Photography and Back Trouble

Back trouble is no fun, especially when it's sciatica, leg pain from a pinched spinal nerve.

Pinched Cervical and Sciatic Nerves

I've had left arm and leg pain for the last 12 months. An epidural steroidal injection in my cervical (neck) spine and some physical therapy stopped the left arm pain. But I could feel the left leg pain getting progressively worse from the sciatic nerve pinch in my lumbar (lower back) spine, especially after a Death Valley photography workshop in early December. I was carrying 13 pounds of gear on my back at least a mile and a half and sometimes 3-4 miles a day for four days during that workshop. I captured some great pictures, though.

Three weeks later, a two hour drive to Pagosa Springs turned into a four hour ride in a snowstorm. We stopped every 30 minutes so I could get up and walk a little, but again, I could feel myself getting worse the more I sat. Finally there was the night in early January where the leg pain was so bad I couldn't stand it, and had my wife call 911. After an ambulance ride to the hospital, two IV shots of Fentanyl, one of Tramadol, and a CT scan, I was able to go back home. Not surprisingly, the diagnosis was spinal stenosis, a narrowing of the spinal column causing nerve compression. In my case, spasming muscles were causing additional compression and intense pain.

On My Back At Home

That was the start of a month spent mostly on my back in bed. With 11 on a 10 scale pain shooting down my left leg to the foot whenever I stood or walked, I didn't want to get up.

On the advice of a chiropractor friend in California (thanks, Mike), I started alternating hot and cold packs all day long to ease the spasming muscles. Anti-spasm medication hadn't provided much relief, and I was on 3-4 extra-strength Tylenol pills a day. Tylenol and lying down with the alternating hot and cold packs were the only treatments that worked. The pain slowly lessened, but sleep was uncomfortable for awhile.

On the other hand, I have a compulsion to photograph. That pushed me to walk around my house a little, then around my block, and finally to hike in the Sandia foothills again. To celebrate, I've started another photo project - what dogs do at home.

Living In 3 Rooms

At first walking anywhere was painful, so I was restricted to three rooms - bedroom, bathroom and great room, all on the first floor. Fortunately, that's where our dogs spend most of their time when they're not outside.

Puppy Playtime

There's growling over toys most mornings. You'd think 96 pound Bernese Mountain Dog Taylor would just steamroll over his Sheltie sister Jessie, who's only a quarter his weight. But he plays with her without pushing her around, and even defers to her most of the time. It's almost comical when he's chewing on her tennis ball and drops it for her when she rushes up to him.

Jessie waiting to pounce on Taylor

One thing I worry about is the two of them pulling toys apart. We picked up a small stuffed sea otter at the Monterey Bay Aquarium on one of our California visits a couple years ago. The poor thing's red starfish has already come loose from one paw, and we'll have to watch out that little starfish doesn't become fully detached and swallowed.

Snoozing and Couch Surfing

Our dogs do a lot of snoozing. Naturally, their favorite beds are ours. They were mostly respectful of my need to be on my back in bed without disturbance.

Taylor likes our bed…

…and so does Jessie.

When we first adopted him as an 8 week old puppy, I kept Taylor off the couch. But when I couldn't sit on soft chairs anymore because it hurt too much, Taylor climbed up next to my wife Pat in my former spot. That's where he snoozes while we watch TV.

Taylor the couch potato

Playing In The Snow

Albuquerque snow doesn't stick around long, but we had a few days with snow on the ground after I'd been housebound a couple weeks. Taylor and Jessie were willing subjects in our backyard snow. Fortunately, I started being able to walk single laps around our block - about 1/3 mile - and enjoy enthusiastic dog snow play.

When it’s dinnertime, Taylor drops whatever else he’s doing and heads for the food!

Jessie demands the ball…

Taylor and Jessie walk and play above Piedra Lisa Park

Recovery - Hiking Again!

The stabbing pains were still there at first, but they became less as I stretched and kept walking. The day finally came when I could walk beyond our block to nearby Piedra Lisa Park without pain. Winter sunsets here come with great color, and the slightly elevated vantage point at Piedra Lisa Park is always a great spot to shoot from.

Sunset color from Albuquerque's Piedra Lisa Park

I was finally able to make it up to our usual stopping point in Embudo Canyon, above the park. It feels great to hike without pain, though some numbness and tightness remain around my left knee and calf.

Taylor and Jessie heading home into the sunset

Shot Notes

When every step hurt and carrying any extra weight caused even more pain, I chose my lightest camera gear to shoot with. I discovered I could comfortably hold and hand carry a Leica M10-series camera and 35mm f/2 Summicron-M ASPH lens, a combination weighing 2.16 pounds.

My Leica M10-R weighs 1.65 pounds, and the 35mm f/2 Summicron-M ASPH is 8.99 ounces, about 0.56 pounds. From that, I figured 8.9 ounce lenses were OK on the camera. That led me to add a Zeiss 50mm f/2 Planar T* ZM and Voigtlander 90mm f/2.8 APO-Skopar, both weighing 8 ounces. My usual carry became the 35/2 and either the 50/2 or 90/2.8, the second lens in a pocket at first. That gave me a 64 degree wide view and narrower views at either 47 or 27 degrees. It doesn't hurt that lenses for Leica's M-system have some of the best optical designs in the world, so I got light weight and high optical quality.

I usually use the Spider camera holster carry system. At first, I couldn't stand to even wear the belt with nothing on it. Eventually, I could carry an M10 or M10-R with one lens mounted and the second lens in a small belt-mounted case.

Lightweight AF Gear?

My next challenge will be photographing at the Oshkosh Airshow six months from now in July 2022, provided I remain relatively pain-free. I'll need autofocus cameras and lenses to track moving aircraft. The problem is AF gear tends to weigh a lot more than manual-focus Leica eqiupment. Consequently, I have a feeling there will be some OM System Micro Four Thirds equipment in my future. That looks like the only way to get my total carry weight down to 5 1/2 pounds with coverage from 107 degrees for parked planes to 8.8 degrees for flying aircraft.

I'm just a bit reluctant to pack much more than 5 pounds. I'll test-carry that weight first to see how it works - stay tuned.

Jessie the snow nose on Michial Emory Trail, Sandia foothills

More Information

Cleveland Clinic (nd), Epidural Steroid Injection (ESI). Retrieved from https://my.clevelandclinic.org/health/treatments/22301-epidural-steroid-injection-esi

Mayo Clinic (nd), Sciatica - Symptoms & Causes. Retrieved from https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/sciatica/symptoms-causes/syc-20377435

Mr. Leica (nd), Voigtlander APO-Skopar 90mm f2.8 Review. Retrieved from https://mrleica.com/voigtlander-apo-skopar-90mm-f2-8/

Jack Takahashi (nd), Zeiss 50mm f/2 Planar T* ZM. Retrieved from https://jacktaka.com/zeiss-50mm-f2

Jack Takahashi (nd), 35mm f/2 Summicron-M ASPH (V1). Retrieved from https://jacktaka.com/leica-35mm-f2

Pye Jirsa (12 years ago), Spider Camera Holster Review. Retrieved from https://tinyurl.com/2p8at5ek

Rod Lawton (August 11, 2020), Leica M10-R Review. Retrieved from https://www.digitalcameraworld.com/reviews/leica-m10-r-review

The discontinued Leica M10 is a very viable lower-cost alternative to the M10-R, especially purchased used.