Water Exercises

[Guest guest]

Hi Cam, and every other water exercise enthusiast;

I have been very fortunate to have a brand new Wellness Center 5

minutes from my house. Among all sorts of machines and land

exercises, they have a heated (88 degrees) saltwater pool.

Membership is limited to those over 55 years of age. The instructor

has experience as a personal trainer, has a masters in exercise and is

currently studying for a masers in Movement. I haven't done any of

the land exercises yet, nor have I used any of the machines. But, I

have taken a few water classes and they are killing me. I have not

experienced this much pain since early i the recovery period form my

revision surgery which was almost 13 years ago. The water exercise

class is the lowest level, the Arthritis Foundation prescribed

exercises. The instructor has been certified to teach this class by

the Arthritis Foundation. There is no bouncing. We don't use any

equipment; no barbells, no paddles, no weights, no nothing. I don't

do anything that would put my back into hyper-extension and I don't

twist my body at all. The class lasts about 50 minutes. Some of the

exercises we do are described in the Beginners Level of exercises for

those with a bad back, including post surgical scoliosis, n page 140,

of the book Water Exercise, by Martha White. My pain from these

exercises is incredible. My entire lumbar spine, from L1 to S1 aches,

there is a different ache all across my buttocks, from hip to hip and

the entire length of the lumbar spine, the upper right hip hurts even

worse, and there is burning pain all over the entire area. I don't

hurt while I'm in the water of for the first hour after the water

exercise. Then, first my spine feels stiff, then the aches begin and

a few hours later, I am good for nothing except lying down, which does

help. By morning I feel a bit better, but still bad.

So what's happening to me? Any ideas? I know none of you are

experts, but I'd be willing to hear any suggestions. I'm not going

back to class until I figure this out. Oh, this started right after

my first class, got a bit better, went to two more classes two days

apart, the next was 4 days later and not too terrible, and two days

after that the instructor changed some exercises and I've been

miserable ever since.

This doesn't feel like muscle pain. Movement does not make it worse

like a charley horse would. I see my pain doc on Tuesday and then

I'll meet with the water instructor to try to understand this.

When I saw Dr. Bridwell in Sept 2006, he wrote that I " probably " have

arachnoiditis, which Dr. Boachie, my surgeon, never mentioned. I'm

wondering if this spine pain indicates that Dr. Bridwell was right,

and the exercises are causing increased inflammation on the spine.

Any thoughts?

I'd appreciate any help.

Bonnie