I've been having problems with my legs and right hip for a few years now...recently some days pain in right hip was so bad I was referred for Physio Therapy for Sciatica...after six weeks working with a Physio Therapist I didn't feel much difference so Doctor ordered xrays...results showed Osteoarthritis Arthritis of the spine.
I'm still doing home exercises (even though they don't seem to make much difference and some days difficult to do ) that Therapist recommended but unable to take the pain killers the Doctor gave me...I was disorientated and felt like I was a walking Zombie ...totally out of it at times! so will be trying other types of painkillers as at the moment I can't even bend...ever tried cleaning your teeth standing up!!!!
Anyway before buying as they are an expense I don't want to waste money on if not beneficial I was wondering if a stationary bike would be of any use and if anyone uses one and if so which type.
Would really appreciate any help with this...thankyou.
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Jelita
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Hi Jelita,Oh wow yes, I really do know what it's like trying to clean my teeth standing upright.. it goes straight down my face, clothes.. everywhere, but even leaning at a slight 20° angle by the sink can be agony. I tried sitting on the edge of the bath, various types of chairs and stools and even in the shower so I know where you're coming from with that.
Now.. the exercise bike... Mine is a very basic one, it was meant to be £140. from Argos but was half price. I do know how doing things slowly can be frustrating, feeling like there's no improvement, like it's not helping or doing anything.. but all good things take time. I was bed ridden for these years with spinal pain, I have OA in all joints and through my spine. I've always been a long distance hiker and mountaineer and I had that determination I was not, under any circumstances, giving up... After the third year of being in a hospital bed staring out the living room window (my spine doesn't let me lay flat), I waited till no-one was around and started using crutches to go short distances. It did take me a long time to be able to walk unaided, but I persevered. Two key words.. determination and perseverance!
An exercise bike at home is much better on your joints than one for outside (no pot holes, bumps or kerbs for starters).
Recommended is 5-10 minutes on the bike on an easy peddle mode (so it doesn't put excess pressure on your joints).. Only use the bike once every 3 days to begin with. Remember, your joints aren't using to this exercise so need time to adjust. You need to learn, or retain your determination to keep to the 3 days. If your joints feel a little sore, it's ok, the exercise bike motion is new to them, but stop if it's anything more than aches from exercise! After a couple of weeks add in an extra day... Slowly build up the days and time length you're on the bike, but do NOT go all gung ho on it and overdo it because believe me, your brain ego kicks in and convinces you you can do more than your body actually can.
Mind against body is horrible! It's when in your mind, you can do anything, but it can't and your body is like "omg what the hell are you doing to me!" (Mind is willing but the body isn't capable).. so please don't be tempted to do more when you start out. And yes, cheap exercise bikes are perfectly fine to use.
First time I used mine, I forgot to set a timer.. got off the bike and fell on the floor. Hence don't overdo it
Thankyou kohai...appreciate your response...that's exactly the info I needed. so will be ordering one today...was waiting to ask the Doctor about the bike but could only get an appointment for the end of the month and as I couldn't get out of bed this morning then walk to the bathroom with a full bladder you can only imagine what happened 🥵
So thanks again for your info so much appreciated.
I know exactly what you mean, and having been both bed ridden and losing track of the amount of days I couldn't get out of bed I went looking on medical sites. I was offered a commode, then a bed pan.. (my thoughts on those were a bunch of expletives). However..
I did find what looks like a plastic urinal bottle men use (bear with me)... To go with this is a discreet cup shaped to fit around your whole main intimate area and it has a tube coming out of the base.
Hold the oblong shaped cup over you, (so the urine only goes into this cup), it'll flow through the tube and go into the urine bottle. When done, feminine wipes can be used, and put the lid on the bottle. I kept my bottle, the thing I held too me to pee into (I can't remember the name), feminine wipes and zip lock bags all in a large wash bag by the side of my bed. I covered the cups in wet wipes or toilet paper, put them in a zip lock bag. Then when I was able to get up, I emptied the bottle and uses hot water to clean everything, replace it into clean zip lock bags and put it back by the bed.
I did put a towel under me for about a week as I was so scared it wouldn't work, I'd miss, I'd wet even more of the bed... but surprisingly it worked, so use a towel under you at first till you build confidence using it
You can find these items even on ebay under the Medical category for 'continence'. (I know we're not incontinent, but I don't think there's a word for 'can't physically get out of bed but bladder works fine).
Have a look. If you have problems, I'll see if I can get photos of mine to post so you and anyone else this may help will know what to look for.
Yes When I was saying about it, I couldn't for the life of me remember what it was called. I even have two upstairs, so I can describe them, I just couldn't remember the name of them. As soon as I saw you ask if that's the name it hit me. I was sat here thinking "omg yes, that's what they're called".
Dealing with injured knees one thing I did was make use of a (sturdy) pedal exerciser. I now have a compact treadmill, one which does allow for a bit of an incline which is better than walking on complete level, although I wish I could modify the amount of incline. I think both devices have proven helpful, the treadmill especially when weather doesn't permit decent walks outside. I still use the pedal exerciser from time to time, particularly when wasting too much time watching tv.
My hip pain I self diagnosed as bursitis, fit description of symptoms perfectly, and doing an exercise called "clamshell" seems to have cured it completely. As I'd been troubled by this off and on for many years it is nice to have finally sorted it, but a bit annoying I didn't discover this solution sooner. I suppose I never considered it important enough to mention to a physiotherapist as I was always seeing one for more acute difficulties.
Referred pain from the spine is a bummer, I know! What you should be given is exerciese which strengthen the muscles which support the spine. Also, another thought, when I first went to see my current physiotherapist she said the muscles in my back were "like bricks" in other words in a sort of permanent spasm. She worked her magic and at that time a lot of various chronic pains disappeared. I had been doing back exercises before, for a long time, but apparently I needed this other treatment as well.
I did read that the clamshell is a bit controversial, which I didn't know when I tried it for myself, not until after I was better! However, I couldn't hold the position for long at all when first starting, I had to build up to that. The version I used said to hold for 10 seconds. Couldn't approach that for a couple of weeks!
Heron NS,With the physio on the back, and the muscles being like bricks, my spine was at the stage where the physio could do acupressure to get those brick sized muscles back down.. that was 23 years ago. I think it depends on how far the condition has progressed. I was told eventually they couldn't do it anymore, the acupressure wasn't working. At that time OA had only affected my back and hands so they didn't suggest exercise as I was continually working, the only time I wasn't was when my back was too bad.
As a side note, after I lost my brother, the counselor had the nerve to tell me he thought my back pain was psychosomatic!
I mentioned this to the physio, she said "ooh some just have no idea! What I'm looking at now looks like you've got a house brick in your back!". I was in there so often I think I knew all the physio's by first name. And when asked why I was there, I got so tired of explaining I ended up just saying "house bricks"
I'm surprised the treadmill inclination can't be adjusted, most can be. Did yours say specifically it was a set incline on it when you brought it?
Treadmill - It's a compact treadmill, and it can either be level or set at a single incline, I think it's 3" and I believe 2" would be less tiring for me. That's what I set the full sized treadmill I had in the basement of the house I moved away from three years ago (not enough space now). Also with the full sized one I could adjust the incline at will which makes for a more natural "walk" as outdoors the incline is constantly changing. But still, better than nothing!
Brick back - My physiotherapist used dry needling on my back, over several appointments, to "reset" the electrical signals, or something like that, which were causing the muscles to be constantly tight. I've never met anyone else who described this as bricks before. Nice to meet you!
Nice to meet you too. I've told a few occupational therapists about the 'brick' description, but they look at me like healthy people do.. like I'm nuts because they personally haven't seen, heard or come across it themselves, or that I'm over-exaggerating the size of the swelling. It was many years ago mine was first like that, so the treatments of it other than acupressure weren't common or widely available, but some days when my back is killing me, I can try lean against a wall for support and wow i really feel that brick sized swelling then.
Possibly an occupational therapist would not be familiar with jargon used by physiotherapists? However my physiotherapist was referring to the hardness of my muscles, not, as far as I'm aware, to any sort of bulging. I am just a thin elderly woman!
I'm just guessing she meant bulging, swollen brick size, it was about 30+ years ago. Now my bones don't have much flesh on them, hard or soft muscle that sticks out of my back is felt .. I can't see it and it's usually too painful to prod to find out. And according to someone I spoke with from Age Concern recently, nowadays anyone aged 50 and over is classed as elderly.. I guess that's me elderly too.
Hi Jelita. I have had both hips replaced due to osteoarthritis which has made a huge difference but I now have lower back pain and sciatica like symptoms down my left leg. They are worse first thing but 20 mins on my exercise bike (I have a Peloton which won’t be right for all) and whilst it doesn’t disappear completely it certainly loosened everything up so I can get on with my day. Good luck!!😃😃
If you want a stationary bike I would invest in a recumbent bike which would be much easier to get in and out of and I do think staying active even a little bit is better then doing nothing…. Did your doctor check your vitamin D levels ?
Hi Jelita, so glad to see your question about exercising on a bike.
I have wide spread osteo arthritis that was causing sciatica to begin with and has progressed from lower spine to joints mainly my left knee, hands and wrists. My son has an exercise bike gathering dust in my dining room so on reading your question and kohai's answer its encouraged me to use it.
I bought it for my son to help him with anxiety and panic attacks, a distraction if you like and have used it myself but I got out of the habit. So thank you and thanks to Kohai for her help.
....and yes I've struggled with bending and standing to brush my teeth, have to be aware of where the weight load is or I'm in pain and dribbling toothpaste everywhere. Also been bed ridden with sciatica. Good luck, let us know how you get on xxx
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