tummy tuck for lower back pain

ItalianFire91

i am still overweight, but heard tummy tucks do wonders for lower back pain, which i have a terrible case of due to my stomach. i read it helps strengthen your core. i have tone some exercises and stretches, and lost 22 lbs, but nothing is helping. i know i will lose more weight, but i know i am not going to go from spare tire to flat tummy, i am going to have heavy skin hanging, keeping the back pain going.
i am going to try and see tomorrow at my doctor if i can get it covered by insured since i have horrible pain, or try and get a loan. i am worried that i will be turned away thought because i am still overweight. this pain kills, i am down for eating healthy and exercising, but i am miserable and lose sleep over the pain. anyone had a tummy tuck for back pain before?

jadedone

My trainer reccommended this book. I spend all day sitting at work, and I have ocassional back pain. The stuff here that he has shown me helps.

http://www.amazon.com/Foundation-Redefine-Your-Conquer-Confidence/dp/1609611004

Doing the right exercises makes a huge difference. I find the stronger my core is, the easier everything else is.

ItalianFire91

did you have a big spare tire tummy? the advice the book gave helped it still?
i am just very hesitant because i have research yoga, Pilates, and other core and back strengthening things, and for the last year seen no results. i am worried i really damaged my back because of my weight

kelli543

I would see a physio before leaping straight for surgery! You say you researched core strengthening things - how much did ylou actually do them?

I have a big tummy - I've lost well over a hundred pounds and do have a bit of left over stomach (two kids and c-section haven't really helped here!) and have to say that just getting the weight off helped enormously with lower back trouble - and the best way to do that is steady weight reduction - a tummy tuck will not get rid of a lot of weight if you have a lot to lose - and core exercises. Surgeons should really only be removing up to seven pounds of skin, not fat aswell, in a tummy tuck. Lose the weight sensibly, then reasses. No quick fixes.

kcaffee1

I have an OLD riding injury to my lower spine, along with an extra vertebrae either in the lumbar region or sacroiliac region (I've had 2 chiropractors tell me it's there, but they can't agree where there is). I also have a large "apron" of fat up front. Most of my life I have lived with low grade back pain due to the injury, and once I went sedentary, and the apron developed, it just got worse. I would be lucky if I could stay out of the chiropractor's offices for more than 6 months at a time.

About February I started lifting weights in conjunction with a lot of swimming, and I can say a couple of VERY good things have been happening:

1) My core has finally strengthened enough I am no longer in fear that my back will slip out on a whim. It's probably never going to be a stable as someone who has never had a spinal injury, but at least I can do floor work now and not worry about getting stuck due to my back acting up.

2) My "apron" has started shrinking. Visibly shrinking. When I started lifting, it hung down about 4 inches. Now, it is only about 2 inches or so according to my last measurement. (In fact, the shrinkage is making it interesting to get my hip and waist measurements due to the viscera being pulled back into place and making these two areas look like they are GAINING inches!)

It is possible to protect your back without surgery, but it will mean a bit of hard work. I've done it through a LOT of swimming (3 - 4 times per week) and lifting in the mid-range to heavy. I've been interested in yoga and have 1 of the kinect "games" with a yoga section, but that's the closest I've come to actually participating in that exercise.

Not going to say there "is only one way", just tossing out some hope that there are alternatives that might work if you are looking for options that don't include surgery.

6spdeg

how much do you weigh? how much do you need to lose.. i went from 300 to 180 and im good.. skin doesnt weight that much unless you are probably sev hundred pounds over.

glovepuppet

my physio told me that the best way to ease your back is to strengthen your front.

weight hanging off the front won't help but the complication, infection & scarring risk of an op make it a big gamble.
in your position, i'd try getting rock hard abs (albeit well covered abs) before i went slice & dice. but that's just me.

mazdauk

If you reduce your weight through diet at the same time as increasing your strength through exercise your front region will naturally shrink back.

Before I started this journey I was getting a lot of pain in my knees, but since losing weight and exercising (stronger muscles) they are fine. I'd been seriously thinking I would need knee replacement surgery, but not any more!

ItalianFire91

stretches and exercises for my back are done when i wake up, after i workout, and before bed. been doing them for the last year. i have no problem with working hard, right now i am doing running and walking intervals and i'm 296 lbs (was 318) and strength train. but i still am dealing with chronic pain. i am going to talk to my doctor today and see my options, i just am unhappy and in pain. if i was not in pain, i wouldn't even consider it until i lost the weight and wanted to remove any sagging skin. i'm 5'3 also so it and have a very short torso and legs, so it's a lot to carry. my pcos makes weight loss difficult, but through challenging workouts it's managable. i just am so in pain i just need to see if it is possible to get it done. if anyone else has had it done for back pain i would love to know how you are doing now.

HIITMe

stretches and exercises for my back are done when i wake up, after i workout, and before bed. been doing them for the last year. i have no problem with working hard, right now i am doing running and walking intervals and i'm 296 lbs (was 318) and strength train. but i still am dealing with chronic pain. i am going to talk to my doctor today and see my options, i just am unhappy and in pain. if i was not in pain, i wouldn't even consider it until i lost the weight and wanted to remove any sagging skin. i'm 5'3 also so it and have a very short torso and legs, so it's a lot to carry. my pcos makes weight loss difficult, but through challenging workouts it's managable. i just am so in pain i just need to see if it is possible to get it done. if anyone else has had it done for back pain i would love to know how you are doing now.

I've lost over 100 pounds( 280 was my highest weight) and have added in swimming, lifting weights, jogging and bike riding..NONE Of this could I do for 30 seconds this time last year... my knees rarely ache anymore, my ankles and feet dont hurt... and neither does my back... STatrt with baby steps...walking around the block then go longer & slightly faster each time... look for something low impact like water aerobics and of course watch your calories...
my guess is with even a 50 pound weight loss your back will show vast improvement

as far as tummy tuck..I STILL want one.. with the kind of weight Ive lost, there is excessive skin.... but I dont look half bad with a pair of spanx on so its not a priority...

ItalianFire91

seems like swimming is a popular thing for back pain, i might try to swim more often

jadedone

did you have a big spare tire tummy? the advice the book gave helped it still?
i am just very hesitant because i have research yoga, Pilates, and other core and back strengthening things, and for the last year seen no results. i am worried i really damaged my back because of my weight

This book has mostly different exercises than I have seen in yoga. I have 2 main issues: ocassional back pain. And limited shoulder flexibility.

The different stuff seems to help me, but my build is different than yours. I carry weight mostly in my bust and from belly button to knee.

mazdauk

My mother-in-law swears by firm control pants (like a panti-girdle) as it "holds her together" for her bad back. But any pool exercise will be less painful as you're not bearing weight.

OtiWanKenobi

I started off 50 lbs heavier than I am now with terrible lower back pain and sciatica (sharp shooting pain) that ran down my entire length of my leg and made the bottom of my foot numb. I had a huge belly. I sucked it up, pain and all and would walk, walk and walk. On days where I had to go for a walk I would take ibuprofen. I would go to bed crying sometimes because of the pain....

But I kept myself moving with pain and all. Now...I run, I weight lift and the pain is pretty much gone except on days when the barometric pressure changes or if I'm on my period. No more sharp shooting pain.

Stick with it...lose the weight, eat right and the back pain will eventually go away. Start lifting weights and squats and strengthen that core.

Was it easy for me, no. :-( like I said I'd cry myself to sleep bc of the pain...but all that was worth it. You don't need the tummy tuck.

My doctor told me initially that my only options were surgery, cortisone shots in my spine or periodic bed rest. HA!!! Showed him!!!