Question
Rusty,

About mid november I started having some pretty debilitating lower back and right hip pain. After 5 visits to a chiropractor and finally to an M.D. and a CT scan. It was determined that I have arthritis of the spine. Relafen was prescribed but no further action was taken. This helped to some extent, the pain is no longer general, but is now localized in my right hip. I need to tell you also that I am probably 65-75 lbs overweight. I know that I need to lose some weight but what exercises would you recommend to ease this discomfort that I feel all day (I am desk bound as a manager for a mortgage company)My doctor seems disinterested at best and seems to want to pass the buck to a neurologist. I think that probably a good regimen of diet and exercise would help but I could use another opinion. I am an avid golfer and the the thought of not having my favorite past time available to me is a huge problem. I will be looking forward to your help.

Thanks,

Roger W.

Answer
Roger,

Don't you just hate it when you doctor seems disinterested. Truth is you are better off in the hand of a neurologist or rheumatologist when it comes to treating this kind of pain.

Losing excess weight is one of the best ways of controlling the pain associated with arthritis of the spine.

Water exercise is the best. Even if it is just walking around the shallow end of the pool. The water takes the weight off your spine while you exercise. The friction from the water burns a lot of calories with not a lot of hard physical work. Water walking or water aerobics are both good as is lap swimming. If you have multiple pool options in your area choose the warmest one. Warm water exercising is recommended most.

Lifting weights is also a good exercise as is anything that is low or no impact.

Here are a couple of links from the arthritis society that might help.

http://arthritis.org/conditions/exercise/default.asp
http://arthritis.org/conditions/exercise/warm_up.asp

I wish you the best,

Rusty