The problem with having a bad lower back, is that it completely dominates one's life.
I have both rotovating and digging work to do up at Haddock's, and I know in advance that I shall be suffering for at least three or four days afterwards.
But it's already nearly May, and I haven't planted a single thing. I simply HAVE to do the work, or a whole years' growing could be in jeopardy.
I'm already thinking of reducing my growing area by building raised beds, putting up a shed, and planting more Peach trees. Raised beds could be managed more conveniently and probably be more productive, the shed could become an essential refuge (one man hospital/clubhouse/pub), and frankly you can't have too many Peach trees.
I suppose it comes to most gardeners that the body eventually becomes frail. I shall never stop growing all our essentials; I'll just have to do it slightly differently. Zimmer Gardening is looking like an attractive option.
I shall make my decisions this Autumn, but for the moment I'm off to do some rotovating... Ouch (in advance).
34 comments:
Oh you poor old soul. I know the feeling - I don't rotovate at the plot but digging is becoming harder for me. I have raised beds in the home garden and it makes life so much easier.
I tried using a spade once.
Wash your mouth out!
Sympathise with the bad back - I'm still trying to stand up straight again after weeding the strawberry patch last week. Gets harder every year. Definitely like the idea of a garden shed (equipped with comfortable chair and copious wine supplies). Hope things warm up soon, everyone is late planting this year.
That's the exact shed I'm after!
Perhaps employ a fit young thing from the village to do the rough stuff? then again if you get a gorgeous young gardener in you might have to keep an eye on Lady M............so just rub some painrelief gel into your aching bones and put raised beds in!
Raised beds are definitely the way to go. I had mine built with a ledge wide enough to sit on when I need a rest.
As I recent sciatica sufferer.. ..all I can say is
I feel you pain
I know just how you feel.
There's nothing like a bad back to make one feel extremely old. I get one about once every ten or so years, so I am lucky. Just a suggestion - lose a bit of weight round your middle, if that's not a cheeky thing to say.
Just the usual symptoms of advancing years. There is an option to growing old, but I think I'll stick with the back pain.
You're right. A couple of stone less would help, I'm sure.
They're sounding more attractive by the minute.
I'm not sure it makes any difference. My back was worse when I was quite skinny. Now I am fairly plump it hurts less but it's the my plumptiousness that makes the bending difficult !!!
So I eat what I like - you have to take the painkillers with food, after all !!
Just not good this getting older thing! :(
Poor you, you have my sympathy having suffered sciatica for 4 years.
At this rate I'll be doing all my gardening in hanging baskets LOL
Ooh, right there with you. I've had back problems for years (a herniated disk and mild scoliosis) and yet I persist on gardening. I'm thinking about raised beds myself.
We must swap notes.
Think most gardeners have bad backs. I use old baths for some of my raised by. You can sit on the sides to weed and plant them. Sunshine is the best cure.
I think raised beds are the way to go, or perhaps the type of bed where you press a button and the back part raises up? I'm a fellow lower back pain sufferer and know that after a few hours weeding or digging, I'll be in pain for the next day. Wine helps, but sadly I don't get to pay 12 euros for 10 litres!
I can surely empathize. Have the same problem and use a great ice pack at twenty minute intervals to reduce the pain and irritation. It works. Just be careful to bend properly.
About raised beds...YES! Wow, life is then easier. About more peach trees...YES! What could be better? I grew up in a mini-orchard of peach and apricot trees. They still twang my heartstrings.
Stay strong,
Sharon
My bad back ( had it since 6 yrs old) is getting worse and so you have my deepest sympathies
I'm slowly adding more raised beds in the veg garden - and contemplating them in the flower area as well - because of it
As the years creep up on us, we have to adjust to it's limitations. I worked in my gardens yesterday and am relieved that it is raining today so I can rest my poor aching bones. With a little luck, it will rain tomorrow also.
I had a bad back for twelve years and then one night at a dinner party I became roaring drunk complaining of my back, the hostess was a homeopath she applied arnica to both of my heels and sent me home in a taxi. I am cured and have done all sorts of menial tasks with no ill effect.
maybe an ad in the local paper requesting "apprentices" who want to learn all about gardening?
This body vs. garden issue is coming up for a lot of friends of mine. Raised beds help a lot.
When I saw the title I thought you had fallen from the tree house.
raise beds had to be put in at our place too,makes life much easier.
My back and I have an uneasy relationship. I take care of it, or it gets even with me.
Having read all of the above comments; I'm now convinced. Raised beds and shed will be constructed this Autumn. Thank you.
Had my sore lower back diagnosed as tight psoas muscles. Since performing daily exercises (simple) to stretch them, life has been a lot easier.
Ditto on the back pain. I have put off my tilling because of that. But must get it done. I have not done raised beds. But it sounds like a great idea.
Back pain is the worst!!!! Yoga has helped mine a lot, and running. ;) Hope your back is better soon.
Chi Gung Standing postures are very easy to do and are one of the best things you can do for your spine. Stand up, tuck the tail-bone under, lift up the back of head - open the occiput, drop the weight into the knees, bend the knees slightly, feet hips width apart. The idea is to get all the vertebrae to move apart. So the spine stretches in both directions. That should get rid of any pain you have which is probably being caused by some of the vertebrae being out of alignment. knees should be over the centre of the feet and arms out in a circle 'hugging a tree'. that opens the shoulder blades and releases pressure on the spine.
http://www.acupuncturetoday.com/content/images/fig1_34668_1_1_8786_34678_1_1_7989.gif
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