Wondering if any jpouchers exercise with weights, free weights, kettle bells, bootcamp/ jumping style workouts etc- if so, do you ever experience a throbbing/ in back of legs, butt area I refer to it as the “under carriage area” later or the next day after a workout? If you experience this, what do you do to alleviate? It’s not the muscle burn from working out, it’s a throbbing type discomfort.
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It sounds like I exercise more moderately than you do, but I strongly support exercise for J-pouchers. One concern with aggressive lifting is that in rare cases J-pouches can rupture or prolapse. Perhaps it would be worth a consultation with your surgeon to try to rule out the possibility that you are getting warning signs of a serious complication. In any case, that’s not a part of the body best exercised with free weights - if I were experiencing those symptoms I’d adjust my form or my workout until those symptoms *stopped*. I don’t think they are a sign of something good happening.
I was thinking it’s symptomatic of UC- as if I had UC fatigue etc with exercise almost as If the inflammation is just part of my DNA- bodies stress response. I’ve modified and reduced to lighter weights. I enjoy walking and hiking, I try to walk almost every day. I read on here a long time ago the walking is good for the jpouch but sometimes after I hike I feel the pulsating/ throbbing too maybe for me it’s too stressful- too much exertion. I had an MRI 2017 when I complained to my GI doc she was concerned with a mass being there but the MRI did not show anything. Thank you for replying.
If you get the same symptoms after walking then it’s less likely that they are a warning sign of a Big Deal, and more likely that they fall into the irritating “who knows?” category. Sometimes nerves get manipulated during J-pouch surgery, and that can leave us with puzzling sensations.
Weight training puts stress on your body like mental stress which releases the stress hormone cortisol that causes inflammation.
Definitely do not push it though, I have studied exercise for J-pouchers for a while now. Do not lift pass 25 pounds. And keep your exercise sessions between 30-1hr, do not overdue it! Extensive exercise is a risk for us.
@Chook2 posted:Weight training puts stress on your body like mental stress which releases the stress hormone cortisol that causes inflammation.
Makes sense in why stress makes IBD worse.
Cortisol is a potent anti-inflammatory hormone. It doesn’t cause inflammation.
Yes. Cortisol is a stress response hormone that prevents inflammation, just like prednisone.
Jan 
I lift free weights just about every day. I lift hard and I run 2 to 3 miles a day with absolutely no problems at all.
Yes cortisol stops inflammation,I was wrong 😔
Can you jump on a trampoline with a jpouch?
It's funny when I had UC I lifted weights and was 70kg but now with the jpouch I'm 90 kg and lift no weights but get more attention from the ladies.
@Chook2 posted:It's funny when I had UC I lifted weights and was 70kg but now with the jpouch I'm 90 kg and lift no weights but get more attention from the ladies.
Be careful with the ladies, they can be dangerous lol.
Thank you all for your feedback. It really helps & means a lot to hear about other people’s journey . I think it’s my anatomy, DNA, stress reactions both emotional and physical (workouts). I try to live through the pulsation. I think I need to rest more the days I push my workouts a little bit & accept how it is for me/ not push too hard. I don’t know if it’s the workouts (I try to do 30-45 6 days a week) or my jpouch life/ me! My primary care doctor described it as like a “migraine” in that area. I do take 1 ibuprofen sometimes late day before bed if it’s really intolerable/ uncomfortable.
@Nikino posted:Thank you all for your feedback. It really helps & means a lot to hear about other people’s journey . I think it’s my anatomy, DNA, stress reactions both emotional and physical (workouts). I try to live through the pulsation. I think I need to rest more the days I push my workouts a little bit & accept how it is for me/ not push too hard. I don’t know if it’s the workouts (I try to do 30-45 6 days a week) or my jpouch life/ me! My primary care doctor described it as like a “migraine” in that area. I do take 1 ibuprofen sometimes late day before bed if it’s really intolerable/ uncomfortable.
Be careful taking NSAIDS, that can irritate the pouch and cause pouchitis.
Nicole,
To each their own, but like Jaydog I'm also a proponent of working out fairly hard. Been lifting free weights for many years and added kettles w/o any of the issues you mention.
I'm sure there's zero science behind this, but exercises that strengthen our core -- abs, obliques, spinal erectors, glutes -- are critical ... not only do they connect our upper and lower masses they house/protect our rather unique internal geography. Sure, let your own body guide you, but my viewpoint is that with controlled, intelligent movements, you are actually building a stronger and stronger 'harness' for your pouch.
Also, given the correlation between UC/steroids and bone & joint deterioration, I am careful of any 'pounding' exercises, preferring higher reps and good form to greater weight. My only other thought re your pain is possible sciatica or disc issues but that tends to be more 'burning' than throbbing.
Best, Michael