Herniated disk

Hi all,

I have had a bad back for many years due to hitting a ford capri at high speed. That was 40 years ago. Over the years i have damaged it more and more. Its L5/S1 mainly. I typically ride with a back brace on.

On my 750 I have icon shocks set to soft. My bike always starts first or second kick. I find the riding position comfortable once i get it started, but am usually in pain form the start.

I was wondering if anyone has any advice for starting With a herniated disk. My problem is that i screw my back up everytime i start it. Please dont say get the starter for my 750. Would rather sell it than do that. My mk3 starter motor is brilliant, so i ride it most of the time.

Any ideas? I am sure i am not the only one.

I am seriously thinking about selling the bike. Offers?
See it here http://jerrydoe.com/norton-commando-750/

Since we don't have a compression release and it isn't easy to fit one, try rolling the bike backwards in gear up to compression before kicking. That's how I used to start my ES2 fifty years ago, at age 12. It had a release but no cable to make it work. I didn't have funds for a new cable

Rolling backwards first gives you all available roll space before hitting compression on the kicker. It means you don't have to jump on it quite so hard and it also means that the engine will roll thru. They also tend to start in one kick this way.
Hope it helps.

Glen

Maybe it would help if you described exactly how you work the kick start lever, or if you have experimented with different methods. My Norton rebuild is a good ways away from kicking over, but I have a lot of time kick starting various 900 bevel Ducati's. The technique that was easiest on me (after positioning the pistons properly), and also produced the best results, was standing on the right side of the bike while it was on the center stand and using my right leg on the lever with my right hand lightly on the throttle and left hand on the seat to steady myself. I could get a good strong kick that way without straining my back. Those 900 bevels had good long straight levers similar to the RGM lever, which might be easier on your back. Lastly, I don't understand your comment about selling the 750 before putting a starter on it. I've got my own back issues with spinal stenosis and am getting surgery for that at the VA in less than a month, and if for some reason kick starting my Norton becomes a problem, I sure as hell will put a starter on it in the blink of an eye, if that keeps me riding it.
Bill

RGM / T160 style kickstarter has extra length and leverage and therefore might help ease the swing.

Coincidentally, I'm nursing a bad lower back at present too. Nothing too serious, but certainly enough that all I can do with the Commando at present, is look at it...!

Hi Bill, I start it just like you suggest. I am having a bit of trouble as i broke my right ankle 3 times too, but not enough to stop me starting.

When i asked about this i almost did not post. 2 great ideas. I will try to rolling backwards first and maybe buy a longer lever from RGM. I have a mk3 lever on it now.

Hope your back gets better soon ans good luck with the surgery. I will be curious how that works out.

Thanks
Jerry

My oldest daughter had surgery for a herniated disc last year and is doing fine now. My wife, whose herniation is one vertebrae higher and a bit smaller, is due for her 3rd steroid injection June 2. The first one did squat, but the second one gave her some relief. Surgery is a last resort, but often is the only permanent cure. The bad side of coping is that you either limit your activity or risk addiction to painkillers.

You can always install a compression-lowering spacer under the cylinders...

grandpaul said:

You can always install a compression-lowering spacer under the cylinders...

Click to expand...

I did this on my Atlas...One spacer and 2 base gaskets...Starts very easily...

Beach said:

grandpaul said:

You can always install a compression-lowering spacer under the cylinders...

Click to expand...

I did this on my Atlas...One spacer and 2 base gaskets...Starts very easily...

Click to expand...

Yes, of course there is some power loss; but when you have to make decisions, you have to make the ones that make sense.

I have purchased a hot tub. My wife has wanted one for years anyway. This might help. Photos to follow. We went a bit overboard as usual. Went in to get a small 120v and ended up with a 240v 3 pump and 62 jets. Oh well, its only money and we only live once (i think).

Dang I like the way you think!

"Let's see...

Lower the compression (and power) to start the bike easier, maybe my back will feel better;

or

Get a hot tub to soothe my back after a nice day of riding.

I think I'll go with the hot tub!"

I thought your kids needed lunch money....

Degenerative disc disease here, L4/L5 I think, I feel your pain, literally. My back spasms come and go but lately they have showed up and are not going. Desperately wanted to ride my '73 Triumph 750 down to our local annual classic car show last weekend and was very worried about blowing my back out while I tried to start it after it had sat all winter. Fortunately I managed to wheel it out of its tight parking space in the garage and got it started without too much drama. Made it down to the car show and back too without too much pain.

I'm planning on selling the Triumph to fund a Commando purchase (playing phone tag with a guy on one now) and figure its now or never, if I wait any longer I may not be able start my bikes and I'm not the type to keep them if I can't ride them.

I'm only 56 so I feel I should have lots of years of good riding ahead of me, so am trying to exercise and do the healthy living thing as much as I can. I really can't imagine not being able to ride. -Eddie

Jerry, I have lower back issues too.

Basically i don't "Kick" mine, I stand on the kickstart, spine straight, and follow through all the way. (always on the centre stand even if i stall it at lights). Luckily with the Boyer, my bike is a first or second "stand" starter.

For me starting on the bike is asking for trouble.

If I could afford it I would defo fit a CNW starter.

Re: back issues, I'm convinced I have a problem with my sacroiliac joint so wear a belt like this when it gets bad - it helps. It may also help you.


http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Body-Tec-Sacr ... DBBcj-xvBQ

Cheers,

cliffa

Big sympathies for what can be from totally excruciating to completely debilitating.
I had a couple of episodes of "slipped disc" as these things often got called by lay people. Lots of laying flat. Lots of drugs which made things worse ( an anaesthetised gut > constipation > additional problems). Lots of physio which gave some immediate relief, but soon wore off.

I did find a superb chiropractor, who for the first time diagnosed three separate issues. Most initiated by muscles going into spasm. He worked on them and managed to return the back to a usable level of stability, as he called it. Every so often, I required a top up. It helped he was an early adopter to trips to the Nurnbergring, long before it was the thing it is now. He would distract me with stories of derring do, juxtaposed with lively dicussions of F1 - in what was a pretty interesting period.
Since he died, I have tried several others, non of which had his touch, but did have a marketing\sales plan...

My local medical centre - being not near a metropolitan area, but a provider for many less well off folk - also includes a dentist, a chiropodist and an osteopath, among others.
The young bone cracker bloke gave me the usual massage, ultra sound and manipulation. After the disappointments of the past, I was very impressed. He also gave me a few exercises - some more for maintenance, and some to relieve the stresses causing the muscle spasms causing the spinal displacements.
They work really well, to the extent I can shovel a ton of compost with only slight, and only exertion related, aches. Not the OHMYGODOHMYGOD sort.

One I do many nights is to hook my toes over the mattress, grab the top and pull to stretch my back. Gently, not snatching, but increasing the pull on my lower back - you can feel the tightness - then gradually the knot loosens, you can get up and be fine ish. At my age, being totally fine is not often on the agenda.
There are several others, but the post is already a bit long.

One of my worst experiences was waking up while camping with my back "gone", any movement was excruciating. I was in a sleeping bag. Couldn't reach the zipper. Couldn't roll over. A mild bit of panic ensued.

Had herniated disk in '89-age 39. After cancer surgery in 2004, I started Tai Chi to help recover. After about 3-4 years of daily Tai Chi & Qui Gong(20 min. plus hour class weekly), 20 yrs back pain and 15 yrs shoulder pain mostly disappeared. Took some time. Takes commitment, but worked for me. I abuse the back and pain is gone next day; not in bed for days as previously. Rick

I think i might have a go at thai chi also. Thats a good idea. We have had our spa operational for 2 weeks now. Its really helping. Last weekend i rode my 750 about 60 miles in the mountains. Jumped in the hot tub when i got back, with jets on full blast at my back for 15 mins. It really helps. This hot tub is the answer.



Jerry

An African doctor recommended having the shower jet play on the most affected area - sort of thing you can do in a hotel\motel\euro-campsite if stricken on a trip.
Worked much better than meds, which barely work at all. The hot tub idea would seem to be a 1st world variation.

river700 said:

Had herniated disk in '89-age 39. After cancer surgery in 2004, I started Tai Chi to help recover. After about 3-4 years of daily Tai Chi & Qui Gong(20 min. plus hour class weekly), 20 yrs back pain and 15 yrs shoulder pain mostly disappeared. Took some time. Takes commitment, but worked for me. I abuse the back and pain is gone next day; not in bed for days as previously. Rick

Click to expand...

+1

Jerry, I have had lower back issues for years; nothing as serious as yours but lotsa pain and stiffness. Then, about 5 years ago I started dealing osteoarthritis in my shoulder. The prescriptions and medical weed helped, but really fogged up my mornings. not long after that I came down with an acute case of shingles, and the subsequent neuropathy. talk about pain, drugs and fog. shit!

Then I started going to Qui Gong classes on saturday mornings. the results I have had are like nothing I could have imagined. Mobility like I have not had for 20 years and the pain is less than 50%. I now practice 2-3 times a week on my own, with a dvd. But I miss the classes, they were full of lovely women!

I have had sciatica for 30 odd years from a herniated disc pressing on a nerve, symptoms go from pins and needles in thigh to a frozen foot all in the right leg, can't feel the throttle pedal then.

What has worked for me are as follows,

1. alternate hot and cold applied to back for 15 to 20 mins each repeated for an hour or so.

2. In car a brace for the seat to support back including lumbar area.

3. Regular exercises to increase stomach and core muscle strength.

4. In the car for long journeys I have a coolbox filled with frozen flexible gel packs which I put one behind me on my back and change to a new one every 2 hours.

The exercise has been the biggest help, you feel the benefit after 2 to 3 weeks of starting, the stronger muscles take the weight off the spine so it lasts longer before the symptoms return.