Glastonbury with a Bad Back

[Hutchmaster]

Thought I'd ask about this now before the T-meltdown kicks off from tomorrow!

Has anyone got any advice on dealing with back pain during the festival? Despite being a bit of a whippersnapper, I have a pretty bad back and it doesn't take much stress on it to put it out. At the 2016 festival, it got so excruciating on the Friday I had to leave a set early to go lie on my airbed for a bit and on the Sunday again I had to leave a set early due to the pain. 

I'm now on medication for it which is a great help day-to-day, but I'm worried (ticket Gods pending!) that I'll get the same experience as 2016 (although I'm guessing the mud probably didn't help it!). 

Does anyone else go to Glasto with a bad back, and if so, how do you help ease the pain of it? Is there any pre-festival tips to help get it in good shape? I went to one of the Greenfields masseuses last time round but it was only a very temporary fix.

Cheers!

[Nobody Interesting]

11 minutes ago, Johnkhutch said:

Thought I'd ask about this now before the T-meltdown kicks off from tomorrow!

Has anyone got any advice on dealing with back pain during the festival? Despite being a bit of a whippersnapper, I have a pretty bad back and it doesn't take much stress on it to put it out. At the 2016 festival, it got so excruciating on the Friday I had to leave a set early to go lie on my airbed for a bit and on the Sunday again I had to leave a set early due to the pain. 

I'm now on medication for it which is a great help day-to-day, but I'm worried (ticket Gods pending!) that I'll get the same experience as 2016 (although I'm guessing the mud probably didn't help it!). 

Does anyone else go to Glasto with a bad back, and if so, how do you help ease the pain of it? Is there any pre-festival tips to help get it in good shape? I went to one of the Greenfields masseuses last time round but it was only a very temporary fix.

Cheers!

Get up the healing fields and find the queue up and wait tent. Usually on the side nearest Pennards.

I waited about 20 minutes and they are fantastic, it is pay in donations but only if you want. They got lots from me as prior I could hardly move.
If you would rather book a time there are loads up there who will sort you out.

Just be afraid of large Swedish men.

[RarerThanDandyB]

Well I wouldn't attend any festival with a bad back, never mind Glastonbury. Its not worth hurting yourself. Risk it if you fancy but it wouldn't work out the best. I would give it a think before Sunday since I would hate for you to severely make it worse. If you didn't go into the centre and camped nearby then it wouldn't be too bad but still a risk.

[oneeye]

Can't see it being an issue providing that you know your limitations and religiously stick to them.

That means no heavy lifting and shifting, a light, back friendly rucksack and meds as required.

If you could see a specialist  before hand (if you haven't already) that is going to help; it may cost though.

Spend more time sitting than standing (it will be dry) and ensure sleeping arrangements are as back friendly as possible.

Good luck with tickets; limitations, it's all about limitations.....

 

 

[CaledonianGonzo]

I don't have back pain so this advice is unqualified and might be worthless, but might be worth building up your core muscular strength in advance. Lots of planks and leg raises, that type of thing.

[oneeye]

3 minutes ago, CaledonianGonzo said:

I don't have back pain so this advice is unqualified and might be worthless, but might be worth building up your core muscular strength in advance. Lots of planks and leg raises, that type of thing.

Yep, this as well; abdoms like popadoms is the aim ?

[Avalon_Fields]

I'd invest in a couple of physiotherapy sessions immediately prior to the festival, and then if your back is strong enough, go to a local gym for some core body exercises (twisting/stretching/balancing), the one I do is called BodyBalance, at a Nuffield gym.

(I'm speaking from experience)

 

[Crazyfool01]

don't know if this works .. but here are my bad back exercises sorry was trying to add a pdf but it didn't work

 

Edited October 3, 2018 by crazyfool1

[Crazyfool01]

if you pm me your email i will send over a load of back exercises i was given ... unless anyone can advise me how to send/post a pdf on here ? and good luck ... I suffer the same issue but I just try and manage it by being careful 

[oneeye]

I finally got my back sorted last year by a chiropractor; not cheap but in my case money well spent. I've posted the advice that he gave me during treatment though not the exercises as they were specific for my condition ; might help.

[Crazyfool01]

and dont do what I did and fall asleep with an ice pack on there  

[balti-pie]

I’ve been to an osteopath who showed me a bucketload of great stretches and moves to open it all out when it’s tight - but as well as that I think working on your core will help hugely as well. Get used to walking shitloads - really, 15 miles a day is extremely normal - so if you get used to that, it’s core strength as well as sorting your feet out etc. I’ve been with a dodgy back, in 2016 when it was wet as hell as well, and i got through - but it did need managing. Be aware of your own warning signs and I can’t stress this enough, get used to walking LOTS. 

[balti-pie]

Shit yeah - those heat packs are brilliant. Not Ice packs! Get a couple of heat packs just in case! 

[Crazyfool01]

Chiropractor recommended the ice packs ... not the falling asleep though  

[Mark E. Spliff]

I'm sure we all know this already but someone has to say it: you should only be following advice on how to care for your back from someone who actually knows what's wrong with it.  (You haven't said.)  I trashed my back twice on the trot earlier this year doing some bad-form weightlifting.  I've since recovered and changed my ways, but copying what worked for me could potentially make yours worse.  A few years ago, I narrowly avoided severe nerve damage by getting a second opinion after some idiot advised me to do stretching exercises to overcome sciatic pain.  (Sciatic pain means nerves are trapped - touching your toes etc. risks dragging them across an obstruction.)

I'd also have a serious think about whether to go at all.  Would carrying kit/slouching in campchairs/sleeping on camping mats/etc aggravate matters?  I know it's heresy to say, but Glastonbury is just a festival - not worth buggering yourself up for.

[midlifecrisis]

I don't have severe back issues but I do get bad back ache if I have to stand still for ages or sit down without leaning against something - both are a bit of a problem at Glasto! :-) This floor seat thingy has saved me back ache over the last few years and can easily be shoved inside a backpack. It might offer you a bit of relief. https://www.amazon.co.uk/Highlander-Portable-Adjustable-Festivals-Stadiums/dp/B002WUJC5U/ref=sr_1_14?ie=UTF8&qid=1538593859&sr=8-14&keywords=floor+chair

 

[Michaels denim shorts]

i suffered with a dodgy back this year at boomtown, though it was purely from a friday afternooon/all night marathon session of bands & stuff we wanted to see / missions up & down that bloody great hill. (i was fine again by beautiful days the week after). But i feel your pain, it sucks when you cant enjoy yourself just because even standing up is uncomfortable. saturday night i was a write off after the headliner and i had to lay down. sunday i didnt do much else apart from lay down.

so ive certainly learned my lesson, im old, take it easy

[CaledonianGonzo]

34 minutes ago, Mark E. Spliff said:

I'm sure we all know this already but someone has to say it: you should only be following advice on how to care for your back from someone who actually knows what's wrong with it.

 

Agreed.

But even if you have nothing wrong with your back before you set foot on the farm, standing all day can take its toll...particularly in a wet year.  So lower back exercises and general core strength can go a long way to help, particularly if you're starting to knock on a bit.

[Lucy92]

Similar issue for me now. Car crashes earlier this year mean my back isn’t what I used to be. I’m thinking good walking boots and trying to sit as much as I can is the best solution.

failing that, copious amount of gin 

[Michaels denim shorts]

4 minutes ago, Lucy92 said:

Similar issue for me now. Car crashes earlier this year mean my back isn’t what I used to be. I’m thinking good walking boots and trying to sit as much as I can is the best solution.

failing that, copious amount of gin 

as in multiple?

[Lucy92]

Just now, Michaels denim shorts said:

as in multiple?

Honestly I’ve had such bad luck! 

Non fault both times as well. Going to paint my car neon! 

[Michaels denim shorts]

1 minute ago, Lucy92 said:

Honestly I’ve had such bad luck! 

Non fault both times as well. Going to paint my car neon! 

? i'd probably avoid cars altogether. i hope all is well now

[Lucy92]

Just now, Michaels denim shorts said:

? i'd probably avoid cars altogether. i hope all is well now

Work in the industry, so not that easy haha!

Mostly all good now  just occasional back pain. Will be interesting to see how it holds up if I manage to get tickets this year! 

[Michaels denim shorts]

Just now, Lucy92 said:

Work in the industry, so not that easy haha!

Mostly all good now  just occasional back pain. Will be interesting to see how it holds up if I manage to get tickets this year! 

good luck tomo/sunday, the ticket gods owe us one for that secret resale shenanigans

[Lucy92]

Just now, Michaels denim shorts said:

good luck tomo/sunday, the ticket gods owe us one for that secret resale shenanigans

You too!!! Let’s hope we’re all celebrating Sunday!