Exercising With Back Problems

mllgnc

I'm starting back with my personal trainer on Thursday, haven't trained for well over a year. Bit of background ( will try and keep it brief ! ) I've previously been pretty fit, personal trainer, running, spinning and gym. I did an extremely physically demanding job for nearly 6 years. Unfortunatly in April 12 while at work I felt my back "go". Fast forward to now after loads of tests etc, I have 2 prolasped discs in my lumbar spine, degenerative disc disease and have also developed bursitis in my left hip.

Pain management has been difficult to say the least, currently waiting on a procedure to kill the nerves in my back. Anyway I know my core is extremely weak, I've put on around 2 stone in weight and just for my general well being I realise its important to embark on a fitness programme. I trust my personal trainer, she is very knowledgeable and also aware of my current problems.

So here's the thing, I'm frightened. I'm very worried about causing any further damage, really don't think I could cope with anymore pain. I should say I'm still employed, in a different role and working 5 days a week, so not sitting around worrying about moving lol. I just seem to have developed a bit of a mental block around training etc.

Has anyone been in the same position ? I'm not looking for medical advice, would just like to hear from others who have perhaps been in the same situation. Did they have the same concerns, and how they overcame them ?

Apologies for the length of post !

getcarter

I have back pain. I've had pain on and off since I was a teenager. Got it under control, was doing Davina workouts, seeing an osteopath regularly etc then managed to injure it again, since then have been having trouble working out the difference between good ache - been exercising and muscles have been working hard and bad ache - shouldn't have done that!

That being said, I'm doing it on my own, you have a personal trainer who knows all of your history and will advise accordingly. Go for it, you won't regret it!

What about swimming as well?

heartbreak_star

Have you spoken to your GP about beginning an exercise program? Your trainer may ask this too

HBS x

SteveJW

Suffered with a back problem for years, suddenly got worse in March, with pain down my right leg. Doctor was scepticall saw an Osteopath privately who eventually told me he didn't think he was helping. He wrote a letter to my doctor who finally sent me for an MRI
MRI shows a prolapsed disc, not bulging out but inward and pressing on the spinal cord, currently waiting to see a neurosurgeon
Walking is a real pain and can manage around a couple of mile on a good day, but can manage 25 to 30 mile on a bike with little or no pain and feel better for it

browneyedbazzi

You should speak to your GP - they'll be able to advise you about any things that may cause further problems for you and I'd personally find it more reassuring to hear from someone who's fully medically qualified than from a personal trainer. With your history I would expect your personal trainer to advise you to see your GP before starting a new exercise regime anyway.

When you say you have bursitis in your hip, do you mean trachonteric bursitis (as there isn't a bursa in the hip joint)? If so, then I had a rather extreme case of that which required surgery and extensive physiotherapy so I can sympathise. My physio helped me work towards getting back into exercise - I couldn't have jumped straight in because my range of movement really limited what I could do. My physio showed me exercises that would help my recovery and was able to talk about what other things were ok to do.

mllgnc

Thanks for all the replies, should have said in my initial post, I have written confirmation from my GP that I can undertake light exercise. This was requested by my trainer before starting back to training. I have been told I have bursitis in my left hip, this was diagnosed by both by GP and an orthopaedic surgeon, as to the ins and outs of what exact type of busitis it is, is irrelevant to the thread.

I have had various types of treatment both in terms of medication and procedures, for my back and hip with more to come. My thread was started as I wanted to speak to others who had undertaken an exercise programme with back problems. I would imagine I'm not the only person who is anxious about returning to exercise etc. The fear of causing further injury and therefore pain can be quite daunting.

I had my first session today, it went well and I intend to continue with it. I trust my trainer and I'm hoping with time I can get over this mental block. Thanks again to those who replied

browneyedbazzi

mllgnc wrote: »

I have been told I have bursitis in my left hip, this was diagnosed by both by GP and an orthopaedic surgeon, as to the ins and outs of what exact type of busitis it is, is irrelevant to the thread.

If you're happy with that, then great. For me it was very relevant to know exactly what the problem was because I found it quite important to understand the condition and what caused it/would aggravate it...knowing those things helped me to feel more confident undertaking exercise that by understanding condition I knew wouldn't be a problem for me. I'm naturally inquisitive and know a bit about anatomy though so this style suits me and other people may be perfectly happy not knowing.

I'm glad your first session went well!

Tallaght

Have you tried an inversion table ?

thunderbird

Hi

I have had back problems for over 20 years. Took some time for it to be diagnosed as degenerative changes (which started when I was about 20). So, sounds similar to you, I have dehydrated, degenerative discs which are permanently bulging, worn facet joints, bone spurs and inflammation in something! (I can't remember the name) which all contribute to spinal stenosis.
I do a fair amount of exercise - it is just a case of adapting it to your body and knowing how far you can push yourself. For instance, I used to avoid a lot of abs exercises as they aggravated my back, but I have realised that the gains from the exercises are worth the short term pain - anything that causes long term pain is out of bounds though (such as running).

I do a lot of cycling, hills can cause some stress on the back so I don't do too many. In the gym I use the cross trainer for cardio and do weights, TRX and exercises with medicine balls etc.

You do need to listen to advice from medical professionals, but get more than 1 opinion if you can as some can be very negative. In my case, exercise isn't going to damage my back, it just causes pain.

- as for treatment, I am having an epidural next month and will continue having them as long as they help (i think the pain clinic suggested could have them about every 18 mths)

vegasvisitor

I'm just going to throw in my positive experience. I've had back problems for over 10 years, and 3 years ago I had sciatica and was unable to sit caused by my L5-S1 apparently. I've also had bursitis in my hip, on the opposite side (about 10 years ago). I had an injection which didn't work on it, and it eventually got better over time. Quite a bit of time as I was on my feet a lot at work (12 hour shifts) which was obviously putting pressure on it too. Anyway, 3 years ago the worse problem with my back, for about 2 weeks I couldn't sit at all, and for another month or so had to keep standing up etc. Ironically I now have a desk job which was either causing or certainly not helping the problem. A year after the 'injury' (I'm calling it injury although nothing specific caused it, it just started with a cramping feeling in my calf which turned out to be sciatica), I started playing tennis. It was hard at first, and sometimes I would hurt my back a bit while playing, but never as bad as the incident 3 years ago. I continued to play, and time has also helped heal. I'm now also jogging, which is something I never thought I'd manage and I did 5k tonight. My back is fine. I do get pain, sometimes in my back, or in my hip or both, but on the whole I'm managing to exercise. I actually think exercise is helping.

Hope you are feeling better soon, and hope you find a solution.

rosiek63

Hi, I had a lot of back problems for years. Eventually I had physio and she recommended a range of exercises that I did on a daily basis (I chose a regular time to exercise - whilst watching the ten o'clock news on the TV!) and they really helped. Some were on the floor others were on a gym ball.

I have to say I have let it slip but am now using the Daily Abs Workout app on my ipad (trying to make it a regular thing) and it seems to help.

I really think that building up the core muscles is a key way to support your back and overcome any back problems.

Hope that helps ;-)