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| Walking/pilates & not doing the gym:; How much fitness can you achieve? | |
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| Tweet Topic Started: 25 Nov 2010, 01:54 PM (299 Views) | |
| dalhousie | 25 Nov 2010, 01:54 PM Post #1 |
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Hope this doesn't sound a daft question but I was wondering how much fitness can you get back just sticking to walking & doing core strengthening? (In the past I don't seem to have got a huge amount of fitness back just with walking & the gym has paid dividends). I know some spine patients don't bother with formal exercise (gym/swimming) & seem to manage. I'm a bit worried about venturing to the gym again even in the not so near future. I overdid things some time ago & have struggled to get active again trying to do something in the gym. With my past medical history I seem to have as many problems with my back muscles as I do with my spine. Recently I got up to walking about 1 mile & ventured to the gym yesterday just to do 1 minute on the cross trainer & my back muscles are really sore today. (This strategy worked when I was 3 months post ADR so I thought it would be OK now at 19 months post op). I'm going to see my GP on Monday as I find NSAID's help to keep my muscles calm but I can't find one that doesn't aggravate my IBS. I've tried Arcoxia & Naproxen but they make me really bloated. I may suggest trying Diclofenac as that was one of the ones that was suggested the last time I saw him but I do know other people with IBS who can't tolerate that. Any advice greatly appreciated. |
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2005 Anterior fusion L1/2 with BMP & floating rib removed. 2009 ADR (activ L) L4/5. 2010 Chronic pain from Facet Joints T10-L2 with lots of muscle pain 2013 Attended Walton PM Programme: not much help. 2014 Chronic Pain - Facet Joints L4-S1 2017 Nevro SCS for thoraco-lumbar & lower lumbar facet joint pain | |
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| Alastair | 25 Nov 2010, 04:40 PM Post #2 |
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Alastair
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Hi Ruth, One of the secrets of getting back into the gym is certainly NOT trying to lift heavy weights, if you're going to lift weights at all its lots of repetitions with small weights. For me I would not go into the gym at all, but I do a sequence of simple exercises, mainly stretches and muscle building of legs as well as core muscles every day on a daily basis before I even venture out and I'm eight years out of my surgery. Okay we know this wonder woman who still runs marathons and is Mr Lams hero, but I think that she is very much in the minority. You've got to do what's you can work within yourself. You don't have to prove yourself to anyone else but yourself, and quite honestly the people that I encounter who go to the gym and try and lift heavy weights are just wearing out their spine which is already in a state of decay. I can say nothing, as it is their lives and they must do what they want, but they must also face the consequences and not come back sobbing in distress at their own foolishness. The most dangerous time of course is the first six weeks when the anaesthetic is still in your body and I have seen some absolute idiocy amongst patients, but they do what they want in their lives. I would say just keep gently working a little bit more every day or every week on very simple exercises which are gently strengthening your body. Do not try any heroics, you've got nothing to prove to anybody but yourself and you'll need to get back on some sort of "lifestyle" if possible. Of course there are people who do make an absolute amazing recovery but we are all different and so are the surgeons that do the surgery. ADR is one of the most major surgeries that is done upon the human body and the effects of it will always be felt. The above is my own thoughts and from my own experience of many patients plus my own experience. I hope it is a help and guidance to you. I still sleep with a thigh pillow very best wishes, Alastair
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Founder of this board 24th February 2007 Slow and Steady Wins This Race Over 23 Years experience and research into spine surgery and over 2500 surgeries discussed and recorded ADR L5/S1 Surgery with Dr Zeegers 26th July 2002 in Munich 8 facet joint ablations 28 – 8 – 12 with Dr Baranidharan and Jake Timothy in Leeds Diagnosed Forestiers disease Your Best Asset Is Your Health I live in West Yorkshire aged 81 now Knowledge is power | |
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| techman | 26 Nov 2010, 06:00 PM Post #3 |
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Alistair, you always give such sound advice. You sound to have such a lot of old fashioned common sense. Everyone should take heed.All best |
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Brenda (techman) Back problems over 35 years, worsened last 12 yrs. Pregabalin, Oxycodone occasionally - this works well but gives me indigestion, Facet denervation, epidurals, facet joint injections, steroid injections every 6 months. MRIs, CT, discogram etc. 21 March 2011: Had PLIF L5S1 and DSS L4L5 Warrington Spire - Mr Shackleford. Feeling a lot better but still get pain if too actve! | |
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| dalhousie | 26 Nov 2010, 07:12 PM Post #4 |
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Hi Alastair, During rehab I haven't done weights in the gym as I've never thought it was a good idea with all the spinal problems I've had. When I was fully recovered after my fusion I occasionally did the lightest free weights they had. I've been told by my spinal surgeons to stay away from any impact stuff as well. All I'd been trying to do in the gym was 1 minute on the cross trainer at the slowest speed possible. I'll try & keep this brief: I recently started a thread under "Meds" about anti-inflammatories & the problem is when my activity level is low my back muscles go into overdrive & become increasingly inflamed. I need an NSAID 'till I get more active. I have IBS & I'm having problems finding one that doesn't make me severely bloated & aggravate my IBS. I've tried managing just with painkillers (Co-codamol) & going out walking but the muscle pain means I can't increase much from week to week. I can't see me getting very far like that. I'm going back to see my GP on Monday because I'm at the end of my tether. I've been struggling with this since June! I did see Mr S about this in October but he suggested the NSAID's I've subsequently tried (Arcoxia, Naproxen) which work great but make me so bloated. Today, out of desperation I bought some over the counter Voltarol at the chemist, to see if that gives me some relief over the weekend but it's much weaker than prescription Voltarol. If the worst comes to the worst I'm going to have to find some way of tolerating the bloating as I need some NSAID help with this. Thanks for listening. Ruth x |
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2005 Anterior fusion L1/2 with BMP & floating rib removed. 2009 ADR (activ L) L4/5. 2010 Chronic pain from Facet Joints T10-L2 with lots of muscle pain 2013 Attended Walton PM Programme: not much help. 2014 Chronic Pain - Facet Joints L4-S1 2017 Nevro SCS for thoraco-lumbar & lower lumbar facet joint pain | |
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| Gilly | 27 Nov 2010, 03:00 PM Post #5 |
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Hi Ruth. So sorry to hear you are still struggling especially after you had such a good period after your op. I don't have any answers regards the NSAIDs as I can't tolerate them anyway but can understand how you feel about the bloating. My friend has IBS and the bloating is very, very uncomfortable. I am very much like you though in that any kind of gym exercise flares everything up for me and I have given up on it. It seems to be that I can only manage the walking and even that if done quickly flares everything up. I have taken to just strolling again which means I do keep the muscles going but unfortunately they are not been strengthened. It is all that seems to work, know this isn't much help to you as you are quite a bit younger than me but wanted to let you know that I am thinking about you with your struggle with recovery. Love Gilly xxx |
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1990 MRI - disc protrusions levels 4/5 - fusion offered but declined due to poor prognosis. 2007 MRI - disc protrusions Level 4/5 level5/S1 2010 2 level lumbar ADR Mr Ian Shackleford Warrington General 2010 MRI - disc protrusions at levels C4/5 C5/6 2011 27 June 2 level Cervical ADR Mr S at Spire (on NHS) | |
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