Trip interrupted....

Took Friday off and headed for the big ditch. Stopped in the gorge to scout some carp spots and then onto Maupin.
Headed for Nena, crossed the river in the Commander and fished two of my favorite runs. Had them all to myself and had nice cloud cover.
Despite nearly ideal conditions, no steelhead hooked. I had one bump on a Bennett's Halo and then a follow on a green-butt Lil Wang skater. Looked like a torpedo was following my fly. Really cool, but no go.

I saw 2 other steelhead roll and a few really nice redsides. The October caddis were poppin and I was sort of mad I didn't bring the 5wt. It's also one of my favorite trout spots and the memories of nice redsides caught there over the years were hitting hard.



I crossed back and had everything loaded in the truck. The only thing left to do was to take off my boots and waders. That's when the trip took a turn.
I do this about every 4 or 5 years. I abuse my back working or fishing all day and then do something stupid like bend over too fast or do something awkward and pull a muscle in my back. Well, I did that when I took off my waders. Hmm, "THAT didn't feel right". I thought I was good once I got sat down in the truck, but nope. By the time I got to my Airbnb (thank God I wasn't camping!) I knew it was bad news.
When this happens, it's not the pulled muscle that's the problem, it's the ensuing back spasms from that pull.

I popped 2 naproxen and was hoping for a miracle, but knew my trip was over when I had to friggin crawl to the pisser. Not good!

It was a rough night and I was glad I had decided to keep the Airbnb when a friend had to cancel. Camping in the back of the truck would have made for an even harder night.

I was able to load my crap back into the truck in the morning and headed for the urgent care in The Dalles. And, of course, they were closed for some unknown reason. Great, ok, onto Hood River. The nice people of Columbia Gorge Family Medicine Acute Care got me a prescription of muscle relaxers.

Popped 2 and ate some lunch. I was feeling just good enough I thought about fishing from shore on a couple spots on the Klick. And then reality slapped me in the face when I spazed just grabbing my water off the passenger seat. Yeah, fishing would've been really stupid.

So fishing trip was over and I headed for home. Stopped at every rest area along the way to walk like an old bent over man, in pain, to the bathroom and back to the truck even if I didn't have to go. I made it home with no issues, besides my pride and fact I wasted $$ on another night at the Airbnb and 2 more days of a 3 day license. And 2 days of river passes. Trying to be thankful it didn't happen on the other side of the river and just be happy I got home safe.

I've had planned trips change at the last minute and even trips that changed mid-stream, but not for injury or illness.

What are some of your worst trips? Any shit shows out there?

At least I got to experience a typical Deschutes moment. Slow trains and great water.

 

[Jim F.]

Glad it wasn't worse & prayers for a quick recovery. I've had to crawl to my truck twice & my former bride was not too thrilled about picking up my duck dekes. Also had to pop my right shoulder back in place by myself, followed by a mile+ uncomfortable hike back to my Jeep. Took 45 minutes to remove neo waders one-handed, shifted two-handed on the way home & never could get into 5th gear. Life's an adventure.

 

[fatbillybob]

Well at least you got solitude fishing for the short time you fished. I just got back from 2 days fishing the Los Angeles 405 freeway, I mean the Clearwater river. My buddy took a spill 30 mins after the start of our day on the moss covered bowling balls of death. He wrenched his back and neck and pretty much was done for the 2 days on the water. He would feel a bit better and make a few casts then feel a bit worse and take a rest. I felt for the poor guy since the juicy water was calling. But he did not miss anything since the crowds were so thick it was like fishing with kids throwing rocks in the water. Steelheading is tough on a good day and these were great days but all the people put the fish down. We even used a guide with 60 miles of water he is permitted on and never a clean rested run to fish. It sucks when you get older and your body just does not recover like in your 30's. You tweek a back and you are out for days and like you know something simple can start the downward spiral. My only advice as an old guy is exercise! Staying fit for your age is your only defense. I always fish with someone be it a buddy or a guide so if something bad happens you have a better outcome. Somewhere recently I read about a fisher who fell and broke his hip. It took 3 bystander fishers to get him into his truck so his friend could get him to ER. There was no cell service by the water. That could have been an even worse day for that guy.

 

[skyriver]

Well at least you got solitude fishing for the short time you fished. I just got back from 2 days fishing the Los Angeles 405 freeway, I mean the Clearwater river. My buddy took a spill 30 mins after the start of our day on the moss covered bowling balls of death. He wrenched his back and neck and pretty much was done for the 2 days on the water. He would feel a bit better and make a few casts then feel a bit worse and take a rest. I felt for the poor guy since the juicy water was calling. But he did not miss anything since the crowds were so thick it was like fishing with kids throwing rocks in the water. Steelheading is tough on a good day and these were great days but all the people put the fish down. We even used a guide with 60 miles of water he is permitted on and never a clean rested run to fish. It sucks when you get older and your body just does not recover like in your 30's. You tweek a back and you are out for days and like you know something simple can start the downward spiral. My only advice as an old guy is exercise! Staying fit for your age is your only defense. I always fish with someone be it a buddy or a guide so if something bad happens you have a better outcome. Somewhere recently I read about a fisher who fell and broke his hip. It took 3 bystander fishers to get him into his truck so his friend could get him to ER. There was no cell service by the water. That could have been an even worse day for that guy.

Yeah, just from social media, the Clearwater looks very busy right now. You confirmed it. They are getting lots of early fish this year. Hope your buddy heals up!

 

[Kado]

I know I should improve my flexibility but I'm too lazy. Getting out of my waders and boots at the end of a long cold day of steel heading....I go just to edge of pulling a muscle or keeling over sideways every time. Brutal! I finally got a little flip chair that I use to sit on as I take off my gear.
Hope you feel better soon. I'm sure many of us can empathize.

 

[Buzzy]

Stacy -
Bummer about your back but glad you made it home safely. I've suffered back spasms many times over the years (and pulling waders on was one of the "causes" (in truth the cause was me being out of shape and lazy about exercising). I try to do back stretches and some strenghtening exercises every morning before breakfast. Seems to help (most of the time unless I do something really stupid like buy 80 pound bags of gravel ballast and try to wrestle them into place in the bed of my truck, seriously a DA thing to do).

Get well! Go to a chiropractor?

 

[Bambooflyguy]

Glad you’re ok Stacy…..bad old backs aren’t fun….I know!

 

[Tom Butler]

Hope it gets better soon. I too suffer from occasional, random, incapatiation because of my back. It's a bitch.

 

[Coach Potter]

That sucks! I have never had it happen on a trip but I have experienced it...back spasms are terrible! I have been "laid up" twice in the last 3 years. My last 2 episodes were set off by dehydration...at least that's what I attribute it to. I have never had a "bad back". I workout everyday, I have a strong core, I work on mobility all the time and I have never been over weight. Yet somehow, I will reach for a sock while seated or pick up a football at practice and there it goes.

Once a PT buddy told me, anyone over the age of 35 who has done some living, has a bulging disk somewhere along their spine. It's just a question of whether or not it becomes symptomatic. I don't know if that's true or not. The thing that kills me is that it never happens with a heavy barbell or a giant load of meat on my pack. It's always something silly like taking off your waders. I hope you're on the mend.

 

[RCF]

In my 20's I was in a bad car wreck and the doctors would not clear me to go back to work, in retail none-the-less, for 2 years. Lived with it ever since then. Last time I had a big flair up was while picking up a ping-pong ball. I worked on maintaining a strong core. Helped a lot. But getting old and maintaining a strong core I found are on two different ends of the spectrum now. So I am very careful in how I lift and how much too. I still try to help myself with stretching and flexibility exercises; especially before doing something.

Good luck and work at getting better ---> slowly. The body is amazing at healing itself; just allow it some time to do so...

 

[doublespey]

Damn, I know that drill. Right down to the rationalization that I feel "good enough to fish" when in fact you're not. Nothing fun about backs going out, but it sounds like you made the right calls. I've had too many shit shows to count, broken shoulders on hike in trips to my old jet boat running out of gas at dusk on the Skagit. For sure one of the worst parts about any injury while solo fishing is having to drive to get help. FWIW I'll let you know about those fish you missed when I head down there in mid Nov just a bit higher up on the river.

 

[skyriver]

That sucks! I have never had it happen on a trip but I have experienced it...back spasms are terrible! I have been "laid up" twice in the last 3 years. My last 2 episodes were set off by dehydration...at least that's what I attribute it to. I have never had a "bad back". I workout everyday, I have a strong core, I work on mobility all the time and I have never been over weight. Yet somehow, I will reach for a sock while seated or pick up a football at practice and there it goes.

Once a PT buddy told me, anyone over the age of 35 who has done some living, has a bulging disk somewhere along their spine. It's just a question of whether or not it becomes symptomatic. I don't know if that's true or not. The thing that kills me is that it never happens with a heavy barbell or a giant load of meat on my pack. It's always something silly like taking off your waders. I hope you're on the mend.

Yeah, I have as definitely dehydrated. Easy to do when you drive 4 hours to the spot and then fish hard for 4+ hours. I need to hydrate as hard as I fish.

Oh man, so glad I never had it happen at Jr football or hoops practice. Nothing like getting hurt in front of healthy young kids. Haha!

 

[skyriver]

Damn, I know that drill. Right down to the rationalization that I feel "good enough to fish" when in fact you're not. Nothing fun about backs going out, but it sounds like you made the right calls. I've had too many shit shows to count, broken shoulders on hike in trips to my old jet boat running out of gas at dusk on the Skagit. For sure one of the worst parts about any injury while solo fishing is having to drive to get help. FWIW I'll let you know about those fish you missed when I head down there in mid Nov just a bit higher up on the river.

Yeah, REALLY glad it didn't happen on the other side of the river. There were some guys in drift boats camped just up river. I guess I could crawled up the tracks worst case scenario. Wouldn't that be a sight while hanging out at a dark steelhead camp.

 

[PhilR]

I was out there this weekend as well but below Sherars. I didn’t tweak my back, but I think I pulled a muscle yarding on the oars. I need to start stretching and strengthening my core and shoulders.

 

[Brute]

I have twisted a knee following a fish downriver (and of course losing it)…then a painful 2 mile limp in waders back to the Jeep…

Wishing you a speedy recovery…

 

[Banned user]

I know exactly how you feel. For some reason, the issue has disappeared, but for years, I'd pull some muscle in my lower back and like you, I could only hobble around for days. It'd happen a couple times a year. There is no comfortable position to stand or sit or lay down.

 

[skyriver]

I was out there this weekend as well but below Sherars. I didn’t tweak my back, but I think I pulled a muscle yarding on the oars. I need to start stretching and strengthening my core and shoulders.

At one point I thought "hey I could go down and fish the righty at twin springs". Funny how we think we can just do stuff even though our body is telling us no. Just the drive down there probably would have convinced me not to do it.

I've never pulled a muscle rowing but my tennis elbow flares up every now and then if I do a lot. The elbow doesn't like pulling a 25 lb anchor very many times either. Hope you feel better!

 

[Yard Sale]

Yikes! Glad you were able to get back to some help. Must have been cool watching that follow. That next cast after is always a tough one.

My hips get out of whack and makes my back lock up. Had it ping me on my overnight float this weekend. A few minutes of stretching and I was good to go but someday I'll be stranded out there for a while until I get it to settle down again. I do like to wear a thin down vest just to keep everything warm and happy.

 

[doublespey]

Since so many are affected I'll share that I now take a handful of the best muscle relaxers/pain relievers I have with me on adventures into the wild. They'll usually offer some relief within minutes. Maybe not enough to get me back to fishing, but it will allow me to walk (or float) out without too much pain and calms the spasms until I can get somewhere to lie down. Just a public service share - getting old sux but the alternative is even less appealing.

 

[Brian Miller]

Back spasms can be the WORST. Glad you were able to get to a medical facility to get treated!

I once got a back spasm-pulled muscle when rolling over in bed to turn off my alarm. It hurt so bad it made me nauseous and I thought I was going to vomit. I crawled downstairs to the car and Mrs Brian took me to the Doc who IIRC prescribed a muscle relaxer that he said would make me sleep. When back at home the drug was taking effect but I somehow made it upstairs to the bedroom and laid down on the floor, on my back with a couple of pillows under my legs. My wife covered me with a blanket and mercifully I was out within a couple of minutes. I woke up about 4 hours later in sheer AGONY. It was OK to take the medication again in 4 to 6 hours so I took another one and none too soon was out again. Hours later I began to slowly wake up and distinctly remember while still in light level of sleep, thinking or possibly saying out loud; "OH NO, not again..." But as I became fully awake, I realized THERE WAS NO MORE PAIN

I actually went on a short hike in MRNP the next day.