[tif]

I've lost a good bit of weight, but very, VERY slowly...

When I was a kid, I was in leg braces due to extremely short achilles tendons, I have scoliosis with two twists, I tore 4-5 of the muscles in my back when I was about 21, my knees are missing cartilige, my neck lacks spinal curvature.. In short, I'm a mess. But I really want to do something productive with my life, and I really want to lose more weight, and I had this idea that I could start working out... So, I've been going for progressively longer and longer walks, and on Saturday I spent 25 minutes on the elliptical, and I wasn't even winded but I thought I should take it easy the first day....

And on Sunday morning, I started having muscle spasms in my back. It's like, what the heck am I supposed to be able to do with my life if I can't even spend 25 minutes on an elliptical without having to see a doctor?

I'm in constant pain all day, every day. But when the pain spikes like this, it's overwhelming. I just want to cry.

[Wannabehealthy]

I'm sorry to hear of all this pain you go through. I commend you for wanting to exercise and get healthy in spite of it. I have an elliptical, and if this was your first time using one, maybe you went too long. It's good that you felt good while you were doing it, but an elliptical uses muscles that you don't usually use with just walking, so I think you need to work up to a longer time. I started out doing 3 minutes and kept adding a minute or 2 each day until I got up to 30. I don't have all the problems you have, but I don't like to make myself sore and have to take some time off. Try doing a few minutes and see if that's better, and keep with your walking if that doesn't bother you. It's just important that you're moving.

[tif]

Originally Posted by Wannabehealthy

an elliptical uses muscles that you don't usually use with just walking, so I think you need to work up to a longer time. I started out doing 3 minutes and kept adding a minute or 2 each day until I got up to 30.

Does it use mid-back muscles a lot? That might explain it... Even just TOUCHING those muscles is painful, even now a decade after I tore them...

Maybe I will try 5 minutes instead...

I hope that works. I've been so depressed about this...

[sansui]

Seems like you pushed yourself too hard the first day.
Start of slowly on the elliptical,like 3 minutes.
After an hour or two,another 3 minutes.
This gives you body time to adjust,without
putting to much strain on your body.

As days progress,you can increase by only a few minutes,
until your body can handle it.
Do not strain yourself.

[JayZeeJay]

Have you tried bicycling activities, either outside or on a stationary upright or recumbent bike? I had back pain after being hit by a car a few years ago, and I found bicycling to be my best recovery activity.

[Lunula]

I am so sorry you're in a so much pain!

I have a few issues myself - 4 knee cartilage tears, 2 arthroscopic surgeries, emergency back surgery (after rupturing 2 discs so badly they were paralyzing me from the waist down) and a total knee replacement last December (@ 43 years of age!). My knees were awful, just terrible - but I was determined to exercise, much like you.

You probably already are, but I'd recommend concentrating on your diet first and foremost. Exercise definitely boosted my weight loss and elevated my overall well-being, but getting my diet in order was more helpful in the long run.

Also - get in the pool! I know, it can be boring, but it is such great exercise and it's very low impact. When my back was at its worst, even gentle stretching would send me over the edge - but if you can endure, stretching/yoga/tai chi might also be helpful. 8 months after my total knee replacement, I'm struggling to get back into shape - but bike riding has been good, the pool has been great and I walk my neighborhood a lot (3-4 miles per day, often broken up into 15 minute chunks).

Maybe also look into physical therapy if your insurance covers it. They should be able to teach you exercises that will benefit you and not hurt. I learned some great exercises during my knee replacement rehab - and it was comforting to know that even though it "hurt" (because everything did) - I wasn't harming myself.

Good luck!

[tif]

Thanks for the support everyone...

Unfortunately, biking is a no-go because of my knee problems. I have done 10 minutes of 3+ MPH walking, followed by stretching, then 5 minutes of elliptical, followed by stretching, then 2 minutes cool down walking (2 or less MPH), then more stretching. That's worked! My back is sore, as are my knees and feet, but I haven't been in HIGH level pain!