I had a L5 spinal fusion about 3 years ago, I did rehab and when the Dr. said I could get back to normal life, I re-broke my back only a few months later and was undergoing a 2nd L5 fusion only 6 months after the first. This TERRIFIED me, and other than very basic movement and walking, I was too afraid to move at all. I’ve finally gotten past my phobia and I suppose what would be called depression and am now trying to lose all the weight that packed on from what became a solid year of lying in bed with a back brace as well as strengthen my back and core. I mean it hurts to sit up straight for extended time, stand up for any time, do ANYTHING for more than a few minutes and I start to crumble in pain. Can someone please tell me if it’s too late to try and strengthen my back and core? I stay in very constant moderate to severe pain. I don’t want to have a 3rd surgery. I’m only 26. What are the best things I can do? I was an athlete (football through h.s. and then mma as a hobby) so the workouts I’m use to, kill me. I feel like I’m 60 years old. I’m sorry for the length of this question/life story, but it’s consumed my entire mid twenties life. I even get winded and hurt from yoga… I know "no pain, no gain" but I have that constant fear of, " is this a workout pain, or am I in danger of breaking my back again?" Any and every bit of advice is appreciated. I want my life back. I’d like to eventually not have to depend on my Dr.’s medications. I used to be so active, but I’ve been as close to a shut in for 3+ years as one can be. Advice, links, charts, workout routines, anything, please help me. Thank you to any one who took the time to read this entire thing. Your efforts will not be ignored. Thank you. Yours truly – Joshua P.S. I’ve recently joined my local YMCA to try and work out, if nothing else but use their pool. So I have access to most anything in the exercise world. I would like to hear any thoughts on these "Teeter Hangup" type devices. I just looks like it would be SO soothing to reverse all the pressure that stays on my spine. I’m 26 years old, male, 5’10 and from the time of the surgeries I have blown up from 230 lbs to 320 lbs…. diet tips are also VERY welcome… Thank you all so much!

Im 15 years old, eats healthy, lots of milk, athlete.

I’m 15 years old and have:
1. Terrible mobility
2. Pain/Numbness in buttocks
3. Pain in right calf and Numbness in left calf.
4. Lower back pains
5. Numerous amounts and sizes of muscle knots in my lower back
6. Sometimes hurts my lower back to laugh and sneeze.

Keep in mind that I’m very hydtrated and a year round athlete.

What exercises would you recommend to get me started. Old injuries to neck and back have progressed to the point where the pain is constant i.e. sleep sitting up and with heat and massage 16-20 hrs per day to maintain functionality. even still, need help sometimes getting up and about. Im gunshy about exercise because one wrong step can aggravate injury even more.

Have always been an athlete, basketball player mainly, a gym rat. But the injuries combined with sitting alot have my midsection spreading and feeling weak. Tried to run / walk on track on sunday and shoot a little hoops. Each step seemed to press the lower back discs together more with pain. Also old knee injury from ball makes running painful. 3 days later i can hardly walk.

I know extra weight is making pain and quality of life worse. About 75 extra pounds now. I need exercise thats low impact, wont hurt back, knee or neck, will strengthen back muscles and really! work on reducing mid-section spread?
hmmmm… I cant swim now, only float on back.

What exercises would you recommend to get me started. Old injuries to neck and back have progressed to the point where the pain is constant i.e. sleep sitting up and with heat and massage 16-20 hrs per day to maintain functionality. even still, need help sometimes getting up and about. Im gunshy about exercise because one wrong step can aggravate injury even more.

Have always been an athlete, basketball player mainly, a gym rat. But the injuries combined with sitting alot have my midsection spreading and feeling weak. Tried to run / walk on track on sunday and shoot a little hoops. Each step seemed to press the lower back discs together more with pain. Also old knee injury from ball makes running painful. 3 days later i can hardly walk.

I know extra weight is making pain and quality of life worse. About 75 extra pounds now. I need exercise thats low impact, wont hurt back, knee or neck, will strengthen back muscles and really! work on reducing mid-section spread?

I am a young athlete, and when in the weight room about a month ago, i hurt my back doing a little extra weight on squats.I used to be able to touch my head to my knees, but now i can hardly bend over. The school trainer thought at first it was a muscle pull or strain, but it hasn’t gotten better. I haven’t went to the doctor for the fear of it being a serious injury and not being able to play football my senior year.Could it be something wrong with a disc? Any help would be appreciated!!

the pinched nerve affects my left leg which makes it irritating to walk,which is awful since im an athlete. My back has been this way for a good 7 months just wont go away…any suggestions?

Hi,

Since 1997, I have been experiencing significant pain in my SI Joint. The pain was originally in the SI Joint, however it eventually affected other areas of my body because of overcompensation. I have seen many different types of doctors and had many different opinion but to no avail. I have also had many types of tests taken but no finding. The pain and spasm in my SI joint can be debilitating at times; sometimes I speculate it is a bulging disk, however the MRI I took over six years only showed a small bulge which is normal for a former athlete, and I was told it was not what was causing my symptoms. M symptoms include SI joint pain, tightness and occassional pain in one or both gluteals, and when this happens, I can have tightness in my quads and calves, but no sciatic type of pain. My question is it possible to have a bulging disc in your SI region but not have the radiating pain associating with a bulging disc/sciatica? Thanks.

I had a disc removed in 2005 and just recently had another disc problem that I am completing physical therapy for. I am a dance teacher and dance 3 times a week and was an athlete in college. I am no longer able to do all of the exercises I am used to. I am not sure what kinds of workouts are out there for individuals recovering from injuries.