Re: Back -- what exercise(s) have you found helpfu... - Page 3

QueenDanceALot · ‎04-18-2013

When we talk about the "core" we are talking about all of the muscles that help to stabliize the spine. This function involves deep abdominal (as opposed to superficial) and lower back muscles. Many pros argue that the core is all muscles that surround the spine, essentially the entire trunk.

wagirl · ‎03-09-2010

I go to a chiropractor regularly but do a few yoga poses every day---- the rag doll, camel and cat poses. Works very well.

PamelaSue72 · ‎09-22-2011

@hckynut wrote:

@PamelaSue72

"I have 4 blown discs in my lower back". What exactly is the Medical Diagnosis Terminology, if you wish to tell me?

As I mentioned in my other post on this thread, I have had 3 lumbar discs removed from my back: L-3/L-5/ S-1. One of my best friends is a Spinal Surgeon and he never refers to any Spinal Issue with the term "blown discs".

I know what the problems were, via MRI, with my back and by watching my friend remove my L-3, step by step via the monitor he was using in his office surgical room.

Really want to understand exactly what is meant by your Doctor using that type of terminology, if you wish.

hckynut(john)

All four disks are ruptured. They're not bulging or herniated; they're shot, according to the doctor. The first one happened due to an incident at work back in the late 80s. I got caught between the forks on a forklift and a bale of fiber that puffed-up when I released the bands. About a year later, the second one went, followed by the third and the fourth (all L's, but honestly I don't remember any more what numbers). The last one happened about 16 years ago when, evidently, I twisted the wrong way trying to get a load of wet laundry through the kitchen door to hang outside. I actually felt a "pop". And the pain was indescribable. Horrible pain.

Doctor did not want to operate unless it was absolutely necessary. I lived on OTC pain meds (that was when I could still take Advil), lots of heat, and stretching. I've known a lot of people who had back operations only to still have intense pain afterward or still had a lot of problems.....my brother is one of them. There are days when he can barely walk and he's four years younger than I.

I'm OK. Yes, there are days when I hurt. Yes, there are days when I have problems. But as long as I can get around without an inordinate amount of pain, I'm not going under the knife.

hckynut · ‎03-10-2010

All four disks are ruptured. They're not bulging or herniated; they're shot, according to the doctor. The first one happened due to an incident at work back in the late 80s. I got caught between the forks on a forklift and a bale of fiber that puffed-up when I released the bands. About a year later, the second one went, followed by the third and the fourth (all L's, but honestly I don't remember any more what numbers). The last one happened about 16 years ago when, evidently, I twisted the wrong way trying to get a load of wet laundry through the kitchen door to hang outside. I actually felt a "pop". And the pain was indescribable. Horrible pain.

Doctor did not want to operate unless it was absolutely necessary. I lived on OTC pain meds (that was when I could still take Advil), lots of heat, and stretching. I've known a lot of people who had back operations only to still have intense pain afterward or still had a lot of problems.....my brother is one of them. There are days when he can barely walk and he's four years younger than I.

I'm OK. Yes, there are days when I hurt. Yes, there are days when I have problems. But as long as I can get around without an inordinate amount of pain, I'm not going under the knife.

@PamelaSue72

Thank you for telling me your story. Like yourself, I know many that have had, open back surgery like myself, along with others that have had the less invasive, Laparoscopic Surgery. My friend is a Sports Medicine Certified Spinal Surgeon.

He has done several players in the adult hockey league I have ran for 52 years. Every player that had surgery done by him, returned to playing hockey. Some were out for a few months, others a bit longer, depending on their specific problem, and their full dedication to work hard at full recovery.

I also know many that had surgery similar to mine, that never fully recovered from their surgery. Some I know personally better than others, but the ones I did know? They did not dedicate themselves to the post operative recovery, and subsequently still, and are, in considerable pain.

Surgery and how one chooses to recover, according to my friend the surgeon, is often the difference in why some fully recover, and some do not.

I had my L-5/S-1 open surgery done in June. Hockey started in October and my, then surgeon, advised me not to play until enough scar tissue had formed between the vertebrae of the removed discs, which for me was 6 months. I began playing full contact in that December.

I played hockey and later was a Referee in over a thousand games, and with no issues other than an occasional ache from the sport itself. I continued skating the games for many years until my first episode of Lung Blood Clots(PE), had to quit because of having to take Coumadin/Warfarin, blood thinners.

After having my ruptured L-3 removed in 2006, the one I watched on the monitor through the whole process. It was an experimental surgery at that time, and he told me it was 40% successful at that time.

After a couple months I regained all of my flexibility in my back and all the rear side muscle groups. Took work, but then at age 67, I lost only a disc, but not mobility or flexibility.

I hope something comes along that you will be comfortable having done to help you with your back issues. I chose the surgical procedures because I wanted to be able to continue doing the sports I loved, hockey and running, along with being pretty much pain free and functional in my every day life. For me, surgeries were the right choices.

My best to you,

hckynut(john)

PamelaSue72 · ‎09-22-2011

@hckynut Thank you. I'm really nervous about any kind of back surgery and, really, as long as I can do what I need to do without a lot of pain, I'm good.

My doctor (he's an orthopedic surgeon) said that he believes surgery should be a last resort only and I'm sure the same is true of most surgeons. That often, at the end of about 12 months, a person who has not had back surgery, but has done the stretching, the exercises, the walking, taken care of him or herself otherwise, didn't gain a ton of weight, etc. will often have the same amount of pain that a person who has had surgery can have (and I hope that makes sense; I tried to explain it without you going, "What the heck is she talking about??"). I'll be the first to admit that I dont know if that's true or not.

But as I mentioned, I do know quite a few people who have had surgery and still live in pain or who then needed addtional surgery for whatever reason. I have a cousin who's had three back surgeries, a co-worker who had numerous back surgeries, etc. Whether it's because they didn't take care of themselves afterward, I don't know. But it's enough to make me wary.

And I can honestly say that I feel pretty good most days. I take care of myself as best I can with walking and with exercise and stretching and that's every day. I have not let myself gain a ton of weight, simply because I know my back couldn't handle extra weight. I still move furniture around in the house when I clean, I still go outside and work in the veggie garden and in the flowerbeds.....I'm just more careful when I do those things.

Overall, life is good. Even with my bad back. I cannot complain. I'm 61; that may change in the future. But I'm fine right now. (Now, if I could just get rid of that piriformis sciatica that I'm dealing with, life would be great! )

I'm glad that surgery was the best thing for you. Congratulations! You obviously did everything you had to do to get your life back! And that's key, too.

2cockers1cat · ‎03-09-2010

@feline groovy wrote:
Yoga.
Even doctors recommend it for back pain, especially lower back.

Earlier this month, the New York Post ran an article about an elderly woman with scoliosis who was helped by a yoga instructor who specializes in back care. (The instructor also has scoliosis.) A chair and a sling device were used to keep the postures safe and appropriate.

Reba055 · ‎06-23-2014

@hckynut I did some checking into Tai Chi and it is suprising what a good exercise it is, and it can be done long into the golden years lol. Of course yoga can too. Thanks for the info. Not sure why I never tried it. I've done everything else. Always putting out fires I guess.

I'm not doing worth a flip lately. Recent move which was brutal, even with movers. Luckily we now have a pool so I've been trying to establish a routine of exercising in the pool. Like @PamelaSue72 something has happened to me with meds too. I can't seem to tolerate anything, either allergic reactions or weird side effects. I've never been that good at pacing and have really got myself in quite a mess!

I too have been told surgery as a last resort. It really is frustrating. It's important to keep moving and I do a lot of physical activity around the house. I love walking but starting having sciatica so bad after just a 20-30 minute walk that I had to stop. Also started noticing knee pain for the first time 😜 So it's swimming for me!

Good luck to all my fellow sufferers.

deedledeedeedle · ‎05-27-2014

Having been diagnosed with L4-L6 bulging disks 25 years ago just about did me in. PT worked me hard and gave me The Williams back exercises. They helped me get back on my feet and remain relatively pain free and limber. I had the routine memorized and did the exercises every a.m and p.m. Eventually I was able to go to every a.m.

dee