Finding a photographer without some sort of back problem is about as easy as finding one who's happy with his day rate. A difficult task indeed. But like the weather, most of us tend to talk about it without doing anything. That is until, like one wire photographer told me, he's flat on his back in the kitchen, unable to move, exhorting his cat to go get help like some weird Lassie movie remake
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We are talking about being able to continue on with your profession. This is serious. Back problems are a nuisance to many, a burden to some, and totally disabling to others.
By not paying attention to our bodies we're risking losing the ability to do what we enjoy and what pays for that roof over our studios. If there's one thing I'd do differently if I could travel back in time it would be to stretch. (I'd also take a good long look at my dating patterns, but that's another story).
I talked to a photog in New York who bills $10K a day, worked for National Geo; a guy in Singapore who did $150K jobs; etc., who were forced to retire earlear than they preferred due to physical limitations. This job is physical!
Of course, I'm sure you **all** have great health insurance too, especially the freelancers.
Thanks Michael, this is a good post. My Dad who was a photojournalist for around 25 years has herniated discs in the top of his back that are very painful and the doctor says it's from carrying such a heavy bag for so many years. Some days when he wakes up he is almost immobile. He is in great health other than that, and walking in the morning helps work them out, but it is definitely a nuisance to many as you said.
mmurph wrote:
Of course, I'm sure you **all** have great health insurance too, especially the freelancers.
Aside from the rent on my family's apartment, health insurance is our single largest household expense. It's painful to add up that expense, but all it takes is one uninsured hospitalization to realize how much worse the alternatives are.
For folks in the position of sourcing your own health insurance, especially in states with absurd operational disadvantages for insurers (like New York), it's worth looking into groups like the Freelancer's Union or ASMP.
shatterkiss wrote:
all it takes is one uninsured hospitalization to realize how much worse the alternatives are.
I slammed into a car on my bicycle when I was in graduate school for photography. Knocked me out of school, took me a year to recover. I had no insurance.
Eight years later I finally got some "real" physical therapy under my wife's health insurance. In between I made $4K, $9K, etc. per year. I couldn't afford health care *or* insurance.
Hopefully some form of nationalized health care will eventually help the working poor afford insurance.
nadroj wrote:
has herniated discs in the top of his back that are very painful and the doctor says it's from carrying such a heavy bag for so many years. Some days when he wakes up he is almost immobile.
My sympathies to him! I am in a similar situation, taking preseciption pain meds for 10 years now. Meditation is sometimes the only thing that really helps.
Nerve pain sucks. Sometimes when we are young we don't realize how hard life can become. I never quite knew what "sciatica" was, just knew old ladies complained about it in novels I read. "My sciatica sure is acting up today ..."
dan727 wrote:
I think I would set aside $500/day for an equipment caddy.
I am sure he had a few assistants. Those are billed directly, in additon to the "day rate."
You find ways to accomodate for a while. Eventually it just isn't worth it.
He called it when he couldn't climb a ladder to shoot. I stopped when I couldn't do a simple headshot without pain meds - which made me screw up basics, like exposure & focus.
My knees are pretty mediocre and I know my back's suffered not only because of the weight of my camera bag but also because I almost always carried it on the same shoulder.
The MD who looks at my back from time to time says one of the biggest causes of back problems (after being generally overweight) is men with FAT wallets in hip pockets who sit for long periods, whether driving or in a desk chair and keep the wallet on the same side all the time. He says take the junk out and stop using your hip pocket.
Luckily, I have the VA. Say what you will, but it's been a real lifesaver for me. Now the 2 years in the military is paying off big time.
2 years ago, I went to the clinic, and said "I think I have the flu." I had pain in my shoulders and jaw, and just felt lousy. A couple of tests and the doctor told me I was having a heart attack. I was shipped off to the hospital, and a stent put in my heart. No charge.
Anytime someone says "socialized medicine" I say, "BRING IT ON." It's sad, but even doctors I know truly hate this system.
I worked in the steel mills for 35 years and fought the insurance company over almost every claim. One claim took almost a year to get paid, and I had a pharmacy ready to take me to court over payment of the claim.
Thanks for that Michael...I can relate, carried a heavy camera bag on my shoulder for 25 years until my arm started going numb, dumped all shoulder bags and have went with Think Tanks belts system, great system and thenumbness is gone, now I have to learn to stretch more and eat properly.
My back pain comes from an injury when I was working for a CPA 20 years ago: had to lift a case of Coke bottles in a tiny closet through the door, from a squatting position, turn and put them down in another place. Squirted two disks right out of there! Put me in the hospital for a week, and haven't been the same since.
I agree. Think Tank belt system helps.
I quit shooting professionally at 58 because of back problems - degenrated discs, arthritis, and painful sciatica. It was due mostly to the continued imbalance of shoulder weight - bags, cameras, battery packs, and also poor shoes, extra physical weight, and standing for long periods of time. Temporary remedies: Chiropractor, ice, hot-tub, massage, pain medicine, & daily excercise. You really need insurance to be a photographer. Young people who shoot video, or carry 5+ pounds of equipment every day on their shoulder are in for a rude awakening as they age.
I've stopped using shoulder bags to prevent back pain from carrying around so much unbalanced weight on the one shoulder. Now it's either backpacks, hip packs/belt systems, or roller bags.
So far Belt systems seem the most comfortable and practical way to carry gear, albiet a bit goofy looking when you catch a refrection and notice the Michelin Man looking back.
I don't expect any of you guys to do this, because it will seem to simple and cheap. Buy an inversion table. Use it every day. I can guarantee that for most of you the problems will go away. My wife has a blown disc in the lower back. Orthopedic surgeons wanted to operate. She bought this table for around $300 on Home Shopping or HSN. Her back problems are under complete control, she never complains anymore (OK, not about her back lol). I had a lower back muscle problem from a fall 30 years ago that lasted till we bought this table. It took about 2 months of use and now I'm fine. I use the table about once a month now (10-15 minutes) even if I don't think I need to and my back is fine. If anyone does this I expect a thank you PM
John, I'd always thought that those were hokey, but now I am going to look into them. I'm 23 as of yesterday and I have sciatica from a car accident and I'm sure the headplant I did into the sand at Huntington a few months ago hasn't helped my situation, either.
I am not a doctor. I have a sciatic problem. Went through the epideral shots.
Many have pooh-poohed Glucosomine Chondroitin. It works for me. I was on it for a long time and got off it because various reports said it really doesn't work. My back started hurting again. I started on it again and the pain has subsided. It takes a few weeks to kick in.
It is pain management. I get ahead of it by starting the day with a couple of ibuprofen.
I have 2 herniated disks in my back from a auto accident and I wear a back brace that helps a ton when I need to stand for long periods, The brace is made by M-spine ....you can see a version of it here http://www.healiohealth.com/tek9.asp?pg=products&specific=jnpqcnhne
I have had my current brace for about 4 years now and it still works but will probably need replacement next year.
