Gentle exercise can help lessen pain

Dear Dr. Gott: I suffer from severe degenerative disc disease at L4-5, mild disc disease at L2-3, spondylosis and osteoporosis. Can I walk or exercise with this condition?

Dear Reader: Indeed you can; in fact, you should.

Your backbones are losing calcium, and you have developed arthritis, too, in the spine. These conditions are associated with damage to two discs, the doughnut-shaped structures separating your vertebrae.

Evidently, the discs between the second and third and the fourth and fifth lumbar vertebral bones have become thin, leading to stiffness and pain that probably affects your lower back, buttocks and legs. Because degenerative discs may press on spinal nerves, you may at some point require surgery to repair the discs if the condition progresses.

In the meantime, however, walking and gentle exercise (no heavy lifting or prolonged bending) will help reduce stiffness and discomfort. Remember not to push yourself to the point of severe pain, as this could lead to incapacitating spasms of the back muscles.

In addition to exercise, you may be aided by hot packs, physical therapy, massage, mild pain pills (such as Advil), a special therapeutic exercise program, and even acupuncture.

Further, to help counteract the continued loss of calcium from your bones, you should take supplemental calcium, such as three or four TUMS a day.

These are things you can do on your own.

For his part, your physician can help you by outlining a specific exercise program for your needs, prescribing anti-inflammatory pain pills (such as Lodine and Aleve), considering prescription drugs such as Fosamax or Actonel, and referring you to appropriate specialists (orthopedists or neurosurgeons) should this be necessary.

While you’re sorting out your options, keep walking.

To give you related information, I am sending you copies of my health reports “Understanding Osteoarthritis,” “Osteoporosis” and “Managing Chronic Pain.” Other readers who would like copies should send a long, self-addressed, stamped envelope and $2 for each report to Newsletter, P.O. Box 167, Wickliffe, OH 44092. Be sure to mention the title(s).