I spent twenty minutes on the treadmill last evening, no incline, 2.5 miles per hour (might have been a bit too fast). I felt great after. Iced my back right away just because and here I am at midnight, up with pain and icing my back. My foot and leg hurt too.

Question: do I hold off or keep at it? Do I go right back at it tomorrow, maybe just slower? Thanks for responses. Becky

Why don't you see how you feel in the morning. If your back to your usual symptoms/pain then try it again maybe slower or for less time. If you don't feel good in the morning you could skip a day and then do it the next day. If your recovering from surgery, I'd ask your doctor what to do.

Can you get to a store with shopping carts and just walk around?

Have you been doing the treadmill all along or is this the first time in awhile?

I bet it's the muscles screaming at you. Try the heat; see if it relaxes them a bit.

I would walk half the distance and half the pace or give yourself a break for a day and then go back at it.

I think it's muscle. I hadn't been on the treadmill since before the surgery - and before the injury, so it has been some time. I used the treadmill last week once for 8 minutes and once for 10 but at about 1.5 speed.

So, it was probably muscle. I'm better this morning and plan to go at it again today but slower.

I do walk the stores only problem there is I spend $$, so the treadmill is better for me. Besides, I'd really like to lose 15 to 20 pounds before I go back to work. I actually feel better when I'm up and walking, so the treadmill AND the stores ..... LOL Becky

Go ahead and go on the treadmill but cut the speed way down. I usually walk at 1.2 at the most when I am in pain. Do that for about 12 minutes. That way it's enough time to warm up the muscles and it will not make the problem worse. It still might hurt worse the next day or not be better. When I exercise it takes until the 3rd day for the soreness to go if I get soreness. Keep up with the ice.

I have been using my treadmill off and on for the last 5 years, depending on the severity of my pain. When I first start, I begin at l.4 and go no faster than 1.7 for the first week. Then I slowly increase every 3 days. When I hit a point that I have big time pain, not muscle soreness, but increased pain, I back off for a day or two. When I get back on I don't get the speed as fast as the point which caused me pain. For me, that point is 2.1 and then only for a couple of minutes. More than that, and I am in pain for a couple of days and not able to use the treadmill at all.
I would take a day off, and then if the pain has subsided, start with a short, slow walk of no more than 10 minutes, gradually increasing according to your tolerance.
Good luck with it.

Carol

I skipped the treadmill today and walked in a mall for a short time. This evening, I had such pain in my foot and leg that I know tomorrow I will be down for the day. I guess I just have to find that point where I know I need to stop and not push myself. It's so frustrating! I feel great one minute and horrible the next. Can't figure it out, but I have to because I don't want to reinjure myself or slow the healing. I keep telling myself "slow your role" "slow your role", maybe I'm not listening well enough!

What about pool therapy? Just relaxation type stuff? I live in an apartment building with both the exercise room and indoor pool - makes it very convenient. Thanks for your replies. Becky