I highly reccommend to people here to try and walk and swim everyday.

I know, I know...it seems impossible with the amt of back pain that we all have. And I'm sure that If I did not have the help of my long lasting pain meds, this would not be an option for me. But, with the moderate relief that I do get, I now have FINALLY gotten my arse up to do some walking & swimming....and I'm not talking about the suff at your PT place either. I have pretty much given up on my PT...its juts a money machine where I go....their quality has sunk badly since my last injury 7 yrs ago.

I swam for a week...every day.....and when I went to get my weekly massage...this was the 1st time in 7 yrs that my massage therapist said to me..."wow, you feel loose today." That was fantastic to hear....so I'm hitting the water for now on. Just passing it on. I guess it helps me more than playing on my computer all day....I guess I always knew that, but now Its in my face, so I KNOW IT.

Hoping for the best for all of us.

Hi Babs,

Funny how sometimes we coincedently find things that help our pain. I love being in the water and know it is good for me as well. I just can't get to a pool anywhere close by, or often enough.

I'm glad for you that after 7 years you found something that has a positive effect for you. I believe that Yvette also, has found aqua therapy to be very beneficial.

Take care and may you have some painfree/painless days and nights. Happy Mothers day.

Babs, have to second you about swimming! I am fortunate to have an indoor olympic size pool facility just about 1/2 a mile from work and try to go 3x a week. Hasn't been so easy trying to work 2 jobs :( but I go as often as I can. And it's only $35 a month which is great since I'm not interested it joining a health club with weights and all that (not like I could lift weights anyway, not unless they were gonna give me a free morphine implant pump :)).
I'm still trying out pain meds that will give me some relief without knocking me out with all the side effects. What do you take that's long lasting? I haven't found anything yet that lasts longer than about 4 hours.
See ya in the pool! :wave:

I wish I had access to a pool. That sounds so great! Babs, I'm so glad to hear that you're having some relief from your pain. Too bad the PT turned out like this. Some of them are purely assembly lines and they don't take the time (or have the knowledge?) to figure out exactly what YOU need. I hit the jackpot with my therapist. She's actually done a PT fellowship and had additional training in orthopedics. She and her husband, also a PT, are breaking ground with a new model for physical therapy. They have their own independent facility, not connected with any hospital or home care company. They have all the control over how long they can spend with their patients and what they can do with them. They're so compassionate and knowledgable. I wish all of you could go to Myra!

Chad, I can use 2 pound weights now, as long as I'm lying down. I do "tree hugs" to help get my arm muscles going. My kids say, "wow, that's great, Mom! You're really pumping feathers there!" Ah yes, teenagers. They're so encouraging! :D

~Emily :wave:

Emily come on over and use my spa!! I have found even just the spa to be so helpful for me. It loosens those muscles. I will let the jets hit my foot since I have alot of nerve pain. I will move my legs around alot. It is the best!! Yesterday I was in it 4 times for 1/2 to 30 increments. Then it began raining and storming. ;)

I hear you Babs. I try to walk everyday, even the days I am feeling sore and in pain I go out for a walk. I am suprised that when I get back I am glad I went. This morning I am so stiff, but I am going out for a walk in 10 min or so ( see putting it off a little more, ha ha ). I have a pool in the backyard, going to open it in the next 10 days. So I will be in there trying to make my back stronger. Been reading about what to do in the pool, physical therapist says for me not to try swimming yet, just walking in it and floating :rolleyes: . Guess back is not ready for that yet. Anyway, looking forward to it, something new to do. I am glad you found something that is working well for you! I hope it continues. Take care.

Rose :)

Do not forget you can tread water, jog in the water, or cross-country ski as well for additional exercises in the deep end. All low impact, and can be done at an individual's level of ability.

You can take plastic jugs of various sizes and use them to simulate lifting weights. Remember the buoyancy will cause the action to be reversed from free weights on land. Also, you can add some water to change buoyancy characteristics in the water; just be careful if you do not remove water from jugs before removing them from the pool - they will be heavier now.

I still like walking in shallow end in water slightly deeper that waist deep; it decreases worry about falling.

I am actually looking forward to starting a water progrom tomorrow, I am looking forward to it. I believe it would help with the pain and to help loosen up the muscle too.

I agree that moving in the water is so helpful! I have a large wooden hot tub that I use for walking back and forth and side to side. I also do leg lifts, toe raises and arm exercises. A lot of these I cannot do on land (I also have knee problems), so doing them in the water is a blessing. Also putting the jets on my back helps, as well as just floating. Take care, Kera4

I agree 100% swimming is the best sort of exercise for the body , unfortunatly I can't swim without extream pain. I almost drowned in the river last year cause of my pain. If you can swim that is the best for you.

Hi KK. Don't over do it in the water. Take is slow at first and let you body adjust slowly. I was in a theraputic pool a few years ago and I wanted it to help so bad that I over did myself. I created more pain that never went away.

Yeah don't be like me and over do it.

That is true everybody...like with everything else in life....Moderation.

Take it real slow in the beginning....I am a big overacheiver, and it was hard not to swim more those 1st days in the pool. So, what I did, I found myself a really good book to sink my teeth into, so I WANTED to come out of the pool to read. Mind you, I also just began reading again as well. they both kind of went hand in hand. More relaxed muscles=feeling better=more reading=liking to swim without the pain afterwards.
I know there's no "+" in there, but then again, I never was any good at Math. LOL.

Take it slow.....you'll do great!

Like Pepper , I would love to do the spa cause I can't do anything else. A cold beer and a hot spa. .Oh does that sound awsome .:D

Shawley, you are so bad....:)

Water is the best excercise and it is soo mild on your joints... just take it easy in the beginning. I was OK when i walked for 10 min, when they increased to 30 min next day - i was in a lot of pain!

Wish to have a pool in my back yard

Shawley, I do not swim in my pool but I do walk. I go no further then my waist. Suprisingly it does not hurt to bad. Give it a try!!