Warren, my story pales into insignificance compared with Pappy’s, to which I can offer nothing other than my sincere condolences.
Well, here goes:
When I was at University, I was a strong Rugby player and was amongst the top scorers nationwide. One afternoon when cycling home from University, a motorist opened their car door in my path and left me with spinal damage that meant I could never play Rugby competitively again. Not only that, but for 6 months I lost the use of my left arm due to muscular damage, and my brain in turn forgetting how to articulate the arm. Running was painful for about two years, and using a backpack was quickly tiring. Following on from that, for a number of years, lying down was something that was done slowly and progressively in order to avoid cutting pain.
Rugby was my life. I couldn’t imagine life without it. I lived for the feeling of the first tackle when you nail your opponent for the first time, the heat you feel on your ear as your shoulder spears into his gut, and the smell of the winter soil as you dump him onto the ground. :violent1:
I then discovered motorcycle touring, camping, hiking, Japanese spa baths (more on that later), and cooking your own dinner after catching it yourself – and beating all and sundry on a touring bike fully loaded for two on tight mountain passes. 8)
We can find other equally interesting things to do when one is no longer doable. If it comes to it, the Ford Model A sounds good.
However, before it comes to that, take Bechtoea’s advice – I had chiropractic massage and other treatments with only partial success. It took me ten years to be able to lie down without wincing. I attribute my recovery not to time itself, but to Japanese spa baths – these are not just hot pure water springs but hot springs that are rich in minerals (and are sometime opaque greens and oranges I colour) that are widely felt to have “healing” capabilities by the Japanese. Frequent bathing in Japanese spas (usually located a 4 hour ride into the mountains away, outside with panoramic views of 10,000ft peak ranges) has helped my back to recover significantly. As you don’t have easy access to these :sad5: I’d have a go at deep tissue massage as Bechtoea suggests. It sounds like it may do the trick.
