help me strengthen my core

Koko — Mon, 17 Dec 2007 11:51:35 -0800

I need some very gentle core exercises. I've been unable to properly exercise for about a year and a half, due to late stage endometriosis and surgeries. I have been on Lupron Depot for the past 6 months following my most recent surgery; my last shot was a month ago and the pain is back almost as bad as before. I'm thinking it either didn't work, or this is a side effect, or that there's something else wrong. In any case, I want to try to build up my core muscles. In my more physically fit days, I was able to weather the pain a lot better, and I feel its because my core muscles were stronger. I feel that now, since they're so weak, bad posture and lifting and moving wrong makes things worse. I can't do crunches because my lower back and neck muscles are tensed up. I can't get a massage or physio because the last time I did, it made things a million times worse because of adhesions (endo causes things to stick together inside). I'll be seeing my doctor in 2 weeks, and there will probably be an ultrasound in a month or two, but in the meantime I'm going to have to assume that my insides are stuck together again, and be as gentle with them as possible.

Are there other, very gentle core exercises I can do (besides crunches) to build a little strength, so I'm not having to pop so many pills? Excercises I can do without equipment on my living room floor would be ideal, but I could probably get a physio ball if that was the best thing. Anything that doesn't actually involve putting pressure on the lower abdomen or lower back would be best.

Also, if anyone's had experience with Lupron where it didn't work, or caused pain in the pelvic region, I'd like to hear from you as well.

Thanks in advance!

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help me strengthen my core