Concept2 Forum

Hi all. I have a question regarding the relative safety of someone starting to row with a bulging disc? My 55 year old sister expressed some interest in rowing but is afraid to start because of her disc problem.<br /><br />Realizing this is not a medical message board I'm just interested in any opinions or experience some of you might have.

<!--QuoteBegin-chipman+Jun 12 2005, 07:35 PM--><table border='0' align='center' width='95%' cellpadding='3' cellspacing='1'><tr><td><div class='genmed'><b>QUOTE(chipman @ Jun 12 2005, 07:35 PM)</b></div></td></tr><tr><td class='quote'><!--QuoteEBegin-->Hi all. I have a question regarding the relative safety of someone starting to row with a bulging disc? My 55 year old sister expressed some interest in rowing but is afraid to start because of her disc problem.<br /><br />Realizing this is not a medical message board I'm just interested in any opinions or experience some of you might have. <br /> </td></tr></table><br /><br />Before I say anything, I should let you know that I am not offering a medical opinion <br /><br />Once doctors obtained noninvasive ways of looking inside people (like CTs and MRIs), they discovered all sorts of interesting things. One of them is more people than not have bulging discs! Surprise! Surprise! Mst of those people do not have back problems. The reasonable conclusion is that the bulging disc by iteslf is not the problem.<br /><br />If your sister has symptoms, the answer is obvious, especially if rowing makes them worse. Otherwise, give it a go. She ought to consider a variety of exercises to strengthen or core and back in any case.<br /><br />Good luck.

If the back might be a problem, start slow and easy. Learn to push with the legs rather than to pull with the lower back. By starting easy, she should feel slight soreness before any big problems develop. Also, try using slides. They seem easier on the back.<br /><br />Paul Flack

I had three herniated discs that were operated on about 10 years ago. Once the surgery was done I was relatively pain free. About three weeks after the surgery, my doctor was walking in front of the gym and saw me on the stair master. He gave me the thumbs up. (Although he did have a surprised look on his face!)<br /><br />The back pain is still there, but rowing does two things for me. It keeps me in shape, so I don't have extra weight stressing out my back. It also directly works the muscles around the problem area giving me even more support. I stretch a lot. I used to use a lot of ice and Advil, but lately it's only when I've done a hard interval session.<br /><br />So, find out what the real problem is first. I had people telling me as a 29 year old that I was getting tight muscles and needed therapy. That was painful therapy. Once an MRI saw the damage that I had incurred years before as a Army paratrooper, I realized what the problem was and worked with my uncle (a chiropractor) to releive the pain. After about a year, I took the easy way out and had the surgery. I must say that it's still a factor in my life, but I'm fighting it daily with my C2 erg sessions.<br /><br />Regards,<br /><br />Bill Moore

Hi Bill et al,<br /><br />I had a spinal fusion (L5/S1) 14 years ago. It was due to a fractured vertibrae obtained from rowing workouts in college. ( I was simply too aggressive). Anyway, I completely quit rowing and took a 14 yr break from working out completely. (can you say, "lazy bum"?)<br /><br />The good part is... Last Thanksgiving, my wife and I realized we needed to do something to keep up with our two boys. We have been avid rowers after purchasing a new model D at that time. At first I was very careful and took about 4 weeks to work up to pace and time to my liking. At first, I got some sciatic pain and numbness in my left leg but found that it could be regulated by straightening my lower back and putting more effort into the legs and butt. I barely use my lower back during my stroke, and try to make up for it with the legs.<br /><br />So far, so good.... I'm at 880,000 or so meters in 8 months, and have never felt better. Earlier this Spring I completed the 12 week program detailed in Men's Health Mag to build your heart. It was fun!!<br /><br />Be careful and row smart. Recognize when your body is telling you to change something.<br /><br />-Chris<br /><br /><!--QuoteBegin-bmoore+Jun 13 2005, 12:41 AM--><table border='0' align='center' width='95%' cellpadding='3' cellspacing='1'><tr><td><div class='genmed'><b>QUOTE(bmoore @ Jun 13 2005, 12:41 AM)</b></div></td></tr><tr><td class='quote'><!--QuoteEBegin-->I had three herniated discs that were operated on about 10 years ago.  Once the surgery was done I was relatively pain free.  About three weeks after the surgery, my doctor was walking in front of the gym and saw me on the stair master.  He gave me the thumbs up.  (Although he did have a surprised look on his face!)<br /><br />The back pain is still there, but rowing does two things for me.  It keeps me in shape, so I don't have extra weight stressing out my back.  It also directly works the muscles around the problem area giving me even more support.  I stretch a lot.  I used to use a lot of ice and Advil, but lately it's only when I've done a hard interval session.<br /><br />So, find out what the real problem is first.  I had people telling me as a 29 year old that I was getting tight muscles and needed therapy.  That was painful therapy.  Once an MRI saw the damage that I had incurred years before as a Army paratrooper, I realized what the problem was and worked with my uncle (a chiropractor) to releive the pain.  After about a year, I took the easy way out and had the surgery.  I must say that it's still a factor in my life, but I'm fighting it daily with my C2 erg sessions.<br /><br />Regards,<br /><br />Bill Moore <br /> </td></tr></table><br />