Hello everybody.
Breast cancer (cured 3 years ago) with low back metastatic (now chemotherapy )
Often low back pain.
Is beneficial do exercise ?
Can I do yoga, with back movements ?
Thank you.
I take it you have had a routine bone scan and X Rays with nothing unusual found? Bones are the most common place to have mets and many of us, me included, have them in our spine. For some it never becomes a major problem, but for others it turns into a problem that needs to be referred to Orthopaedics,
Assuming you are in the first group, it is beneficial to keep exercising, because exercise is not only good for general fitness but actually strengthens bones. Only major warning is don’t do too much until you’ve had some bisphosphonates. You could damage yourself if you start rigorous exercise too early, because bones will be easy to bend or break in the initial few months.
At the Royal Marsden, the Acting Consultant told me to avoid contact sports, weight lifting, bungee jumping, skydiving, but just about everything else was fine!
Incidentally, you may find that your bone pain decreases after some bisphosphonates.
If you go for Yoga, do tell your teacher won’t you? You might be best having one to one sessions to begin with (if your budget can stand it) to get some confidence in what your body can do? Try getting your Onc or GP to refer you for a short course of NHS Physiotherapy.
Holey.
You should avoid high impact exercise.
Yoga would be ideal, a good Yoga teacher will advise on what you should and shouldn’t do. If you can find a teacher specialising in theraputic yoga they would be able to give you a personal yoga practise designed for your body. The main things to avoid with spine mets are exercises which involve spinal twisting or flexion - forward bends, but there are still alot of postures that you would be able to do. Not only is Yoga excellent for strengthening the body it is also of great benefit for the mind. Good Luck.
Paddy
I don’t think it’s a good idea to do any exercise that could put your vertebrae at risk. I had radiotherapy to stabilise my back - 3 vertebrae - and also my left hip and did very little exercise except some walking, gentle gardening (no heavy lifting) and some very gentle swimming on my back until 2 weeks after treatment, also some Chi Kung and very gentle Tai Chi. My bone mets were diagnosed by scan and I was lucky to be treated before I was in any pain as the scans showed that the tumours were already quite extensive and very near the margins of the bone - i.e. fracture imminent. It’s a matter of getting a balance between maintaining strength and flexibility and not taking any unnecessary risks. It is entirely possible with bone mets in the spine that the vertebra can squash the spianl cord, with fairly obvious consequences, or can crumble. Do not do any exercise, Yoga included, which could put your mobility at risk.Yoga often works by stretching opposing muscle groups and can certainly put a strain on your back as well as redirect your energy and boost your metabolism. This may not be the wisest thing to do right now. Some hydro-therapeutic exercises in a pool, with a flotation belt, may be good but you need guidance.
Holeybones - brilliant! I’m delighted to hear in your case that nothing short of some high impact, contact sport is ruled out. You’re a hard act to follow!
Pain is a messenger to tell us to take care, Jhon12. Head it and get the advice you need from your hospital or alternative practice team or from the Penny Brohn Cancer Centre or wherever you trust the advice of their physical therapists and which is specific to your current condition. Hoping that you get the all clear because exercise certainly improves the outcome of all the conventional treatments and makes us feel good… it’s just a matter of doing the right exercise!
Bisphosphonates also don’t agree with everyone, having some horrendous side effects if they don’t and are not always appropriate. I am not using them yet and not planning to and feel well. I do follow a diet designed to promote the health of my bones (which is a dairy free diet btw) and am thinking about suing natural progesterone cream if anyone can recommend me a good one - I have triple negative BC.
Wishing you well and a rapid return to your active life
Jenny