Lumbar Spondylosis

Regular gentle movement of the spine will keep your spine healthy. Even just doing 5 minutes a day of slow cat/cow movements will help. Sarah Neale is a Yoga Teacher who suffers from Lumbar Spondylosis and understands how to manage this condition.

This week has been a really tough one, it ended with the much-awaited visit to the GP to get the results of the MRI I had in October to look at my lower back after the horrendous pain I had in August last year. 

It turns out at the age of 51, I have Lumbar Spondylosis.  Which in English, means a degeneration of the discs in the lower back.  I also have a bulging disc.  This condition is common and a lot of people have it, most people don't have any symptoms.  It can be managed, but not cured. 

The irony of this is that all of the information I was given by the GP on Friday about managing the condition/pain is what I have figured out by myself over the last year or so. 

Management includes, not loading the back heavily (I use machines to lift heavy to keep my legs strong).  Taking breaks if you are in pain (I don't take on cover classes, if it means I won't get my rest days between teaching).  Heat and cold (saunas, hot water bottles).  Keep moving (gentle yoga and walks on rest days).  Side sleepers advised to try and sleep on their back and if side sleeping to sleep with a pillow between your knees.  Severe pain: anti-inflammatories to be used.  I was given a sheet of exercises to do and I do these already as they relieve the symptoms.  A strong core and also doing regular lower back stretches before and after working out are also on the list. 

I consider myself very fortunate to have a job that ensures that I keep moving, but am very sad to say that I think I will not return to teaching Les Mills BodyPump (the classes were fun while I was doing them) and will continue with my Senior Strength classes and my yoga and BodyBalance.  I might try and get a core class somewhere too, as keeping a strong core is the key to managing lower back pain, those old bones of mine will benefit from the extra support.