Should Every Ruptured Disc Sufferer Do Back Pain Exercises
Saturday, March 6th, 2010Yes, in theory. No, in reality. A social worker said, ‘After surgery I was given instructions on back pain exercises and scheduled for a few more appointments for instruction after that. Then I was on my own, but I was never able to be free from strain when I exercised. Even though the back pain exercises were taught to me, their risks, benefits and alternatives were never explained. I was simply told that there should not be as much pain as there was.’
A psychologist noted, ‘I find that back exercises increase my pain each time I have tried them over the past twenty-five years.’
On the positive side, about 60 per cent of a recent US survey participants with ruptured discs did specific back pain exercises regularly and successfully. The following comments illustrate their range of positive feelings.
An author: ‘I do my back exercises faithfully twice a day and believe that they help slowly and undramatically.’
A college teacher: ‘Sit up! Sit up! Sit-ups help the most for recovery, although it took me a year after I started to exercise for my back to become reasonably normal. Most people don’t realize how sophisticated the back structure is and that strengthening the abdominal muscles is essential.’ This professor noted that a year and a half after surgery, he could barely walk. No back pain exercises had been recommended by the operating neurosurgeon.
Exercises he learned from a physiotherapist gradually brought him back to normal functioning.
A periodontist: ‘Daily calisthenics - progressively increasing the workout - is the best way to prevent a recurrence of ruptured disc pain. The most important thing is to strengthen the abdominal musculature so that it can help support the upper body. Also, do flexibility exercises to stretch large muscle groups such as the glutei [in the buttocks] and hamstrings. Sit-ups are best for abdominal muscles.
Back pain sufferers only delude themselves if they remain ignorant of the value of exercise and if they do not become aware of what they - and not someone else - can do to relieve their problems.’ This survey participant learned the general principles of exercise, as well as specific back pain exercise routines, from a physiatrist and physiotherapist. He then went on to shape his own daily routine.
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