Carrying with back issues.

[Bennies]

Hello all,

I have been having back issues on and off for the past couple of years after I picked up a suitcase wrong at work. I thought I had pulled a muscle but over the years the pain has flared back up. Well a few weeks ago I get back from work the next day I am standing in my closet putting a belt on and BAM!! pain like I have never felt before. It has been bad but not to the point were my wife had to drag me to my bed on a bed sheet. Kinda funny looking back on it but there was no other option. So this time i get an MRI and sure enough there is a 6 mm herniation that is sitting on the nerve. So that made my situation make much more sense. A few weeks later and an a few well placed epidural shots I am back on my feet and recovering. I am trying to avoid surgery so chiropractic and physical therapy are the name of the game at the moment. I am young so hopefully I can make a somewhat full if not functional recovery.


So this all got me thinking. When I carry my glock 23 I usually have it at the 5 o clock. I think this tends to make me sit uneven and makes my back feel a little tweeky even in the best of times. SO today I carried for the first time shifting to the 3:30-4 o clock. Felt a little better but prints a little. My wife seems to think that the way I carry is a cause of my back pain but I don't think that would have caused a 6 mm herniation. Probably just gives it a little edge of pain.

So my question to everyone is does any one else who suffers from back pain modify the way they carry at all? I know I could buy a pocket gun and carry that way but I do not really want to go that route as I like at least a moderate carry option as far as capacity goes. I am going to try the 3-4 o clock with the cross breed and see how that goes for a little while. We will see.....

Just wondering if there are other fellow back pain friends out there and seeing what methods you have went with.

[RPB]

Yeah, I used to do the 5:00-ish more, but 3:00 for the last several years.

I don't "subscribe to get back issues" ... but I get them anyway.

Kydex reenforced gun belt, Glock 26, 3:00
you can cant
adjust the angle of cant to reduce printing/amount of bulge
If you can't cant, then can that holster and get one you can cant

[AEA]

Shoulder holster for cooler weather where you can wear a lite jacket over it.

[stroo]

I carry at 3 oclock and have switched from either a Hipower or a 1911 to a S&W M&P 9c. I used to regularly carry a second gun usually either a KT P 91 or a j-frame. Now I tend not to carry the second gun.

[gemini]

Back problems on occasion too. Besides a good holster and belt combo, I find always carrying a spare mag opposite my carry kind of
balances out the weight and helps. Having all the weight on one side (3:00) was the culprit. Good luck.

[thelurker]

Personally, I think your issue is that you're carrying IWB. I also have back issues that I deal with, and invariably they will be worse when I carry that way. If I switch to OWB they go away. I believe its because of the pressure exerted on your spine when carrying IWB, probably caused by your belt being under tension unevenly. Maybe if you offset that pressure by carrying extra mags, also IWB, to even out the pressure.

Also, if you can wear an untucked shirt to work you should be able to conceal that way. I carry a G22 and G23 OWB without a problem. I also carry two extra mags OWB on the other side, which helps balance the weight.

Good luck!