NationStates Jolt Archive

I was wondering if anyone know any excercise that'll help my back. I have a condition on my back where my back bone squeezes on my spinal cord. After awhile it'll put me in a wheelchair. However I would like to prolong that as long as possible, and the way I plan on doing that is through excercise, so does anyone have any excercise I can try?

Methinks you should see a doctor about that...

...And NOT a chiropractor. I said a doctor, man.

I was wondering if anyone know any excercise that'll help my back. I have a condition on my back where my back bone squeezes on my spinal cord. After awhile it'll put me in a wheelchair. However I would like to prolong that as long as possible, and the way I plan on doing that is through excercise, so does anyone have any excercise I can try?

upper back? lower back?

one thing you can do is to lay down on your floor, and place your calves on the seat of your chair. then stretch your arms up above your head and then out to the sides.

you can also Google for excercise tips.

but see a doctor.

Methinks you should see a doctor about that...

...And NOT a chiropractor. I said a doctor, man.

I did see a doctor, how do you think I know what's causing my back pain and will put me in a wheelchair?

here are some google results.

http://www.google.com/search?hl=en&safe=off&sa=X&oi=spell&resnum=0&ct=result&cd=1&q=back+exercises&spell=1

but ask a doctor first. since we don't know the severity of your spinal condidtions, a Doctor is the best one to either recomend which excercises, or who to contact to get some excercises.

Methinks you should see a doctor about that...

...And NOT a chiropractor. I said a doctor, man.

*kicks you VERY hard*

Did your doctor recommend excercise ? I'm not convinced that it would really help; even improving posture wouldn't necessarily stop the cord from hitting the foramen (if i'm remembering my anatomy correctly, it's been a while).

I'm basing this on the recollection of an american football player with a similar condition (can't remember his name), he was certainly 'in shape', but still had to retire (although football is hard enough on a body as it is, I suppose, without your cord being pinched).

Depends on the site of the problem.

I'd recommend seeing a few people for their opinions, not just rely on the first physio/chiro/etc you go to.


My anecdote regarding quality of physio care:
I compressed a disc in my lower back a few years ago doing deadlifts. I couldn't stand, nor sit, for more than an hour without it spasming causing great discomfit. A major problem what with the 3 hr final exams coming up.
The first physio I went to said my back needed straightening - it was too curved and went about trying to do just that. I went to that guy well over a dozen times. The massages would only temporarily alleviate the pain.

After the exams (which I managed to do by taking a shitload of anti-inflammatories and painkillers) I went back home to my parents. There, I went to the physio my Dad goes to (he has 3 broken vetebrae in his neck). Dad has often said this guy's the best he's ever been to (and as you can imagine with his problems, he's been to more than a few).
I go in, sit down, tell him my troubles and woe and first thing he says to me was, "Your lower back's too straight." He gave me a 30 minute massage, gave me some lower back stretches to do and told me to sit with a cushion pressed into the small of my back. Nothing more.
That was on a Friday. By Monday, I was completely free of pain. Something the other physio wasn't able to do over 2 months, with me visiting him 2 - 3 times a week.


(Still, some good came of the lousy physio: I was on ACC (~disability insurance in NZ - pays you 80% of your previous 6 weeks income) for the whole 2 months. The income they assessed was the f/t work I'd done during the holidays before Uni started again. Helped me immensely during that time - especially since I was still eligible for the student grant as well.)

Where is the pain localized? Upper? Center? Or lower?

ask your doctor if it would be safe for you to use one of those exercise balls, I got one for my back and it has really helped with my flexibility, you know building up the tolerance to pain.

yep...I'll join the chorus of "ask your doctor". He'll be able to give you better advice than we will.