what exercise can i do after lumbar microdiscectomy

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yakida

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Hi, I had a l5/s1 micro discectomy and lateral recess decompression done 6 weeks ago due to suffering with sciatica. The first week I felt fine but since then I get the pain in my leg again and tingling in my foot wich I never had before. The leg pain is not as constant or painful as before but the doc said this is normal and made a follow up appointment in 3 months to see if still the symptoms are still the same.
Anyway he has advised me to do as much walking, cycling and swimming as possible. As I've not been very mobile for a while I have put a bit of weight on asked asked if I could get back to doing sit ups. He said give it another couple of weeks then will be ok. Although everyone around me advises against this, not medical people of course.
I'm just asking if anyone else has been advised to do sit ups, go back to gym or any other exerises I can do without puttimg my back out and back to square 1.
Any replies would be appreciated.
Thanks
 
Walk, walk, walk. And try to lose the weight that will help alot. I had a fusion, but i would NEVER do sit-ups. That is putting stress on the very area that is you fixed and is now weaker than before. YOu can do exercises to strengthen core muscles and stretching. But walking is the best, and so is swimming or water therapy....

The pain is normal. Your nerves were moved during the proceedure, and they don't like that. They like to be left alone. Now they are inflamed and need time to settle down and for the swelling to subside. They pain should diminish over time.
 
Walking Walking is the best thing to do. Try to manage your diet by eating fruits and veggies more and drinking lots of water. As you walk and watch not to eat unhealthy fooRAB you will loose the weight. Walking and swimming use your core muscles, it is amazing how much you engage your core thur the day without having to do situps. Get some great music or a podcast and walk, or go to a mall where there are lots of people, and air conditioning.
Be patient it will come in time.
 
Thanks, for the helpful replies. I will leave the sit ups alone for now.
I am glad to know that the pain is normal, was begining to think that the operation was a waste of time.
 
From my own experience, my suggestions would be to walk in a swimming pool to begin to build up strength again, ride a stationary bike on an easy setting, and plenty of walking as tolerated. I would not do any sit ups because all you are doing are stresing those back and abdominal muscles. After my L4-5-S1 fusion, the neurosurgeon would not even recommend any physical therapy because he felt that they would push you too hard. Gradually buildup strength and later once time has past, then maybe look at doing sit ups.
 
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