i know about Water aerobics.

any other tricks out there for a cripple like me?

Hi Susan, I was pretty much crippled by time I finally got the band (one of my major factors in having the surgery). I was doing cortizone shots, but they were working less and less.

I actually did not exercise to begin with due to the pain, but luckily I was able to lose weight without it.

There are a few things I can think of though besides water aerobics..

Try lifting free weights, while sitting.. or the leg weights, also while sitting, making sure you use small weights to start as not to hurt the back.

Many machines you can use (exercise) at gyms, or if you care to buy them yourself, that can be done sitting.. the mini-elleptical can be done from a chair.

When the pain starts going away with weightloss, start walking small amounts at a time.

i have spinal arthritis (ankylosing spondylitis), had it pre-band....and weight made it MUCH worse. there aren't many days that i'm working out that i don't have "some pain"....but getting active helped my weight loss, thus taking the pressure off the lower back & hips (majority of pain for me). i started walking day 1, moved to elliptical & other less impacting exercises.

today - i'm working out pretty hard, running & weight training....i find that if i'm "not" active - my hips are sore & my back lets me know i have AS.

you might just have to play around with what activity provides the best results w/the least pain....not sure it' will ever go away; but taking the LBS off will sure help!!

pilates on floor pelvic tilts are great a physical therapist can design a program for you

I too have spinal arthritis (ankylosing spondylitis), plus degenerative joint disease in my hips. I've spent years and many insurance dollars on cortisone shots and rhizotomies, and I've found that walking and cycling help. For walking, it had to be on a completely flat surface, no incline, for a couple of weeks, but I rapidly progressed to hiking 10-12% grades (YMMV, of course!).

If I were you, I'd start out stretching and warming up, then on to walking. I found that the looser I was, the better the walk felt. And don't forget to stretch a bit afterward as well - don't just come home and collapse into a chair or the couch for an hour (take it from one who knows ).

The elliptical is also supposed to be very good for low back pain sufferers - it bugs my hips, tho, so I can't recommend it personally.

Good luck! Weight loss may not be the complete cure all (I lost 55 lbs two years ago with nearly no recession in pain, this time around it's better already) but it can help!