Question:
Bad Back

I am wondering what type of excerise I can do with rods in back hip that feels off from side to side and legs and feet that have neropathy(sp) I try walking to mail box at least twice a day but i don't feel I am getting enough.    — Nancegee2 (posted on June 22, 2009)

June 22, 2009
I was wondering if you have a bicycle. It has helped me because I have arthritis and back degeneration. Start out slow. Or even walk a little more each day and build up from there
   — tinabeana

June 22, 2009
I had bad knees and degenerative disk disease in my neck particulary is a problem for me...I walked with a cane because of the amount of pain I had carrying with 315 lbs...As I began to lose weight, the pain got less and less intense and eventually disappeared completely...For me, I could only get in good work outs at the pool...Eventually anyway.. It was hard at first because even the water resistance caused my knees and ankles horrible pain and aching in the water...But it was far easier than walking and putting all my weight on my knees and ankles...If you could find a pool and work out there...what a wonderful way to exercise! I still use the pool or the local lakes and rivers to get in swimming exercise...Swimming uses every muscle in your body and tones with mild resistance and cardio and without a sweaty/hot work out! You still sweat but the water keeps you cool! It's probably very theraputic for your type of problems! You could even just hang on the sides and flutter kick your legs to start...It's so refreshing! Good luck!
   — .Anita R.

June 22, 2009
I would suggest swimming. Maybe at the YWCA
   — lesleigh07

June 23, 2009
I'm with the others....I have severe arthritis in my lumbar spine, along with spinal stenosis and spondylolisthesis, which made it almost impossible for me to walk or do exercise of any kind. Back in mid-April, I was in tears, constantly, just trying to move. The only kind of exercise I could do at all was riding my stationary bike, and even then, not long. Lucky for me, I found a doctor who developed a plan to handle the pain for me, which included epidural pain shots and physical therapy, and we're going to wait until I've lost more weight (about 6 months) to see if the weight loss significantly affects my pain level. If not, we'll talk about a minimally invasive surgery called the X-Stop. I realize this doesn't actually address YOUR question... except that what I'm trying to say is that the stationary bike seems to be the exercise of choice for those of us with back problems. And I don't think it would be dangerous for your neuropathy, either.
   — Erica Alikchihoo

June 23, 2009
Swimming is the best! It will help get all of you toned. Do you have a noodle? That works well for balance in the water and helps your stability. We attend a water aerobics class and that really helps. There are people well over 300 lbs. in it. All seem to enjoy it. I think working with an exercise ball is good too. I have a big ball that I use for stability and also a weighted ball that you can use. Put it between your ankles, knees, whatever and go up and down in a sitting position. Or stand and do a diagonal squat if you can. If not, sit on your ball and lift weights. I worked with a personal trainer and for the money, it is also a really good option. They can help you pinpoint and work safely towards exercising on your own. Carol in Iowa
   — CarolH1953

June 23, 2009
I have degenerative joint disease, mainly my back and hips that are affected. I started with the pool, until I lost about 50 lbs. Then my back and hips didn't seem to bother me nearly as bad as they did. So my doctor recommended to get a recumbent exercise bike. They are the bikes that have the pedels in front of you, instead of below you, and they have a big seat with a back on it. The back really helps for back support. I started doing a mile a day, now I'm up to 8 miles a day. I do 4 miles in the morning and 4 miles at night. You gotta start slow, and slowly work up to a full work out. I think if you would start in the pool until you lost some weight, that would take alot of the pain away and then you could progress to the bike and eventually start walking too.
   — wennybuck

June 23, 2009
I am going to say water aerobics and things of that nature.
   — Papoose79