Person with messed up lower dis sin back

[kickflip012]

My dad has had back trouble for years. Lower disc problems. 60 years old and Never been much of an active person besides roofing houses a couple times a summer. I've told him several times to try stretching and slowly work up to exercising at the YMCA, however he says his doctor tells him his back is to the point where nothing will fix it. I'm thinking maybe it'll at least offer some relief. Can someone give me some info on personal experience dealing with people with back problems? Whether or not exercise is the key? Any info is appreciated.

I should also add he was in a wreck in the 80's and broke his neck and has had back trouble ever since.

[kickflip012]

Anyone have any possible information?

[Rickck48]

My dad has had back trouble for years. Lower disc problems. 60 years old and Never been much of an active person besides roofing houses a couple times a summer. I've told him several times to try stretching and slowly work up to exercising at the YMCA, however he says his doctor tells him his back is to the point where nothing will fix it. I'm thinking maybe it'll at least offer some relief. Can someone give me some info on personal experience dealing with people with back problems? Whether or not exercise is the key? Any info is appreciated.

I should also add he was in a wreck in the 80's and broke his neck and has had back trouble ever since.

I have the very same situation. Mine got hurt from jumping when I was in service and only showed up real bad about 9 years ago. The VA has told me no surgery or anything they can do will help me. I took it on myself to never say quit. I would love to talk to your dad. I have found working all my body parts with reps and light weights at first made me start feeling better. OH yea, they have me on all kinds of pain killers, morphine, Gabapentin and such. I am working to get off this junk. Good mornings without weights and stretching right now is all i do for my low back. Mine is the L4 and L5. It is a very slow pace but I see BF % dropping and muscle increase and it makes me feel better a lot of times. Nothing is perfect but I sure wish him and you the best. Just keep hammer down!

[user_tx]

My dad has had back trouble for years. Lower disc problems. 60 years old and Never been much of an active person besides roofing houses a couple times a summer. I've told him several times to try stretching and slowly work up to exercising at the YMCA, however he says his doctor tells him his back is to the point where nothing will fix it. I'm thinking maybe it'll at least offer some relief. Can someone give me some info on personal experience dealing with people with back problems? Whether or not exercise is the key? Any info is appreciated.

I should also add he was in a wreck in the 80's and broke his neck and has had back trouble ever since.

I’ve had two spine surgeries (L4-L5) and dealt with the daily physical and psychological issues an injury like this causes for 10+ years. My advice would be firstly to get a second opinion, preferably from a specialist and not a GP. I have seen countless neurologists, neurosurgeons, physiatrists, and physical therapists. Some helped, some were a waste of time. In my case, my condition had eventually deteriorated to the point that I was unable to walk, stand, or even sit up for more than a minute or so at a time. I exhausted every other option I had before I finally agreed to a second, more invasive surgery (roughly 8 years after the first). While it has completely changed my life for the better, the success rate of repeated spinal surgeries is pretty grim. So for me, surgery should always be a last resort.

The other thing I would really stress is daily stretching. Muscles work in antagonistic pairs, and when something gets thrown out of whack it will cause changes in tension in adjoining parts of the musculoskeletal system. In my case my body compensated to my deteriorating condition by shifting my hip 3-4 inches out laterally. Not fun and over time it only compounds the issues. I used to only stretch when things were bothering me, which may have helped a little immediately. But, since I didn’t do it regularly my flexibility went down the tubes and nerve pain became increasingly worse. Today I find daily hamstring and calf stretches are crucial to help keep my pain levels down. In addition to that there are specific core exercises that are generally advised for patients with lower back problems. A physical therapist might be a good starting point to learn how to properly do the stretches/exercises.

Lastly, I’d recommend staying away from high volume, high weight, or high impact cardio as it will likely just exacerbate the issue. I also found sitting, or standing in one position for long periods of time can really aggravate my back. It’s at times a fine balance that is walked, but there is hope and it is important not to forget that.

[Endevorforever]

I can understand what you guys are going through. I don't have back issues, but I have had clients and relatives who have. Exercise can help with the quality of life parts even if it wont get rid of the pain. If you know which way the disc is messed up, I could name resources that might help. Bulging or herniated discs, ruptured disc, degenerative discs, and nerve impingement, are the most common issues I have seen. Other things like arthritis in the spine and kyphosis/scoliosis can become comorbidities with the above conditions.

In general, weight loss helps a lot with the above issues. Less weight on the back, and stronger core muscles, help take some of the stress off the spine. Proper spine movement also allows for the disc to refill with fluid. Sitting in ergonomic chairs, and not sitting for too long also help with the issues. It is best to consult your doctor and ask them if there are any contraindicated(would risk re-injury) exercises concerning the back condition.