yup, I do. I have a congenital issue for L4/L5 and L5/S1 diagnosed because I slipped to discs. It WILL degenerate as time passes. I see a physio weekly for 1:1 clinical pilates sessions. This has helped me immensely because it improves core strength which take some of the load off of the spine. I also see a personal trainer twice a week who does rehab work with me to strengthen the muscles around hip, lower back etc. In many respects, I have to learn how to walk again to help prevent relapses.

When I'm having issues, I tend to notice it is because my muscles have tightened and I do specific stretches to relieve that. I also have a daily stretching routine which helps me to minimise them getting too tight in the first place! But sometimes I'm lax with stretching after exercise which then gets me into trouble! A friend of mine with similar issues does yoga weekly which helps her.

I am also losing weight to take the load off of my spine.

I WAS on voltaren (an insane dose of 150mg a day which is 2 tablets three times a day). I found voltaren caused me a lot of problems. In any healthy person, voltaren can cause gastrointestinal bleeding - I have already had such issues before my back was diagnosed and so I am at heightened risk for GI bleeding. When on it I would get nausea, I found my periods were the worst ever (really really heavy and passed a lot of clots) which made me very anemic. So my GP put me on mobic which is much more gentle on the stomach AND I only need 1 tablet a day. Having said that, the clinical pilates has improved my core so much, it is rare that I need to take my anti-inflammatories now.

I have a 3 year old and also work as a nurse. I find that I can cope providing that I activate my core muscles correctly when I should be and also by using correct lifting techniques for everything from lifting a box to moving a patient to lifting my DD. I also have a good matress. I find that a firm one works well for me... and no tummy sleeping!!!

HTH and feel free to ask Q's if you have any.

MG