Gaucher Community News - National Gaucher Foundation

Suzanne Krupskas has been a
registered physical therapist since
1978. She has experienced multiple
symptoms from Gaucher disease
since being diagnosed in 1981. She
is an advocate and speaker on the
subject of exercise and physical
therapy and has written many articles
on its importance for those who are
living with Gaucher disease. She can
be reached by calling the NGF or by
email at suzkrup@comcast.net.
Exercises to alleviate pain
1) Q: When I sit for a long period of time my
right buttock hurts and at times causes pain down
the leg. I had a right hip replacement 11 years ago.
This pain started approximately one month ago when
I changed my desk chair. Is there anything I can
do to relieve the pain when I’m sitting A.R. from
Rochester, NY
A: Yes. You may try to place a folded hand or dish
towel under your right buttock. That way your weight
would be distributed more on your left buttock. You
may not realize it, but you most probably weight shift
more on your right buttock than your left. As a result,
you are putting too much pressure on the sciatic nerve.
Many times placing the towel underneath one buttock
will solve the problem. Every individual places a
certain percentage more weight-bearing on one buttock
– and most often it is their dominant side. This advice
should help – also try this in your car.
2) Q: My left hip has signs of avascular necrosis.
I’m holding off on having a hip replacement as long
as possible. I find that when I walk on my treadmill
at approximately 3.2 mph at elevation 1 I do not limp
however, if I walk outside – after 10 minutes I begin to
limp. What is the difference D.K. from San Diego,
CA
A: When you are on the treadmill you are most likely
holding onto the side or front safety rails. When you
are holding onto the rails it takes a lot of pressure off
your hip. Outdoor walking is different: there is wind
resistance and uneven terrain.
There are so many advantages to do both. Outdoor
walking is beneficial due to being outside and getting
fresh air and sunshine (vitamin D) – great for the
bones. If you choose outdoor walking the days you are
not doing the treadmill, you may consider using a cane.
You would place the cane on your right side. To walk
with the cane at a good pace you would move the cane
simultaneously as you move your left leg forward.
You may not want to use it, but at least it would be
with you just in case you start to limp. The advantage
behind using the treadmill is that you can use it rain or
shine and there won’t be any wind or other extraneous
resistance. Both methods of doing a walking program
are beneficial for bone density and prevention of
osteoporosis.
3) Q: I have a herniated disc in L-4, L-5
area. I also have a compressed vertebra in L-3. My
orthopedist has recommended that I do an exercise
called ‘press-up’. That’s when I get on my stomach
and my hands are essentially under my shoulders and I
push my hands into the floor as I straighten my elbows
- my pelvis relaxes into the floor – my lower back
arches. This exercise hurts a lot and causes more pain
down my leg. The exercise that makes my back and
leg feel better is a pelvic tilt. What should I do M.A.
from Annapolis, MD
A: You must discuss this with your orthopedist. He
most likely wants you to perform a press-up so that the
herniated disc relieves itself from the nerve. Going
onto your stomach, helps to push the disc away from
the inflamed nerve.
My suggestion is to perform the press-up with a small
pillow underneath your pelvis and not to come up as
high as you may have been. The pillow will help to
support the lower back. The pelvic tilt is working the
back the opposite way. As you are tilting the pelvis
back – you are strengthening the abdominals and the
lumbar region. The best way to perform the pelvic
tilt is: lie on your back, knees are bent, place hands
by your sides, rock your pelvis back as you tighten
your buttocks…think of pushing your bellybutton in
towards your spine and hold the position for 3 to 5
seconds.
Also the ground surface is hard and unforgiving on the
joints, whereas the treadmill has shock absorbers to
relieve a lot of the weight-bearing compression.
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