I'm 33 and mine's going . I'm an Industrial Electrician and it's a common injury amongst us. I have a burning sensation all of the time in my lower back. Wife's an RN and she's on me all of the time to get it checked but I'm scared of what they'll tell me. Wasn't brought on by fishing but standing on the front deck all day and pounding 3 footers running the lake doesn't help I'm sure.

Back.. Between the Shoulder Blades. Happens while standing or sitting.

Starting to get that way. Age 30. Sure doesn't feel like it did when I was 20!!

Just turned 56, back when I was young and stupid I spent 20 yrs in the beer business hauling kegs around. Used to be able to put a 165lb keg on my shoulder and carry it into a place. Had Reunion Arena, used to put 180-200 kegs a week in there, thought I'd live forever. Now on a cold day you can here me walking from 10' away, knees are shot, ankles feel like 2 pieces of sandpaper being rubbed together, and my back....well I have a hard time bending over and picking up 1 case of beer and straightening up.
Thank God for Advil,Budweiser,and Champion Boats without those I would not be able to make it

+1 on the Champions AND Advil!

Occasionally. Knees more than anything.

I'm 64 had back trouble since old days riding bareback. I have had almost everything done (including Morphine pump which went south) Doctors will not operate says 85% chance it will paralyze me so I just keep on keeping on when I can and when I can't I behave myself. I purchased a hospital bed with remote so I can adjust knees, back etc. and I haven't slept in a recliner since I bought it; just a cheap one nothing fancy except the electric remote. There is a new drug being researched right now, I was on the list to be a canadite but since I have tried the Morphine pump the mfg. would not let me participate. I'll hear when the and if the drug in a implanted pump is gonna work. What ever you do, don't stop trying to get around no matter how much it hurts.
Blessings and prayers for all.

I'm 28 and have 2 spine fusions, T8-T9 and L1-L2. I still fish when the wind is calm.

48 year old fart with lower back pain.L5 is wore out and needs replaced.The other disk look ok. Thanks goodness for budlight and my smooooth riding 521Ranger.

Age 46...one back surgery at 30. Back is awful, but it won't get in the way of my fishing. Like my name says, I'm a "BassAddict".

age 48 back in march 09 started getting num in the fingers and pain in neck sholders arms started getting weak could not even hold a rod and reel my c4 c5 c6 c7 disk were degenerated had surgery sept 3 and doc said i could fishin now still pain in the neck most of the time and on top of that got to have both knees replaced but im going to wait on that then dec 08 had heart sugery cant stand very long just sit and fish but dont go but about fishin bout 2 times a month also have hypertesion stage 2 and angina good luck to all and god bless

Backs OK.. Knee's are shot @ 42

Mine started in 1966 breaking 4 neck vertebrae after falling off a motor scooter. In 1980 I was doing route work stocking non food products in grocery stores, which required a lot of stooping and lifting. I slipped on a wet spot and fell right on my keaster. The doctor ordered 6 weeks of bed rest and pain pills. After that he told me I had degenerative disk disease and wanted to fuse 3 vertebrae in my back.
I went through hell with the first fusion and was not about to let them cut on me again unless I was dieing. He then advised to get a job that did not involve much lifting or bending.
I changed jobs and went to a chiropractor. I thought he was going to kill me but he fixed my back.
After all these years of trying to be very very careful of what physical work I did I am prone to back aches and have a constant small ache which I treat with ibuprofen.
If your back hurts all the time you need to get it looked at.You may not like what the doctor says but going with out treatment may cause more serious problems in the future.

Hey ryanl im glad you started this survey,I did not know there were that many fisherman out there with bad backs.I am trying to get my blood sugar down from getting a steroid shot in my back that raised my blood sugar from 100 to 350,so TBI can operate on mine(L-5),but not having much luck at getting it lowered.I started the Atkin's Diet today, maybe that will help.Diabetic's need to be careful when getting those shots,I am Type 2, and cannot take any more meds than Im taking now per the Dr.,may have to go on insulin, but I hope not.Hang in there, and let me know how your doing.

bad... suffered for years, went out in October 2006, surgery Nov 2006, blew out other side of fixed disc in May 2008, waiting for complete failure again before I go back in for another correction...

weather a definite factor in my attitude for the day.... or hour...

bad knees since I was 10.. first surgery on knee was 1988...

47yo

You got the best in Dr Paul Detwiler. He and the pain doctor next door to him, in last two years, have gotten me nearly pain free, after 35 years of neck and back pain. Next time you see him, tell him Rip said hi and ask him if I get a big bass Christmas Card this year. He sent me a picture of a 9 1/2 as a Christmas Card last year.

As to my spine, C3-C4, C4-C5 & C5-C6 fused. In 07, Dr D cleaned out bone spurs in all of those, which helped tremendously.

L3, L4 & L5 worked on in 08. Dr D removed lamina on those three and cleaned out bone spurs in them and tail bone. Sciatica gone immediately.

Dr Scott Lamb, who is next door to Dr Detwiler, shot me 5 times with cortisone this year, 3 in neck and 2 in back and I'm good to go. Two years ago, could cast about an hour, and my hands were all drawn up and numb. Can cast all day now. Did loose a lot of my balance through all this, so can't stand up on deck anymore, will fall in lake and one time was enough.

Good luck Thad, you're in good hands.

Two surgeries. 10 years apart. Second one fixed it 80 %.

Hey Guys,

This seems to be a common problem with fishermen these days, and until recently I thought I would be headed down the same path. I was introduced to a new style of shoe that is absolutely great for your back and posture.

http://www.zcoil.com/index.php

They look stupid, I'll admit that, but wear them for one week and you won't believe how much better your feet, knees, and back feel.

I know numerous bass pro's who have bad backs but I'm guessing many are from weak family history issues.

I have pounded my back.
I used to put in garage doors and fireplace inserts. Back then most garage doors used stretch springs so once you laid the track you would have to lift the door to hook up the springs. They weighed over 100 lbs but the weight goes down as the door comes up.
Fireplace inserts weighed from just under 200 lbs to 250. I carried hundreds, maybe thousands into houses and up to second and third story apartments while they were being built. Most people would cringe seeing this but I've lifted hundreds from off the trailer and onto second levels when there were no stairs built. The ones I carried up stairs were carried on my back.

While fishing I've pounded it running whatever water was there in my younger days. I've been too many times to remember when I could only see the water in front and back and sky up above.


Today I have no back issues. I feel blessed and sometimes beyond lucky that I have avoided any back issues. I am 56 and back injuries in my family are non existent or they didn't tell me about 'em.

Had a fusion of L5-S1 in 11/03 at age 34. No problems since.

Blew the L5 disk - had surgery back in '84 i believe. Not to much back problems except when fishing. Can't fish all day without pain, not in lower back but up around the shoulder blades. Get really tight and I have to take a few minutes to stretch out. I just live with the pain as I really love fishing. I am 64 soon to be 65. Can't give up my favorite things yet.

5 ruptures across between L3-L5 one surgery, been fighing a bad back since I was about 13, I'm 53.

Not that I have, but stay skinny, stay in shape, get a good doctor and learn when surgery is necessary and when it's not.

All I got to say...........it aint easy.

C-6 C-7 lower neck fused Detwiler Tyler, Tx lower back starting to hurt more often.Im pretty tall though 6foot4 not looking forward to the pain of being an old man.An im still fairly young 36!!!LOL

Yellow Magic and I feel the same pain. Also been an Electrician all my life had'nt worn tools in several yrs but will be 40 in a couple of weeks and have the same burn all the time seems like in my lower back. Hate Doctors and scared to go see what could be wrong.......Only time I have ever been to the docter is when I was caried in an ambulance or care flight...

+1 Ken I was a plumber and also at age 18 damaged my lower back and have suffered with it for 34 years. I am 52 as well. Blew out my left knee racing motocross at 21, had a good surgeon but it is now becoming very painful. I see knee replacement in my near future but will grind it out (literally) until totally needed. I do not use pain killers other than Advil and BC Powders, the pain killers are way to addicting.

Looks like there is a lot of us on here.