Good machines for back pain sufferers?

xoxlivsy
xoxlivsy Posts: 14 Member
in Fitness and Exercise
Hi!

So for the past 3 years I've been suffering from HORRIBLE back/left hip pain. Doctors still have no idea what's wrong with me :/

Anyway, whenever I use the hip abductor machine at the gym, I always end up in debilitating pain the next day :( I really need to tone up that hip/thigh area, so I was wondering if there are any other machines (or any other exercises in general) that I could do that wouldn't aggravate my back so much, while still toning up that area?

Thanks so much!!

Replies

  • kickivale
    kickivale Posts: 260 Member
    I'm thinking everyone will say the same thing…elliptical machine. My husband has a herniated disc and some real scar tissue in his lower back, to the point that he went months and months having trouble just walking our dog.
    He's able to get on the elliptical for about 30 minutes every day with minimal discomfort afterwards.
    Elliptical is low impact, fluid movement. While it doesn't burn as many cals as a run on the treadmill or an hour of aerobics, its a great place to start.
  • agl146
    agl146 Posts: 7 Member
    I have lower back / hip pain as well, and the elliptical doesn't hurt at all. It actually helps on days I am having a lot of pain. Good luck!
  • BekaBooluvsu
    BekaBooluvsu Posts: 470 Member
    Sounds like sciatica to me. I've had that. Best exercise for back and hip related problems for me is gentle walking or easy yoga/stretching.
  • mikeroybal
    mikeroybal Posts: 111 Member
    ask your Doctor about a Tens unit, and see what she/he says about using it after your work out. It is basicly a electric stimulation machine. Where work we regularly suggest these to patients.
  • concordancia
    concordancia Posts: 5,320 Member
    The hip ab/adductor is a common cause of lower back pain and injuries.

    You should look for a personal trainer or physical therapist who specializes in recovery from lower back pain.

    There are a number of exercises that are designed to strengthen that area precisely to support your lower back. Many of them will sound stupid when you read about them, but give them a try. There are several posters for such exercises available on google. Don't skip some just because they aren't working what you want to focus on, you need to build your whole core.

    One example of sounds silly from my own physical therapy requires a foam roller, overstuffed pillow or playground ball. Lie on your back with your knees bent, feet about hip width apart, and the foam roller between your knees. Squeeze your knees together and hold for five seconds. Release and repeat.
  • navyrigger46
    navyrigger46 Posts: 1,301 Member
    Sounds like the sciatic nerve to me, have you had am MRI? It's probably a bulging, herniated or ruptured disk. You need to figure out what it is, because most exercise you can do is going to aggravate it. Swimming is probably your best bet, welcome to the #@(%ed up back club.

    Rigger
  • cafeaulait7
    cafeaulait7 Posts: 2,459 Member
    Depending on what it is that aggravates it, I know a couple of moves that might be nice:

    -- Side-lying leg lift (or raise)
    -- Clamshells

    You can use resistance for either of these. Hopefully the back positioning is better for you. Worth a shot if you tread carefully, imho :)

    I'd try some yoga stretches for the area and see if they help, too. Of course, run things through your physio first. I try a lot of stuff with my bad back (upper back/neck), but I know that there's nothing but a few days of pain that could happen, lol. No slipped discs or spurs or anything, I mean. Good luck!

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