Dieting with Obstacles - Arthritis, Joint and Spinal Pain

I have been suffering from joint pain for some time. I have a pinched nerve in my upper back. I have a bulging disc in my lower back. I also get throbbing pain where my leg connects to my body on the outside. I have been exercising for 2 months and just taking it very slow because that is all I can do. Anyone else aching, too?

:dizzy:

Hi, I have a problem called piriformis syndrome which is basically sciatica. It causes muscle spasms in my lower back that at times can be totally debilitating. The spasms can be triggered by something as simple as lifting a bit more than I should or moving/sleeping the wrong way. I am told that I have to get more exercise, but I find it difficult to do much out of fear of pain. I am currently in PT and relatively pain-free and have just started a low-carb/low fat diet (losing the extra pounds will probably make a big difference). I am also being tested for possible MS (so far, so good). Hope to hear from you again.

hi roundwoman

between a pinched nerve and a bulging disc, i bet you are in a lot of pain! i'm sorry to hear that. i sympathize with you. i have spinal cord damage and will have to have spinal fusion surgery at some point, though i am trying to put it off a bit longer. i have constant back pain, which is often challenging. i am doing physical therapy for my back now and so far, it hasn't really lessened the back pain yet, but the leg exercises make me feel like i'm doing something positive for myself. i also have ms which causes me some problems with leg pain, but more often, it is only weakness or numbness from that. i know this has to be rough on you, but hang in there. take good care of yourself. all the best.

wsw

Hi there roundwoman. I have osteoarthritis in my spine and my hip. The Facet Joints are mainly the culprit. I had back surgery 19 years ago and had a disk removed - no fusion. It seems that is what is causing the present problem. I have spent a fortune on various treatments. Have had cortisone injections in the Facet Joints and Epidurals and they did not help. On another message board that I belong to, a woman mention an Upper Cervical Chiropracter. I found one not to far from where I live. They are very scarce it seems. They have post graduate studies in Chiropractic. There is absolutely NO manipulation of the spine. I have been going for a year and a bit and the improvement in my back has been nothing short of spectacular. This has even helped the fibro. Now, if I could find something that would help the fatigue, I could probably get back into the land of the living. This is a procedure that I would recommend before surgery, that is for sure. This type of chiropractic is an exact measurment. They apply a very slight pressure to the side of the neck, moving only the upper cervicals, so that if you have headaches, shoulder problems, or disc problems, this can help immensley. As I said, it really helped my lower back. I do know when the alignment is no longer holding, as my lower back is sore, but my legs feel like stumps, with pain at the hip joints and thigh.

If you want to read about this treatment you can do so at

www.nucca.org

Other woman tried this treatment as well and had really good results.

I STRESS that it is NOT a regular chiropractic technique.

I also have arthritis in my spine (and other places) and was having severe back pain a few years ago. Had one cortisone shot in an area where disc problem was bad but they were unable to get it where it really needed to be because arthritis too bad there. It helped a bit. then I had my first knee replaced and that helped back some more. Have since had second knee done which helped back further. I do water exercising, particularly in deep water which surgeon tells me is like being in traction for the back. Back has not been a problem recently so I keep on doing the water "traction" thing.

My daughter had a spinal fusion when she was 13 (scoliosis) so I know secondhand how rough that can be. She's almost 40 now and has done well with it so far.

Good luck and my prayers on the MS.

And Happy, if you find something for the fatigue, please share! though again I've been a bit better on that the last few months than I had been.

:wave:
i have sore knees. they feel like there is a vice sqeezing them.. it could also be that i am retaing fluid. i also go over on my heels and my ankles are ssore all the time. exercising is out of the question most of the time. :)

glen

I know what it is like to have painful joints. I have osteoarthritis in my joints. Hands, hips,knees,feet and lower back in the pelvic area.
It's not much fun but things could be a lot worse. I am losing weight slowly but surely and as I am limited in what I can for exercise I am pleased with any loss.
I am trying to get up the courage to go to the swimming pool. I have a real fear of water, I hate the feeling of floating just thinking about it makes me feel panicky. If I can go and simply walk up and down holding onto the side or allow myself to float holding the side I am fine and I suppose it is all exercise in the end.
The important thing is not to let it get you down.
With one smile you go miles.
Keep up the good work.
:halffull:

Hi Jingo. sounds like we speak the same language! I am losing very slowly as well and am getting around a bit better. But my main exercise is still in the water. Actually walking in the water is excellent. When I mentioned "hanging" in the water, I should have explained that this is with a vest or a noodle. Not actually floating. And you can stay near the wall to do it in case you feel like it won't hold you. I felt that way (though I'm not afraid of the water) and used two noodles at first.

Happy Canuck and I both post on the Fibromyalgia thread. I don't have fibro but a lot of the chicks there also have arthritis and have been most welcoming if you want to give it a try. Or I'll be happy to continue here as well.

:wave: hi everyone
i also suffer from sore knees and feet. i exercise occasionaly, but it would be better if i would loose my spare tire. i guess i should get offf my fat butt (:lol:) and some :strong: :)
hefty

Hang in there, it will get better. After two and a half years of physical therapy, I am now as "normal" as I'll ever be. The best exercise for me has been walking. I regulate my walking by my tolerance of pain. Inclines and speed tend to increase pain.

Also a help for me has been senior citizen "rhythmic exercise." It gets the heart beat up into the cardio range, and is a great help with flexibility. Although I am in my 40's, the instructor lets me attend, because of my limitations. We do stretches with stability balls, floor exercises, line dances, tai chi, etc. We never stay on any one type of exercise for long, so I am able to do most of the exercises. Low Impact Aerobics do not work for me, but this does. Try a local community center to check for classes.

:wave: hi prostc
thanks i may try your idea. :)
glen

I have to say that you all have brilliant ideas about exercise. Here in England we do not get much assistance with anything, I have been told to take the painkillers and that is it.
Physiotherapy lasted 6 weeks and then nothing, no matter how bad you are there is no follow up. Having sessions anywhere for 2 years is unheard of here. You are very lucky to have this amount of support.
Arthrtis care is running campaigns to try and get more assistance in some areas they have hydrotherapy for 4-6 weeks only then nothing.
So all your tips and suggestions are very welcome and I will certainly try out some of them. I have talked with my Doctor and he says he can do nothing but the walking and doing gentle exercises in the pool is a good idea.
Thank goodness I have found this forum.:yes: :cool:

Thank you Jingo, Hefty1, Prostc, Anagram, Happy Canuk, wsw, ctdaydreamer for your replies and understanding! I don't feel alone after reading all of your replies. We all sure have done a lot of suffering I'd say.

I hadn't been around a lot after I started this thread and even sort of forgot I posted it-sorry. Then I had computer problems, and depression bad. But I was going to the Y 3 times a week and the exercise was really helping even if I could not do as much as others do.

Then 2 wks ago I was in a head on collision and it caused back strain and irritation of previous problems, whiplash and a concussion. lol. I have such good luck in life!

Anyhow, I started seeing a chiropracter and he adjusted my back Friday and it helped a whole lot with the neck aching. My memory is beginning to improve again. :^:

Again, thanks!

This is the first time I have read this forum, and I think this may be a good place for me to get some exercise advice.

I have been dieting since last March and have been quite successful losing some of the weight I need to lose. 36lbs of the 60lbs I plan to lose. Now I seem to be on a plateau and it is getting harder and harder to lose because I need to do more exercising then I am doing. Part of the reason is I am lazy about exercising, but also I have health problems that make it difficult.

18 years ago, I fell off a horse and shattered a vertibra. I was operated on to remove the bone chips, had a bone graft from my hip, three vertibra fused with two stainless steel rods inplanted I was very lucky because I could have been paralized. and I am still lucky, because I don't have any back pain and can walk. My only limitations are difficultly bending or twisting and of course lifting. I know it if I bend too much. I also have arthritis in my hands and feet. My feet cause the most problems because even after losing weight, they hurt all the time and especially when I walk. However, walking is the exercise my doctor ordered, and taking aspirin as needed for pain. I do walk on the treadmill, trying to increase it gradually.

What I need advice on is how to firm up my stomach as I lose when most exercise to do this requires either bending or twisting!
I hope someone has some suggestions.

You all are so couragous to keep working to lose and exercise when you all seem to have a lot of pain and other obstacles. You are truly an inspiration! Good luck with your efforts.

Hi, Grandma G.

At 13, my daughter required a spinal fusion with graft from her hip and one rod in her back. She has said the same thing about bending, twisting, etc. and how difficult it is for her to flatten out her tummy from the C section she had two years ago.

The only solution that comes to my mind for that area is to try some isometric exercising. Tightening and holding the stomach muscles should improve them to some degree. I do them often myself. Can't say I'm trim and svelte because I have so much yet to lose. But I do feel I'll have some good stomach muscles if I ever get to where they can emerge from the cushioning.

I also have arthritis in hands, feet and other places. I need to be very careful about the type of shoes I wear for walking as my feet seem to be incredibly sensitive. I wear Easy Spirit and some of them now come with removeable inserts that offer extra comfort. I also use an orthopedic insert with other shoes which has given my sore feet some relief.

Good luck - it really is a lot easier to stay in my recliner. But....

:wave:
hi everyone
gramag: try going to your local swimming pool and see if they have aqua fit class :)
glen

Anagram and Glen,

Thank you both for your advice. You are right anagram, it would be a lot easier to stay in my recliner, but - as you say and we all know, we can't do that. Because with arthritis, exercise is so important! What is it they tell us - "use it or lose it!"

I do get good shoes, in fact I just got two new pair, and that at the moment is part of my problem. Until I get used to them they hurt even more then usual. I have very wide feet and have to send away for shoes size 6 - 4Es. I got a good pair of soft leather casual walking shoes and a pair of New balance Sneakers. I plan to do more walking and I am hoping they will help eventually. I am alternating them, when one pair feels too uncomfortable, I switch to the other pair.

Glen, they do have water excercises at the local school, and I did plan to sign up this year, but during the summer I tried doing exercises on my own in my sons pool, and I found it really bothered my lower back. Even after I got out of the water. Of course I may not have been doing the right exercises, so I may still go and give it a try.

I will try the isometric exercises. That sounds like a really good idea, I never knew what they were called but in the past I have done some of that but never thought of it as being an exercise. Perhaps if I do it faithfully it will help and it doesn't hurt my back at all, so what have I got to lose! Right!

Thanks again for all the advice. Good luck to both of you!

GG - Just walking in water will help you (I have an earlier post, I think where I extol water exercising). But if you have lower back problems, just "hanging" (on a noodle or wearing a vest) in deep water will help that. I do that with a lot of leg movements and that too helps tummy some (of course I can hang on to the side and do curls which I doubt you can with your back).

If what the h.s. offers is basically "aerobic" they might be doing things that won't work for you. I'm fortunate our local rehab has a "wellness" program for the community and we are advised on what to do for our specific problems by therapists. I was originally sent there for therapy by MD on an individual basis and now pretty much know what I'm supposed to do.

Keep trying. I have wide feet too and have a bunion and a bunion correction but have longer feet. Your size six's sound so cute. But I guess even harder than mine to fit.

anagram,

I have been trying your idea about the isometric exercises, it does make my stomach muscles feel tighter. Even as I am walking on the treadmill, I make an effort to tighten my stomach muscles and stand very straight. It should improve my posture at the same time. Perhaps because of my back problems, I find I have a tendency to round my shoulders more then I should.

Thank you for the advice about the water exercises. I went back and read all your post about doing water exercise and when I get a chance I will use your ideas. I think you are probably right about our local hs. I have a friend who went last year, I will ask her before going.

I don't know if there is any thing I can do through my doctor to get some of the services that might be available. When he first recommended that I try and lose some weight he sent me to a nutritionist for help, so he may have some help available for the exercise too. He is very supportive so I know he would authorize it if anything is available. He was so thrilled when I went back to him after losing the first 24 lbs. He said "I am always telling people to lose weight and nobody ever listens to me. It is so good to have someone actually do it!"

anagram, I was sorry to read about all your back pain but glad that the knee replacements helped it. I hope it is much improved. I have two sister-in-laws who are going though a similar thing right now with their backs and I know how much they are suffering. It certainly isn't easy to live with. One has been told she will always have to live with the pain and is being sent to a pain management clinic.

Good luck to everyone with losing the weight in spite of the obstacles.

I'm glad you made your doctor's day!