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Suggest Exercise Regime For A Person Suffering From Disc Herniation
Posted on
Thu, 5 Nov 2015
Medically reviewed by
Ask A Doctor - 24x7 Medical Review Team
Thu, 5 Nov 2015
Answered on
Wed, 25 Nov 2015
Last reviewed on
Question : Looking for answers from orthopedic dr in regards to L-4/L5 herniated discs(mild) no surgery required. My pain is not 100%, its only when standing for long periods or walking (example can only make half the mall then in horrible lower back pain) dull achng- not sharp but so bad it almost puts me in a wheelchair. Im 51 and have a fused c5-6 due to herniation and pinched nerve- surgery was march 2013 and a success. Im 230 lbs so overweight but my lumbar pain is not the same type pain as pinched nerve neck pain. Its excrutiating to bend half way like when sweeping kitchen or bending to empty dishwasher. Vacuuming or
Carrying medium size cartons really cause Lot of pain. I see pain mhmnt dr and i have had injections and they do not help at all. He wants me to go to PT but to expensive. It sounds great(although painful) but i cant afford the PT classes. I am 5'5" 230 lbs And hAve been allowed to work from home so can ice back as needed.
Its been 2 yrs now that i literally just sit 85% of my day.
Can you suggest exercises i can do at home to help my back? I recently began to walk
About one block and i think it might be helping but only been 2 days! Is that possible? My question is if the herniated discs arent pinching neeves and its only mild herniatiom what is all my pain from? Is it just muscles that are gone or weak that hurts so bad? How can i speed up my exercises or whatever so my bAck stops hurting. I have a very fit active 15 yr old daughter and i cant go on walks because its to painful. Is it smart for me to push through the pain? how do i know if the pain i feel is just from no muscles or causing new injuries or makimg pain worse?and is joggng or runnung ok on my treadmill? ThAnk you for Any support.
From a fat mom really trying to make good healthy
changes! xxxxxxxxxx 000-000-000000.
Carrying medium size cartons really cause Lot of pain. I see pain mhmnt dr and i have had injections and they do not help at all. He wants me to go to PT but to expensive. It sounds great(although painful) but i cant afford the PT classes. I am 5'5" 230 lbs And hAve been allowed to work from home so can ice back as needed.
Its been 2 yrs now that i literally just sit 85% of my day.
Can you suggest exercises i can do at home to help my back? I recently began to walk
About one block and i think it might be helping but only been 2 days! Is that possible? My question is if the herniated discs arent pinching neeves and its only mild herniatiom what is all my pain from? Is it just muscles that are gone or weak that hurts so bad? How can i speed up my exercises or whatever so my bAck stops hurting. I have a very fit active 15 yr old daughter and i cant go on walks because its to painful. Is it smart for me to push through the pain? how do i know if the pain i feel is just from no muscles or causing new injuries or makimg pain worse?and is joggng or runnung ok on my treadmill? ThAnk you for Any support.
From a fat mom really trying to make good healthy
changes! xxxxxxxxxx 000-000-000000.
Brief Answer:
Pain can be due to disc prolapse and lumbar muscle spasm.
Detailed Answer:
Hello,
Thanks for posting your query.
The disc herniation and the spasm of the adjoining lumbar muscles can be the cause of your pain since there are no pinched nerves.
The main treatment of such problem is bed rest along with pain killers and muscle relaxants. Muscle relaxants can help with your symptoms if used in appropriate dosage in combination with a potent analgesic. You can get these prescribed from your orthopedician.
Local analgesic gels and hot fomentation may provide a short term relief. You can use analgesic gels like Volini gel. Exercise is not advisable in the times of acute pain.
Using an LS contour belt of appropriate size might be helpful in providing support to back muscles.
Physiotherapy also plays a major role in treating such conditions.
The following measures will help with the pain
• Lie on a hard bed.
• Avoid forward bending.
• Correct your posture while sitting
• Avoid prolonged sitting
• Avoid strenuous activity & lifting heavy weights.
- Intermittent pelvic traction might be helpful to cause a regression of the protruded disc
- After the initial pain has subsided, remedial exercises to strengthen the spine are very important to restore normal spinal movements and muscle strength. The main aim of exercise is to encourage mobility, reduce muscle spasm, prevent further deterioration in the muscles and speed recovery.
You can reduce a few extra pounds and start walking and back exercises at home.
I hope this answers your query.
In case you have additional questions or doubts, you can forward them to me, and I shall be glad to help you out.
Wishing you good health.
Regards.
Dr. Praveen Tayal.
For future query, you can directly approach me through my profile URL http://bit.ly/Dr-Praveen-Tayal
Pain can be due to disc prolapse and lumbar muscle spasm.
Detailed Answer:
Hello,
Thanks for posting your query.
The disc herniation and the spasm of the adjoining lumbar muscles can be the cause of your pain since there are no pinched nerves.
The main treatment of such problem is bed rest along with pain killers and muscle relaxants. Muscle relaxants can help with your symptoms if used in appropriate dosage in combination with a potent analgesic. You can get these prescribed from your orthopedician.
Local analgesic gels and hot fomentation may provide a short term relief. You can use analgesic gels like Volini gel. Exercise is not advisable in the times of acute pain.
Using an LS contour belt of appropriate size might be helpful in providing support to back muscles.
Physiotherapy also plays a major role in treating such conditions.
The following measures will help with the pain
• Lie on a hard bed.
• Avoid forward bending.
• Correct your posture while sitting
• Avoid prolonged sitting
• Avoid strenuous activity & lifting heavy weights.
- Intermittent pelvic traction might be helpful to cause a regression of the protruded disc
- After the initial pain has subsided, remedial exercises to strengthen the spine are very important to restore normal spinal movements and muscle strength. The main aim of exercise is to encourage mobility, reduce muscle spasm, prevent further deterioration in the muscles and speed recovery.
You can reduce a few extra pounds and start walking and back exercises at home.
I hope this answers your query.
In case you have additional questions or doubts, you can forward them to me, and I shall be glad to help you out.
Wishing you good health.
Regards.
Dr. Praveen Tayal.
For future query, you can directly approach me through my profile URL http://bit.ly/Dr-Praveen-Tayal
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar
Answered by
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