My biggest struggle with exercise is coping with the various injuries I have accumlated over time. I have herniated disks in my neck and in my lower back, scar tissue from a torn-calf muscle (skiing accident) and a year and a half ago, I broke a bone in the ball of my foot and it still bothers me (probably always will).

I am now told by doctors to avoid all sorts of exercise like, jogging or impact aerobics, lifting any weights over head (due to neck & lower back) and no more squats or lunges due to these injuries.

Having been a gym rat and very active throughout my youth, it is very difficult now to find a meaningful work-out routine. Would sure love to connect up with others coping with injuries to see how they are dealing with their exercise routines.

I am currently doing one spin class per week (best exercise but I am still somewhat out of shape and will eventually add another class), and a couple of days I either do stair climber or eliptical and very mild weight-lifting due to injuries. I have exercise walking tapes and some pilates tapes I use.

The biggest problem I have is that my body "remembers" how much more I used to do so the weight lifting is not challenging enough now and the cardio (except for spin) isn't either now that I can't do as much since my injuries waylayed me and I am not as physically fit and have extra weight on me. My body is not responding to the "lighter" workouts since for years I have challenged it on much more strenous levels. Aging sucks!!!!

But I WILL not give up. Maybe if there are others out there like me, we can form a support network and exchange advice on what is working for us so we can make some progress!!

Should I move this thread to the Medical Issues forum??? Maybe I can post it in both places because I think it applies to both!!!

Oh My Mindy ((HUGS)) So sorry Bout all your injuries. They sure can be tough on oneself I am sure you can do a Bit of resistance training though you do want to be very careful and have you thought of Water Aerobics or something like that. You can go water Jogging it is a wonderful workout if you can't do the pounding. That may be a few things. Have you been to a rehabilitation specialist?? They can give you exercises you can do to strengthen your Back. At one point I did work with a Girl who had 3 Bulging disks. We did it slow and managed to strengthen the muscle around the disks which aleviated some of her pain. It is a slow Process but you do reap a lot of benefits. I am not a doctor so I can't advise you of what to do I would go and see a rehab therapist who is familiar with your injurey and can stear you in the right direction. If I was there I could Possibly help but, there are too many risk factors in Herniated disks it can be dangerous to do some things.

Hope you get better and pain free really soon sorry I couldn't be more help.

Sarah

__________________






285/184/165

Hey Sarah. How sweet of you!! I've been through lots of rehab for the pain and I actually work at a hospital and we have a state of the art gym that I belong to which is staffed by rehab specialists. I have them at my disposal!!

What I am really looking for is to communicate with others that might have similar injuries. Since you worked out a program with your friend, you know what that is like. Thank you for your support!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Can you imagine going from having been a gym rat who was very physically fit, to now doing much lighter resistance? I'm not complaining, just saying that my body still remembers the more intense workouts so the lighter workouts don't feel as challenging now!!! So it makes losing weight a bit harder now!!! Oh and I do have a pool at home, but don't use it in winter (brrrr) even though I live in Florida the water still gets cold this time of year!!!!

I have the pain under control - except when something flares up. But the injuries will not go away. You just live with it and do what you can!!!!

I'm sure there are many people in my boat exercising with injuries.

I am absoulutely sure you Are right and I have been fortunate to be basically injurey free, but I do feel for you as my Friend is held back by her injuries which is really hard for her, but, she was never a gym rat or anyhting LOL. so it's good in a sence.

Could you not increase the weight slowly, I know what it's like to want to do soemthing and you can't. Is there a belt or something you could use while you do weights I am an amature at this kind of thing it's good to know you have people who can help your through.

Sarah

__________________






285/184/165

Actually I'm back to taking spin classes (cycling with stationery bikes that have resistance) and am finally starting to get some real challenging workouts. So I am hoping that will make-up the difference from now using lighter weights.

It has become more important to not further injure the disks than it is to be slim!! But that makes it even more importantto stick to my diet!! I think for the first time I am finally getting on a meaninful work-out schedule, which is why I am hunting for others in my boat so we can compare what works and doesn't work for us!!!

By the way Sarah, you look fantastic!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I'm glad you are feeling better!!!!!!