Hurt Back - can you play standing up?
 

Hello Gentlemen,

I have a serious injury to my back, which requires me to do basically everything standing up or lying down. I can sit for only a few minutes at a time.

Do you think I could play at my local casino standing up at the table?

Any comments would be great.

cheers
the Real Macoy

Re: Hurt Back - can you play standing up?
 

Well, playing poker standing up is probably not a good way to play, but I heard you can lie down and give it a try. Just make sure no one sits on you unless they are a hot 20something year old chick!

Re: Hurt Back - can you play standing up?
 

I don't know of the rules at your local casino, but at least some cardrooms have a rule that you must be seated in order to receive a hand. However, if they object to you standing, I think that it is very unlikely that they won't be willing to make an exception once you explain that it is genuinely required for health reasons.

Re: Hurt Back - can you play standing up?
 

About three years ago I had back problems similar to what you described. I played a full weekend at the poker table standing half the time and kneeling the other half. Nobody seemed to object, but the guys to either side of me were very careful in guarding their hands.

Re: Hurt Back - can you play standing up?
 

If they refuse to accomodate your disability then you can take them to court and win a helluva lot more [img]/images/graemlins/smile.gif[/img]

Joking aside, I've never seen anybody try to play standing so I'm not sure what they'd do...

Re: Hurt Back - can you play standing up?
 

i have done this numerous times. when i play and sit there for hours at a time, i'll get up intermittenly and stretch, walk around, then stand over my spot and the dealers still deal me cards.

Re: Hurt Back - can you play standing up?
 

How are you planning on checking your hole cards without showing them to half the room?

It would seem to me that bending over 25 times per hour to pick them up will be pretty bad for your back as well.

I don't think I see the casino preventing you from doing this, but the players next to you might complain.

Re: Hurt Back - How would you like to play next to someone standing?
 

gentlemen,

thanks for the input

i hadn't thought through the checking the cards part.
in the weekly home game i organize i either pull the cards up to my chest or sit briefly to check my hole cards. i am pretty concientious about getting the players to keep their cards guarded from me, as i am sometimes standing right next to them if we have a full table.

all of the combined sitting doesn't do wonders for my back, but hell that's the price of poker. obviously i would keep the cards on the table at the casino and either bend over or sit briefly.

FINAL QUESTION:
If you were seated next to some dude who was standing up how would you feel/react?

Re: Hurt Back - How would you like to play next to someone standing?
 

[ QUOTE ]
FINAL QUESTION:
If you were seated next to some dude who was standing up how would you feel/react?

[/ QUOTE ]

honestly, it would freak me out. Also, if you're tall, then yer ass/crotch is gonna be in my face if I turn my head.

I think kneeling would be a better solution. Could you rig up some sort of elevated pad to kneel on? Could get you up to a more reasonable height while also cushoning your knees. Also (sorry if this is ovbious) but have you tried one of these jobies:
http://www.body-tone.com/pics/Deluxe-knee-chair.jpg

I can't imagine any casino would have a problem with you bringing in your own chair if its a health thing (I know its weird, but hey, you gotta play...).

Re: Hurt Back - How would you like to play next to someone standing?
 

Honestly, at first I would be like wtf? but as soon as I heard the story I would understand and just feel bad that you have to stand. Wouldn't bother me.

Re: Hurt Back - How would you like to play next to someone standing?
 

I like Goobers idea .

Re: Hurt Back - can you play standing up?
 

Why not just call the casino? and speak to the pokerroom?

This way you'll have an answer before you go, and if the answer is yes, you could reference who you spoke with on what day if you get questioned when you are there.

Re: Hurt Back - How would you like to play next to someone standing?
 

More leg room for me.

Re: Hurt Back - How would you like to play next to someone standing?
 

Actually, I'm sort of confused by the whole idea.

In the last couple of years, I've had some serious trouble with my back. There've been months that I couldn't sit even for a few seconds, followed by more months where I couldn't sit for more than a few minutes.

All of this has been accompanied by enough pain and concern that something like playing poker doesn't even make it to my priority list.

I mean, if it's that big a problem, don't you really have bigger fish to be frying right now?

Re: Hurt Back - How would you like to play next to someone standing?
 

hello gentlemen,

Thanks for the replies.
Goober I actually have one of those kneeling jobbers. I find that it after using it for prolonged periods it is hard on the knees and my back hurts afterwards anyway.

As far as playing poker when I have such a serious problem with my back, actually it is beneficial. My injury has severely limited all of my activities for a few years now. Currently I am trying to implement pain management stategies to help cope in my daily living. Part of this is to try and do as many social activities as possible (within reason...the kayak instructing and rock climbing are still out). Thus in January I started the "Gentlemen's Poker League", with me standing (lurking) the whole time. So far it has been excellent.

Cheers and thanks,
the Real Macoy

Ps. It will probably be awhile before you see me standing in a casino near you, so don't worry.

Re: Hurt Back - How would you like to play next to someone standing?
 

Hey Macoy.

You maybe didn't want this to turn into a thread about your back.

I had a "bulging disc"/"siatica" problem 'couple years ago. I had extreme pain in my leg from it. Sometimes it hurt to sit; sometimes it hurt to stand. I was warned away from surgery by a few sources, but eventually had a "lamenectomy" where the surgeon cut away the part of my disc which was bulging. I woke up from the surgery with no pain. I have a two inch scar on my back from it, but after PT, no long term effects.

I know there are different forms of back pain, but if your problem is similar to mine and your pain doesn't go away after a month or two, I would consider surgery. Be careful though.

Regards,

Jason

Re: Hurt Back - How would you like to play next to someone standing?
 

[ QUOTE ]
I mean, if it's that big a problem, don't you really have bigger fish to be frying right now?

[/ QUOTE ]

theRealMacoy's poker opponents are the "bigger fish to be fr(ied)."