I have some serious orthopedic issues, so what I can do for exercise is NOTHING.
Right now, I seem to have developed another vertebral disc problem–one reason I’m doing so much posting of late, as I can’t drive anywhere without pain.
My first disc problem paralyzed a muscle for several weeks, which fortunately came back to life, but it left me with no reflexes in one leg and a tendency to end up in severe pain for weeks if I twisted the wrong way or put any stress on my lower back. This new episode which started a month ago has my middle toes going numb on and off and leg pain going up and down the leg if I do much of anything. I’m just hoping that this isn’t a rupture like the earlier one was.
My tendons also tear very easily all over my body, which has also limited my ability to exercise.
When I did a lot of treadmill walking because it seemed not to exacerbate my back, I ended up with a repetitive motion injury in my foot.
Disc problems run in the same side of my family that has the diabetes gene. A doctor told me it is possible that there is something a bit wrong genetically with the proteins making up the disc material.
I have still managed to maintain a 30 lb weight loss for 4 years and my A1c is usually mid-5% range. So it IS possible to do okay even if exercise isn’t possible,
One MAJOR POINT that grows out of this, though. I exercised intensely as a younger person, both Gym exercise and doing heavy labor with a lot of lifting. I was very strong and proud of my strength. I also schlepped around a huge toddler–who grew up to be a college football offensive lineman. NO one warned me that all this heavy lifting and exercise might be destroying my body.
My daughter tells me she has a lot of ex-gym rat friends who are now getting knee replacements in their 30s.
So be smart, and when you exercise, DON’T strain your back or joints even if you don’t get symptoms! You really do want your back and joints working well when you are older! Brisk walking (not on a treadmill) works great. My dad did a couple miles every day until he lost his vision in his mid-90s. He lived to be 100 with a bad blood sugar gene!