Thanks.

Don't carry? Sorry maybe I am misreading this as a back problem, when it's a gun problem? If so, 'scuse me for sharing.

I had serious back problems earlier this year. The doctors originally thought a ruptured disk or two in my lower back. Pain started in my left upper butt, thru the left hip socket, surface pain on the left thigh and deep (feels like a cramp coming on) pain in the left thigh, and down into the calf and even the foot and toes! L4 & L5 as I remember. My left leg was so weakened, that I needed to lift it with my left hand to get it into the car. Laying flat on my back, I couldn't lift it more than about 5 inches.

Pain was so bad! I started self medicating with the 8 Ibuprophen every 6 hours (way too much.) Vicodin, and later a neighbor gave me his Tramodol (which worked better for me.) I had to wait for about a month for my PCIP (Pre existing condition insurance program) coverage (thanks Obamacare!) to kick in. And then we got started--went to a doctor, got legal on the Tramodol and they switched me to clinical doses of Naproxin Sodium (500 mg) Naprosin? Worked well to get the pain down to a manageable level so I could sleep. And works to get inflammation down. MRI said the disk wasn't ruptured, just bulging. She referred me for Physical Therapy (they helped alot, and most of all were sympathetic and kinda loving.) I am a believer in Physical Therapy!!!!!

When I couldn't sleep in the middle of the night, I'd get up and drink about 24 oz of coffee. Remarkable for pain relief--and if you're not sleeping anyway, what have you to lose. Coffee amplifies the effect of analgesics like Motrin or Naprosin--newer research suggests that it actually acts as a pain reliever itself. (My experience was that when the pain went down, I got sleepy anyway.) Lots of hot showers in the middle of the night, too. Heat helps. Side effects of taking enough pain med and coffee to be able to survive was that my appetite went away and I had troubles with nausea and constipation. Slept with two heating pads--one that I wrapped around my left leg and secured with a strap, and one on my lower back over the left side of the butt crack.

I wasn't exactly suicidal, but there were days when I wished I would die.

That was in February, March, and April. Today I'm off the Tramodol--I feel 100% better just not having that junk in me. I'm on the Mediterranean diet, eating eggs and cheese in the morning, a brat & a low carb tortilla for lunch with a lot of berries and nuts for dessert or snacks, and the meat of my choice, veggie, salad, and more berries for dinner. Since January, I've lost about 45 lb. I'm down from 255 to about 210, honest I'm wearing smaller sizes in shirt and pants! My back is still sore, but not screaming. You get to where you have good days and some not so good ones. As you get better, you have more good ones than bad.

And because I'm on the "back side" of all of this, I'm almost manic after feeling down and depressed for 4 or 5 months. Smiles and politeness have come back, it's great!

If you can't carry your gun for a while, don't it ain't that important, imho. Or get a smaller piece and get an ankle holster??

(I have a little Regina auto that fits in my cargo pants pocket.)

Mason wrote:I love my memory foam mattress. Expensive? About the price of an AR-15. A great nights sleep - priceless.

Is there really any reason to carry gun all the time if it's causing you major discomfort?

I had memory phoam. If I had to sleep on that sumbitch every night, I wouldn't have any back pain--I'd shoot myself. God it was awful. I went back to a somewhat firm conventional mattress.

Hated memory foam. You sink in and can't turn over.
I can make the air bed as hard as the floor or mush.
I went to sleep number store snd sait yeah yeah but bought from internet company because of return shipping guarantee

Thanks for all the input, guys.

I actually have a Tempurpedic mattress my wife and I bought 6 years ago when we actually had jobs that paid something. It's a great mattress.

I've always thought of giving this holster a try...but I don't like how the gun points when you wear it.

http://thunderwear.com/holsters.asp

Looks like it would spread the weight around more evenly.

Van wrote:I have a pocket holster for my 642, but it leaves a big bulge in my pocket. It's obvious I'm carrying.

The bulge may be visible, but just like in the old joke, it's probably not identifiable as a gun. If you really feel it's conspicuous, try a different holster and/or looser cut pants.

Agreed, back pain really sucks!

I had a lot of back problems a few years ago, and I still do, to some degree. I got into physical therapy, where they had me doing essentially yoga type stretching, which did wonders... And still does, as I still do them when I start having problems again. Also, and this may sound silly but it really works: get a couple of super firm pillows, thicker the better. When you sleep on your back, tuck the pillows up under your knees. Having your knees bent, elevated, and supported allows your lower back to naturally straighten and lay flat on the bed, thus allowing those muscles to relax as you sleep. If you're a side sleeper, insert a thick pillow between your knees (keeping them from touching). This allows your hips to relax, and reduces strain on the lower back again.

Much of my problem was that I regularly carried a bunch of weight on my beltline, and it was poorly distributed. Try counterweighting your pistol with a couple of mags on the off side, or maybe a Leatherman or something. Load distribution is key, and many cops, construction workers, or anyone else who carries weight on their belt have had to learn this the hard way too. This is one of the reasons I chose a pistol that weighs roughly 1lb loaded, my Leatherman and flashlight even things out nicely.

We got rid of the mattress and replaced it with a double wide futon. Great and way cheaper than an official mattress.

I went to the chiro and got my lower back hammered out over the course of a few weeks. I've taken some beatings and tumbles in the past 35 years and everything was torqued. I just about forgot about those old daily pains until I saw this thread.

For Father's Day, I ordered a Thunderwear holster. I'm going to give that a try to see if it makes a difference.