OH, MY ACHING NECK & BACK

When I was younger, studying full percussion, my piano teacher was always trying to get me to sit up straight. Easier said than done. And while practicing drums and mallets it’s near impossible to not be bending over. The hours and years of not sitting straight while practicing and gigging, plus not getting enough exercise, have taken their toll on my back, neck and spine. I’m now 86 years young and I simply can’t stand straight—I'm in a certain amount of constant pain in all three areas of my body. Moreover, I’m partially bent over when I sit and walk. I went to see a spinal surgeon who had me take an MRI and CT scan. Results showed the natural deterioration of bone, muscle, etc. for most people my age. But they also showed a complete atrophy of all muscles in the lower spine. The only thing I can now do to help my situation is to go for intensive physio to build back some muscle, but at my age that’s not as easy as it sounds since I have other problems preventing me from doing too much exercise.  The nature of the main percussion instruments, more so than any other of the instruments, tends to produce the problems I’ve referred to .

Years ago one of my drummer friends always saw a chiropractor for an “adjustment" after playing gigs on the weekend—he swore by them. I never went to a chiropractor, but years ago there was an amusing incident when I saw a back specialist who had a very heavy German accent. He examined me and suggested that when I had a lot of back pain I should take a hot sitzen bath to relax the muscles, which sounded to me like “zitzen” bath. I said, “fine-- do I need a prescription for zitzen?” He looked at me as if I was crazy, and with his hands going up and down kept saying, “zitzen, zitzen!” I finally understood he simply meant to sit in a hot bath—apparently “sitzsen” is German for the English word, “sit.” But his heavy German accent made the word sound like “zitzen.” So, no—I didn’t need a prescription. Anyway, I mention all my problems in hope of making you aware and preventing some of the same things that happened to me. One thing to do, if possible, is to spend some time in a gym two-three days a week. For specific exercises to help strengthen your back, simply call on Mr. Google where you can see demonstrated all kinds of exercises for any type of muscle problems relating to the back, neck, spine, etc. Good luck!