Bowled tonight with bad lower back-good idea or not?

**Hammer** · 03-23-2014, 12:31 AM

I hurt my lower back at work Wednesday lifting up a heavy bin that I do a lot of times on my job. This time something went wrong. I lifted with my legs and a straight back but I got half way up and felt a pain in my lower back. I couldn't lift anything after that. I have been resting it and doing some exercises that are designed for lower back pain. I didn't think I would be able to bowl on tonights league night. I took a hot shower and did a few different stretches. I also took 600 mgs of ibuprophin between 1PM and 6PM.

Off to league night I went. I started with my urethane Blue Hammer for the first 5 frames. It wasn't working just right for me so I switched to my Raw Hammer Anger ball and saw that the lanes were just right for the way I was throwing it. It was more controllable then it used to be because I had the surface changed from 2000 Abralon dull surface to 4000 Abralon with a slick polished surface. Tonight I stuck with the thought before I started my approach to lead the forward swing with the ring finger which kept my hand to the inside of the ball up to the start of the release area.

My first game was a 208. My second game was a 163. I missed 3 spares that I should have picked up. That robbed me of 30 pins I could have added to that 163. I shouldn't complain because I don't practice anymore and our league bowls every other Saturday. My last game was a 193. I needed that game because we won that game by 4 pins. I bowled a strike and a spare 9 in the 10th frame of the last game. So we ended up winning all three games and series also.

My back bothered me a little tonight but it wasn't bad enough to keep me from bowling. I don't know if I should have chanced it with the lower back problem. I will have to wait and see what it will feel like when I wake up Sunday morning. I am sticking with the lead with the ring finger thought when I make my approach instead of the stay behind the ball thought. The lead with the ring finger thought keeps my hand to the inside of the ball as it reaches the beginning of the release area. Doing that makes it easier to not turn early. If I do start to turn early my hand is so far to the inside of the ball that it gives me somewhat of a margin for error so it is not as bad as if I have the stay behind the ball thought.

So not practicing and bowling every other Saturday on our league I can't complain about my bowling scores. I have bowled on this league for 27 years so at least I have a fighting chance of doing decent. I know all there is to know about bowling balls as far as layout and surface changes and the correct setup and release. Also throw in making adjustments on the lanes to get pocket hits. I would like to practice at least twice a week but my lower body issues won't let me do that. So I will stick with just bowling league night.

I like the game too much and that is what keeps me going even though the lower body has issues. I have some pain afterwards but I take some meds before bed and just deal with it. I sooner or later will know when I should hang my bowling shoes and ball up but I am going to have to be in pretty bad shape before I do. I'll just keep fighting through the pain. You almost have to expect stuff like this at 67 years of age. I still can make a good knee bend and open my shoulders parallel to the alley with my balance arm in front of me and rotate my spine on the forward swing to throw the ball. So I will keep on until I can't keep on but I ain't going down without a fight. I LOVE BOWLING TOO MUCH.

**J Anderson** · 03-23-2014, 07:51 AM

I'm sure that the standard c.y.a. medical advice would have been don't bowl.

Personally I dread having an opponent show up moaning about how this that or ther other body part is injured and they really shouldn't be there. Almost without fail, the injury forces them to slow down/ease up and the result is better technique and higher than average scores.

**Hammer** · 03-23-2014, 10:01 AM

Originally Posted by J Anderson

I'm sure that the standard c.y.a. medical advice would have been don't bowl.

Personally I dread having an opponent show up moaning about how this that or ther other body part is injured and they really shouldn't be there. Almost without fail, the injury forces them to slow down/ease up and the result is better technique and higher than average scores.

I can agree with that. On league night last night I noticed that my ball had a nicer path down lane and to the pocket because I was easing up because of a slight paranoia about my back. Usually when the game starts after practice my adrenalin kicks in and I start throwing the ball too hard. Plus because I slowed down I had better balance at the foul line after my release.

**striker12** · 03-23-2014, 12:24 PM

well i use to have what you are saying and found out that my spin shifted and it started hurting more and more so i got to a chiropracter and my back was good right after but you would want to go for 2 months at weekly appointments and then they might open up the appointments right know i'm at 2 months appart

**sprocket** · 03-23-2014, 09:31 PM

If I didn't bowl because I have pain, I would never bowl. I take 4 ibuprofen before I bowl. My left hip always hurts and my lower back does a little too. I can get through 12 games of practice with very little trouble though. I have more problems bowling three league games after working on my feet for 10 hours.

**larry mc** · 03-23-2014, 09:43 PM

Originally Posted by sprocket

If I didn't bowl because I have pain, I would never bowl. I take 4 ibuprofen before I bowl. My left hip always hurts and my lower back does a little too. I can get through 12 games of practice with very little trouble though. I have more problems bowling three league games after working on my feet for 10 hours.

Me 2 the name of my wednesday nite team is Aches and pains lol

**Mudpuppy** · 03-27-2014, 03:19 PM

Originally Posted by sprocket

If I didn't bowl because I have pain, I would never bowl. I take 4 ibuprofen before I bowl. My left hip always hurts and my lower back does a little too. I can get through 12 games of practice with very little trouble though. I have more problems bowling three league games after working on my feet for 10 hours.

This.

An injury or pain from past injuries rarely keeps me from anything. I broke 2 toes one year and then played centerfield for my baseball team in the playoffs. Played the whole game in immense pain but helped my team win. I pulled my cleat off after the game and my sock was soaked in blood. My team manager was like holy sh$t dude what the h#ll? lol. I said I got a week to rest up before the next playoff game. I have lost count of broken bones, etc. from riding dirt bikes. Everyday I have aches and pains. I take 2 ibuprofen before I bowl or play basketball or baseball. A couple of years ago I pulled a calf muscle running to 1st base in the 3rd inning and was out of the game (first time I can remember) drinking beer the rest of the night. A month before that I dislocated my shoulder diving for a fly ball in centerfield and finished the game and didn't miss any time. In little league I got hit by a line drive (big time concussion) in the 1st inning and pitched the whole rest of the game.

In short, cliff notes: Don't ask MP if it is a good idea or not, lol

**Hammer** · 03-27-2014, 04:38 PM

Boy! My lower back problem seems like nothing compared to some of you folks. I guess all we can say is welcome to the bowling with pain club. Anyone else want to join our club? Something on you has to be hurtin' to qualify joining us. OUCH!