The Do You Work Out Zone

[drsassypants]

Originally Posted by Gemme

I can't tell you how to elevate it but HOW did you hurt it?

My best guess is running: two long runs in one weekend with the added bonus of same route & direction. No sharing of the wear between sides. And then I felt fine, so I hit a group strength training class the next day, lots of squats & lunges.

I has an ouch.

[Gemme]

Originally Posted by drsassypants

My best guess is running: two long runs in one weekend with the added bonus of same route & direction. No sharing of the wear between sides. And then I felt fine, so I hit a group strength training class the next day, lots of squats & lunges.

I has an ouch.

Yep, that would do it.

Stuff some pillows under you and slap an ice pack on top. That's probably the best you're going to do. You HAVE to let your body rest though. If you don't, you'll compound the injury.

[Rockinonahigh]

I havent had the time to work out since I got the promo at work.I hit the floor running and it dosent stop till I get off.Ive been wearing my prdometer at work so ive tracked over a mile a day with me going from oneend of the place to the other so many times or puting away supplys in the store room,with all the bending,squating,reaching and what have you I get a pretty good workout at work.Besides my tail bone hurts,it goes down my left leg so the whole thing is on fire.So I rest it as much as I can,wish it wasnt this way buit it is.

[socialjustice_fsu]

I have been working out for a while now. I alternate cardio and strength training. The last few days I feel a nagging pain in my lower right side of my back. From time to time the pain shoots all the way down the back of my leg even into the ankle. I swear it takes my breath away - in the not sensual way - and I feel like I have to almost stop in my tracks to regain some sort of composure. I have researched the sciatic nerve and I wonder if I have done something to cause some inflammation. I have been taking 800 mgs of ibuprofin x2 q d. Not much relief. Then I start thinking about my ovaries and ovarian cancer (paranoid to the nth degree). The pain radiates to that right ovary or so it seems. Any suggestions? Is this something I need to look to a chiropractor for intervention...acupuncture...massage...rest...acti vity? Never had this before and I don't want to slow my progress in my training due to something that simply might just disappear??

[PumaJ]

I feel a nagging pain in my lower right side of my back. From time to time the pain shoots all the way down the back of my leg even into the ankle.

Yikes, Socialjustice! I feel for you, having had such pain myself at one time. Very yucky and far from fun:-(

I'm not a nurse practitioner or doctor, so I can't diagnose, and wouldn't do so online if I could diagnose. But, as a nurse, I can offer you some ideas about what might be going on, and suggestions about what to do.

From your description it does sound like you have Sciatica. It is possible that the cause of your pain is something else, but your description is a classic description of the pain associated with Sciatica.

Who knows why you have this going on exactly? Maybe you moved in a slightly different way during a recent workout, or maybe the irritation has been building over the whole time you've been working out and is only just now bothering you. Some people develop sciatica because they stand for long periods of time, some because the sit for long periods of time and tend to lean on one buttocks more than the other. Its highly unlikely that the pain is the result of something like ovarian cancer, though.

You can try self care at home, first, to see if that helps, before seeking medical care. I do suggest that if self care at home isn't helpful, you do seek medical care before seeking chiropractic care, relief via acupuncture, or massage therapy. I suggest that as the first choice only because it is important to find out what is the root of the pain before treatment beyond self care is begun. Allopathic medicine has some valid treatment approaches to Sciatica depending on the cause. It might be that chiropractic, acupuncture or massage is the best way to go, but I think getting an accurate diagnosis of the problem is the best place to start.

Hope this is helpful

[PumaJ]

About a year ago I decided I needed to make some major changes to improve my overall health. I'd gotten very overweight, actually quite obese, after I quit smoking several years ago and started eating too much as a result. The eating too much was the first thing to go. Kicked that bad habit right to the curb, I did:-) The next step was increasing my physical activity level.

I absolutely abhor anything that has workout or exercise program in the title. In fact I rebel and run the other way. However, I do like to move, I especially love to dance. Not any formal type of dancing. Just the type of dancing I've always done at parties or clubs. So, I decided to dance, everyday. When I was talking aobut this with a young gay guy friend, he offered to send me links to the top 40 pop music vids on YouTube that had the best beats for dancing. He did tell me not to pay attention to the lyrics because some of them are very boldly sexual and in some there is a lot of swearing. He was totally right about that, but I don't care. I don't care because the beat of the music absolutely propels me out of my chair and gets my whole body moving:-)

I dance everyday, now, for at least a half an hour. My fave artists have become the Black Eyed Peas, Rhianna, Lady Gaga, Pink and Jessie J. There are others I like, but those are my faves.

[Morgan]

Trying to make healthy choices is so difficult....whether emotional, spiritial or physical. I have noticed however, when I start with the physical, the emotional and spirital seem to fall into place. My body and mind is no longer young, I will be 51 in a few days and had really let myself go, I had stopped caring about myself and it was starting to catch up to me. Do I think I am strong, yes, but not as strong as I once was. It is hard to admit my weaknesses, especially I believe as a butch, I do not like to admit there are certain things I cannot do. Like playing softball, or tag football, because I am afraid I will injure myself....I have a torn maniscuss (old knee injury), something I can live with until I get insurance. I also have bi-lateral carpal tunnel (numbness and limited use of my wrists and hands) , also something I can live with...I just cannot do repetitive motion with my hands for long periods of time, it is embarassing for me to admit this.

So now that I will be 51 soon, I want to be healthy and as strong as I possibly can. I have started going to the gym, doing cardio and lifting....I am starting to feel better and as well as the workouts, I am trying to make better choices in my diet. I am not a very good cook, I will be the first to admit this, but I am eating lower carbs, calories and fat....I have a very sensitive digestive system and know what I can eat and cannot eat. I have lost over 40 pounds in a year and a half and continue to build up my body. I do smoke cigarettes and drink lots of coffee, that will be my next goal, but for now I take it one day at a time.

I am looking forward to what this year will bring and now that I have found my home on the Planet, I will continue to read and see what others are doing to feel better for themselves, I know this will help give me the inspiration to feel better for myself. You are a great bunch on here and I thank you for posting from your heart....please feel free to stop by anytime.

Hugs
Morgan