I broke myself

[Gadget]

Just wondered how you all keep from busting yourselves up on this hobby. I trashed my neck this summer from constantly looking down and from digging. I still get out occasionally, but have had to cool it for the last two weeks to let it all heal up. I took my inline probe off and switched to my little DD coil to take the weight off of the front end.

I ain't that old and just wondered how many other avid Th-ers have this problem.

 

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[Cannonman17]

LOL I know that feeling too well... gotta start doing warm ups before turning it on! (picture a guy in a park doing yoga exercises with a MD beside his mat) I know I feel it when I don't go out for a while... the more you go the less it hurts to spend a day in the field.

 

[Gadget]

I'm out every day for at least an hour... sometimes 3-4. Just too much bending for this semi-old body I guess. Now I've got a bottle of Flexeril and PT next week. Don't think it was all from MDing, but that's definately where it started.

 

[stoney56]

Try taking a couple of ibuprofen or aleve about 30 before going out and take an epsom soak afterwards before they wear off.

 

[Sandman]

I am having more trouble detecting on land now with bad knees and have spent more time in the water where I like it anyway. I move slow so the water helps keep me from falling over and if I do, it doesn't hurt. Plus there is no poison ivy to fall into. I've walked into that stuff acouple times. When my knees hurt more than usual I have strong medication to take, but shouldn't drive, so I lay in my hammock and dream of finding the big one.

HH,
Sandman

 

[Michigan Badger]

Just wondered how you all keep from busting yourselves up on this hobby.

That's a good question. I finally paid the piper myself this year. After 58 years of more things than you could imagine I finally cream my left knee. Being mainly an office worker I'm not use to getting down on my knees. So I just start doing it and here I am looking for a knee replacement.

Too much sitting and not enough proper consistant physical exercise. I've seen THers who are at least 120 lbs overweight. One of these days that'll be all she wrote for them.

Got to go, I just remembered that homemade cherry pie in the fridge.

 

[grizzly bare]

Now badger I resent that! I am only 100 pounds overweight.
Gadget, I hear you! I have the same problems you describe. 2 years ago, before I started detecting, I couldn't walk up a flight of stairs without stopping for a break. Now I can get up the stairs with no problem, but my knees sound like I'm eating Rice Krispies! I've even caught myself shuffling on my knees to the next detecting spot because I couldn't stand up from the last one. One lady has seen me on my knees so much at the park she asked if I was starting an outdoors church. I told her not a church just praying for the strength to stand up. My IDX PRO has a permanent bow in it from being used as a cane.
This is a terrible hobby and as soon as I find enough clad to afford a psychiatrist I'm forgetting the shrink and buying another detector. I'm not hooked I can quit whenever the rest of my body gives out.
I think what I want to say is, Brother , You're not alone"!

 

[The Beep Goes On]

I have had lower and upper back and neck problems in the past, but I have a gadget that heals, relaxes and strengthens whatever area is bugging me. If you've ever been to the chiropractor and used those electrical pads...same thing but something small that you can use at home. It works great...healed my neck and lower back.

http://www.paintechnology.com/047.htm ...I have the one on the right.

Trust me, it works wonders.

TBGO

 

[skydiv]

i get pain like tennis elbow from swinging the detector. it can be painful.

 

[DPBOB]

I go out more often that way the muscles don't have time to rest....Thats my solution after the first few times out....

 

[skierbob]

I've had rotator cuff repair on the left shoulder and rehab on a frozen right shoulder. I play other sports, but metal detecting was the main cause of both shoulder problems. I get a stiff neck from time to time. Metal detecting may play a part in that too. I feel your pain. Believe me.

 

[-Jones-]

Gosh, a lot of out of shape & physical challenged hunters here!

When detectin, from time to time, slow the pace down, use a wider sweep and keep the head up, look to sky, at the horizon, at the birds, at the chicks, whatever to get the head out of the down position 8)

 

[shootist]

Im with ya. Ive been roofing for almost 20 years and know many faces of pain,my biggest gripe is from my elbow and not really from the detector its from the digging I think,the root of the problem is using a nailgun with that elbow for so long but the digging aggravates it. I have been digging in a lot of hard gravel though at an old drive-in. I found my first(and only thus far) silver coin there and I go there quite often I really need a better tool then my trowel I was thinking of a masons /rock hammer but dont wanna beat the coins up. The muscle relaxors do feel nice when you have an injury but they wont heal you. An anti-inflamatory taken for a period of time,even several days after the pain is gone will cure a lot of physical ills, but the number one thing I would suggest for any muscular problem is the hot-tub I love mine almost as much as my detector.

 

[Farmercal]

I have had both shoulders fixed recently but I can't blame it on metal detecting. It's more becaue I use my body to do things. I haven't slowed down in 30 years of being an adult and and have no plans of slowing down now. Since the operation I can at least move my arm without hurting like crazy. I still can't lift my arms above my head to work on something very well, thank goodness metal detecting requires me to keep my hand down when digging, that's no problem. Gotta love this hobby!!!

 

[Blackjack77]

I tore My rotator cuff in My right shoulder at Work. Tried to stop a rack of equipment from falling on a co-worker. I
cushioned the blow to him, but tore My shoulder. Physical therapy has made it tolerable, but I really need surgery.
Too busy with life to take time for it. So i sweep with My left, luckily I'm fairly ambidextrous. Now and then ,sweep a little with My right, but not long. One of the reasons i bought a Garrett- -all touch screen controls.
I won't quit this hobby-- until the ground freezes (about November 15th up here!)
HH

 

[bk]

I have a major case of tendinitis (detector elbow). It really hurts after a couple hours of detecting.
But when you are finding stuff, it's funny how the pain seems to go away. Must be all in my head. (no pun intended).

 

[minelab rick]

I find that if I hunt fairly frequently I do ok. But, if i don't hunt for a week or two, the muscles in my legs kill me for about 3 days after hunting. Those deep knee bends for a couple of hours make me use muscles I forgot about years ago.

 

[audigger53]

I have a major case of tendinitis (detector elbow). It really hurts after a couple hours of detecting.
But when you are finding stuff, it's funny how the pain seems to go away. Must be all in my head. (no pun intended).

Go down to your local bowling alley. Ask then for an elbow brace, like used for bowling. Now the arm will move but not the elbow.

 

[audigger53]

I have a major case of tendinitis (detector elbow). It really hurts after a couple hours of detecting.
But when you are finding stuff, it's funny how the pain seems to go away. Must be all in my head. (no pun intended).

Go down to your local bowling alley. Ask then for an elbow brace, like used for bowling. Now the arm will move but not the elbow.

 

[thadious]

I feel your pain. I was forced into retirement because of back pain. One back surgery all ready and likely more on the way. Funny thing is I got into metal detecting because of this. The only exercise I get is from walking, mostly at the beach. I found this to be boring so took up metal detecting to make it more enjoyable. I listen to what my body is telling me. If I don't feel right then I stay home. When I do go out I try and limit the amount of bending over I do. I also look up and around constantly. This helps with the neck and lets you see what is going on around you. Pain pills and muscle relaxers as well as anti inflammatory drugs are helpful but will not solve the problem. The best advice I can give is rest more often when out. Look around more and maybe limit time detecting. Hope you are doing better. Ted