Let’s Go Walking! Join me for a virtual walking support group

Ginger....What did you slightly mention you just found out???? Hello, Ginger and Jude and everyone. I've shared the joy of a compression fracture in my thoracic area, T12. No fun, Ginger. I don't think I could have walked a half mile 'for fun'. You're amazing, hats off to you for your determination. I had ortho cement in a procedure that was outpatient, done by a leading radiologist since the back doc wasn't available and I didn't really like him anyway. So, I left with only a band-aid free of pain and to this day, 12 years later, have had only an occasional pain that reminds me I shouldn't be doing whatever I'm doing.....lifting more than a gallon of water, or whatever. I'm so thankful. I had severe pain for several months before finally getting the procedure, new at the time and avoided invasive surgery. Hope you qualify for the same. Hope the MRI's are productive. And you get relief asap! Also, do you think you maybe/oughta/should be careful and forego the walking for fun until this back issue is addressed????? Maybe?

I would, however, follow the eagle as far as my broken back would take me! What a joy that must be to have bald eagles as neighbors. I have hawks, owls, herons, egrets, and others, and often have them in local nearby woods/trees, but bald eagles I only enjoy in digital and such.

I've been working to get my son treatment and more care from Mayo. They are so wonderful. He got his botox shots last Thursday, begins seeing different departments this week, hopefully soon the botox will begin working and he'll have pain relief desperately needed. It is happening, he is getting help. Again, thanks to all of you for your support and thoughts during this crisis. We're making it through.

It's in the 80's today, 60's tonight and tomorrow....60-70's here the rest of the week, No reason for me not to go for walk, but will be at Mayo for tests again tomorrow. Plan to walk the corridors there, if I feel ok after the procedures. I must get all this done and get my son better so I can begin walking and back to the therapy pool.

I'm so impressed with all you folks on this site who actually walk in such cold, freezing, icy, windy weather. I'm totally impressed! I don't know how you do it. I can't handle the cold or the very hot, so I'm always looking for new ways to get my walks.....corridors, malls, etc.
Thanks for this site. You are all an inspiration to many.

Blessings, enjoy this world!
elizabeth

@ess77 Yes, there are several mated pairs of eagles around here. It is always a joy to see them; yesterday's sighting was right over our house, which really made my afternoon!

Gentle walking is good for me. I am very careful about picking things up, and will follow the orthopedic dr or neurosurgeon recommendations. All this comes just as I am about to start treatment for multiple myeloma. What was very difficult this morning at the MRIs, was to lay absolutely still for about 1.5 hrs, even after taking 5mg valium. Hopefully by tomorrow morning the pain will have subsided caused by that duty to lay still.

So glad to hear your son is getting the help he needs, and the burden has lifted for you as well. Blessings to you.
Ginger

Ginger....What did you slightly mention you just found out???? Hello, Ginger and Jude and everyone. I've shared the joy of a compression fracture in my thoracic area, T12. No fun, Ginger. I don't think I could have walked a half mile 'for fun'. You're amazing, hats off to you for your determination. I had ortho cement in a procedure that was outpatient, done by a leading radiologist since the back doc wasn't available and I didn't really like him anyway. So, I left with only a band-aid free of pain and to this day, 12 years later, have had only an occasional pain that reminds me I shouldn't be doing whatever I'm doing.....lifting more than a gallon of water, or whatever. I'm so thankful. I had severe pain for several months before finally getting the procedure, new at the time and avoided invasive surgery. Hope you qualify for the same. Hope the MRI's are productive. And you get relief asap! Also, do you think you maybe/oughta/should be careful and forego the walking for fun until this back issue is addressed????? Maybe?

I would, however, follow the eagle as far as my broken back would take me! What a joy that must be to have bald eagles as neighbors. I have hawks, owls, herons, egrets, and others, and often have them in local nearby woods/trees, but bald eagles I only enjoy in digital and such.

I've been working to get my son treatment and more care from Mayo. They are so wonderful. He got his botox shots last Thursday, begins seeing different departments this week, hopefully soon the botox will begin working and he'll have pain relief desperately needed. It is happening, he is getting help. Again, thanks to all of you for your support and thoughts during this crisis. We're making it through.

It's in the 80's today, 60's tonight and tomorrow....60-70's here the rest of the week, No reason for me not to go for walk, but will be at Mayo for tests again tomorrow. Plan to walk the corridors there, if I feel ok after the procedures. I must get all this done and get my son better so I can begin walking and back to the therapy pool.

I'm so impressed with all you folks on this site who actually walk in such cold, freezing, icy, windy weather. I'm totally impressed! I don't know how you do it. I can't handle the cold or the very hot, so I'm always looking for new ways to get my walks.....corridors, malls, etc.
Thanks for this site. You are all an inspiration to many.

Blessings, enjoy this world!
elizabeth

@ess77 Yes, there are several mated pairs of eagles around here. It is always a joy to see them; yesterday's sighting was right over our house, which really made my afternoon!

Gentle walking is good for me. I am very careful about picking things up, and will follow the orthopedic dr or neurosurgeon recommendations. All this comes just as I am about to start treatment for multiple myeloma. What was very difficult this morning at the MRIs, was to lay absolutely still for about 1.5 hrs, even after taking 5mg valium. Hopefully by tomorrow morning the pain will have subsided caused by that duty to lay still.

So glad to hear your son is getting the help he needs, and the burden has lifted for you as well. Blessings to you.
Ginger

@artist01 Laurie, gentle walking is good for getting outside, and bringing blood flow to the area. I am careful to use a cane, or walking sticks, and go slow. My hauling rocks project is on indefinite hold, and I see the weeds coming up, probably cheering that they will stick around for a while. MRIs are tomorrow, dexscan scheduled for 3/17. Also using an old back brace, which helps stabilize the area.
Ginger

Well, don’t feel badly, I didn’t walk! Went outside with dogs, cleaned up after them. The wind was blowing, clouds heavy and it just felt raw. Supposed to be 38 on thermometer but sure didn’t feel like it. I said tomorrow is another day and went inside and snuggled with dogs!

@gingerw, The other day I met a new young neighbor with his beautiful young dog. Turns out he'd bought the house on the street corner where I'd spent much of one previous summer "hauling free river rocks" to fill a flowerbed next to the street. Told him my story and he quickly "invited me to return to his corner anytime" for more rocks!

After deeply digging out the soil and lining the area with heavy duty plastic, I was both shocked and amused the next spring to find one iris actually sprouting in one corner of that bed! We Know weeds can grow through solid concrete, lol, but an iris???

Surprised at the spreading "crop" of shallow rooted "winter" grass in my raised veggie bed, it was my fault for not getting a heavy layer of mulch spread last fall. However, wearing a padded lower back with velco straps "brace"? allowed me to do an hour of digging Sunday afternoon. The ground was soft from earlier snow & ice and the exercise was great. Still more to go but was so happy to be in the sun and playing in the dirt again!

Just catching up on posts and hoping your MRI proved helpful? and that you receive a good report on your dexascan later this month.
Until one struggles with back problems, we don't fully appreciate how incredibly important bone strength is. Please let us know how you are doing.

How about a man who is age 77 with how much should he walk and how much time and what speed, I have been doing 30 min at 2 miles per hour

@rambo77 Welcome to Mayo Clinic Connect! In my experience, as a 68 yr old female, I set a goal to walk as many days a week as feels comfortable, for whatever distance suits me that day [remember, you're "half-way home!" at any point], at the speed that allows you to still carry on a conversation. In other words, for me, it is getting out and walking. Or, staying inside and walking around house/ apartment if the weather is too inclement. Each person is different, and I don't think there should be a hard-and-fast set of rules. That may lead to negative self-talk and chiding yourself for not keeping up with Billy Jones next door.

If you want, keep a log of when/where/weather, so you can see your progress. Challenge yourself if you want, but don't be too hard on yourself if you miss that target. Where is your favorite place to walk, now? Do you have a companion pet or friend who goes with you?
Ginger