Herniated Disc....Serious Pain! Help!

[this1guy]

During my last leg workout I think I herniated a disc in my back. The pain is extreme and radiates down my left leg. I called my doctor after bout a week of unbelievable pain and made an appointment. After the x-rays, he explained to me the possiblity of it being a herniated disc. My MRI is scheduled. He also started me on a pain killer regimen along with whats called a "meddrol package" - a type of steriod. The "pack" seemed to help for the one week that I took it, I even felt like lifting again...but didn't.

I'm going on the 3rd week now, the pain is creeping back and the pills are gone...fact is I'd rather not be on med's anymore and I want to lift! I am also concerned because I would like to keep as much mass as possible (mass is difficult for me to maintain I am losing it quickly)

I am worried because I am only 22 and do not want to further my injury and be screwed for life.....does anyone have any advice to give. I would like to here any viewpoints.

[JH13]

You should go to a Sports Doctor.They have a lot more experience dealing with injuries.

[ptr2mm]

the mass will come back... not treating an injury correctly will keep you for good.
Get two docs opions.
Hanging leg raises without swing opens the lower back and stretches the support muscles.... And stronger abs takes stress out of the lower back.

[piscitella]

hey bro -- i did the same thing a few years back. i started with the meddrol pack and pain killer (PLEASE REMEMBER -- THE PAIN KILLER ONLY HELP YOU GET BY - they do NOTHING FOR YOU!).
After that I did the shots in your spine. After 3-5 sets of the shots -- thats it for the shots.

Anyways to make a long story short - after 6 months the pain went from my back to the bottom of my foot (constant numbness) and I took around 8 percaset (bad spelling) just to get through the days. Finally I went in for the operation! I learned that unless you are doing something to fix the problem you were simply wasting your time.

I am back to the gym and lifting some good weights again.
At the time I was at my peak of benching 370 at a weight of 220.
In the last year I have by passed that and gotten to 380 at a weight of 110. My point is that it wasn't that bad to get back to where you once were!

I just DO NOT do some of the excersices I used to do. Its just not worth destroying your back.

Good luck!

[drjeffcbp]

I am a chiropractor, and I can tell you that the best thing for your injury is to get the MRI and determine how bad the injury is. If it is a mild bulge, you may be able to get by without surgery but with proper therapy. If it is greatly bulged or prolapsed, you may need surgery.

If you already have the MRI and it shows a bulge, find out how bad it is and whether surgery will be necessary. In addition, the actual shape of the spine has more to do with keeping your back from being reinjured than the strength of the muscles. Strong muscles around a bent spine do not hold off degeneration or prevent unnecessary disc strain. Look under www.idealspine.com for a chiropractor in your area who is CBP certified. They will be the best choice for your therapy if surgery isn't necessary. Good Luck!!

[this1guy]

Thank you all for your posts, they have added a sense of comfort to a very trying period. I am going for the MRI next week and will post results on here for further advice.

Piscitella....Thank you for your post..most helpful. It's good to know other people know and have beaten this pain. I am very interested in finding out the changes you made in your training to "work" around the injury.

Dr. Jeff.... What you said was right on the money.. I have a genetic spine abnormality...I can't remeber the name. The problem is that the lowest vertebrate on my spine is tilted forward (the front is positioned in a downward angle). Are there any exercises or stretches I can do to eleviate some of the pain until my next visit.

I have been seeing a sports doctor for this injury.

Thanks again.

[drjeffcbp]

If it were me, I would try simply lying on my stomach and gently propping myself up on my elbows. This takes the pressure off the disc, and can be held for 3-5 minutes. If your injury is too severe and this position is too painful, and if it was me, I would simply lay on my back with two pillows under my knees, head flat or on a small pillow.

Also, if you have a genetic abnormality that has caused a forward wedge shaped vertebrae, certain back and leg exercises may need to be permanently omitted from your workout routine. I can't say what those are without actually seeing you and your MRI/x rays, but go to the website I suggested and find a CBP doctor nearby if it turns out you don't need surgery.

If you do need surgery, try to campaign for the most minimally invasive but effective procedure. There's a saying in medicine, "You can always get cut, but you can't get uncut". Try to keep the damage to a minimum.

Good luck! Keep us informed.

[tjrt]

Ok man I had a bulged disc when I was a sophmore in High School and I tried the chiropracter and it helped with the pain but didn't solve it he got me through a lot of pain though. I also tried the injections in my back and it did nothing for me so I had surgery I weighed about 165 and I was about 6'2" and now I am 23 and I am 6'4" and weigh 235 and my back doesn't hurt me when I train with squats or anything. I workout with squat around 300 pounds so weight is a factor the only thing that still bothers me is standing around on a hard floor but after a day of rest I am good again. Really don't wait around and mess with stuff that isn't working if you need surgery get it done but check out the doctor who is doing it and make sure you are comfortable with him. I hope this helps.

[southerndoc]

I agree with jeff and tj. A multi-disciplinary approach with a neurosurgeon/orthopedic spine surgeon, chiropracter, and rehab specialist is the correct way to go.

Not all people obtain dramatic relief with surgery. TJ, I'm glad you were able to obtain relief.

[Newt]

I did the same thing squating about a year ago and I'm just now starting to squat again. Make sure you are healed before you do something stupid.
ALSO, REMEMBER NOT TO GET HOOKED ON THE PAIN PILLS!!!!!!!!! THIS HAPPENED TO ME AND ALMOST COST ME MY MARRIGE. THOSE DAMN PILLS DO NOT CARE ABOUT YOUR RACE, SEX, RELIGION, OR ANYTHING ELSE! THEY JUST HURT YOU AND EVERYONE AROUND YOU IN THE LONG RUN. I DON'T KNOW ANYTHING ABOUT YOU, BUT I REALLY DO CARE!!! DON'T GET YOURSELF INTO TROUBLE, I HAPPENS TO GOOD PEOPLE ALL OF THE TIME.

[frogggystyle]

Do you have Lordosis?

[Newt]

What is Lordosis? I'm sure not preachin' if you're talking to me! I'm just telling him a fact. I know a lot of people that have gotten hooked on that stuff. Man I still want to pop 5 or 6 Vicodin just for the hell of it.

[monsterman]

HEY THIS1GUY, I HERNIATED L-4 IN MY LOWER BACK DOING DEADLIFTS, I KNOW THE PAIN YOUR IN, I SOUGHT A ORTHOPEDIC
SURGEON, LUCKILY I DID'NT NEED SURGERY. IN MY CASE, CHIROPRACTORS ARE THE WAY TO GO, TAKE CARE OF THAT BACK MAN, YOUR STRENGTH, AND MASS WILL BOUNCE BACK, BUT IF YOU DON'T TREAT YOUR BACK, YOU ARE LOOKING AT LONG TIME PROBLEMS DOWN THE ROAD. TAKE CARE MAN..................

[trubl1]

I had ruptured my L5 S1, Had Laminectomy/ discectomy surgery.
The very next day I was literally pain free. I have a 2.5" scar.
When some people think of back surgery, they think oh man your
done dude! Not so, back surgery is not like it used to be. I was in the hospital for 1 day. I'm back in the gym now and feeling fine.
I do alot more abs and lower back exercises, and stretch before and after EVERY workout.Oh yea, I had surgery Aug. 31, about
4 mos. ago.
P.s. his name is Dr. Abou-Samra, he's in Ventura ca
people come from all over the state to see him