Walking - does it really count?????

John, I hope your test comes out okay. I'm so sorry the pain is getting so bad that you can barely walk now. Take care.

Good evening everyone,
I "used to be able to walk two blocks at a time",now,it's only a third of a block and getting shorter,my lumbar's stenosis is the culprit there.
Yesterday,My blood pressure was 160/100, and the next one was 148/101. I now check it on an hourly basis myself and it's been jumping all over the place
I was prescribed Benicar to be taken once a day.
I've got a corraded(sic) artery test scheduled for early next month,the soonest I could get it,unless I wanted to travel up to Scarsdale for the test. With my back bothering me so much, I don't think I'll be traveling anywhere too soon. John

After my fusion, I was in a wheelchair, who isn't with a triple like that!! LOL UGH! those memories.
After 8 months, I was able to walk - and I mean, I could walk 6 miles a day. Now, my nerve damage is so bad, and showing its ugly head, I am unable to walk very far at all now.
I manage to get around, and some days are better than others. Forget steps or stairs. I just can't do them anymore!!

Edited by: EMBERSIDHE at: 12/14/2009 (02:28)

John,

Before my last surgery 20 years ago, I also had times of tremendous pain walking. It would take me two hours to cross the equivilant of a football field from school -it was in tears with several sit downs.

I loved going to Washington DC to go to the museums. I got my doctor to prescribe a wheel chair with removeable wheels (a Quickie) so I could handle it. I would walk as much as I could and then I'd sit down and roll until my back calmed down. Then back up(because too much sitting also caused pain) and so forth.

I only suggest what I did because I hated to be left out and I wanted to keep doing what I liked to do. Your cane may be providing you what you need, but I just hope that you too get to enjoy what you like.

Be well.

I was diagnosed with Cervical,thoracic,and lumbar spinal stenosis to go along with a few Myelopathies in the cervical spine,several disc herniations in all three area's.
Two years ago,walking was great, I used to walk five miles every day,now, if I don't feel bad(lumbar,sciatica both sides) I can make a few blocks at a time,no more walking for five miles. I'm lucky if I can go for a half a block without pain. It stops me in my tracks. If there is an opportunity to sit down, I'll sit. It relieves the stenosis of the lumbar spine,I stay seated for ten to twenty minutes.
That way, I can walk the rest of the block without any resistance from my lower back.
If I can't walk so well, I'll use my cane to walk with,Today is a cane day.
Take care and be well,John

I was just diagnosed with a herniated disc and though I may not be able to speedwalk like I liked to, I still walk, just much slower. yet because I am in pain when I walk, I sweat just as much and my muscles are just as tight when I am done.

Sheri

current weight: 276.1

311 298.25 285.5 272.75

260

HI
Just wanted to put in my 2 cents worth. Absolutely walking helps. Not the snail kind, LOL but if you walk a good pace, (I can't) it definately is counted as excercise. My parents walk some 8 miles on days, and they are so fit.
So, yes, walking not only counts, but is a great form of excercise

HUGS Ember

Hi Tex,
I haven't been officially diagnosed with spinal stenosis, but it sounds like something I have a problem with, I was diagnosed with nerve damage in my legs and feet resulting from osteoarthritis in my lumbar spine, I have the same thing going on in my hands from cervical osteo damage. I can say that the pain does get better, you will have good days and bad days. I find exercise helps immensely. I didn't quit walking, and my neurologist prescribes ultram for me to take when I walk to help. It doesn't take all the pain away but it does help some, so I can keep moving.

Can you do any back exercises at all? One of my favs is laying on my back, legs drawn up with bent knees, and I roll my knees from side to side keeping the torso stationary and arms out to the side (don't know an official name for this). I've had a nerve block shot too to help when the pain is acute. I've done steroids, but have decided never again unless it's a last resort, I'm still fighting the 8 lbs I put on from the last course of those.

Keep trying, and keep posting on your progress. We want to know how you are doing!

Okay, i read everything that everyone has shared on here about walking..i was just diagnosed on Thursday with spinal stenosis..i already suffer from systemic lupus, osteoarthritis and many other maladies..I am walking with a cane for a week..does it get better??does the pain and aching go into some kind of remission??Gosh my head is just spinning..THANKS for any HELP..

My walk today was not so good, I walked 3.2 mph, went 3.24 miles in an hour. My right ankle started bothering me and it was actually HOT.

So I'm not displeased with my walk, Maya and I will have to get used to the 75+ temps, but being Michigan, who knows when the cold will be back? [grin]

I walked 2 and a 1/2 miles this morning and plan to
walk anther 2 miles now.
My pedometer broke, actually, it fell off and cracked yesterday while walking, I've got to send for a new one.
John/ Joco112,formerly Joco50

You're welcome! To bad we couldn't be walking buddies, I'd let you use mine!

ttfn!

Thanks, I'll check into it. You may be right that I am not so sure of my heartrate. I am just never out of breath or feeling particularly sweaty. So it may well be worth it just to see if I am doing more than I believe. I also do wonder if the narcotics could keep pulse rates down.

You have given me a lot to consider

Thanks,

Kimberly

I forgot to mention that I walk with a fitness watch, it has a timer, a stopwatch, a heart rate monitor and calorie counter.

I use the timer and the heart rate monitor, you should try one, you'd be surprised to find out what your heart rate actually is. My hubby has a more expensive kind that works continuously, it straps around your chest just below the breasts and is wireless to the watch unit. I came with his bike purchase so I don't know how much they cost. The type I use run between $20 and $40 or so. Shop around!

Tonight, my walk was slower (because I overdid it last night) and my heart rate was 138. Just about right for this ole arthritic asthmatic!

For cardio there is a snowblower walk. Yes walking counts for this section. My goal is 10 mins 3 x's a cardio day.

current weight: 195.0

232 214 196 178

160

WAlking DOES help. In fact, I saw my doctor on Friday and he asked if I was still walking and I said yes. He said that was good, that walking is the best exercise for the entire body because it gets the heart going and all the other organs working too. It is cardio and strengthening when you walk properly. So yes, it does work, and I'm working on getting the Coaches/Staff to add a general walking pace. Just give them time.

Sheri

current weight: 276.1

311 298.25 285.5 272.75

260

LINDALOO80,

I'll give it a try (not twisting). Thanks. And yes, I live next door to Florida's tallest lighthouse - 203 steps,175 feet. I've had knee surgery in the past and that is why I'll see if they are up for the climb. The last time I tried they were not ready.

When you pump your arms, don't twist. That's not proper form. You sort of tuck your elbows into your side, and move only your forearms up and down. You shouldn't be twisting at all when you walk.

You have a lighthouse you can climb? How awesome, but it can be heck on the knees. The closest lighthouse to me is in Port Huron, an hour to the east. I don't believe it is open to the public, last I knew someone still lived in it.
Good luck!

Thanks for the input. I am 43 and have been dealing with my body's rebellions since I was thirteen. I was just feeling as if this isn't good enough. But I too agree with you that any activity should count. I will continue to log on the tracker for fitness and I'll just assume it is good enough. Unfortunately, I find that crossing in front of my body (twisting) causes pain and I can't afford to give up. I may try the lighthouse for steps again to see if my knees are any better. This I know would get my heart rate up. It is truly a balancing act.

Anything counts as long as it is activity. I have spoken to people on here and my doctor. I can't do much of anything because of my back condition. I can only do a little bit in the morning which is usually some kind of housework. Once the pain kicks in, I have to go back and lay down.

I don't know what your age is, so it is difficult to know if you get your heart rate up very high or not. You can judge that. You wear your pedometer all day, I take it? When you walk outside, try pumping your arms across your chest, up and down, and shorten your steps instead of taking long strides, you will actually speed up that way. I can guarantee that you'll get your heart rate up to where it needs to be for your fitness level. Well, at least I believe so. It works for me. And it will save your knees to walk that way.

Don't get discouraged. Try adding small hills into your walks, if possible. Or, walk a dog, if you don't have one, borrow one! They may help you increase your speed with out you even realizing it! It takes time to build up your fitness. I see you live in Florida right off the beach (maybe that takes hills out of the equation? try steps?), walk the beach, that is a great exercise, digging your toes into that sand will really work your calves and thighs to raise your heart rate. I only walk 3.3 to 3.6 miles per hour and that's a steady clip, for 3+ miles each day. Yesterday I did 4.5 with my dog. You can do it if you just keep trying. That's all we do anyway, we try every day and somehow it seems to happen!

Walking a 19 minute mile is better than good...it is excellent! To put it more in perspective, it is walking at 3 miles per hour! Be proud people! Most completely healthy people can't do what you are doing.

As far as PT goes, they only get you for a certain length of time (unless you are self-pay) because that is all insurance allows. But they definitely can't fix a disk bulge so you should see a neurosurgeon.

Your young and you are obviously a fighter so keep it up and hopefully you will come out victorious.

I learned years ago either we fight for ourselves or we become house bound or worse yet bed ridden. The back muscles support the bones. If we don't keep them strong, everything else fails.

Keep up the good work!

I count walking as fitness. I'm actually up to a 19 minute mile right now and I know it doesn't get my heart pumping in the range that my brother who runs like crazy gets his to but I still think it counts. I don't know much about fusions but from what I heard from several people I did PT with "difficult" or "painful" are not very good description words. I felt awkward joining this team because I'm 28 and was like well I just finished 15 sessions of PT and I'm told I need to see a neurosurgeon because I have degenerative disc disease in L3-L4-L5 and a disc bulge and disc compression that is pinching a nerve but it can't be that bad if I'm not confined to bed and if I can graduate from PT. So in some ways I don't feel I have the knowledge about the back or the right to say what counts and what doesn't. But I do think that walking does have some strength conditioning to it and I have felt the effects of that even if I don't go at a fast pace and jeez I thought 19 mile minute was pretty good :) Anyway stick with walking and again I don't know much about fusions but maybe add a little strength training in with light dumbbells. Hang in there and keep it up. But definitely don't do anything that will cause further pain damage. I hope I didn't ramble.

current weight: 119.0

148 138.5 129 119.5

110

In my opinion walking most definitely counts! They say if you do 10,000 steps a day it will keep you fit. Before I got peripheral artery disease and my kidney artery became blocked I walked 2 miles a day and I was never overweight. More than once I walked off my back pain (not sciatica-that doesn't walk off).

Now I am not a doctor and I have not had a fusion (God bless you) but I did work for an orthopaedist until I retired and he was pleased with my walking skill. As you get stronger you may be able to walk just a little faster and bring the heart up.

I have back and hip problems and have just finished my PT and still have the hip pain (my physical therapist thinks maybe a cortisone shot in hip may help - I am not looking forward to it). Hip pain hinders me more than my back pain (invertebral disk disease, cervical and lumbar with spondylosis) so right now all I do is my PT exercises at home and some Yoga. Spark People has nothing for Yoga that I can find. But I will keep at it until I get strong enough to start walking again as I really enjoy walking. I know I am doing what I can for me now so it doesn't matter if SP gives points for it or not.

I think you are doing great just don't get discouraged and you will be fine!

I have now been at this for a month today. I have been using the fitness tracker. I am unable to do anything that gets my heart rate up. I walk at about 19 minute miles. I wear a pedometer.

Having looked up on the fitness pages it seemed to say that walking only counts as fitness if you can get your heart rate up. I feel a little bit discouraged because I try to do what I can do to my utmost and have for the last 28 years.

My pedometer shows me walking 2-5 miles in a day and even up to 12,000 steps. I also do many things that aren't good for me but I do what I can.

Does this count as fitness? If not there is nothing I can do that would give me credit. I can't swim because of the reverse curve in my fusion, there is too much pressure on my spine. Biking doesn't work anymore do to my knees and my lack of stability since my last fusion.

Please tell me what you count as fitness? I hate feeling like I'm taking credit for something that Sparkpeople may not think is fitness