lumbar spine rehab

[Doc.Sust]

I have not yet read all of the quotes from this forum, but, I just wanted to show my appreciation for the information you have provided.
I have a herniated L5. My sports therapist tells me to stop lifting altogether. This is because not only is my L5 herniated, but, it is also degenerating. She says to me, "What part of me telling you that your L5 is OBLITERATED do you not understand?"
This is quite frustrating because I used to be overweight for almost 17 years (ranging from 275 to 316 pounds). I started working out about 7 years ago. I am now at about 210 with slight fluctuations.
My point is this, I have a weak back.....this I know. It hurts pretty much all the time (been like this since I can remember). Of course when I jog or do other exercises that obligate me to use my back, it can get much worse.
With having the condition I have, what back exercises to you recommend me do to strengthen it to the point that I don't have to feel like, "****, I have to go to the gym today!" because my back hurts so bad.

i would recomend exercises that wouldnt directly but force on the disc, or the least amount possible, avoid squats and deadlifts, and deadlift variations. i would work with hyper extensions, a revers hyper machine if your gym has one, glute ham raises, also anything that works your core stabilizers. crunches, wobble board, grapppler exercises etc etc, the key is to work your core muscles, but do so indirectly therefore you dont aggrevate your condition. some exercises will work better than others. you have to find what works for yourself. find a functional training exercise guide. this will give you some of the newest ideas and exercises that sport trainers are using today

[theforce3169]

i would recomend exercises that wouldnt directly but force on the disc, or the least amount possible, avoid squats and deadlifts, and deadlift variations. i would work with hyper extensions, a revers hyper machine if your gym has one, glute ham raises, also anything that works your core stabilizers. crunches, wobble board, grapppler exercises etc etc, the key is to work your core muscles, but do so indirectly therefore you dont aggrevate your condition. some exercises will work better than others. you have to find what works for yourself. find a functional training exercise guide. this will give you some of the newest ideas and exercises that sport trainers are using today

Thank you for the response. I do not have a problem admitting this, but I have no idea what a wobble board or grappler exercises are. Do you know of a "functional training guide"?

Thanks!!

[theforce3169]

Also, do you have any suggestions, comments, thoughts, ideas for this ab thing?
Seriously, the few times I tried afterwards were met with the same agonizing results. This ab thing happened about 2 years ago, and, I have only recently began to do the "slightest" ab exercises. I mean, I am scared!!!!

Oh, and sorry for cursing so much in my very long reply. I am just completely frustrated!!!

[johnnylucifer]

3169-I would go get more opinions on your back issue. I have a long story to tell, but the bottom line is that different doctors have different perspectives.

Also, I'm not expert, but the logic behind "stretching you ab muscles because you were overweight" I'm not sure that is possible physically.

Someone correct me if I'm wrong, but fat lays on top of muscle. Stretching your ab muscles due to being overweight, makes no more sense that stretching you pec muscles because of pec fat.