Car Accident Injuries = No Workouts?

[cast iron shore]

Several weeks ago I was rear-ended, resulting in neck, back pain. Chiropractor tells me I shouldn't go to the gym AT ALL for several months and even then only when he says to. Primary Care Doctor prescribes pain and anti inflammatory meds and doesn't talk about exercise. Massage therapist says I can go but only work on body parts that don't strain the back or neck.

I did try to work out, but everything I did, including leg exercises, put strain on my back or neck and I felt it immediately. Also, when I tried to isolate some other muscles, like biceps, I felt demoralized because I had lost so much of my gains, like definition, muscle weight, I'm growing doughy, and generally feeling frustrated. I want that good feeling of working out back.

Anyone with a similar experience have any advice? Thanks.

[blopid]

I feel for you... I had to take off two months from training and I hated it... It was really hard to lay off the workout. However, during that time, I stayed with clean & proper eating so that I wouldn't gain body fat... If you can do some cardio, that might help keep you from getting lethargic... When I started again, it was a total focus of "O.K. Let's do this..." I was surprised how quick I recovered muscle after such a long lay off... Take it easy and get better, you'll get back into it & be better than before. Sometimes the body needs a long rest...

Peace...

[ntrllftr]

Sorry to hear it man.

All I can say is take about 6 solid weeks off and heal.
I know it is hard to do and I know exactly how it makes you paranoid
about losing muscle and or strength. At the beginning of this year I had a little operation. I was out of commission for 6 weeks. Sure the first three weeks were rough getting back into the groove and getting my strength back.

But you know what I did and I am glad that I took the time to heal fully,
Or else I would have been out for longer.

Wish you a speedy recovery!!!

.

[Baldiewonkanobi]

Join your local Y and start swimming. Nice and easy at first and then get it on and start serious lap swimming. In 3 months you will be not only healed but as fit as a dolphin. It will take very little time to convert swimmers muscles back into lifters muscles.

[Whiskeyjack]

Originally Posted by Baldiewonkanobi

Join your local Y and start swimming. Nice and easy at first and then get it on and start serious lap swimming. In 3 months you will be not only healed but as fit as a dolphin. It will take very little time to convert swimmers muscles back into lifters muscles.

"You must spread some Reputation around before giving it to Baldiewankenobi again."

[Dr.Oxygen]

It does suck big time. I had shoulder surgery and it was 4 months before I could get back in the gym. Even then I had to lift the little pink weights

I did what the doctors told me and now I'm back 100%. It sucks but do what your told and get everything healed first. Once you're back at the gym it does come back pretty quick.

As one of the post above just eat clean while your recuperating.

Best of Luck.

[The_Warhammer]

Swimming is great exercise. Full body, water supports body weight. Lot's of reasons to do it. With your accident, don't push it. The body needs time to heal despite what your heart and mind want. They body needs recoup time.

[cast iron shore]

Originally Posted by blopid

I feel for you... I had to take off two months from training and I hated it... It was really hard to lay off the workout. However, during that time, I stayed with clean & proper eating so that I wouldn't gain body fat... If you can do some cardio, that might help keep you from getting lethargic.

What makes it worse is that I was already slacking off from my workouts at the time of the accident. Now it's going to take that much longer to get back in. You're right about the cardio. It felt great yesterday to push myself and be tired at the end. I'm feeling it today, but I guess it's about experimentation and balance. Thanks for the advice about eating. I found I've been eating less amount-wise because I'm not as hungry as I was when working out and less clean.

Originally Posted by ntrllftr

ll I can say is take about 6 solid weeks off and heal.I know it is hard to do and I know exactly how it makes you paranoid
about losing muscle and or strength. At the beginning of this year I had a little operation. I was out of commission for 6 weeks. Sure the first three weeks were rough getting back into the groove and getting my strength back.

Thanks for the encouragement. You always have pearls of wisdom. Though I thought you started working out lightly a couple weeks after your surgery, no? Or maybe you just looked like you did because you were in such good shape to begin with.

Originally Posted by Baldiewonkanobi

Join your local Y and start swimming. Nice and easy at first and then get it on and start serious lap swimming. In 3 months you will be not only healed but as fit as a dolphin. It will take very little time to convert swimmers muscles back into lifters muscles.

I actually belong to a gym with an indoor swimming pool, and I would LOVE to swim. Except I don't know how and they don't have any classes. I can paddle, but it's one of those serious business pools where everyone is doing laps with faces of determination and deep concentration. They would probably ask me to leave when they saw me splashing around with my rubber duckie and lifejacket.

Originally Posted by Dr.Oxygen

It does suck big time. I had shoulder surgery and it was 4 months before I could get back in the gym. Even then I had to lift the little pink weights

Arrrgh! I refuse to lift the pink weights. Don't they immediately suck the testosterone out of you the minute you touch them?

Originally Posted by The_Warhammer

Swimming is great exercise. Full body, water supports body weight. Lot's of reasons to do it. With your accident, don't push it. The body needs time to heal despite what your heart and mind want. They body needs recoup time.

Anyone willing to give swimming lessons? As long as I don't have to put my face in the water I'm cool with it.

[ntrllftr]

Originally Posted by cast iron shore

Thanks for the encouragement. You always have pearls of wisdom. Though I thought you started working out lightly a couple weeks after your surgery, no? Or maybe you just looked like you did because you were in such good shape to begin with.

Yes, you are correct. I did try to lift light a couple weeks after.
Big mistake on my part. It took me out of the gym for a longer
time than if I would have waited. Thats why I am stressing it to you.

[cast iron shore]

Originally Posted by ntrllftr

Yes, you are correct. I did try to lift light a couple weeks after.
Big mistake on my part. It took me out of the gym for a longer
time than if I would have waited. Thats why I am stressing it to you.

Ah, thanks for letting me learn from your mistake. Now if I could only learn from my own....

[Pretty Hardcore]

Originally Posted by cast iron shore

I actually belong to a gym with an indoor swimming pool, and I would LOVE to swim. Except I don't know how and they don't have any classes. I can paddle, but it's one of those serious business pools where everyone is doing laps with faces of determination and deep concentration. They would probably ask me to leave when they saw me splashing around with my rubber duckie and lifejacket.

Anyone willing to give swimming lessons? As long as I don't have to put my face in the water I'm cool with it.

LOL. Do they allow kick boards in your pool? It's fun and great cardio.

[Tyrbolift]

I hope insurance and other legal matters are not an issue, because if they still are, I wouldn't go near a gym or any exercise, just to hedge your bets. You would be following the expert advice, after all.

[dug70]

I did something to my back about a year ago while squatting and it took several weeks to recover. I made the mistake of lifting things at work and trying to go to the gym only to leave early because of it. Listen to whats being said, don't go right back to it. Try the cardio stuff and just when you think you are safe to lift, wait another week. I know how much it sucks to miss a workout but you dont want to re-injure yourself and be out another 6.

[Tyrbolift]

Originally Posted by dug70

I did something to my back about a year ago while squatting and it took several weeks to recover. I made the mistake of lifting things at work and trying to go to the gym only to leave early because of it. Listen to whats being said, don't go right back to it. Try the cardio stuff and just when you think you are safe to lift, wait another week. I know how much it sucks to miss a workout but you dont want to re-injure yourself and be out another 6.

Well, that's good advice, but I was also thinking of making the "appearance" of being truly injured not debateable legally by proof of gym activity.

[magoo_lc1]

Good luck with your training. I feel for you. I was in a bad accident myself back in 06 and was told i might not ever walk again. Im walking after alot of work and i put on 70 lbs on my 6 foot 2 frame. I now weigh 340 and i was just released not long ago to exercise. Its going to be a long road for me to come back.

[GuyJin]

I fully understand how you must feel. I got shot down at the age of 33 with a heart problem that almost killed me and couldn't lift for about a year. Went form 205 to 159 in about six months--lost everything. After I started lifting again, it took me about a year to get it all back.

FWIW, I'd take the time off and just HEAL. I don't think wading in a pool will hurt, but starting back right away with the weights--even the cute l'il pinkies--might be a bit much. You can get it back...and then some. Give yourself time.

[nuck]

Soft tissue injuries should not disable you for months. Unless your x rays showed a bony injury to your spine or you have a ruptured disc it should not lay you up long term. There is nothng mystical about a whiplash. It is just another type of strain. Rest completely for a couple of weeks and then go back light and work around it. Broken bones and ruptured tendons take several months. ntrllftr had surgury so he was sliced open. These things require mostly rest and you can't do much else but strains and sprains only need a few days rest before you try at least light activity. People who wear cervical collars for too long suffer muscle atrophy and actually to take longer to recover.

Stay active. Ice, anti inflammatories and gentle range of movement exercises. You need a bit of total rest during the acute phase but that should be well past now. Don't give up on training. Just avoid stuff that directly works the injured muscles for a little while. Do not take rehab advice from a chiro. Using his logic you would be on crutches for 6 months from a sprained ankle. If you are serious about training find a sports specialist therapist. Football and hockey players suffer similar trauma to car accident victims but usually only miss games when they blow a joint or break a bone.

This is my impression based on the limited info you have provided. My own Dr told me not to work out at all following my car accident. Just like he said stop doing squats when my knees hurt. I found help both times with a sports injury therapist. Don't take my word for it though. Find out where your local college ball teams get treated and make an appointment. And then post back what they tell you. Good luck with it whatever you decide!

[joed]

Your body needs time to heal, and it can't be rushed. Hear?

[cast iron shore]

Originally Posted by Fit_Focus

LOL. Do they allow kick boards in your pool? It's fun and great cardio.

I'll have to find out. I've never seen anyone with one, but that's a good idea.

Originally Posted by Tyrbolift

I hope insurance and other legal matters are not an issue, because if they still are, I wouldn't go near a gym or any exercise, just to hedge your bets. You would be following the expert advice, after all.

I had been wondering about that: thank you for bringing it up. Insurance stuff is still being worked out, I haven't been reimbursed for anything yet--not my large out of pocket medical costs, the deductibles, etc. But I've been hoping it will be all taken care of at subrogation. If they wanted to get picky, I could make the point that going to the gym doesn't mean I was back into my routine or wasn't still in pain (which is the truth).

Originally Posted by dug70

I did something to my back about a year ago while squatting and it took several weeks to recover. I made the mistake of lifting things at work and trying to go to the gym only to leave early because of it. Listen to whats being said, don't go right back to it. Try the cardio stuff and just when you think you are safe to lift, wait another week. I know how much it sucks to miss a workout but you dont want to re-injure yourself and be out another 6.

Sorry about your back injury. I'm doing some gentle stretching and avoiding as much lifting as I can.

Originally Posted by magoo_lc1

Good luck with your training. I feel for you. I was in a bad accident myself back in 06 and was told i might not ever walk again. Im walking after alot of work and i put on 70 lbs on my 6 foot 2 frame. I now weigh 340 and i was just released not long ago to exercise. Its going to be a long road for me to come back.

Originally Posted by GuyJin

I fully understand how you must feel. I got shot down at the age of 33 with a heart problem that almost killed me and couldn't lift for about a year. Went form 205 to 159 in about six months--lost everything. After I started lifting again, it took me about a year to get it all back.

Ack. That's one thing that's getting to me, the weight loss. I'm not a big guy to begin with so it feels more dramatic to lose at my starting weight.

Originally Posted by nuck

Soft tissue injuries should not disable you for months. ...

Stay active. Ice, anti inflammatories and gentle range of movement exercises. You need a bit of total rest during the acute phase but that should be well past now. Don't give up on training. Just avoid stuff that directly works the injured muscles for a little while. Do not take rehab advice from a chiro. Using his logic you would be on crutches for 6 months from a sprained ankle. If you are serious about training find a sports specialist therapist. Football and hockey players suffer similar trauma to car accident victims but usually only miss games when they blow a joint or break a bone.

Excellent advice. I LOL'd at your chiro reference. Yeah, he made it clear that he wanted to be the one steering the ship, so much so that he said I shouldn't see any other health care providers other than him. Hmm.

Originally Posted by joed

Your body needs time to heal, and it can't be rushed. Hear?

Yes. Thank you and everyone for your caring and thoughtful responses. You guys are the best.