Exercising with a back injury

Mandino788
Mandino788 Posts: 226 Member
in Fitness and Exercise
I was in a car accident 3 years ago and it screwed up my back. It was ok until last July, when a slip down some stairs inflamed the injury causing severe pain and what was becoming an addiction to Percocet.

At the time of my car accident I was 194 pounds, then I just gave up. I was in a lot of pain and didn't care about what I ate. That continued a bit, I've yo-yo'd since then. I'm about 208 now. In the past 3 years, I joined a gym and had to cancel it because I was in too much pain to go, making it not worth my $50 a month. I've tried the 30 Day Shred 3 times, made it almost to the 2nd level, and had to stop because of the amount of pain I was in. Now I'm walking. For the past 2 days I walked around a local lake on a moderate trail and last night I was in pretty bad pain. The majority of the pain last night was from muscle spasms that were not alleviated by my normal 10mg of Flexeril. I hate to think that I'm not even able to walk as a form of exercise because of my back.

What can/should I do?

In case it helps, I have a T-11 compression fracture, scoliosis (obviously not from the accident), and degenerative disc disease. When the compression fracture starts hurting my entire back will wind up with muscle spasms.

Replies

  • ChgingMe
    ChgingMe Posts: 539 Member
    I too was in a car accident in Feb of this year. Rear ended. Me at a standstill. I did physical therapy for 3 months and now im doing chiropratic care. My suggestion would be to get into some kind of PT or Chiropratic care.

    I would stop exercising until you get it under control. No use living in pain. I too have pain whenever I work out too hard. I've found going at a slower pace helps me and doing yoga...

    Hope that helps
  • Mandino788
    Mandino788 Posts: 226 Member
    Are you doing a yoga DVD or going somewhere to do it? My doctor recommended yoga but the DVD I bought is a bit too advanced for me and my incredible lack of balance.
  • tadpole242
    tadpole242 Posts: 507 Member
    I was in a car accident 3 years ago and it screwed up my back. It was ok until last July, when a slip down some stairs inflamed the injury causing severe pain and what was becoming an addiction to Percocet.

    At the time of my car accident I was 194 pounds, then I just gave up. I was in a lot of pain and didn't care about what I ate. That continued a bit, I've yo-yo'd since then. I'm about 208 now. In the past 3 years, I joined a gym and had to cancel it because I was in too much pain to go, making it not worth my $50 a month. I've tried the 30 Day Shred 3 times, made it almost to the 2nd level, and had to stop because of the amount of pain I was in. Now I'm walking. For the past 2 days I walked around a local lake on a moderate trail and last night I was in pretty bad pain. The majority of the pain last night was from muscle spasms that were not alleviated by my normal 10mg of Flexeril. I hate to think that I'm not even able to walk as a form of exercise because of my back.

    What can/should I do?

    In case it helps, I have a T-11 compression fracture, scoliosis (obviously not from the accident), and degenerative disc disease. When the compression fracture starts hurting my entire back will wind up with muscle spasms.
    Try cycling, next to no impact on your back but fast at burning off the cals.
    back injury 2003 s3 to L3 (+s2 nerve damage).
  • parteegirl01
    parteegirl01 Posts: 84
    I have lower back pain too from a herniated disk that gets easily aggrevated. I started doing pilates at home (winsor pilates DVD) and it helps a lot. It's good for stetching out your spine and it helps stengthen ab muscles which give your spine more support. I hope you get feeling better. Back pain sucks.
  • trail_rnr
    trail_rnr Posts: 337 Member
    Do you have access to a pool? Water aerobics or even just aqua jogging if you don't like to swim. Being in the water takes all of the pressure off of your frame. After my back surgery in 2010 I didn't really start to get "better" until I got in the water. For me, it made a huge difference being able to exercise without any impact on the spine.

    Good luck and hang in there. Back pain sucks, and it can take a long time to work through. Those of us who have been there understand what you are going through! :flowerforyou:

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