Yesterday, my excellent lady doctor reviewed the results of my semi-annual checkup, which included lab tests for blood, urine, etc, which was good, as it usually is. Also included in the tests was an X-ray of my lower back, because I had recently been complaining of lower back pain when on my feet for an extended time, also causing a bend in my posture. I thought, since I'm now 84, it was probably arthritis, because of the recent arthritic stiffening of my hands, but she informed me that I had a fractured spine, from a crack in my backbone! This was a shock to me, and in addition to subscribing meds for reducing my back pain, she also insisted that I give up strenuous exercises, such as my lifelong working with weights, and substitute walking instead. This means that my new rowing machine will remain unused, so I'll try to sell it. Hal
Yes, Shirley...the living experience sometimes creates a partial vacuum. But thank you for your concern! Harry
I'm sorry to hear this. Do you know if it was due to trauma (did you fall on your coccyx), or stress from exercising? I would think (as I guess you would, too) that keeping your back muscles in shape would help keep the stress off of your skeletal system. If you've been living with this thing, I gotta think that your exercise has helped keep you more ambulatory than you otherwise would have been.
I'm sorry, Hal. Does the Doc think it will get better with time, so you can resume some exercises, gradually maybe?
I'll see the doctor again on the 24th, and discuss the possibility of doing some light stress exercises, but since she's the sawbones, I'll go by her recommendations. I can always use my treadmill for walking up an incline, for a cardio workout... H.P.
John, I don't know when or how the problem first came about...our dogs keep our property free from coccyx, so I couldn't have fallen on them. Hal