am i an idiot for this.....

i have been gaining... doc has been tellin me no exercising bc i hurt my back really bad... so for 2 months i havent done nothin but finger exercises...(you know... the remote) so last wk i went back to the doc and told him i cant just sit around all day... i have gained 16-18 lbs in 2 months... and i asked him can i please get back to exercisin and he said no... i was so mad i could had spit nails... so i said what do i have to do to get back to exercisin... bc walkin isnt doin nothing for me... and he said well as long as you dont have pain then you can start up.. SO i got to thinkin... (i know this maynot be good but for now it will be) normally at 8pm i take a percoset before bed... SO i decided to go joggin right after i take the pill... so far my back hasnt hurt and i have lost 3 lbs... some said to try water exercises... but i have a little one and with only superman workin we cant afford daycare... SO my question to you is since i have been doing this and my back hasnt been hurtin am i doin more damage even though i cant feel it ... i know it maybe a dumb idea... but for now its the best that i can come up with... i just hate being inside when its nice out... and it gives me some free time by myself...

Ithink that is something your doctor could answer. I wouldn't think jogging would be good for a hurt back. The pounding as you run, the impact.... ask your doc. Darlene

i know but he did say as long as i dont have pain.... i am just scared that its all gonna come back but i see where your commin from... the impact could leave me worse off... k i need to make a call... i guess i wasnt thinkin in the form of the long run...

I would think that if he really didn't want you doing ANY exercise that jogging would be too hard on your injured back. You can do serious long term damage to your spine and vertebrae if you're not careful. I know you don't want to wind up gaining your weight back, but you also don't want to wind up not being able to walk. Why not start with some walking? If it's your heartrate your concerned about, walk on a treadmill on a 5-10% incline. You can slow your pace down and increase your incline to get your heartrate up. Also, according to the American Council on Exercise, lower intensity exercise has the same benefits if done for a longer period of time as higher intensity exercise. So, if you normally jog for 30 minutes then walk for 60 at a slower pace. You'll get the same health benefits without placing yourself at risk for injury. Hope that helps, Lily

Power walking is more beneficial than jogging and easier on the back. I have herniated discs in my lower back, so I have a little experience with this. Walking very fast, go for about fifteen minutes out, fifteen minutes back. You can increase your time as you get better at it, maybe up to an hour. Me? I bought a Gazelle Edge at WalMart for $95 and I walk briskly all the way through the news hour when the weather is nasty! Good luck and God bless!