Back in '87 when I injured by back, that doctor told me to limit my lifting to no more than 25-30 pounds, and to try and eliminate any excessive twisting or repetitive bending. Yea, right.
By '94 a different doctor, and the one I still see, cautioned me not to lift more than 15 lb. I wasn't supposed to use a leaf blower, weed eater, rake, broom, shovel, vacuum cleaner, mop, etc., etc., and to engage in such hobbies as gold, bowling, baseball and softball, or any other activity that required twisting and/or repetitive bending and standing. I had been using a cane for a year, off and on as needed, and had parted with my way too heavy 5900 Di Pro SL for the then-new XLT.
Part of my health problems were related to a herniated disk, but most of them in the 'big picture' were related to my diabetes, high blood pressure, and degenerative back disease. April of that year several doctors viewed my X-Rays and all concurred that they would have expected to be dealing with a patient who was AT LEAST 65-75 years of age due to the nasty state of arthritis.
After my back surgery in '95 I felt a lot better and was able to detect and move about, somewhat, like I had a decade or so earlier. Or so I thought!
I didn't have the acute pain from the herniated disk any more and was limited only by other health factors. I was still reminded not to lift more than 15 lbs., nor engage in any of the restricted activities. Included in the new list from my doctor was my love for the hobby of metal detecting. Due to my passion for the hobby, and the need to do my part at work, I was lifting more than I should have and using equipment I was cautioned not to use.
For a good five years after surgery I was doing rather well when it came to getting out and hunting the sites I loved, and doing it frequently. Then one day when doing something I shouldn't have, some of the pain I had on occasion and had attributed to
"minor aches and pains" didn't want to go away. Nothing was really "minor" any more!
Through 2001, I was back to using my cane off an on, and really had to limit some of my activities. As these years have gone by I have had to rely on hunting with my cane in my off-hand more and more. Taking periodic breaks to sit or lay down and get the pressure off my back. By 2003 I was agreeing with my doctor when in for a regular visit that I should look for another hobby and get out of metal detecting.
Most of my good friends tolerate my hobbling about, and know that if they don't see me standing working a detector I might be laying on a picnic table, or on the lawn. Maybe on a basketball court cement slab, on some playground equipment, or even on some old cement stairs in a ghost town ... if not just laying on the ground or gravel road.
By 2005 I had put in 12-13 years of the 15-25 that the doctors gave me back in '92. Since January of last year I have had to get around about 90% of the time with my cane in hand, and since last August I have used a wheeled walker when I am going to be doing much walking. It goes with me if I am headed to a casino, a gun show, etc. I have to be able to sit down frequently and get the pressure off my back, and I stumble less due to not having full control of my left leg & foot.
But for short periods I can get out and detect. I just have to plan ahead and get some good rest, when able, and with my cane in the left hand I can hunt 'OK" for a while. Sometimes 10-15 minutes before I have to sit or lay and get pressure off, or on a good day I have managed to get in 60-80 minutes before severe pain set it. I live in pain and the meds help, and I have just learned to tolerate it. I park as close as I can to where I want to hunt.
My friend is using my XL Pro for a while. Hopefully the doctors and I will agree upon the need for surgery, but after the last two MRI's it is mostly just scar material from the last surgery along with degenerative back disease.
My Troy Custom Shadow X5 is the lightest detector in my arsenal and the easiest on my back to use. My modified IDX Pro sports a 4" coil most of the time, and both of these units are light and balance well, and are slow motion. Just right for my needs and limited abilities right now. Actually, even if I was as fit as could be they would still share the #1 spot in my personal arsenal simply because I use these two for most of my hunting. If I feel I
need or
want to use TID, I grab the IDX Pro. But most of the time I don't need TID and I just want good audio performance in a light and handy do-all package. That would be the X5.
As for my X-Terra 50, I have to say that yes, in many ways it has taken the place of the XL Pro. I convinced my friend to part with his XLT after he used my XL Pro and he had better success. It wasn't difficult to do. The weight and balance and faster-sweep requirements of the XL Pro, however, take their toll on me in short order. The X-Terra 50 is much kinder on me! So, he's making use of my Xl Pro until I get to the point where I can get surgery and be back into less painful and limiting detecting form.
For quick hits on renovation work it is my modified IDX Pro or Shadow X5, as well as hitting playgrounds and ghost towns and such. Sites where slow motion and smaller-than-stock coils rule. More open areas I am using my X-Terra 50. I worked it against the MXT and the Matrix M6 and the X-Terra 50 won out. Who knows what new and exciting detector model White's might have in the works?!? Maybe, just maybe, it will be something that will appeal to me and be something that I can handle.
Maybe the next addition to my personal arsenal will come from Minelab or Troy Custom? Who knows?? I do know that the X-Terra 50 is a solid performer for me, and very pleasant to use. I have found more silver and good stuff in the last five months of using the Minelab X-Terra 50 than I found in the prior five months with the XL Pro. Partly because the X-Terra 50 is no slouch in performance, and partly because I have been able to hunt a lot more with it.
Anyway, I am sorry to run on about my personal health issues, but I sat down here at the computer at about 2:06 AM this morning and perhaps I got carried away this past 54 minutes because the pain meds haven't kicked in yet.
One of the wishes I have is that everyone learns their chosen detector(s), masters them, and is able to get out and enjoy this great hobby and have some success along the way. If they can get the enjoyment out of it that I have since march of 1965, then they will have a bunch of great memories to reflect on and share.
One of my wishes, however, is that more people, in and out of the hobby, will be more health conscious than I was in life. Pay more attention to how they lift and move things (I used to deliver pianos and organs for my Dad by myself), take care of their health, strive for a proper diet and exercise, do their best to avoid the chances of Diabetes and/or if they have it do everything they can to get control over it.
A third wish is that my blasted pain meds will kick in so I can get some rest because I am out of here at 7 AM to enjoy (positive thinking) a day of detecting with some friends. I know it will be an enjoyable day because, while I might not chance upon the oldest or best coin or token or choicest piece of gold jewelry, I'll be sharing the fun with some friends, and it if the friendships we can make and enrich in our lives that are the true treasures we should be seeking.
Happy Hunting! May your next jaunt afield be successful.
Monte
