Newbie

[dmh]

Hello all,
This is such a great site. I have been on SD3 which is great but I feel like more people here are like me. Serious athletes looking to get back to some level of sport! I was a full time bike racer and before that did a bunch of marathons and stuff like that. Basically abusing my body for most of my 31 years.

Anyway, I've just been diaged with DDD and IDD at l4/l5 and l5/s1. I have mederate bilateral sciatica with moderate back pain. I've had this since this summer. I had a mirco-d last jan (04).
I am not in the market (yet) for an ADR but am looking for some good streching/strengthing/exercises to help avoid having more surgery and possibly avoiding an ADR. Currently I swim about 4 days a week when I am not "flared" up- I am walking as well.

THANKS!!
DMH

[ans]

Hi dmh,

I'm very new here and 'tho not an athlete like you, I've worked out 5-6 days/wk. since I was 22 (now in early 50s). I understand your frustration.

Btw, does swimming exacerbate your back/other pain? For me it does - sometimes. And I suspect certain strokes are "safer" than others.

To you returning to peak condition. Others here (smart!) w/help you out. Best, ans

[Harrison]

Welcome, newbie! Swimming can be a double-edged sword...

[dmh]

Thanks ans; you know, fitness and whatnot is a lifestyle more then anything. so, yes, it differs in degrees but it's how it becomes a routine, how it becomes a lot of who you are and being able to be outside . . . stuff like that ... and how great it makes you feel.

tell me more about swimming. eveyone (well not everyone) has just said how good it is for your back and how it is low impact and your not over extending and stuff . .. I think my form is good (free style) but I hope I am not doing more damage!!

ciao
dmh

[smc]

Hi DMH

Welcome!! Hope you find some help!

[mmglobal]

Welcome DMH,

Only you know if swimming is OK. If you think it is... it is. If it causes flare-ups a significant percentage of the time, it's probably not.

I just saw a rehash in the newspaper of a study that was presented in October at NASS. I very large group (I believe it was over a thousand) was randomized into several different PT regimens. There were more than 3 groups, but the upshot of the study was to effectively compare PT,

1. avoiding directions of movement that caused pain.

2. stressing the direction of movement that caused pain (we have to losen up this area!)

3. equal on both sides. (you must maintain balance.)

As many would predict... Group 1 had measurably better outcomes.

Unfortunately for us, what is right for 1 is wrong for another and you can't tell who is who... be smart, you are in charge, if it hurts don't do it too much... unless you really like it!

Mark

[dmh]

Great advice Mark- Sometimes it is hard with a back because I don't really hurt when I do something, it is only 4-24 hours later. If I injured my knee or ankle when out for a run, I'd probably know it right away and I would walk home. The delay effect of the back is very weird and hard to predict!

My physiatrist said measure whether your should do something by how you feel the next day. I thought that was good advice.

M-Hope your cervival issues are doing better
ciao
dmh

[ans]

Hi dmh,

Swimming for me usually hurts - even if I do the crawl and try not to twist. And the pain can hit me three days later. If I feel the slightest twinge while working out I stop and know that the damage was done. Maybe there's workarounds by certain floats in the pool but I dunno.

Aah, to swim for 45 minutes a day for that *release*!

Best, ans

[Alastair]

I found that Back crawl suited me, swimming is good because it allows you to exercise with your entire body being weightless
Best
Alastair