Diet During an Injury

[MI_Fit_Grl]

Hello Everyone,

Fairly new here. I joined about a month ago and was ready to start a new diet and exercise plan....then about 2 weeks later I moved the wrong way and now have a bulging disc in my back that has become extremely painful and is pressing on my nerve. Any type of exercise is out of the question since I cannot stand up straight or sit down comfortably. I have been working out for the past 6 years at least 5 days a week so this is really killing me and I've become really bummed out lately.

I have completely blown my diet for the last 2 weeks because I'm really frustrated with this whole situation and things just aren't getting better and its been almost 3 weeks. Sorry for all the complaining........ my question is what sort of dietary changes should I do while I am unable to work out? I made the decision that eating more than normal and having bad food choices is really going to catch up with me. The first thing that comes to mind is cutting out my protein shakes. I figure since I'm not working out, the excess protein may just turn into excess calories. I am also trying to cut back on carbs but keep my lean protein up. Just wondering what suggestions anyone has that may have been in a similar situation.

Thanks!

[Klide]

Do you know what your daily caloric requirements are to maintain your lean body mass?
If so, I would stick to it until you are able to work out again.

[MI_Fit_Grl]

Yikes! No clue. I guess I will stick with trying to eat a little less than what I normally do.

Thanks!!

[sweetdream]

just be careful what you are eating

you are right, the excess protein will turn into excess calories and everything else you eat

if you stick to making healthy decisions instead of indulging in ice cream because you are frustrated thats ok too

I am not very familiar with this type of injury..do you know how it was caused. also what about light/slow paced walking. does this bother you too?

also- what do you have to do to correct it? sorry i'm nosy

hope you are feeling better soon! i can't imagine being in a position you are in- hang in there and reach for those fruits and veggies!

[MI_Fit_Grl]

Hi sweetdream,

This is longer than I thought it would be!! I hear you on ice cream. I had to give it up after eating it a few times a week for the past 2 weeks! My pants got tight so I took that as a sign. :-)

From my understading lots of people have bulging disks with no symptoms. I have heard its hereditary which doesn't surprise me. I have 2 older brothers who both had to have surgery for the same type of issue.

If you do something to irritate the disk, that's when you get problems. "Injury" might not even be the right word. I just happened to move wrong in my sleep and woke up with really bad pain. I was just getting started doing HIIT cardio a week prior where I was doing sprints at about 7.7 mi/hr (I typically run about 6.0) and had some lower back pain (this is pretty normal for me). I'm wondering if that may have contributed to it.

I don't think you can ever totally correct the problem. I am in physical therapy right now where they can give you exercises to help control the pain. I have also been getting a stem(?) treatment, ultrasound, and traction. The exercises can also be used if you feel another episode coming on. Once all the inflamation is gone I should not have an issue. My physical therapist said that I need to be laying down as much as possible since that is when I do not have any symptoms. Unfortunately that is hard to do when you have a job. For now I need to have as little load as possible on my back. I really can't walk on a treadmill at all because I'm sort of lopsided and can't stand up completely straight. I was hoping to give the recumbant bike a try to at least do something. We shall see I guess. I have heard most people feel better within 3-6 weeks.

[sweetdream]

I can understand your frustration, even though I have not had an injury quite like that, I did break my arm last year and it was a huge damper on my physical activity! it really sucked because I knew it wasn't worth it to work out and hurt something else trying to make up for the lost homeostasis ...

It seems like this is a pretty complicated issue and that a lot of things can agrivate it and make it worse.

I guess my advice is to do what you know you can do without pain because if you start doing MORE you are going to get yourself into a position you may not want to be (like, ****, why did I do that haha) I would also say, and it's so hard to say this because it seems like you are very into out and I am too... to just take a nice break.

Yes, I understand 3-6 weeks is a long time!!! but I think it would be worth it if you end up feeling 100% better rather than trying to workout feeling like crap! !

Just make sure you eat good! take this 3-6 weeks to tune up your nutrition and make sure you are getting all of your vitamins/minerals/drinking water ect --to actually get back to your original question...exercising and eating go hand in hand when trying to maintain weight so if you are eating more but not exercising you are obviously going to gain weight. You know what though? even if you did gain a pound, I am sure you have the motivation to get right back into it when you are fully recovered! otherwise, eat your fruits and veggies, stay away from high sugary foods...

Hope you feel better soon!!!!