Exercise with Back Problems

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tammylwv
tammylwv Posts: 155 Member
in Fitness and Exercise
I have some discs problems in my lower back along with my sciatic nerve that gets inflammed sometimes. I was wondering if you all have similiar issues and if so, what you do for exercise. I can do the treadmill but my back doesn't like it after a while and I love the eliptical machine and can do that but was wanting other stuff to do.

Floor exercises are almost a no-go. thanks!

Replies

  • engineman312
    engineman312 Posts: 3,450 Member
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    what has your doctor said???
  • JulieSD
    JulieSD Posts: 567
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    Swimming/Aquafit?
  • NoAdditives
    NoAdditives Posts: 4,251 Member
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    what has your doctor said???

    I would definitely ask your doctor before you start doing anything. You should probably also go to physical therapy to strengthen the muscles in your back.
  • MrsT_2009
    MrsT_2009 Posts: 90 Member
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    I have back problems and have to be very careful what exercise I do. Some days are better than others. I see a chiropractor and he encouraged me to stretch as often as possible (like at least twice a day). Some of the stretches he told me to do are actually yoga poses like cat/cow and child's pose. Practicing yoga definitely helps, if I do it consistently I don't have back pain but as soon as I start slacking it comes back. Ask your doctor but in my opinion, yoga is the way to go. Walking and jogging also help me.
  • tammylwv
    tammylwv Posts: 155 Member
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    The docs just say to build the muscles up and listen to my body. Actually, one of them told me one time to do sit ups. He said that everyone has back problems in one way or another. Go figure. :)

    I do remember that when I did Pilates it did help but will have to get another DVD...a dog ate the one I loved. I used Winsor Pilates.

    Thank you all for your posts.
  • JNick77
    JNick77 Posts: 3,783 Member
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    Yup, go to a doctor. Probably a Neurologist or an Orthapedist, your GP is not gonna be any help. You have back pain and your sciatic and you know that you have disc problems? You have your doc telling you to do sit-ups? The last thing you need to be doing with disc issues and nerve problems is anything that involved back flexion. I had a protruding disc earlier this year and my sciatic pain was ridiculous. I still have some issues. Definitely get more specialized help.
  • tammylwv
    tammylwv Posts: 155 Member
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    I did see a back specialist who sent me to a pain management specialist who gave me a shot in my spine. That helped for a long time. They don't want to do surgery unless absolutely necessary, which I agree.

    I didn't know if maybe I just have to build my core muscles back up and that's why my back aches and etc. I appreciate all of the input. :) Thanks!!
  • shauna121211
    shauna121211 Posts: 575 Member
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    Based on what you've said your doctor said,I would try adding in some back strength training. Rows and such. Back exercises are really easy to screw up though, so if you go to a gym, ask a trainer to show you a few back exercises to be sure you are doing them right and not straining your back more. They can probably show you some good core exercises as well that might be lower impact than plain ol' sit ups on the ground and more effective.

    I always suggest swimming for anyone with any sort of issues. After my knee surgery, swimming was key. I couldn't do breast stroke for a long time, but all the other strokes were low impact on my knee. Swimming will also be low impact on pretty much all your joints! Plus it's a great workout from head to toe!
  • ahavoc
    ahavoc Posts: 464 Member
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    I have back problems and sciatica. I did the elliptical only at first, but found if I pushed the tension up too high it would start bothering my back, so now I do weight training and the elliptical. I made an appointment with a trainer and we mapped out a program, and we're exercising everything but my back! Calves, thighs, glutes, biceps, triceps, lats and sit-ups, lots of sit-ups. The goal is to strengthen all the other muscle groups so they help take the stress away from the back. I have a physio ball and do stretches with it.

    I hurt my back 25 years ago, and no doctor has ever helped me. Chiropractors have, you just have to find a good one, but the only way to get better is to strengthen the core, and not make your back to all the work. Get the right stretches, and work out.

    I do find that at first I hurt more when I start a workout program, but a few weeks in I hurt more if I'm not exercising. Keep exercising, listen to your body, stretch and make it happen!
  • JNick77
    JNick77 Posts: 3,783 Member
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    I did see a back specialist who sent me to a pain management specialist who gave me a shot in my spine. That helped for a long time. They don't want to do surgery unless absolutely necessary, which I agree.

    I didn't know if maybe I just have to build my core muscles back up and that's why my back aches and etc. I appreciate all of the input. :) Thanks!!

    Wait, they didn't do an MRI or anything? What about a Physical Therapist? Did they put you on the McKenzie Protocol or anything?
  • _gwen
    _gwen Posts: 501 Member
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    I have some discs problems in my lower back along with my sciatic nerve that gets inflammed sometimes. I was wondering if you all have similiar issues and if so, what you do for exercise.
    I have similar issues, disk degeneration between L4 and L5, with sciatica down my left leg. Walking definitely helps. If I am hurting in the morning, getting on the treadmill, even at a slow pace, relieves the pain. If anything hurts, I slow down.

    If you haven't been formally diagnosed, you should go see a physician. A physical therapist can help you set up appropriate exercises. I regularly add a few Pilates Planks and supported exercises using an exercise ball into my workout.
  • alyssamiller77
    alyssamiller77 Posts: 891 Member
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    I've got bulging discs and L4-L5 and L5-S1. The best thing I did for them was to start working on core strength training. Getting your Abs stronger will help your back immensely. Stronger abs means less strain on your back. You wouldn't believe how much you use your back muscles to compensate for weak abdominal muscles. Of course you need to start off slowly and be sure that you're really focused on isolating your abdominal muscles when you do strength training. But in time it will really pay off.
  • lgav23
    lgav23 Posts: 33 Member
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    I agree...start building your ab muscles.....I too have simular problems and my PT had me do a lot of stretches that not only feel good but help strengthen the lower back muscles.
    I also use an inversion table to decompress....sometimes I love it, sometimes I don't...lol either way you need to be careful when using one ;)
  • tammylwv
    tammylwv Posts: 155 Member
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    I'm sorry, I did leave out that I did have a MRI and x-rays and such. In one of the disc there is a marble shaped indention. I do have bulging discs and arthritis and degenerative disc disease. The doc asked if I had ever fell pretty hard because of the indention. It is pretty prominate. It does look like you can put a small marble on the picture and it would fit perfectly. I told him no. Physical Therapy didn't last long as insurance wouldn't cover it. I'm glad that my thoughts are in agreement with you all. Sometimes it's better to have confirmation. I do research on my own and etc too but I wanted to hear from others who know or are dealing with similiar issues.

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