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***nandm*** · 07-04-2008, 12:33 PM

Ironically, prior to getting sober I was in great physical shape. I worked as a paramedic and had to make sure I could keep up or do better than the guys I worked with so I worked out by lifting weights and treadmill daily when I wasn't working out lifting 12 oz beers (lol). Once I got sober I kept up the exercise routine up until I was 6 months sober. That is when I had the motorcycle wreck that thrashed all 4 of my limbs. By the time I had recouped from that almost 2 years later I had stopped exercising almost completely. I had just gotten back into exercising when I got rearended which left me with disc problems in the lower back. For 2 years I did only the minimum and did not exercise as it was too painful. After 2 years of living like that and putting my life on hold I determined that since I was going to be in pain either way I might as well live my life, do what I wanted to do and get back into shape despite the pain. Since then I have been doing more exercise. This has helped with the back pain. By strengthening the muscles in that area there is more support for the discs which in turn makes them more stable and the pain does not appear to last as long as it did. Granted I have to deal with taking more pain medicine that I did previously as I am in considerably more pain but I truly believe that in the long run the exercise and living my life will be well worth any additional inconvienence right now.

On the note of eating better. I gained 30 pounds after my accident at 6 months sober and another 40 after the rear end car accident. That left me at 7 years sober weighing almost 70 pounds over my ideal weight. Since I have started exercising again I also started eating better and have lost almost 30 of those pounds. I am looking forward to getting back down to my ideal weight again, especially since I am 43, since I know I feel better when I am. This weight loss will also relieve some of the stress on my back which in turn will help with pain.

So to sum up I think that eating right and exercising is essential to pain management.

07-04-2008, 12:33 PM	#8 (permalink)
*nandm* Life the gift of recovery! Join Date: Aug 2007 Location: Home is where the heart is Posts: 6,580	Ironically, prior to getting sober I was in great physical shape. I worked as a paramedic and had to make sure I could keep up or do better than the guys I worked with so I worked out by lifting weights and treadmill daily when I wasn't working out lifting 12 oz beers (lol). Once I got sober I kept up the exercise routine up until I was 6 months sober. That is when I had the motorcycle wreck that thrashed all 4 of my limbs. By the time I had recouped from that almost 2 years later I had stopped exercising almost completely. I had just gotten back into exercising when I got rearended which left me with disc problems in the lower back. For 2 years I did only the minimum and did not exercise as it was too painful. After 2 years of living like that and putting my life on hold I determined that since I was going to be in pain either way I might as well live my life, do what I wanted to do and get back into shape despite the pain. Since then I have been doing more exercise. This has helped with the back pain. By strengthening the muscles in that area there is more support for the discs which in turn makes them more stable and the pain does not appear to last as long as it did. Granted I have to deal with taking more pain medicine that I did previously as I am in considerably more pain but I truly believe that in the long run the exercise and living my life will be well worth any additional inconvienence right now. On the note of eating better. I gained 30 pounds after my accident at 6 months sober and another 40 after the rear end car accident. That left me at 7 years sober weighing almost 70 pounds over my ideal weight. Since I have started exercising again I also started eating better and have lost almost 30 of those pounds. I am looking forward to getting back down to my ideal weight again, especially since I am 43, since I know I feel better when I am. This weight loss will also relieve some of the stress on my back which in turn will help with pain. So to sum up I think that eating right and exercising is essential to pain management. __________________ NOTE: All BB quotes are from the 1st Edition of the Big Book Depression is not a sign of weakness. It is a sign of being too strong for too long.