back issues

staceyw73

HI everyone I'm just who eles is tring to lose weight that has back problems. I have had 2 surgerys one beacuse of buldging disk and the most resent due to a atv wreck back in sept. so I am fused from T9 thru L2 and at L4/L5. I was wonder how you are doing on your weight loss and any tips that you may have. at my last Pt visit at the VA she just told me to listen to my body and not to lift over 35-45 lbs. (doctor gave me that as a liftime weight limit.) she suggested going to the pool but right now cant aford a gym membership and the Y was just as much as LA fitness. I been loging and tring to watch what I eat but cant seam to get the scales ) to move sence I started over a month ago.they stay between 230-235. I do what I active I can but looking for some new idea's. my flexablity is limited so bending is kiinda out of the question. hope to find some people that is dealing with simmiler issue and we can help give each other idea's that what has worked for them.

fittocycle

Hi! I don't have the same issues as you do but have dealt with back pain due to disk issues in the L4-L5 area. For me, biking, walking and using the elliptical were very back friendly workouts. Might be something to think about!
I wish you the best of luck. I know it's not easy to work out when you're dealing with back pain. Take it easy and take care!:flowerforyou:

fayeonherway

Walking!!! Its a great way to start an exercise regimen. It is easy on your back, joints and it is free.

Good luck! :flowerforyou:

staceyw73

Hi! I don't have the same issues as you do but have dealt with back pain due to disk issues in the L4-L5 area. For me, biking, walking and using the elliptical were very back friendly workouts. Might be something to think about!
I wish you the best of luck. I know it's not easy to work out when you're dealing with back pain. Take it easy and take care!:flowerforyou:

I have tryed the elliptical once and back didnt like very much but maybe down the road I will give it anether try sence it has only been maybe 2 months sence i got out of the brace. boyfriend and I are going away for the weekend and I suggest we take the bikes and see if I can still do it when it was just my L4/L5 I could. so im crossing figures my back like it. hopfuly sence the weather has finaly warmed up I can fid a park close to walk at and find a couple people to go walking with me.

Mharren

I broke my L1-L4 failing a back handspring when I was 16 and have osteoarthritis from my Lumbar through to my coccyx. I have a congenital connective tissue disorder called Ehlers-Danlos Syndrome that causes me to be overly flexible, which was good back in the gymnastics days, but sucks now, cause my joints are all too lax and dislocate more often than Richard B. Rid****s.

The elliptical is possibly the best choice. Cardiovascular exercise might be what you're limited to, which is fine, that's where the real weight loss happens. Walking or running if you don't have a gym and your PT clears it.

Weight training is pretty much out of the question for me, and I was never really into it. I do exercises that rely on my own body weight. Sticking to the standard Military regimens work well for me: push-ups, sit-ups (or some variations of), pull-ups, and running. You don't need a gym or equipment for any of it. To do push-ups with a weak back I found a good trick was to put two mattresses on the floor and put my pelvis right on the edge of the head, then keep my legs together and toes points and push up off the floor with my upper body suspended over the space. When I lower down, my legs go up, kind of like a teeter-totter. It keeps the back straight and diverts the weight enough that its almost like doing a regular push-up.

Best Regards,
- Mharren

BrotherBill913

Back in 89 I broke my L-5 and wound up in awheelchair. had to learn to walk agian. Then in 06 I broke my neck at the C-7 / T-1. Both were from motorcycle wrecks. I'll write you if you want to steer you towards some exercises. One thing I have found is once you have had that kind of injury you have to listen to your body differently. Most ppl don't understand that but those regions can have " blow outs" later on. Like a patch on a bike tire. It does get better, Just takes time and effort.

staceyw73

Back in 89 I broke my L-5 and wound up in awheelchair. had to learn to walk agian. Then in 06 I broke my neck at the C-7 / T-1. Both were from motorcycle wrecks. I'll write you if you want to steer you towards some exercises. One thing I have found is once you have had that kind of injury you have to listen to your body differently. Most ppl don't understand that but those regions can have " blow outs" later on. Like a patch on a bike tire. It does get better, Just takes time and effort.

ty that would be helpful. ya I know the doctor warned me that yrs down the road there could be anether back surgery if I dont becareful and take care of my back. and I dont ever want to go threw anether back sugery again. the first one was not to bad (08 L4/L5) but the one i just had back in nov was enough pain to last me a life time. and people that dont have back problem dont realize we have to ajust what we are doing so we dont cause pain or problems down the road. that kinda why I wanted to do this topic to see how many of us are out there and to enlighten people that you take things for granted until u cant do it or have to relearn how to do something a diffrent way. and to get some tips on what i can to get this weight off.