Can Anyone Relate??

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I recently graduated from high school and am wanting to persue a career as a Pastry Chef. This has been my passion and career choice since I can remember however I do have a bit of a problem. I have minor scoliosis and kyphosis in my back which cuases some stiffness and slight back pain. I do not wish to give up on my dream so if anyone could give me any advice I would greatly appreciate it. Thank You

By Earthnight (Earthnight) on Tuesday, September 13, 2005 - 06:03 pm: Edit

Bad Back

By Chefmanny (Chefmanny) on Tuesday, September 13, 2005 - 09:01 pm: Edit

Then go for it, you'll have plenty of naturally occurring back pain, not to be confused with your medical condition!
You will find a way to work around it if you love it!.....we all do!!!!
Good luck, have fun, and ignore the nay sayers!!!!!...they try to crush dreams!!!!!
Hell, look at Spike, he's still at it!!!!!!

By Briangig (Briangig) on Tuesday, September 13, 2005 - 09:05 pm: Edit

I'm not trying to sell anything, but my grandfather and lots of other people have helped their back pain with the help of special magnets. Whether mental or not, it helped them.

Can you lift 50lbs? What does the doc say?

By Tamsin (Tamsin) on Tuesday, September 13, 2005 - 10:57 pm: Edit

I say go for it, you will find a way to make it work.
I know that a problem for a few people I work with are that they are rather short, easy problem to get around, they just ask someone who is taller to help them get a few things from the top shelves. Most people are more than happy to help you out, the problem is asking for it, something I find that especially apprentices hate to do.
Just make sure that your employer is aware of your problem, in most interviews they ask you if you have any, be honest.
If you love what you do, and have a real passion for it, it will work out. Good Luck

By Chefspike (Chefspike) on Thursday, September 15, 2005 - 01:10 am: Edit

After I broke my back in a Motorcycle acc. in 1988 it was very tough to do things as fast in the Pastry Shop as I once did.
I did find that sitting every couple of hours for just 10 min's helped.
Two pairs of VERY good shoes with padded insouls(?) inserts, whatever those things are called, helped.
and being just a little slower so you don't pull or twist anything.
A good mattress at home is very important too.
The scoliosis, is it at the bottom of your neck, 6,7,8 vertibra? or lower?
or and one more thing, tables in the kitchen are 30 1/2 to 32 inches high.
A wood wine case, upside down allows you to not bend your head and neck so much. Brings the surface up higher.
Or, adding some inches to the legs is another way to go.
This helped my upper back and neck from becom'in stiff and fatigued.
I also worked with a baker who had a bad back and he used a hydralic jack to lift the mixing bowl from the machine and then wheeled it over to the table. Then just took 5 lbs. of dough at a time out of it, to the table. It worked great for him.
And if any of those schools don't want to help out with finding ways to make it better for you, you just call Manny and he'll go kick someones a*s. For free. Cause thats the kind of guy he is.

By Snuffaluff (Snuffaluff) on Thursday, September 15, 2005 - 03:11 pm: Edit

Hey Manny, if you get that call, let me know. I've got some tension built up...

By Chefspike (Chefspike) on Friday, September 16, 2005 - 12:38 am: Edit

you just got married.....
your still a "wet behind the ears newlywed......"
what kind of tension could you have?
Now Manny, he's been married 20 years.
now theres some tension !

By Chefmanny (Chefmanny) on Friday, September 16, 2005 - 07:03 am: Edit

Nothing Bacardi and Ginger Ale can't resolve!!!....Oh yeah, and four wives in those twenty years!!!!!!

By Chefspike (Chefspike) on Saturday, September 17, 2005 - 10:30 pm: Edit

four?!
you've had four wives?
that beats me by two.
thats like two pairs, to my one.
you win............


for now.

By Chefmanny (Chefmanny) on Sunday, September 18, 2005 - 08:59 am: Edit

Officially only two, that's what the judge said!!!
Two long time relationships also.....they cost about the same!

By Snuffaluff (Snuffaluff) on Monday, September 19, 2005 - 12:42 pm: Edit

marriage is actually nice.
It's the other things in life that send tension my way. Work being at the top of the list.

By Chefspike (Chefspike) on Tuesday, September 20, 2005 - 01:21 pm: Edit

Marriage is nice??????????

We've lost another one men.

By Chefmanny (Chefmanny) on Tuesday, September 20, 2005 - 02:34 pm: Edit

It's his first Spike!!!..give him a break....he's got time!!!

By Tamsin (Tamsin) on Tuesday, September 20, 2005 - 10:07 pm: Edit

Ahhh now I remember why I don't date anyone who works in a kitchen......

By Chefspike (Chefspike) on Tuesday, September 20, 2005 - 11:13 pm: Edit

Why don't you date anyone who works in the kitchen?
I don't get it.

Well, I hope it lasts a long time and its his first and last.

By Snuffaluff (Snuffaluff) on Wednesday, September 21, 2005 - 10:26 am: Edit

I hope it is my last... as in the only one I'll ever be in... forever. Yeah yeah, I'm a newly-wed, so what? I love my wife... I'm sure you did too when you got married... that is what marriage is about eh?

Give a young'n a break will ya...

By Chefspike (Chefspike) on Tuesday, September 27, 2005 - 04:39 pm: Edit

No, No, No, don't get me wrong....I hope it lasts a long, long time Snuff.
I really do.


"I'm sure you did too when you got married... that is what marriage is about eh?"

Yea. I don't remember. I don't remember what marrage is about. I've been single too long. I should go marry a couple of women and get back to you.

By Chefgibz0 (Chefgibz0) on Wednesday, September 28, 2005 - 07:50 am: Edit

You got it Spike........a couple of women...you are in the land of "livin in the moment" which is usually how long those tinsle town marriages last..eh?? Hell, by Christmas you could be married and divorced a few times over....

Ahhh......variety...the spice of life!

By Chefspike (Chefspike) on Thursday, September 29, 2005 - 08:51 pm: Edit

Just one.
THE one.
Thats all I'm looking for.
It's getting through all the fluff and big hair types thats time consuming.
But......Christmas is coming !
I've always looked forward to the Christmas season, it's a time for sharing.