Cannot exercise

[islelassie]

I have what they used to call pre diabetes and am told I need to exercise as well as watch my diet. My problem is that I have had four surgical operations over the last two years for a recurring abdominal incisional hernia and this means that I am not allowed to do any sort of workout that puts a strain on it.

It also hurts me to walk, so I have to drive everywhere and cannot even do that.

Swimming is out most of the time because of open wounds that take months to close and even when they did close it hurt to even do simple breast stroke.
Prior to my original surgery ( I had Endometrial Cancer) I went to gym and walked at least 5 times a week. I have actually lost weight since I stopped working out, but there seems to be no additional advice for people who cannot work out or even walk.

I have only had raised glucose levels since I stopped being able to work out. I can control them by doing low carb/Atkins type diet but as soon as I eat any sort of carb, even the good ones, my glucose spikes.

I would prefer to remain on low carb rather than go on medication but I am not sure how long I can do this without compromising my health in other ways. I hope eventually the hernia will be sorted, I have a small surgical procedure in a few weeks time but they think after that has healed I should be able to do exercise again but it has been 3 years now without any form of reasonable workout!

 

[Lemonie]

Hiya

I am also limited to exercising due to psoriatic arthritis and other joint/pelvic problems and have difficulty walking but I do not have the terrible problems that you do .. it sounds really difficult.

I don't know how much of this is relevant to you but here is what I do. I walk short distances but try and do so as many times a day as possible but can go days without if my back is bad. I also use the wii fit .. again when I feel I can and just do a little bit. I have had to learn after 3 years to try and concentrate on what I can do instead of what I can't because I can't change it.

 

[phoenix]

I have a small surgical procedure in a few weeks time but they think after that has healed I should be able to do exercise again but it has been 3 years now without any form of reasonable workout

so hopefully with your docs permission you will soon be able to start walking again, you'll obviously have to take things slowly and work up very gradually.
In the meantime one thought that I had that might be of use to you and possibly lemonie is to try a mini exercise bike(no seat just the pedals, fairly cheap to get hold of). My Mum who is now almost chairbound is able to use one of these for a while. If your problems permit it can be used to exercise the arms as well as the legs.

I found some good info on exercise and Arthritis on these sites.The second is from the US so the programmes aren't applicable but I thought the videos might be useful.
http://www.arthritisresearchuk.org/arth ... s.aspx#non
http://www.arthritis.org/exercise-intro.php