Back is spitting out more discs-bummed!!

[Dogmama]

I had a cervical fusion 22 months ago. Now, the discs adjacent are unstable, as are discs in my lower back. A cheap vacuum lasts longer!

Told the surgeon not to sharpen his knives, we aren't going there again. He suggested physical therapy, which I'll do. My rheumatogist said cycling is really hard on necks & lower backs. Knew that - ignored that. She suggested pilates & swimming. Oddly enough, swimming really DOES help my back! Who knew?

Anyway, the point of this post is that core strength is everything. My rheumie said if you fix one disc & don't strengthen the infrastructure, the instability just moves to the next disc. Sure would have been nice if my previous physical therapist & spine surgeon had let me in on this little piece of wisdom! But my lupus doc knew it. Better late than never.

My cycling will have to be shortened. I'd been doing some serious miles, but El Tour de Tucson is out now. I cannot handle hours on the bike. Whhaaa!!!

[snapdragen]

How about a recumbent?

If you decide to try Pilates, find a teacher in your area. Just a few lessons to get the general idea, then switch to videos if you want. I think having a teacher show you the correct way to do Pilates is important, it is easy to hurt yourself trying to learn on your own.

[KnottedYet]

I would love to see you go to a physical therapist trained in McKenzie technique!

From what you describe, it sounds like it would work for you. Or at least give it a try!

I've worked with lots of post-fusion folks with adjacent instability. There is hope! Generally the McKenzie therapist will give you ONE exercise for your back and ONE exercise for your neck, which you do every hour. (takes about 30 seconds) The exercise is the one that works with the mechanical behaviour of your disc and helps put it back into place. (one person's exercise isn't the same as another person's, just like their discs aren't exactly the same. you'll do a couple different things, an the therapist will help you choose the one that works best)

You keep the exercises up until you've been pain-free (meaning the discs have stayed in place) for 5 to 7 days. At that point, they've likely healed into place and you begin a different exercise to strengthen the juicy new scar tissues. After a few days of that, you go back to the McKenzie therapist for your last exercise which is for preventative maintainence.

Then you're on your own with a maintainence exercise you do once a day.

I've been working in a McKenzie clinic for only a few months, and have seen better success in shorter time than I ever saw in all my years in standard PT clinics.

The website lists McKenzie clinics and PT's who are McKenzie trained. I'm sure there's a PT near you. A "Diplomate" (I think they are designated with "Dip" on the website) would be best, but a "Certified" therapist (designated "Cert" I think) would be very good also.

http://www.mckenziemdt.org/

[Dogmama]

Thanks! I found 5 McKenzie therapists in town & printed the list. I'll call them on Monday!

[Zen]

Who knew?

the point of this post is that core strength is everything.

I knew.
I've been having back problems for some time now.
And it takes a loooong time to build up that core strength.

I found a good article with some core strengthening exercises in the New York Times Health section
http://www.nytimes.com/2007/10/28/sports/playmagazine/28physed.html?_r=1&ref=health&oref=slogin

and a really good site that covers just about everything about the back
The Web of The Back (http://www.espalda.org/english/index.asp)