Re: Only sitting for 20 minutes at a time.

[Guest guest]

Dear Joyce,

I had specific post-operative instructions not to sit for more than twenty

minutes for the first eight weeks after surgery. I have heard from many

people with all kinds of back problems that sitting for long periods is not

good for the back. The reason for this is that while you are walking, or

otherwise exercising, your stomach muscles are actively supporting your

back, helping you be more erect and taking pressure off of your vertebrae.

When you sit the stomach muscles relax and do not support your back, but the

force of gravity is still on your vertebrae. You can try to pull your

stomach muscles in while sitting and that may help, but I have noticed that

getting up and being truly active in other ways gives true relief. Others

may have a clearer explanation.

I also find it helps to take total holidays from the computer chair. Over

the long Labor Day weekend I left the car at home and took the train, and

then the ferry to Provincetown. I walked and walked and walked. I danced

in the afternoon and late at night. I had some nerve pain in my left foot

as I do almost every day and some sacro-iliac pain, but I took some pain

meds and walked and danced right through it. (For the first time ever I

even took my shirt off at one dance club and had a great time. Given my

poor body image and low self-esteem that I wrote about a little in previous

posts, I truly amazed myself.) I rested on the hotel bed or at the beach,

but I hardly sat at all, only for meals and an occasional park bench.

When I returned home I felt great, but soon I had many erands to run which

required the car, many emails to read and letters to write. So, how to find

the right balance? I used to drive 36,000 miles a year until I moved my

office to my home. As of two days ago my two children are both away at

school for the first time and I no longer need to drive them all over the

place. I might get my driving down to under 20,000 miles this year.

Hurray! I have a conservation area across the street where I can walk over

a mile through the woods to reach the bank, drugstore, supermarket and

hardware store. My goal is to simplify my life and appreciate what I've

got. This will take clarity of mind and discipline.

Well, back to your question about sitting; if I am sitting for a long time

and I cannot take a long break I find it really helpful to just stand for a

moment to do keegal (sp?) exercises, tighten the buttock muscles, and pull

my stomach in again and again just for a minute. It's better than nothing

and it makes a big difference for me. You might want to get up a little

before your hurting so bad. You might be able to overall sit longer if you

get up more often. I have no idea if you are doing permanent harm to

yourself by sitting too long, ask your doctor or the doctor's assistants

about that.

As of February I am also fused to the sacrum, from T10. I have a small

lumbar curve now and I sit on my thighs more than on my tailbone and sit

bones as I did before.

That's all for now. (I think I have been sitting too long)

-----------------------------------------------------------------

>From: " joyce edmonds " <bichon4me@...>

>Reply-

>< >

>Subject: Only sitting for 20 minutes at a time.

>Date: Thu, 9 Sep 2004 12:19:47 -0500

>

>Hi ,

>

>I just read your post about not being able to sit more than 20 minutes at a

>time. My doctor didn't mention any sitting limitations for me so I sit

>here at my computer until my back is hurting so bad I have to stand up. I

>have often wondered what others do concerning this. Do you think I am

>causing permanent harm to myself. I just had the initial scoliosis surgery

>fused from T2 to the sacrum on July 7 and August 4.

>

>I would appreciate anyone's opinion concerning this.

>

>Joyce

>

>

[Guest guest]

Just an FYI. My physical therapist advised me to get a

non-burstable fitness/physio ball that's '75'(?) and

use that sometimes as my computer chair. He said it

will help with core strengthening since it requires

your stomach muscles to balance. I haven't done this

yet but thought I would mention it. - Kathi in NJ

--- Ranvig <Ranvig@...> wrote:

> The reason for this is that

> while you are walking, or

> otherwise exercising, your stomach muscles are

> actively supporting your

> back, helping you be more erect and taking pressure

> off of your vertebrae.

> When you sit the stomach muscles relax and do not

> support your back, but the

> force of gravity is still on your vertebrae.

__________________________________________________

[Guest guest]

I'll have to check out the physio ball. It sounds to much like work.

Joyce

RE: Only sitting for 20 minutes at a time.

Just an FYI. My physical therapist advised me to get a

non-burstable fitness/physio ball that's '75'(?) and

use that sometimes as my computer chair. He said it

will help with core strengthening since it requires

your stomach muscles to balance. I haven't done this

yet but thought I would mention it. - Kathi in NJ

--- Ranvig <Ranvig@...> wrote:

> The reason for this is that

> while you are walking, or

> otherwise exercising, your stomach muscles are

> actively supporting your

> back, helping you be more erect and taking pressure

> off of your vertebrae.

> When you sit the stomach muscles relax and do not

> support your back, but the

> force of gravity is still on your vertebrae.

__________________________________________________

[Guest guest]

I used to use a physio ball pre-revision for sitting sometimes, but

don't know if it would be a wise choice while still in the

recuperation stage of revision surgery, which I believe is the case

for the person that orignally posted.

Dianne

>

> > The reason for this is that

> > while you are walking, or

> > otherwise exercising, your stomach muscles are

> > actively supporting your

> > back, helping you be more erect and taking pressure

> > off of your vertebrae.

> > When you sit the stomach muscles relax and do not

> > support your back, but the

> > force of gravity is still on your vertebrae.

>

> __________________________________________________

>

[Guest guest]

,

Thank you so much for your post on sitting too long. You took up much of your

sitting time just answering my post. But it made good sense and I will start

limiting my time. Starting now.

Good night,

Joyce

Only sitting for 20 minutes at a time.

>Date: Thu, 9 Sep 2004 12:19:47 -0500

>

>Hi ,

>

>I just read your post about not being able to sit more than 20 minutes at a

>time. My doctor didn't mention any sitting limitations for me so I sit

>here at my computer until my back is hurting so bad I have to stand up. I

>have often wondered what others do concerning this. Do you think I am

>causing permanent harm to myself. I just had the initial scoliosis surgery

>fused from T2 to the sacrum on July 7 and August 4.

>

>I would appreciate anyone's opinion concerning this.

>

>Joyce

>

>