Need advise!! Feel very stuck!!!

Bending and twisting are not recommended with osteoporosis.

Walking is safe so long as care is taken not to fall.

I have bulging discs and arthritis in my back too and I find I am very limited with exercise. I have some nerve condition going down into the sacroiliac and find the pool is best for me. I also use a wheeled walker.

I am 71.

Was reading in the book given to us at the bone clinic that exercises in the pool strengthen muscles which support the spine, which is good, although swimming has no direct benefit to the  bones themselves.

That sounds awful..I struggle to bend...I try to squat but quite often I can get down but struggle to get up again....I'm really not adapting... I've always been extremely active but now I can't do the simplest things sometimes... my job means I sit at a desk over 12 hours per shift.... I can stand every once in a while but not allowed to move far from my desk so it doesn't really help much I'm usually in absolute agony as little as two hours into a shift

Thats helpful to know...I'm a keen swimmer so thank you....I love exercise and have always been very active but have struggled doing anyhtigg of late...so at least I know swimming isn't off the list too.

I believe there are exercises for people that they can do surreptitiously at their desk.  Have a look on the internet, or check with your physiotherapist.  Maybe even some of the exercises that are now being recommended for plane travel to avoid deep vein thrombosis.

I do step ups out of the pool from the pool so that covers what I miss in the pool. I do slow ones and fast ones up to 100 altogether.

In the pool I cover exercises for the knees and shoulders as well as the back. I use a noodle and dumb bells as well as keep moving walking or cardio type exercises.

I feel a freedom in the pool that I cannot achieve out of the pool. It is a very warm pool especially for rehab.

 

How awful for you! So sorry you have found yourself in such a dreadful predicament!

Hello Clive..thank you for your comment..as it stands at the moment I'm off sick..but on probation period at work...so I'm not earning while off....my biggest problem is I'm not allowed to be under the influence of any drugs at work that will affect my performance... and that includes prescribed....so I have the choice of doing 12 hour shifts under the influence and risk being sacked on the spot or do 12 hour shifts medication free which will kill me...I won't handle that...they can't cut my hours and they don't do part time positions...so I'm really stuck at the moment.. as for my Dr I see another one at my practice now.

This doesn't sound good, although as you said you really had trouble performing your duties so in the long run it may be a blessing in disguise.  Cold comfort today, I know.

I've been reading through this thread and wondering if you have more going on than the pain from bones.  For several years I blamed my aches and pains on osteoarthritis (which I do have).  But eventually I was diagnosed with an autoimmune disorder (polymyalgia rheumatica) which I'd never heard of before.  My x-rays in fact showed that the osteoarthritis I've had for about thirty years had not in fact progressed much at all.  The pain was from a completely different disorder which has nothing to do with bones.  Has your doctor done any investigations to confirm that your pain really does originate in your bones?  Perhaps it is muscular (fibromyalgia) or vascular (polymyalgia) or any one of a number of myalgias (myalgia means pain).

I've also read recently that some of us take too much calcium in relation to magnesium, and upping magnesium and being a bit more careful not to overdo calcium can sometimes help with pain.  That's why soaking in a bath with Epsom salts can be helpful - we absorb magnesium through our skin!

Anyway, fingers crossed that you find a solution through these problems and you are soon feeling better.

My gp hasn't done anything at all other than refer me for physio and constantly writing me prescriptions for painkillers.....at the moment it's my discs that are causing me more pain .... but as for medically I've had nothing ..i don't know how else to do anything because they make me feel like I'm wasting their time...but this pain is real and I'm getting rather upset about it all now .

I understand about the discs. I have two herniated discs and yes it makes some things impossible. I am retired so I can adjust my life to suit. I cannot sit or walk much. I can be comfortable and pain free in a recliner.

My only exercise is in a specially heated pool for people who are doing special exercises or disabled. It is heated to 38 degrees so is very warm and therapeutic.

My husband is my carer and we can structure a happy existence for ourselves.

I am lucky I am not young. So my heart goes out to you. 

We have children and grandchildren.

I do not know what to tell you. You really need help and I could advise you if you were in Australia but someone who lives near you on here could suggest people to contact for help and advice.

I'm sorry to hear of your personal discomfort. ...I also have grandchildren and I was quite pleased that I had them while so young but that's not been the case due to my pain....imm going to start swimming again and might invest in a hot tub...

Feels like everything is over for me but I know that's not the case.....it is unfair though ... but ... I must try and keep trying to get the help I need ...

I can totally relate to your problems, I gave up my work in December because of pain, started claiming ESA, had my assessment they stopped my ESA because in their opinion I'm able to work if I get myself a wheelchair to move around, the assessment is a joke I was sat down for 97% of the time so it didn't really test the pain I get in, now having to claim JSA and having to apply to work I no I can't do, so just stuck in limbo, am in the process of appealing against the ESA decision, I've just had a pip assessment but like ESA their points system doesn't cover pain so this is also hard to pass, it's a bloody nightmare trying to get people to realise how much pain your in, I wish you all the luck with your situation, it's good to come on here and talk about it to people that understand

Oh my that's worried me even more ?? it's hard enough trying to make people understand the pain....because you look physically well they tend to be apprehensive when your explaining ..... but like I said this pain is real and it's horrid it makes me cry...and I have a high pain threshold...I gave birth to 5 children with no pain relief at all..yet I can't cope with this pain....I don't know what I will do if I have to continue to look for work..and be faced with them pushing me into jobs I cannot do

I'm sorry if thats worried you even more, have you put in a claim for ESA? if not when you do get as much evidence and help as you can, it's seems like to me if your not terminaly ill it's difficult to claim anything, I'm worried like you about being pushed into work I'm unable to do, I'll just have to tell the truth at interviews and tell the employer I'll need to rest alot while I'm working, some how I don't think that will go down to well, just hoping my appeal against ESA will be overturned and I can claim that again first time in my life I've been out of work, but like you the pain is just too much now and I'm still youngish, keep us up to date with your progress it's a difficult and hard situation to be in.

I'm ringing to claim today .....I dint think I will get it either which annoys me as I know people who claim it falsely ??

Yea tell me about it, my neighbour claims it and he doesn't seem to have problems cutting grass going up ladders and going on holidays, yet here's me get in pain if I walked to the local shop only 100 yards away, you should at least be able to claim ESA easy with your problems, if you get the form sent to you get help from the citizens advice in your area to fill it out, they can point out things to put down, if asked to send evidence get as much as you can from your gp and get family and friends to write down how they have seen the change in you.

And I can imagine how it gets you down as well not be able to do things like you used to do

I will do that thankyou...Yeh I know a couple of people who do it...one Google bipolar forums and claims to have that...just throws medication away .... and claims all sorts ......really annoys me

I did everything .. trampolining running tennis badminton swimming gym basketball .... it hurts now to just stand for a few short minutes and just the thought of jogging scares me ...