Back Injury, Please Help!

[staw]

Though I have been lurking for a while, I haven't posted much. Hi all and thanks for the board. Finding it very useful. Now for my question.

Does anyone here have any familiarity with the following back condition: Spondylolisthesis. Was wondering if anyone on here has it, has trained someone with it, etc. Have provided some information about it below.

Spondylolisthesis is a condition in which a vertebra slips forward on the vertebra below it. In children this normally occurs between the fifth lumbar vertebra and the first sacral vertebra and is often due to a congenital malformation of that region of the spine. In adults, the most common cause is degenerative disease (like arthritis) and the slip usually occurs between the fourth and fifth lumbar vertebrae. Spondylolisthesis may vary from mild to severe.


Symptoms

- marked lordosis (I don't have this)
- lower back pain
- localized tenderness over the spine just above the pelvis
- pain in thighs
- pain in buttocks
- tight hamstrings
- stiffness in back

Complications

- compression and temporary/permanent damage of spinal nerve roots, which may cause sensation changes, weakness, or paralysis of the legs.
- chronic back pain

It has been a rather long road, but I am back to running on the treadmill or outside. Don't run every day I do cardio because it is too much for my back to handle. My diet is in order, eat clean 6 times per day. Still figuring out exactly what formula works for me. So I'm playing a bit with the carbs, protein, fats, caloric intake. Train on a 5 day split and do cardio 5-6 days a week.

My back (though not as often lately) freaks out from time to time. May also have arthritis. Obviously this effects the way I train. So while every other body part is coming along nicely, my back is lagging big time! Same with the glute/ham tie in.

Forgot to add... I have been to several docs. There recommendation is to either take it easy (IOW, stretch once in a while) or have a pain management agreement. I'm 27, soon to be 28, and I don't want to spend my life on a pain pill rollercoaster ride.

Any help would be greatly appreciated.

 

[rez]

hey sweetie..i know how you feel.
i have had chronic back pain for about 1 year. i have to go for a bone scan in a couple days, cos no doctors are sure of what is really wrong - some think it may be arthritis..

i have cut down cardio - only bike and walking and i also find that pilates really helps stretch out the muscles. have you tried it?

 

[staw]

Thanks for your reply Rez. I haven't tried pilates, but have been riding the bike more as well as just walking on the treadmill or outside. Running is the best cardio option for me as far as shedding pounds. But it can cause pain in my back, butt and legs. Unfortunately, this minor problem has forced me to examine the diet and change everything around. Well, it could always be worse (keeping chin up, sorta).

I posted out of frustration. Though I have made some really great progress, I have tremendous problems from time to time. The fact that the pain, when it occurs, is getting worse is quite troublesome. I'm young and very active.

And since I live in Alaska, I don't have access to a great many docs. Thought I would see if anyone on here was familier with this or knew of any medical sites or books I could use.

Thanks for any input.

 

[Tuco]

Not too familiar with that, but my boyfriend herniated his disc at the L4. It was pinching the nerve down his leg and they told him it could cause nerve damage which could cause loss of bowel function, urinary function and erectile function. He ended up getting surgery which helped a lot. Is surgery an option for you?

 

[rez]

dont run!
go on a keto diet - its really worked for me. if you find it too restrictive, go low carb - but ive had great results with it, and i dont have to run anymore.

 

[takniteasy]

I dont have low back pain (as of present) but do suffer from recurrent pain from a whiplash injury. I found though that with a few changes in my eating habits I have been able to lose some bodyfat. So it has not been absolutely necessary to include cardio in my workout. One thing is extremely important though and that is the strength/resistance training.

Try a search on Google for chronic pain management; it may give you some informative and or support sites on your condition.

Hope this helps and hope you get to feeling better!

 

[Tuco]

Try getting on some Glucosamine/Chodroitin on a steady basis, seems to really help my boyfriend.

 

[teirrah]

Hi there. I don't have any experience of your condition but I have over the past 6 months or so made big steps in managing my lower back pain, a legacy from a herniated disc surgery, including pelvic pain in my hip, sciatic pain down my leg. Maybe these points may help. Certainly they have transformed my outlook on my back because I no longer think it is something I can do nothing about.

this is what I'm doing

Strengthening lower back, doing deadlifts, good mornings and hyperextentions.

Strengthening core, still got a ways to go but can already feel the benefits, hanging leg raises etc so the trunk stays still, as opposed to crunches.

Working on ham glute strength primarily through squats.

Stretching as much as possible.

Also have acupuncture once every 3 weeks or so. This has been great for pain management.

Before I avoided so many exercises because I had a 'bad back' but now feel that the avoidance was just making things worse.
Good luck and keep us posted.

 

[staw]

Glucosamine/Chodroitin - I admit I haven't been taking it nearly as often as I should. Trying to work on the frequency issue.

Strengthening the core. Amazing how I can talk to seemingly knowledgable docs, and not one mentioned this. Doing quite a bit of this, however I just started recently. Don't have much to say, but I think it is working. Keeping my fingers crossed.

As far as ketosis, I may try experimenting in about one week. Went too extreme the last time but managed to achieve decent results. This time, think I will up the carbs just a bit.

Thank you all so much for your help and input. I do greatly appreciate your time and apologize for not responding earlier.

 

[ffknight84]

i got into a accident almost 2 years ago and since then i have had chronic lower back pain. Some mornings ill wake up and have lower basck pain and stiffness ( cant move sometimes ) shooting pain through my legs and it will last almost the whole day. ANy idea of what it could be??