5 Month Post-Op Update

Wayne,

I try to stretch my lower back and my hamstrings. The jury is out on what effect this has. I know that if I dont strecth them, I can get "restless legs" at night.

[Wayne]

Have you heard of Pilates Yoga? It involves the use of a rubber-band for stretching exercises. I've found it to be the best approach. It allows you to "develop" flexibility in a very comfortable way. I purchased a video tape at Barn and Noble and have been using it ever since. If you aren't already, give it a try.

I think you'll find the relief to be very marked.

I'll probably check it out. Everything I do so far makes the pain worse. Stretching, strengthening, extensions, flexion, on and on. The best thing I have ever done is when I do nothing. Of course then I become a slug.

One of these days I'll post a picture of who I was before my injury. I was benching #270 and whatnot.

Now soup cans held out in front of me make my back ache and nerves in my legs hurt.

[Alastair]

Hi Paul,
I think if you do the hamstring and Achilles tendons stretches as described in the FAQs you should be OK they are very gentle.
Cheers,
Alastair

[andromeda1111]

To Paul

Could you please elaborate on how you first initially injured your back, HOW you were training w/weights. What exercises were you doing, were you stretching?? how flexible or inflexible were you pre-op.

To everybody - Hams should be stretched 3 times a day...forever. (along w/ everything else)

Andro1111

My injury came on gradually and without clear cause. One thing -- computers were most heavily implicated. Though it is possible that I injured my disk through repettitive compression with heav weights, and then computer work became painful. I was very strong and ver inflexible back then. I never stretched worth a damn. I was young and had no idea because I always felt good. Hindsight is so perfect.