[pct-l] Backpacking with a cervical disc herniation

[scourtway at bpa-arch.com (Steve Courtway)]

I have experience in this area !!!!!

last year, I took on the JMT from tuolumne to whitney, and I had also been
living with the same thing for about 2 years as the result of a kayaking
injury
in the upper kern river right outside of kernville.....pain in the
arm/elbow, tingling
fingers.....but I decided to go for it anyway.

I made it as far as paiute creek / pass 120 miles carrying about 25 lbs. -
and I
swear to the list, the hike pretty much cured the injury.  I decided to quit
for
reasons other than back pain, and I had stocked up on mucho advil for the
trip but
had used almost none and gave it away to a thankful thruhiker.  one caveat,
I did
feel a gnarly snap in my neck/back when I was headed up the paiute pass
trail and
figured I had picked the right time to quit, but after the hike I have been
bothered no longer by the arm pain and finger tingling - LD/LW hiking cured
me !! !! !!

Steve


----- Original Message -----
From: "Christine Kudija" <cmkudija@earthlink.net>
To: <pct-l@backcountry.net>
Sent: Thursday, June 19, 2003 1:25 PM
Subject: [pct-l] Backpacking with a cervical disc herniation


> Well, I just got the good news last night that I've got a "bulging" disc
> between my 6th & 7th cervical vertebrae (neck region), which my doc thinks
> may be causing arm/elbow, etc pain I've been experiencing the last several
> months.  Has anyone on the list dealt with this sort of injury, backpacked
> while treating it, etc?  It's a good thing this wasn't my year to
thru-hike,
> but I do have two trips coming up, and have other trips in mind.
>
> You're welcome to email me off-list with comments & suggestions (I _am_
> seeking both medical & chiropractic assistance already, have a great
> relationship with my chiropractor (who's also getting seriously into
> ultralight backpacking & went to the ADZ this year, etc, etc) - but any
> personal anecdotal experience would definitely be appreciated!
>
> Christine "Ceanothus" Kudija
>
> "Never measure the height of a mountain, until you have reached the top.
> Then you will see how low it was."  Dag Hammarskjold
>
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