anybody here with back problems?

husker_gal

I've been here for a while on MFP and haven't had really any problems working out. Well this weekend I woke up with excrutiating back pain and sciatic nerve pain that would shoot down my leg. It was so bad that I couldn't hardly walk...I know the pain is coming from an old injury that I got when I was 16. I have a bulging disk in my back that presses on my sciatic nerve when it gets irritated. I don't know how I irritated it all I know is that I did. As much as it pains me I have accepted the fact that I will never be able to jump on a trampoline anymore and that I will never be able to jump rope again. I thought that since yoga is supposed to be good for stretching and is low impact but it was during a yoga exercise a few months ago that I initially re-injured my back. I babied it for a few weeks and all was good. This is the most severe flair up I have had. I was just wondering who else on here has back problems with sciatic nerve pain and what do you do for work outs that give you a great workout but don't cause flair ups?

andreaesm

walking walking walking!
also the elliptical is good when you have less pain, but for now, try to reduce the inflammation. if mine flares up, i typically stay on IBProfin for a whole week constantly to let the meds reduce the inflammation and then re-assess where i am.
Good luck and DM me if you want to chat further...i've had 2 L5-S1 surgeries for severe herniations.
A

kkerri

I have lots of back problems. I get steroid injections, which help (1x a year). I can pretty much only ride a recumbent bike and do a nordic track (that old cross country ski thing). I got both on Craigslist. I also just go a Total Gym for some no impact way to do squats and some lunges. I have tried over the years to do videos (30-day shred, the FIRM, etc.) and jog. I finally came to terms that the recumbent bike is the only thing that I am guaranteed to have zero back pain. I also can't do yoga or pilates or anything with twisting. It stinks.

k8edge

I have the same problem...

I have mega anti inflammatory pills from the doc... Feel better!

kkerri

I find that walking makes my back so much worse. I have spondlylisthesis, scoliosis, degenerative disk disease, and some bulging disks. Very annoying b/c I am young(ish) and never injured anything!

husker_gal

thanks for the ideas all! I've been taking ibuprofen and it has been helping with the pain. It's just annoying because so many different exercises that I want to do so bad will hurt my back. It's nice to know I'm not alone though.