Question:
Advice re exercise post spinal op please.
63 yrs old, danced ballet from age 5 until teenage when advised I would develop 'too big' to go professional. Was very flexible, back bends, splits etc. Took up running (5 milers) in late 20's after regular aerobic exercise classes which dropped in favour of yoga. Eventually in 40's unremitting back pain showed scoliosis on x-ray. Dropped yoga as became very stiff and reduced running to short daily jogs, eventually stopping that too.
Surgery with cage and screws to L4/L5 three years ago, now waiting for similar to thoracolumbar vertebrae. Developed clunking right hip with nervy pain. Have given up all forms of aerobic exercise, feeling very unfit, have high cholesterol, some weight gain, frustration and depression.
Given up work, sitting for more than 10 minutes triggers nerve pain.
Tempted to join local gym for treadmill, cross trainer, bike but worried about implications for back and hip.
HELP!!!!
Asked by Bionic Back - 1 answer - 17 weeks 4 days ago
Let me start by saying, even at your age you can heal and strengthen even at your age. The most important thing for good healing is a very healthy diet. An absence of bad foods is only the first step. The proper balance of good healthy nutrient dense food is the next step and then lifestyle balance is the last step on the ladder to good healing. 1- Cut out all refined foods; Sugar, flower of any kind, chocolate, coffee, sodas especially diet drinks, all artificial sweeteners, alcohol, tobacco, ice cream, and processed meats.
Submitted 17 weeks 18 hours ago by healthdoc552- Eat more veggies. You need to eat 60% of your diet vegetables, 20% fruit, 10% starch, 10% protein. Just think three times more vegetables than starch and protein combined. Get a diet scale and weigh out your food for three days and you will get a visual as to how much veggies that is. Salad should be your main dish. The American diet has been just the opposite for years and look where it has got us. It is only hard at first. I know I have taken away all the, "good stuff", but let me tell you, I have never tasted anything that tastes better than feeling good feels! 3- 99% of all patients that I have seen are moderately or very chronically functionally dehydrated. Start drinking 8oz of water every waking hour of the day minimum. Get in bed by 10 to10:30pm. Don't eat 3-4 hrs before bed. 4- Get an exercise ball 24" diameter lay face down over it and relax/ stretch 3-5 min. Start on exercise bike and build up your intensity & duration as it feels good. The longer you eat well, you will be able to exercise more and not exacerbate your problems. Keep in touch. Healthdoc55