At the end of December, tile set- ter Dan Chamberlain of Kelowna, B.C., a member of the Facebook social media group Tile Geeks, posed this question: “GETTING FRUSTRATED!!!! How many of you guys are work- ing with a bulged disk in your back? What are you finding helps?? I’ve been using two 18” needle nose pliers to put on socks and underwear since August.” This grabbed my attention immediately, since I’ve had a per- sonal encounter with “severely narrowed” L5 and L6 vertebrae immediately after Coverings 2018. Six weeks of physical therapy that evolved into a daily yoga practice and dropping over 20 lbs. have worked to keep my back mostly pain free (and kept me out of the surgeon’s office). So I was interest- ed in the flurry of over 60 respons- es that ensued to Dan’s question. Clearly, back problems are some- thing many tile setters deal with on a frequent basis, and there is a wide range of various responses and remedies from surgery to prayer – that tile setters are employing – some resulting in great improve- ment and some that don’t make much difference. Note of caution: this article is not meant to prescribe medical treat- ment, only to provide some ideas and insights to follow up with your doctor or healthcare professional. Back surgery Some tile setters, like John Graichen, Nicholasville, Ky., and Brock Cooper, of Tulsa, Okla., have had back surgery to “shave down” or fuse vertebrae, which resulted in a lot of relief. Cooper had surgery in his 20s, which lasted well for 25 years and had to repeat it in 2015. “Find a physical therapist and look up on YouTube ways to correct a bulging disc,” he said. “Surgery is the last resort; you will hurt if you don’t find other means after.” Jack Hamilton, who now works sales for ARDEX Americas in Arizona, responded that “My sur- geon told me if a bulging disc doesn’t heal on its own within two weeks it’s not going to. I fought a bulging and crushed disc for 10 months. Feel your pain bro. Get an MRI and see if you can get it fixed.” But surgery isn’t the end-all and Occupational hazards: dealing with back issues By Lesley Goddin, Editor HOT TOPICS ––––––––––––––––––––––––– HUMAN SPINE Cervical spine (7 vertebrae) Thoracic spine (12 vertebrae) Coccyx Sacrum Lumbar spine (5 vertebrae) 78 TileLetter | February 2019