I just wanted to share with all of you out there who are suffering from severe lower back pain due to degenerate disc disease, or any other diagnosis that my pain management of four epidurals did not make one bit of change in my stenosis. The L4-L5 is severely deteriorated. Therapy, injections do not work. What does help the pain is 1-2 hours of swimming on a daily basis and stretching with a Yoga type of exercise program with some Pilates included on a daily basis for about 1 hour a day. I found that getting on the floor and doing Yoga has helped my lower back pain about 40%.
The lower back Epidurals has caused my cholesterol to go from 140 to 280 in one month's time. I also gained 10 pounds that I did not need at this time because of the problem I face. So now, I have to work harder and try to bring my cholesterol down to a normal rate and lose about 50 pounds. I have given myself the next 12 months to lose the weight and my exercise program will remain in tact every day until I can strengthen my back so that I can be pain free. I don't believe in pain medications, they only hurt more than they are affective. I don't take anything but Lipitor for Cholesterol management.
Another option to consider is to use the Inversion Table for 10-15 minutes twice a day. This table takes the pressure off the spine. It really works. This is a much better approach than to go under the knife that I will try as long as I could to avoid.
Thanks for making a note of just how much swimming/ water-aerobics has helped you! My docs continue to threaten me (it's not really a THREAT, just I don't want it) with surgery, esp. when I was unable to walk without a cane. Water threapy helped me, too! Of course, I do still end up with the awful pain from 2 ruptured discs in my lumbar spine and I have had a couple of series of ESI's. These, too, has prevented me from having to go through any sort of back surgery, though. Considering how many OTHER surgeries I've been through, I wanted to prevent and do still refuse any BACK surgery until I can no longer walk. 'Til then, I can live with it. Besides, my sister has had a couple of back surgeries and she's still in pain!
Anyway, again; thanks for this. I do hope that others will consider just how much this can help.
good for you,i can hardly stand for 10 to 15 min. i tried swiming too. didn't work!