Question about backbends and low back pain

Gena started this discussion · 2/16/2016

I have a question for anyone that might know. I have been doing a lot of research because of my back and have come to the conclusion that i have Ankylosing Spondylitis. At any rate I guess it is a form of arthritis and I have had vertebrae that are fused together for my entire adult life. My question is this. I am currently working with the Get Bent DVD, which I love, and am ready to start working on the back bending portion. Does anyone know if I will be able to do the back bends? I mean, I know that I have decreased mobility in my low back, and I have never really focused on back bends so I honestly don't know. I do know that I live with low back pain and have forever, but exercise helps at least. Right now, in the winter when my pole is cold, it is hard because I can't go out to play. So I have been working with the app MadBarz for calisthenics. I like them. I need to work more on yoga too, I kind of fell out of that routine. At any rate, any suggestions would be appreciated. Thanks in advance!

11 replies

Runemist34 · 2/16/2016
Hey there! Have you seen a health profession about your back? That kind of diagnosis is very serious, and could affect a lot of the things you do in life. It's extremely difficult to know what is really happening to your back without someone else taking a look. There are certain things that are just not written down... it's like reading Tarot cards. Not everyone is going to know that two specific cards placed together means something like substance abuse (for example), where neither of the cards points to that at all. Diagnosing yourself is a risky, and tricky business, and can have very many pitfalls. I would seriously suggest seeking professional, medical help for your back if you are concerned and in chronic pain. Are you able to do things like the cat-cow in yoga? What happens with your lower back when you're in these positions? Are your shoulders flexible, and can you reach your upper arms up to your ears, or even past that, without arching your back? Are there any things that specifically aggravate your lower back, or is it just a constant pain that has no ups or downs at all? These are all good things to know and think about before attempting any kind of spinal flexibility when you are dealing with chronic pain. And, good things to tell your doctor.
Gena · 2/16/2016
Runemist, First off, loving all the stuff you are doing lately! Looks great. Yes. I had x-rays when I was 16 and he told me that there would never be anything anyone could ever do for me and I had to learn to live with the pain. So, that is what I have done. As far as what I can do, I have to stay active. I have to stay under a certain body weight or my back goes crazy. Right now for instance I am over what my back says I can be at so it hurts. I can do cat-cow. I can do most things because I have a high pain tolerance. I have never been able to do a wheel pose because I have never tried. Things like when I stand and put my makeup on in the morning will send it into a fit where I can't bend over and pick anything up off the floor until I get it loosened back up. I can't stand on concrete all day or suffer the same. I can't sit for extended periods of time. I can't lay in bed for extended periods of time. I have to be active and even that sometimes hurts. Yes, my shoulders are flexible, they just need work. It is all in my low back by my pelvis. In fact, the doctor told me (when I was 16) that the vertebrae were growing toward my hip bones. I have not gone back since so I have no idea how far they grew. I have always just dealt with it and some days it doesn't hurt at all, but right now I am too heavy. If I go to the doctor the only thing they are going to do is put me on medication that is going to slowly destroy my body. So, I think I will avoid that. Maybe someday I will end up in a wheelchair...Hope not...but it could happen. If it does, well I guess I will deal with that too. I have lived my life with this and most of the time we get along fine. I just want to be able to touch my feet to my head and was curious if it was possible. Thank you for your reply and I appreciate your advice. You are an awesome lady!
Runemist34 · 2/16/2016
I'm glad to hear that you did have some kind of diagnosis... even if it sucks! Sometimes it can help to have the knowledge. I would actually suggest going back and seeing if you can get a second, or even third opinion on what can be done, and how to manage the condition appropriately. I refused drugs for depression and anxiety for years (like, probably about 10 years) every time I saw the doctor, and they've eventually just stopped suggesting it to me. You do NOT have to accept that as a form of treatment, and you can ask for other things. Drugs aren't the answer all the time, and I completely respect your wish not to have them. So should the doctors! Otherwise, my best advice would be to take it slowly, and pay close attention to what is happening. Look for patterns (so, if you do the back bending exercises, and then next day or the day after that, you're in terrible pain... or, who knows, you might feel better??), or for direct issues like shooting pains or seizing. That way, you can see if it's going to do you harm, or if it's benign and normal, or even helpful. Taking things slower than what they say in the DVD would probably be useful till you know what to expect, and you know how it's going to affect you. Obviously, if it's bad, then I greatly suggest not doing it ;) lol Also, thinking about low back pain and stuff... how is your core strength? I could see that been really helpful in keeping everything aligned and in the right place, and slowing any growing issues. Also, if you wanna check out the yoga I like it's here: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCFKE7WVJfvaHW5q283SxchA She has the 30 Day Yoga thing way down, and she really likes this rocking move that feels pretty awesome on my own back. Perhaps I would be helpful!
Gena · 2/16/2016
Thanks again! I will check out the yoga for sure and maybe one of these days head back to the doctor. I understand about the not taking the drugs as a form of treatment but sometimes they are soooo pushy. LOL I have a friend right now who has a doctor that is going to drop her because she has refused to have a morphine pump installed in her body. I think you are right about the going slow, and I have tried her exercises a few times and I can get the bridge, just not a very good one. :) The next day, nothing out of the ordinary...a little sore maybe but I just chalk it up to one side having to work harder than the other because of the vertebrae that are fused. One thing I think you are so right about and that I am actively working on is core strength. I need more of that and more lower back strength. I think if I strengthen all those muscles I might last a lot longer. Like I said, right now I am just too heavy and I this has been kind of a wake up call. I don't want to be crippled. I will fight it! So, I have to get strong. I just have to do it. I am not a spring chicken anymore so I can't eat all the baked goods I want to (I am crying now) and not have them add to my thighs and my hips. I just have to get up, get moving and take control back. I can't give up my life! My friend whose doctor is getting rid of her broke off her tailbone and she is having a hard time finding a surgeon to do the surgery she needs. She is 47 and can't get out of bed. NOPE, I will not be there if there is any way at all. So, I may do it slowly but I will keep at it and not let it beat me. I also think you are right about just trying it and seeing. That is how I am with most things. Hopefully I will keep trying and it will feel better. Thanks again for caring enough to answer. I appreciate it!
Phoenix Hunter · 2/17/2016
I would go back to the doctor and tell him you are wanting to work on backbending and get that cleared first medically. i would not do Any backbends if you are currently having lower back pain . If your lower back hurts in your daily living , that is a sign that you should not do backbends until you treat your problem first. Backbending compresses the spine and you will be loading lots of pressure into your lower back while backbending. You may need physical therapy or some kind of rehabilitation to work towards backbending.
Gena · 2/17/2016
Thank you for your reply Phoenix Hunter, but that's just it though, my lower back only hurts when I gain too much weight. I have been working on backbending, just very slowly. I really do not want to go to another doctor to have them tell me that there is nothing that they can do. I already know this. There is no treatment for what is wrong with my back. I can only guess that strengthening the muscles in my core and in my back is the answer, that and losing some weight. I have talked informally with doctors off and on since I was 16 and the answer is always the same...there is nothing that can be done. Oh wait, they can medicate me and that is it. I think I will have to just listen to my body as Runemist suggested.
Phoenix Hunter · 2/17/2016
Are your vertebrae fused from spinal fusion surgery? I only ask because I have had spinal fusion surgery and may be able to offer my thoughts from my own experience.
Phoenix Hunter · 2/17/2016
you can't force your spine into submission if there is something mechanically getting in the way. Your doctor may not be able to cure you but getting an Mri or ct scan can atleast educate you as to what your limitations or lack of limitations may be.
Gena · 2/17/2016
Phoenix, no they are fused together naturally. Every doctor I have talked to has said, "keep doing what you have been." Of course these were informal conversations with doctors I know. At any rate, as I was practicing my backbending, which I can do some, I was thinking about it. Just wondering if my back would ever be AS flexible as I want it to be. I wish I could force my body to do things that I think it should be able to do. If I could I would be doing some pretty awesome stuff! LOL. Since it is/was fused at such a low level, and only on one side, I am wondering if it is possible. What kind of experiences do you have? And I am sorry about the spinal fusion surgery. I hope it was helpful.
Phoenix Hunter · 2/17/2016
if your spine is fused on only one level, then this should not be too limiting of a factor for you. my spine was fused on 2 levels. I have lost alot of mobility in my neck because of it but I am able to currently train in contortion. if you havent had it checked out since you were 16, it would really do you some good to get some information. sounds like you have been living with some pain and pain has become normal to you. the kind of pain you describe is something that other people would probably get checked immediately but since it is normal for you,you just learn to live with it. you really want to make sure you dont have any herniated or ruptured disc before getting into backbending. honestly, what you describe sounds possible to be a herniated disc. but you cant know that until you get an mri or ct scan. xrays wont show this. backbending with a herniated disc can put you in a wheelchair or leave you disabled. it really is that serious if you dont know what is going on. when you know for certain what is wrong then you can work smarter. since my fusion is surgical it is reinforced with metal plates and screws. I can work to compensate for loss of mobility where the fusion is by making my upper back, middle back, and shoulders more flexible. this is taking/will take lots of work. years. to get where I want. and I may progress more, but there may come a point where I can do no more. with a natural spinal fusion you do not have metal plates and screws reinforcing the fusion point. you want to make sure the bone is not brittle because your vertebra can fracture and injure your spine. if your bones are healthy and strong, you may also be able to compensate your mobility in other parts of your spine. the places where your spine does not bend, the vertebra above and below that area will compensate to a certain degree. this is good and bad news. good because there is hope for increasing mobility, bad because those levels above and below the fused vertebra run risk of taking too much pressure and fracturing or the disc herniating. this all depends if those vertebra and discs look healthy. this is why its so important to get a picture of what is going on. Literally, this needs to be visualized. especially if you are having pain from day to day activities like you described. you may get checked out and find relief knowing that you dont have any herniated disc or anything serious going on. you may just have inflammation causing your pain. and wouldnt that be a relief knowing that there wasnt something hidden going on. Knowing the full picture will help you to know how to gain more spinal mobility. since your issue is in your lower back, you may find that increasing flexibility in your hip flexors, mid back,upper back and neck help compensate for your lower back. the lower back is generally the most flexible part of the spine. in backbending you want to actually prevent your lower back from doing all the bending. you want to distribute the bend in the shoulders, upper back, and mid back. easier said than done! haha! strengthening your upper back, mid back and lower back muscles can help you bend those hard to bend parts of your spine. also, increasing strength in the glutes and hamstrings can help you to stretch your hip flexors, taking some pressure off your lower back while bending. same for shoulders, get them more flexy and you will take pressure off the lower back. and of course strengthening core and lower abs is absolutely necessary for backbending. - my spinal fusion surgery was necessary because I losing function of both of my arms and hands. I have lost lots of movement in my neck but I am more flexible now than i have ever been in my whole life. I have some permanent disability and damage but I have learned to compensate with the rest of my body. it took a lot of work to get where I am . I just want to offer hope that the unimaginable really can be possible if you do it with knowledge and carefulness. I have been using fit and bendy for 2 years now and it has been crucial to getting me to where I am now with my flexibility. I really recommend watching the fit and bendy Q&A videos on youtube. they are lengthy but full of good information. I have worked in surgery for 16 years, that includes doing spine surgeries and sports medicine surgeries. I'm not a doctor but I know good, safe information when I hear it and her Q&A videos are a good source of information as well as Veena. Both Veena and fit and bendy teach safe flexibility methods based on anatomy and logical science. there are others that teach flexibility and their methods are not very safe or educational. I hope you are on your way to achieving more mobility and feeling less pain. I hope that you get information that can put your mind at ease help you progress. :)
Gena · 2/17/2016
Phoenix, I am so glad that you are getting to where you want to be. It sounds like you have had a long road. Yes, most likely I am so used to the pain that I overlook it. I deal. The doctor did say learn to live with it. LOL. At any rate, I only do what my body says I can. Right now the weight is a huge issue. I will never be able to sit on the couch and eat bon bons. :( (Just kidding) Once I lose my 8-15 pounds I should be back to normal. I agree with you about Fit n Bendy and Veena. They are by far the best that I have come across. Neither one pushes too hard or tells you to force your body into some stretch it is not ready for. I love Veena, but I love the portability of the Get Bent dvd...no wifi in my house. Most likely sooner rather than later I will have to go see a doctor. Simply because I plan on being active for a very long time. It is good to have some hope and some directions to go. Thank you for that. Here's to both of us moving forward on our journeys.