Author Topic: Pond Back! A new term for me. (Read 2233 times)

Jerry · « **on:** August 26, 2009, 02:28:19 PM »

I can bend over with the best, but that tiny bend that it takes to trim pond plants, is tough.
Am I alone?

It's gone as soon as I stop, but sure interferes with my work. If the pond were deeper or more shallow it might work just fine,

Anyone else have this problem?

MikeW · « **Reply #1 on:** August 26, 2009, 03:21:21 PM »

I have to wade into mine completely Jerry - so have missed this joy.

Cheers,

Mike

Jerry · « **Reply #2 on:** August 26, 2009, 03:49:57 PM »

I am in the pond when it occurs. Outside the pond I have no difficuly other than reaching

miguynmkoi · « **Reply #3 on:** August 26, 2009, 04:52:50 PM »

Is pond back related to chore back?

Jerry · « **Reply #4 on:** August 26, 2009, 05:15:42 PM »

its 100 here and did the gym earlier. The heat and the work got me. I just quit!
It was a chore getting the waders off

lorraine1960 · « **Reply #5 on:** August 26, 2009, 05:49:49 PM »

no in fact i have to put on a back belt to stabalize my lower back because it kills me.... $:-\$

PondmaninAL · « **Reply #6 on:** August 26, 2009, 05:52:01 PM »

I was using our electric pressure washer cleaning that pool liner yesterday and by the time I finished, my back was killing me.

Jonna · « **Reply #7 on:** August 26, 2009, 06:39:32 PM »

Waders??? Why don't you just put on your swim trunks and get in, it would be a lot cooler than the waders. I wouldn't do it if I lived where there are leeches and snakes and such but you are in SoCal and what could be in there?

Vickie · « **Reply #8 on:** August 26, 2009, 07:42:02 PM »

That was my tought. I get in ponds with tennis shoes, and shorts. Only use waders when the water is real cold.

Jerry · « **Reply #9 on:** August 26, 2009, 10:10:01 PM »

Dear Jonna, I wear shorts all the time and have a big piece of property. I often have cuts on my legs from gardening.
I had an infection 4 years ago that almost killed me. I had to have a Pericardial Effusion.
At least one other forum member had it also. I was told that 20 years ago it would have been the end! Lost 25 pounds in 2 or 3 weeks
Although they were not able to say for sure, the pond is suspect.

It is loaded with bacterias. Yes sparkling clear water.
I did make a 100% recovery. but there is some scarring on the heart.
Sorry for the speech, but I will err on the side of caution.
I swim regularly at Club 360

I love ocean swimming too, but the beaches are often closed to swimming due to pollution and hohg bacteria counts.
I would caution swimming with the fishes lest you swim with the fishes! Apologies to Mario Puzo!

Mikey · « **Reply #10 on:** August 27, 2009, 10:31:47 AM »

Just this week I was reading an article about a parasitic disease, schistosmiasis aka snail fever, caused by a flatworm (fluke) that lives in its host, a fresh water snail. Young ones that hatch out swim freely and can attach themselves to a human and bore through the skin and eventually damage internal organs. It's most prevalent in fresh water lakes/ponds located in tropical and semi-tropical areas of the world.

I purchased a "cut & hold" pruner a few years ago and I use it only for cutting off yellowing leaves of water lilies. It is a telescoping pruner that extends to about 5', plenty long enough for my pond. Here it is on top of the BBQ and it is holding a lily pad I just cut.

What's cool about it is that the cutting mechanism not only cuts the stem but it also grabs a hold of the stem so that you can then lift it out of the pond and drop it onto the ground.

Here's a close up of the part that grabs the stem:

and the cutting blade:

and the cutting blade open:

The handle:

Website that sells the device: http://www.wildflower-seed.com/cutandhold.html

Jerry · « **Reply #11 on:** August 27, 2009, 10:42:45 AM »

Very nice!

I use a home made one that is on Johns website. It is okay. EZ to make.
Yours is likely superior.

Jonna · « **Reply #12 on:** August 27, 2009, 12:25:46 PM »

That's interesting and scary. I keep wondering how that fits in with the trend in Europe to have natural swimming pools using bog filter concepts. They have fish and plants in them and say that the water is safe or safer than a chlorinated pool. They look gorgeous. I have a book here with lots of pics of different ones in Europe, I don't know if it has caught on in the US or not. Here in Mexico they are building some, I was interested in the idea but didn't have the space.

Jerry · « **Reply #13 on:** August 27, 2009, 12:38:06 PM »

We have had members Jonna that did build their ponds for swimming as well.
It is said to be safe, but as i said, I will err on the side of caution.

They had a UCLA Dr. see me , he is an authority on Infectious Diseases. He had many questions and gave me an exam like I have NEVER had before.
I did tell him i had not bathed in the Ganges! He did ask about travel.
He came to no conclusion! They can pursue it but it would cost $1000s to go on.
It would be nice to know what NOT to do.

tammie · « **Reply #14 on:** August 27, 2009, 03:01:04 PM »

I also wear waders in the pond after getting a really, really nasty infection in my leg. There was no doubt that it was from being in the pond, with a open sore on my leg (scratched a mosquito bite...) After IV antibiotics and about 3 weeks of walking on a very painfull, swollen leg, I now always wear waders in the pond...
Tammie

lorraine1960 · « **Reply #15 on:** August 27, 2009, 04:48:09 PM »

i get in the pond barefoot with shorts thats what i was talking about and it kills my back still.u still have to bend over....

PondmaninAL · « **Reply #16 on:** August 27, 2009, 06:06:50 PM »

I work on the ponds all the time with either shorts or a swim suit and a t-shirt. The good thing about my style of ponding is that I just reach over and grab the pad with one hand and reach down to the bottom of the stem with the other hand and pinch it off. What is back breaking is when I have to lift a 2-gallon pot out of one of the two stock tanks.

Jerry · « **Reply #17 on:** August 27, 2009, 07:43:32 PM »

The Pericardium is where your heart is. Not a good place for an infection.

SueSTx · « **Reply #18 on:** August 28, 2009, 08:21:11 AM »

The worse pain in my back is picking green beans.

Wader wearers? Do you also wear long gloves on your arms?

I often wonder if cleaning the filters doesn't pose a big concern also.

Jerry · « **Reply #19 on:** August 28, 2009, 08:40:03 AM »

I dont, but I have a pair of pond gloves. Long and waterproof

If I had a "must do" chore and I had an open cut, I would.
yes, the waders are a royal pain, but after what I posted above, I think it's wise. Don't you?

SueSTx · « **Reply #20 on:** August 28, 2009, 11:08:36 AM »

I won't pinch back the lilies if I have an open sore. Just wondered if others wear gloves.

Jonna · « **Reply #21 on:** August 28, 2009, 07:25:29 PM »

I just dive in the pool when I get out of the pond, I figure the chlorine will disinfect me.

jw · « **Reply #22 on:** August 28, 2009, 11:28:36 PM »

Just when I thought it was safe to go in the water

Now what am I supposed to do?
Guess I'll just clip the tops off the lilies and let the rest sink to the bottom and scoop it all out with the net before winter sets in $:-\$
What a bugger

Jerry · « **Reply #23 on:** August 29, 2009, 09:09:09 AM »

Hey girls. It is probably very rare to have a problem. Some caution can't hurt.

miguynmkoi · « **Reply #24 on:** August 30, 2009, 04:48:26 PM »

After hurting my back that cutter gadget Mikey has shown sounds very good to me. I would get in the water but it is cold. I don't have waders

May have look into it and the long gloves. Scary things mentioned above bring up symptoms I've had every once in a while after cleaning the ponds. Will have to be more careful.

Thanks for the education.