Life With My Pet Back

My neurosurgeon said that I should swim for three times a week for the rest of my life. Thank  goodness I didn't have to have surgery (I wrote about that in another post) but he said I would have to look after my back very well all of my life.  So from that day I visited the swimming pool three times a week. Sometimes it was hard when you are in pain, getting there, getting changed, a slippery poolside etc but the relief when I got in the water was wonderful!  I did not swim. I walked in the water, I floated on my back and I hung over the side getting a wonderful stretch that felt so good. I did my exercises in the water, I did get a few looks at first but they soon got used to me and I did not care! Anything to help my backpain and sciatica...and it did. I loved it :) So I did well. As time went on and especially in the winter when it was freezing cold i lapsed a bit and after a few weeks of only going once a week i noticed the difference in my flexibility, my po...

My regime for looking after my back and taking care of it in the long term has been to do my Lose the back pain exercises regularly and to go swimming. My neurosurgeon said years ago that I would need to swim for 2-3 times a week for the res of my life to keep my back healthy.  Now here is the problem. ... Last year I developed another condition - which I wont go into here - but essentially it means I have to avoid many chemicals and my skin is very sensitive and tender. I loved swimming and just being in the water , floating, doing various exercises it was so good for me and my back. Anyway sadly it won't be an option for a very long time... if ever. So I cant go swimming- haven't been for a nearly a year now. This has been bothering me as I Need to keep my back as healthy as possible and I am concerned to put it mildly about going back to THAT pain  I had. I am sure if you have back or sciatic pain or have read this blog you will know what THAT pain is!  Anyway even...