Herniated Disc

[Arnold]

About a month ago I found out I have a herniated disc (L5/S1). I was having back pain for several months and I finally had an MRI on my back.

I went to a chiropractor, then to an orthopedic surgeon, and now I am undergoing spinal decompression therapy at a back clinic and will be getting an spinal epidural this week to help with inflamation and pain. I am not going to have surgery or at least not anytime soon. The only way I would is if I cannot fix the problem with conservative modalities.

The reason I am making this post is I have learned A LOT from this experience over the last month and I can answer many questions for anyone that is in a similar situation or is having back problems.

Also, I am always open to advice, so if anyone else has gone through this I would love to hear any feedback.

 

[dougnukem]

My dad went through the same thing back when he was about 35. Slipped on some ice outside his work. They laid him off and then screwed him saying he intentionally hurt himself. I believe he ended up having surgery and after that, he has never been the same. Although, he hasn't ever really led a very healthy lifestyle; i.e. exercise, diet, and the like. so that may have contributed to his demise. I would suggest learning all you can, if they start talking surgery, as it can really change you. I hope everthing will work out for the best for you, and my prayers are with you man.

 

[P-funk]

I agree with your reasoning to try and work it out with the doctors. Otherwise the surgery will be spinal fusion which is never good.

If it makes you feel any better I have had a lot of freinds with herniated disks in their lumbar spine and they train normally now.

 

[Arnold]

I am still training my upper body with limited exercises but I stopped training legs a few weeks ago. I will never do anything like squats again because it is not worth the risks to me. I will also avoid seated cable rows, bent over rows, any type of deadlifts and military presses for the rest of my life. Basically any exercise that puts a lot of stress on my back.

Do you know if any of your friends had follow up MRI's to see if the herniated disc healed? Also, did they undergo any treatments or surgery? I am into my second week using a machine called the DRX9000 (spinal decompression).

 

[P-funk]

I am still training my upper body with limited exercises but I stopped training legs a few weeks ago. I will never do anything like squats again because it is not worth the risks to me. I will also avoid seated cable rows, bent over rows, any type of deadlifts and military presses for the rest of my life. Basically any exercise that puts a lot of stress on my back.

Do you know if any of your friends had follow up MRI's to see if the herniated disc healed? Also, did they undergo any treatments or surgery? I am into my second week using a machine called the DRX9000 (spinal decompression).

no sure. I never really asked them about the procedures that they went through. I know they have ahd cortizone shots before. I know they still squat and deadlift really really heavy too.

 

[LAM]

once a disc is completely herniated there isn't anything besides surgery that can "fix" it. and even then there is a good chance that you can lose some mobility after the surgery so I really wouldn't call that fixing anything

you just need to rehab your low back for a while. and work on your flexibility in the calves, hamsrtings and low back.

 

[MyK]

If I was you I would take up swimming!

 

[NeilPearson]

I am still training my upper body with limited exercises but I stopped training legs a few weeks ago. I will never do anything like squats again because it is not worth the risks to me. I will also avoid seated cable rows, bent over rows, any type of deadlifts and military presses for the rest of my life. Basically any exercise that puts a lot of stress on my back.

I started lifting about 10 weeks ago. About 5 weeks into it, I began to develop back problems (sciatica). I am 32 and have never had back problems at all before. I am currently doing all the exercises you listed and the sciatica seems to be getting worse. So if I was not to do these exercises, what could I replace them with. I think it was the seated cable rows that did it for me. How do I work these muscles without these exercises?

 

[P-funk]

I started lifting about 10 weeks ago. About 5 weeks into it, I began to develop back problems (sciatica). I am 32 and have never had back problems at all before. I am currently doing all the exercises you listed and the sciatica seems to be getting worse. So if I was not to do these exercises, what could I replace them with. I think it was the seated cable rows that did it for me. How do I work these muscles without these exercises?

do your cable rows standing up on a cable tower.

If you have sciatica work on stretching your piriformis and IT band.

 

[Arnold]

I started lifting about 10 weeks ago. About 5 weeks into it, I began to develop back problems (sciatica). I am 32 and have never had back problems at all before. I am currently doing all the exercises you listed and the sciatica seems to be getting worse. So if I was not to do these exercises, what could I replace them with. I think it was the seated cable rows that did it for me. How do I work these muscles without these exercises?

Squats > replace with leg press, don't go deep or heavy though, you may want to cut out legs all together for a couple of weeks until your pain subsides.

Back > if available use a machine that has the pad that goes against your chest, otherwise a one arm dumbbell row can be a substitute.

Curls > no standing, do preacher curls.

Shoulders > standing laterals, that is all I am doing right now and going light

Dips and Pull-ups are good exercises that don't put stress on your back.

I basically avoid anything that puts a lot of stress on my back and I go pretty light on everything.

Personally, I will never do squats or deadlifts again.

 

[Jodi]

About a month ago I found out I have a herniated disc (L5/S1). I was having back pain for several months and I finally had an MRI on my back.

I went to a chiropractor, then to an orthopedic surgeon, and now I am undergoing spinal decompression therapy at a back clinic and will be getting an spinal epidural this week to help with inflamation and pain. I am not going to have surgery or at least not anytime soon. The only way I would is if I cannot fix the problem with conservative modalities.

The reason I am making this post is I have learned A LOT from this experience over the last month and I can answer many questions for anyone that is in a similar situation or is having back problems.

Also, I am always open to advice, so if anyone else has gone through this I would love to hear any feedback.

WOW! Rob, I'm sorry to hear this. I hope everything goes well and you back issues subsides.

 

[Arnold]

once a disc is completely herniated there isn't anything besides surgery that can "fix" it. and even then there is a good chance that you can lose some mobility after the surgery so I really wouldn't call that fixing anything

you just need to rehab your low back for a while. and work on your flexibility in the calves, hamsrtings and low back.

The orthopedic surgeon and the chiro at the clinic where I am doing the DRX9000 spinal decompression both told me I have a good chance of "fixing" the hernia completely. Since I am still young, healthy and strong and I only have one herniated disc that is not ruptured they said as long as I don't continue stressing it or re-injure it there is a good chance it can be completely reabsorbed without surgery within one year.

 

[P-funk]

The orthopedic surgeon and the chiro at the clinic where I am doing the DRX9000 spinal decompression both told me I have a good chance of "fixing" the hernia completely. Since I am still young, healthy and strong and I only have one herniated disc that is not ruptured they said as long as I don't continue stressing it or re-injure it there is a good chance it can be completely reabsorbed without surgery within one year.

well, that is good to hear and it gives you some hope. It pays to be healthy and in shape.

How do you get away with the leg press? I think the compression of the spine is pretty brutal with that exercise.

 

[Arnold]

How do you get away with the leg press? I think the compression of the spine is pretty brutal with that exercise.

I am not doing leg press, I have not worked legs in the past 4 weeks.

 

[LAM]

good luck. I was only 28 when I got mine and they said I was screwed ?

 

[P-funk]

I am not doing leg press, I have not worked legs in the past 4 weeks.

oh. damn rob, that sucks. Are you still in pain or has that at least gone away?

 

[devildog88]

So Rob,

How did you know you had a herniated disk? I have lower back pain all of the time but it doen't keep me from doing squats, seems to get better the more core work I do? What made you go get an MRI?

 

[Arnold]

So Rob,

How did you know you had a herniated disk? I have lower back pain all of the time but it doen't keep me from doing squats, seems to get better the more core work I do? What made you go get an MRI?

the pain was going down my leg so I decided to get an MRI.

many people have disc buldges and even herniated discs and don't even know it.

 

[Arnold]

good luck. I was only 28 when I got mine and they said I was screwed ?

did you ever go back and get another MRI?

 

[P-funk]

the pain was going down my leg so I decided to get an MRI.

many people have disc buldges and even herniated discs and don't even know it.

I think most people do. If they were to pull up an MRI of any of our bodies (whether we are weight trainers or couch potatos) you would find muscle/tendon tears, herniated disks, bulging disks, bone spurs and all that stuff.

Are you stretching at all? Running down you leg like the disk was pushing into your sciatic nerve? I train a woman that has 3 disks out and her hips are really tight and pretty much a wreck from running many marathons over the years (she is no longer allowed to run or do any impact cardio). Her physical therapist and chiropractor really emphasize stretching her out because if she gets tight(er) her back goes out of wack really bad. She is allowed to still do supine leg presses (the ones on the machine were you lie facing) up, but that is all we do for her legs and then she trains upper body and does the elliptical machine.

 

[Arnold]

I am going to start stretching again, I have not been because of the spinal decompression therapy.

I just got an spinal epidural today to help with the inflamation and pain.

 

[eviltwin]

this is a great thread for me.

back in march i herniated two disk in my back i think it was 4 and 5 or 5 and 6. my job requires alot of physical work since i am a mechanic (lifting transmissions, engines, and applying alot of force on wrenches).

since then i have taken it lightly and my back got better somewhat fast.

now since i am still currently working as a mechanic and it requires alot of physical activity i need to stretch and work out regularly to prevent further or future injuries to my body.

i do not know exactly what kind of training will be the best for me to strengthen my back and not hurt myself. i have noticed when i do execercise more i hurt myself less.


my question is, since i have never really trained and do not know a good routine that help my injuries what do you guys suggest as far as stretching and exercises that help me strentghen my back and avoid future injuries to it.


thanks in advance

 

[Arnold]

since then i have taken it lightly and my back got better somewhat fast.

that is good, did you get reevaluated?


now since i am still currently working as a mechanic and it requires alot of physical activity i need to stretch and work out regularly to prevent further or future injuries to my body.

I would recommend a back support belt at work, and of course when you do lift heavy objects lift correctly with your legs not your back.


i do not know exactly what kind of training will be the best for me to strengthen my back and not hurt myself. i have noticed when i do execercise more i hurt myself less.

a lot of this depends on how it is now? do you still have pain, if so does it radiate down one of both legs? having a strong flexable back is very important and is probably one of the reasons you healed fast. also, having stong abdominals is just as important as a strong back to prevent injury.


my question is, since i have never really trained and do not know a good routine that help my injuries what do you guys suggest as far as stretching and exercises that help me strentghen my back and avoid future injuries to it.

check out some of these links:
www.spine-health.com/topics/cd/back_injury/back_injury01.html
www.spine-health.com/topics/conserv/sciaex/sciaex01.html

hope that helps!

 

[largepkg]

Sorry to hear this Rob. I too had a herniation(lateral) of L5, and L4. After traction didn't work I tried physical therapy for 3 weeks. I still had a significant amount of pain mainly running down the back of my left leg. My orthopedic gave me one more chance before surgery. He wanted me to have a series of 3 epidural injections to see if this would help. It was by far the best thing I could ever have done! From the first shot I felt great and thank god the pain hasn't come back. That was more than 5 years ago. I would be interested to see if the herniation is still there. My insurance doesn't really care what I'm interested in though.

BTW, I lift heavy as hell on all lifts now with no pain!

 

[Arnold]

Sorry to hear this Rob. I too had a herniation(lateral) of L5, and L4. After traction didn't work I tried physical therapy for 3 weeks. I still had a significant amount of pain mainly running down the back of my left leg. My orthopedic gave me one more chance before surgery. He wanted me to have a series of 3 epidural injections to see if this would help. It was by far the best thing I could ever have done! From the first shot I felt great and thank god the pain hasn't come back. That was more than 5 years ago. I would be interested to see if the herniation is still there. My insurance doesn't really care what I'm interested in though.

BTW, I lift heavy as hell on all lifts now with no pain!

I just had my first injection yesterday, they say it can take up to 3 days but I felt better this morning! (it could be mental?)

I am also doing a form of traction, the latest and greatest in technology, called the DRX9000 >> www.axiomworldwide.com/DRX9000.htm

Glad to hear the positive feedback, it gives me hope!

 

[boilermaker]

Rob,

Knowing what you know now, if you weren't injured would you still do squats and deadlifts? Or, is your position that they are more dangerous than beneficial and substitute exerecises should be performed instead?

 

[Arnold]

Rob,

Knowing what you know now, if you weren't injured would you still do squats and deadlifts? Or, is your position that they are more dangerous than beneficial and substitute exerecises should be performed instead?

hmmmm...interesting question.

I think if squats and deads are done properly they are fine, but that is the problem. I can think of many times where I was on a last rep, or a real heavy weight and broke my form. I have no idea if this is what lead to my back problems. I think after many years it takes its toll on your back, just the weight, pressure and spinal compression, not just squats and deads, many exercises that cause a lot of back stress. So, I know at this point after seeing the MRI's and talking to doctors that if I don't stop now it will probably get worse. It is part of the natural aging process that your discs lose hydration and shrink with age, as well as become more prone to injury and other things like degeneration.

 

[eviltwin]

thanks

 

[boilermaker]

As a side note, I've seen a few comments from people in here about ignoring lower back pain for months at a time before getting it checked out. So everyone knows, lower back pain that does not go away is one of the leading symptoms of many types of cancers and should not be ignored. As we all know, identifying problems like this in the early stages offer the best chance for defeating this deadly disease.

 

[P-funk]

As a side note, I've seen a few comments from people in here about ignoring lower back pain for months at a time before getting it checked out. So everyone knows, lower back pain that does not go away is one of the leading symptoms of many types of cancers and should not be ignored. As we all know, identifying problems like this in the early stages offer the best chance for defeating this deadly disease.

really? I have never heard that before. I am no cancer expert in anyway though. Is there any link you can provide us with more info?