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Exercise and meds?

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Chronic Pain
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Posted 10/18/2011 1:46 AM (GMT 0)
My current order from my doctor is "exercise as tolerated" for my back, and a bit more than tolerated by my hips, as long as I can bring the hip pain back under control within 24 hours. The second part we agreed upon because otherwise I would never exercise.

For meds, I take naproxen twice a day, and Tylenol #4 for breakthrough pain.

Right now I am having a flare up in back pain, and have been taking some of the breakthrough meds. Sitting at work is the worst for my back, and so it feels better if I come home and recline and rest. However, I usually exercise after work. Basically, I can take a breakthrough med to feel better and exercise, or I can come home and rest in the recliner and not take a breakthrough med.

I guess I'm just not sure what to do. When my back pain is flaring, my pain is not especially well controlled. If I was taking regularly scheduled meds, I wouldn't be having this internal debate, but since it is a breakthrough med, I feel like I'm just taking a pill so I can push my body harder than it wants to go. But I also feel like I really NEED the exercise.
Posted 10/18/2011 2:36 AM (GMT 0)
I face a similar decision most days. I can either spend most of the day in bed, or spend it writing. Although I now work from a recliner and have my monitors, keyboard, etc. all set up very ergonomically, the pain often requires that I take a BT med.

I could return to bed but then I wouldn't get work done. Likewise, if I want to be active after dinner, such as when we have guests over, I would typically need to take a BT med. If there is an important part of life that you would be missing without the meds, then you have a good reason for taking them. Of course, that has to be balanced against issues of tolerance so some compromise must be struck between your wanting to get what you can out of life now vs. making sure the drugs are still effective for the sake of your future life.

Also, maybe you can find some exercise that doesn't exacerbate your pain? I, for instance, use a recumbent bike. I wouldn't be able to ride a regular bike due to hip damage, and walking, stairs, etc., also get to my hip. But I'm fine with the recumbent bike. I'll either watch TV or read on the bike and generally just peddle away at the lowest resistance for the sake of cardio.
Posted 10/18/2011 3:40 AM (GMT 0)
I am having the same dilemma with exercising. I can't even walk on my treadmill without it being overwhelming. When I take my meds and they are still affecting me, I do have some relief...but it is really hard to do. I hope you find a solution, and Cogito has given some great advice.
Posted 10/18/2011 9:21 AM (GMT 0)
I started hot yoga few months back. Figured why not? Dr always suggested it... 3 weeks in and couldn't take it any more. Talked to Dr and he told me to just stop.

My meds were barley working... I even have a hard time standing or walking very much but was hoping the yoga would help...

Now I just take my meds to be able to get by each day..
Like cogito said, maybe you can find something else?
Posted 10/18/2011 3:28 PM (GMT 0)
Cogito gave very good advice, and I will be trying out an older friend's recumbent bike. I too have a treadmill, but this can cause great pain, so I do it in small doses several times a day on my better days. On the bad days, I simply do stretches that my doctor suggested. These are done everyday regardless of cardio exercise is done or not. They don't qualify as exercise, but keep my muscles moving and more limber than without them. It also does a great job at unknotting my back, neck, and shoulders after some typing or sitting/reclining for too long.

Have you tried heat or ice while reclining to help reduce your pain? Mine is endo, adhesions, ovarian remnant related, so heat tends to do it for me on my abdomen and pelvis, while ice is better for my back when I overdo it. Each person is different.

Keep in mind as someone said that if pain is keeping you from doing things that you must, please don't feel that you should not take medication. I was where you are, and I hope that your pain decreases enough that you are able to do as you please.

Gentle hugs,
Mindy
Posted 10/19/2011 12:35 AM (GMT 0)
Thanks for all the feedback everyone. Mindy, I do use both ice and heat, depending on what is bothering me on any given day. Usually ice. It helps quite a bit.

Right now I am having a hard time figuring out what doesn't aggravate my pain. I have bursitis in both my hips, which makes both biking and walking painful if I do too much. Yoga seems to actually help a bit, so I've been doing some of that, although it's not especially aerobic.

I have an appointment with my back guy/PM next week, and I start PT for my hips on November 1st. I am going to talk to my PM about better pain control for when I am not feeling great. Last time I saw him I was doing really well and may have been a bit too optimistic.
Posted 12/15/2011 5:47 PM (GMT 0)
I too have back pain (SI joint issues which causes low back pain) and would love to exercise.  i find that these days if I try, it makes the pain worse.  The other week, I just did 10 min on a bike (we only have regular sit up one) and my back was worse for the next week.  My favourite exercise is eliptical and I'm considering giving it a short go, but am also caustious as this seems to cause flare ups.

 

I soooo long to exercise, but ironically it just makes things worse.

I'm like you and also find it hard to find something that doesn't aggrevate things.  You posted late a couple months ago.  Any improvement?

Posted 12/15/2011 6:05 PM (GMT 0)

        ...just a quick note!...it would probably be in your best interest to seek out a PT, to see what type of excercise would be best for the lower back. You certianlly don't want to be doing something to make the injury worse...and most PT's will want you to strengthen the muscles in that area.

   SE

Posted 12/16/2011 12:23 AM (GMT 0)
I find swimming to be the least impact for hip and back pain, plus the sauna afterwards really helps!
Posted 12/16/2011 12:29 AM (GMT 0)
Lu, have you done any PT for your SI joints? I have been working on strengthening my hip muscles with a physical therapist, and it has helped me to be a little more active. I can now do the elliptical for 15 minutes without it causing worse pain. The key is to build up REALLY REALLY slowly. I was quite active before all this pain stuff started, so starting with only 5 minutes was difficult psychologically, but it really was the best way to not flare up my pain and to figure out what my body can handle.
Posted 12/16/2011 1:22 AM (GMT 0)
Hi,

Neurodreamz, I have to say that I love exercising, but I hate swimming.  Perhaps its cause with exercising, I can get lost in my music.  Can't exactly put on ipod in the pool.  And hate getting wet.  Plus I don't have a pool in my basement...jsut an exercise bike and eliptical

HeatherLynn and ScreamingEagle, yes, I have actually been doing PT since May.  I also do strengthening exercises and stretching exercises.  They say I can ride a bike and do eliptical carefully, but i'm scared.  To be honest though, I have to get back to it.  I was so good...doing my exercises 6x a week (took a break on Saturday nights!), but haven't done them in a few weeks. 


Heather Lynn, that's great to hear that you have been able to exercise...and just slowly build up.

Posted 12/16/2011 5:03 PM (GMT 0)
I also use a recumbent bike at home and I use a pillow with it a small
travel size pillow can help...I do what I can for the day...sometimes it's
only 2 minutes and some days it's maybe 6 minutes...but start for 2 minutes
and build up to what your goal is and, others here suggested physical therapy
maybe start with that...many well wishes...I've done PT on and off for
years and it can help and they do give you exercises you can do at home,
and if you can't do something speak up and they can recommend something else,
as I have a bad knee I can't do some exercises and I told them and they let up on those
so as long as they don't push you, that's they way to go...They also want you
to be able to do around 15 reps of things but I had to build up to that, so tell them if you can
only do so much, it's better than not doing anything...many well wishes to you...
Posted 12/17/2011 12:09 AM (GMT 0)
I am with Neurodreamz..swimming works best for me. I can stretch in the pool, then I do a few exercises that my pt gave me and 3x a week I do laps to get my cardio up. I can not walk a block on ground but in the pool I can walk at least 10.
Hope you find something that works for you, I think you have recieved alot of great suggestions.

Take care, Amy
Posted 12/21/2011 5:54 AM (GMT 0)
Swimming works best for me. I can do as much or little raising the arms as I can tolerate, or simply walk back and forth in the shallow end on bad days. It also is relaxing to me in a way I never would have imagined.

I hope you find something that helps you find your balance!
Mindy
Posted 12/21/2011 1:10 PM (GMT 0)
daytonir, welcome.  This is a great site isn't it?  Good for getting advice and not feelign so alone in your issues.

Glad some of you find swimming is a good option.  As mentioned, I hate swimming, but the other issue is that until my kids are grown up, it's just not an option.  I work full time and could only go out after 8pm on the few days that my husband is home. 

Tried doing just 18 minutes on the eliptical on Monday.  Went on at the time..took it quite slow, but paid for it yesterday.  So frustrating and unfair as I really want to exercise, especially something like the eliptical.

PS - I'm very slim but am starting to get belly fat in my old age and would really love to help fight it!

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