Doctor says no high impact workouts

IGTamayo

Cathlete
Hi All,

I'm so sad.. and I need your help and/or advice! I met with my ortho doctor today and he has told me not to do any more high impact workouts - including step. Now what??? I haven't worked out for about 3 weeks because of my back pain - I have degenerative disk disease (whatever that means)and I begin my physical therapy next week. I was doing so good with Cathe and her workouts. For Mother's Day after a beautiful brunch with my grown up girls they surprised me by giving me a 6# medicine ball, a beautiful step (the one Cathe uses in her videos) and great looking workout gear and now I won't be able to use all this great equipment. What do I do now???
;( ;( ;( ;(


Iris
 
Hey Iris,

So sorry to hear your woes. Degenerative disk disease is basically bone/disk deterioration in your spinal column. I have it & spinal stenosis (a narrowing of the spinal column that puts pressure on the nerves causing pain) in my low back but still manage just fine with stepping.

DO NOT get rid of your stuff just yet. After therapy you may find that you can still use it.

Ok, I'm a big advocate for following doctors orders most of the time. But in my own experience, I was told to stop exercising completely. I was told especially no weight lifting with my legs--no squats, no lunges, no step ups & no stepping. Guess what--I do what I want & am mostly pain free. I have continued with the exercises I learned in PT for a year now. I don't do the jumps in most of Cathe's stuff. I just modify by doing heal kicks or "bouncing" without getting off the ground.

So, do your therapy & see how you feel. LISTEN to your body. If your body says no stepping, then no stepping. But you may find that isn't the case. Take it slow.
 
Iris-

I am not personally familiar with degenerative disc disease, but I do have a herniated disc and two bulging discs above and below the herniation. It took me about 8 months to fully get back into working out.

Well, my physical therapist told me NO high impact whatsoever. She told me to swim (which I would never do). She told me that I would get worse if I did high impact! Well, I DIDN'T listen, of course (can't live without my Cathe's), and I feel wonderful. I have problems when I stop working out for a few days, like if I am sick. Only then do I start to get that funny feeling in my back, but no nerve pain.

I am not a Dr. but I wanted to share my experience with you, maybe to offer hope. You can always modify by taking out the power.

HTH

Sarah
 
Hi Deborah,

Thanks for responding - you are the best!!! I will hold off for now and see what happens. I know, I know... listen to my body and to my fellow Catheites!!! I love working out with Cathe and sharing my hi and lows (no pun intended) with everyone. If I can't do it here - where???

Thanks a bunch hun.... take care,

:D

Iris
 
Hi Sarah,

Thanks for responding. I will hold on for a while and see what happens with the PT. I just feel so wonderful - I have good definition throughout my body and now this!! For this and many other reasons is why I post on these boards... I get good sound advice from my fellow Catheites... and we share so much... because after all we are all looking and doing the same thing... staying fit and healthy.

Thanks again Sarah - take care :D


Iris
 
Hi Iris! My husband, who is 28 years old, has degenerative disk disease as well. He went through PT for over a month with no help. Two weeks ago he got his first round of cortisone shots in his lower lumbar. It has helped tremendously. Hopefully you will see better results from your PT.

In the meantime the doctor told him he just needs to live with the pain and that it will not get better. He also told him that he can continue his weight training program and lifting heavy. (He can leg press 1000 pounds. No joke. My husband is a big boy and played football through elementary, middle school, high school & college. That is how he injured his back in the first place.) So maybe you will be able to lift again. I agree with the previous post to not get rid of your equipment. You never know.

Good Luck!!
 
I feel for you! I was diagnosed with a herniated lumbar disc last month--I don't have Degenerative Disc Disease, (at least he didn't say that) but I have an extra vertebrae which he feels lead to my problem. My DH has DDD and he went to 5 different orthopedists before he found someone who he felt comfortable with, and who had answers and a treatment for him that made sense! So, I agree it wouldn't hurt to get a second opinion. BTW, DH is looking into a bone graft in the near future. Anyhoo, although I'm in pain at times I have continued my step aerobics and weight training program--modifing Cathe as needed--and to be honest with you, I haven't felt any worse exercising. I am a firm believer in working your core as often as you can, and I don't do back work with weights. I also avoid certain postures, like anything that calls for you to be bent over while lifting. Also, yoga has helped me tremendously. I heard Pilates is good, but I just can't get into it! I'm now taking a glucosamine supplement, which is supposed to help the joints. I don't know if it's working because I just started taking it, but I do notice the knee pain I used to have when I stepped is gone.

I agree, don't get rid of Cathe, or your step yet. Worse case, you can always modify! Do Cathe without the step, and skip hi-lo for the time being, that's what I'm doing!
 
Low Impact Options

Iris - I second the suggestion of getting a second opinion. Have you considered seeing an osteopath?
I've had to give up high impact because of knee tracking issues and at first, I was very upset because I loved doing Cathe's aerobics tapes and had just gotten the Intensity Series. However, I decided to seek out other activities for cardio and am glad that I did. I invested in a spinning bike and an elliptical trainer. In addition, I started using my ERG (rowing machine) again. I've found that the cross training has done wonders for my overall fitness, particularly the rowing (I'm signed up for an "on water" rowing class later this summer!!!). In addition, I changed my strength training to rehab my knee (PT helped with that, too) and added Pilates to my workouts.
The bottom line is that you shouldn't have to give up all activity. There are other options, should it not be in your body's best interest to resume high impact work. You can still wear those nice workout clothes and use your new equipment :)
Best wishes and I hope you are feeling better.
Suzanne
 
Iris-

I'm so sorry for your pain! But it sounds like, if you are only prohibited from doing high impact, that when you are feeling better you should still be able to do Cathe's strength training workouts and low impact cardio, no? You'll be needing your medicine ball and your step for that stuff!

Feel better soon!
 
Dear All,

Thank you all for your support and insight. This is in fact the 4th opinion because I wanted to make sure and feel secure knowing that all the doctors were in sync with the same diagnosis. I have a PT evaluation scheduled next Tuesday to determine what I can and can not do. But guess what I did yesterday when I got home?? You guessed it - I did Cathe's PUB, then I did some Body Max and let me tell you all - I felt great! My DB came over thinking to himself that I would be depressed and what he found was the opposite. I was energized but then this what Cathe does for me. So you see I was bummed out when I wrote the initial post but after reading all your responses and encouragement, by the time I got off the subway, picked up a few groceries and entered my apartment I had a different mind set. Not to mention that all my equipment is looking at me when I enter. With the help of the Almighty and all you and our Cathe - like the song says - Ain't no stoppin me now!!! Thank you all!!!

Hugs and kisses to all!!!

Iris
:D
 
RE: UPDATE: Doctor says no high impact workouts

Dear All,

I just got back to my office and had to write to you. I had my PT evaluation today. I'm so excited I can't think straight, so forgive me if you find some typos in this message. The therapist checked me out, etc. then we went to the therapy room where there were others. He mentions that I don't look surprised at the equipment and I tell him that I've been to a few gyms in my life. Of course he being a man, chuckles. He had me do the usual poses, on my toes, bending over, side bends, squats, touch my toes and the like. He asks, can you do a lunge - I had to respond with - can you have a baby?? Ok, ok... that was kind of mean - sorry. He did find that I am definately "very tight" around my lower lumbar area. Well, to my surprise he asked me to lie down and do some stretching poses like in yoga and pilates. He said I had very good form (thank you Mari Winsor and Rodney Yee). We returned to the weight area and had me do a dead lift, and guess what, he says I had excellent form. We went on and on - chest flies, back rows, laterals, etc. We did everything I was very familiar with except of course using a mini or regular step. (By the way they have the mini step at their facility... I want one!!) He tells me that I have excellent form and was quite impressed with the size weights I used (I actually did double back rows with 20# dumbells). He also wanted to know what gym I belonged to. What could I possible say?? I told him it was Iris' home gym! After I stopped smiling I told him I've been doing Cathe's videos for about six months together with other videos in my library. He knew who Billy Blanks and Rodney Yee was but had no idea who Cathe was. I felt insulted. I told him just go to Cathe's website and read her bio and look at all her videos and the numerous awards she's won, I'm sure you'll know who Cathe is. He must have done just that because he called a little while ago to confirm our next session... he said to forgive him that when he saw her pictures he knew exactly who Cathe was because there are several people at the facility who have mentioned her. Suffice it to say that doing Cathe and the many other excersise videos I own has really helped me. Didn't I just impress this guy?? At any rate my therapist (Steve) says that I can eventually go back to my regular routine and rotations, but that I have to give the therapy a chance to see if this lower back pain will be relieved. All I can say to all of you is - THANK YOU!!! for encouraging me not to give up or sell my equipment!! Hugs and kisses to you all. And Cathe, if you're reading this... MUACCCCC. Thank you!! Love you loads!!!

Take care all,

Iris


>Dear All,
>
>Thank you all for your support and insight. This is in fact
>the 4th opinion because I wanted to make sure and feel secure
>knowing that all the doctors were in sync with the same
>diagnosis. I have a PT evaluation scheduled next Tuesday to
>determine what I can and can not do. But guess what I did
>yesterday when I got home?? You guessed it - I did Cathe's
>PUB, then I did some Body Max and let me tell you all - I felt
>great! My DB came over thinking to himself that I would be
>depressed and what he found was the opposite. I was energized
>but then this what Cathe does for me. So you see I was bummed
>out when I wrote the initial post but after reading all your
>responses and encouragement, by the time I got off the subway,
>picked up a few groceries and entered my apartment I had a
>different mind set. Not to mention that all my equipment is
>looking at me when I enter. With the help of the Almighty and
>all you and our Cathe - like the song says - Ain't no stoppin
>me now!!! Thank you all!!!
>
>Hugs and kisses to all!!!
>
>Iris
>:D
:D :D
 
RE: UPDATE: Doctor says no high impact workouts

Iris,

this is awesome news! It doesn't surprise me that the therapist said you'd be back to doing normal rotations in no time. You would think that doctors would know best but believe it or not they are not trained on body mechanics like pt's are.

Good luck with your therapy!
 
RE: UPDATE: Doctor says no high impact workouts

That is terrific news!! :) :) I bet that made your day!!

Keep up the good work and hopefully you will be back to your regular routine real soon.
 
RE: UPDATE: Doctor says no high impact workouts

What a wonderful update Iris!!!!!!! Keep us posted.

-Nancy
 
RE: UPDATE: Doctor says no high impact workouts

Hi Nancy,

Thanks!! I'm all ready for today's session with my PT. My back is actually feeling better but I think if it wasn't for this continuous rain we have in NYC my back would feel much, much better. DB helps me with my stretching and once my PT says I can go back to Cathe - I will like gangbusters!! I miss the workouts and the rush I get when I've completed them. Do you feel the same?? Must be all those endorphins or something. Will keep you all posted of my progress.

Thanks again Nancy!! :D

Iris
 
RE: UPDATE: Doctor says no high impact workouts

That is great news! I'm reading more and more articles on back pain and they mention that people who have back problems and work out at a high intensity--doing aerobics and weight training--recover at the same, if not faster speed than people who don't work out at all. I'm hoping that's the case with me, and you! Keep us posted on your progress!
 
RE: UPDATE: Doctor says no high impact workouts

Thanks Leslie...

I surely will keep you posted. You guys are the best and I love this forum... gotta go to my PT. Will let you know how it went. BTW - the sun is finally shining in NYC.

Take care all...

"Believe it is possible to solve your problem. Tremendous things happen to the believer. So believe the answer will come. It will." - Norman Vincent Peale



Iris :D :+ :7
 
RE: UPDATE: Doctor says no high impact workouts

Good morning everyone!! I went to my PT session last night. I had a different therapist by the name of Dave. Heat was applied for 15 minutes - felt wonderful!! Then he proceeded to stretch me in directions that I thought my body couldn't handle. During this time Dave asked me many questions regarding my routine workout schedule. I told him I discovered Cathe about 8 months ago, among others and loved her workouts. He asked if any of her workouts were very challenging to me because of my back problem. I said, in truth all of the weight training was excellent and the cardio aspect of her workouts that are all step were indeed challenging especially IMAX 2 - I still can't go beyond interval 4, but I will. Dave said that I should be able to jump right in again after my therapy is completed, as long as I stabalize my core area (sound familiar ladies??) and keep my back straight this way all my strength is coming from the core and not my back. Dave has added additional back strengthening excercises as well as the stretching, which by the way is absolutely wonderful. Once I get back in step (no pun intented) with Cathe and my rotations I will definately incorporate all these excersies as part of my warmup. Stay tuned... more to come.

Have a great weekend everyone!! The sun is shining in NY - yippeee!!!

Iris


"Believe it is possible to solve your problem. Tremendous things happen to the believer. So believe the answer will come. It will." - Norman Vincent Peale

:D
 
RE: UPDATE: Doctor says no high impact workouts

Good morning! I had another session of PT last night! Whew!!!! My PT placed me on what looked like a torture table (really a pilates table - LOL) Talk about range of motion and using all your "core" muscles! He put me through a series of stretches, leg lifts, etc. - I was able to bring my legs over my head for a very short time - then proceeded on to the weights - specifically dead lifts. Now I understand fully what Cathe means with this workout - don't engage the back - use your hamstrings - I went down only to my knees - what a difference!! I felt great! My body was responding exactly as I wanted it to - I felt alive and full of energy. I asked my PT when I could return to doing the step workouts and very cautiously told me try it out - slowly and without risers. When I get home tonight I will start again - slowly with Body Max (I love that workout!!!) So you see, for all my fellow back sufferers - there is help for us and our bodies will respond accordingly. Have a blessed day everyone!!!

Take care,

Iris
:D
 

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