Any of you ever had a herniated/bulging disc in your back?

[speed dawg]

I'm having significant trouble with mine. I've gotten an epidural injection, and that got rid of alot of pain, but not all. I went to therapy, but that irritated it and made it come back. I went to the chiropractor and he helped alot at first, but now the pain is back.

I want to avoid surgery if at all possible. Any of you know any exercises or natural cures or benefits for it?

 

[PhysicistJ]

Herniated Disc

I've never felt more pain in my life than from a herniated disc. It sucks too because you cannot do anything that is considered high impact like running or normal weight lifting. That might make it even worse. I've been dealing with mine for about 6 years now. I've managed to keep the symptoms down by exercising daily, keeping excess weight off, and sleeping on a great mattress. There's a special way to workout that won't irritate your back, I'm supposed to find out how in a month or so when I talk with my doc again.

I have been told however by my back doctor that stretching daily and swimming or bike riding will help to strengthen you up! Hang in there. What are your symptoms though? My left leg is kinda gimp.

 

[Master Bates]

How did yours happen?

 

[HK1]

Not fun, you need to literally baby yourself back to health. The last time my back got shot it took me 5 days to be able to walk again, it took another 2-3 weeks before I could squat down to reach the floor.

Ice Ice Ice & more ice. To the point it will drive you nuts. Heating packs too, but more ice then anything. I remember it took me literally 15min to wobble (0.5" at a time) to my room from the garage (like 40ft) it sucked, bad. The best I can describe that pain is literally a knife in your back.

Hope I never have to feel that **** again. You need to go back to the chiropractor, and do NOTHING but Ice it and rest. Once you have your mobility back, from that point on, take is s-l-o-w. I wouldnt even think of thinking of going to therapy until 2-3 weeks AFTER you gain the ability to finally pick something up off the ground again. Take it at your own pace, if you think its going a bit far, it probably is.

The best I can describe coming back from a back injury is, climbing a long stair case. You cant go too fast though, because the second you go too fast, the steps pull in and you slide back down to step #1 again. Take your time, you dont want to end up at step #1 again.

Ive always heard good things from doing reverse hyper extensions for your back, I've never had the luxury of finding a gym with one though. I've thought about ordering one, lol.

 

[Quiksilver]

I'm no expert, but spinal decompressions should help. There's info about it on stronglifts.com.

 

[speed dawg]

How did yours happen?

Diving in the outfield during a softball game. At first I thought I just had tight hamstrings. But then the pain resided to my low back and shooting down my right side of the butt and right leg.

I have one vertabrae that is crooked and is pushing on the disc, and that's why my chiropractor says he can fix it. It's not ruptured all the way through either, thank God.

I'll start using more ice. Guess I'll just have to nurse this sucker back to health. I guess the golden rule is, if it hurts, don't do it. But it does SUCK, and I wouldn't wish it on anyone. Sucks the life right out of you.

but spinal decompressions should help

I thought so too. I tried those, and they helped for about 5 minutes until I got back up on my feet and my spine compressed again. Ended up making my back hurt worse.

 

[HK1]

Diving in the outfield during a softball game. At first I thought I just had tight hamstrings. But then the pain resided to my low back and shooting down my right side of the butt and right leg.

I have one vertabrae that is crooked and is pushing on the disc, and that's why my chiropractor says he can fix it. It's not ruptured all the way through either, thank God.

I'll start using more ice. Guess I'll just have to nurse this sucker back to health. I guess the golden rule is, if it hurts, don't do it. But it does SUCK, and I wouldn't wish it on anyone. Sucks the life right out of you.

Thats kind of what I had, I believe what the chiropractor said was the disc started to move and before it could move far enough to damage the nervous system ALL the muscles anywhere near that area went into 100% lock down.

Just take it slow man, I know it sucks and hurts like hell. Just take it day to day and try to ice it 15-20min every hour or two. Im telling you, you'll get tired of using the ice. Keep at it though, and take it slow. If you give it time to recover w/o aggravating it, you'll be surprised at how quickly it'll recover.

Good luck.

 

[speed dawg]

Thats kind of what I had, I believe what the chiropractor said was the disc started to move and before it could move far enough to damage the nervous system ALL the muscles anywhere near that area went into 100% lock down.

Was your disc pressing against a nerve and making pain run down your leg? I had those muscle spasms as well, then got an epidural injection. It took care of the soreness but the nerve pain was still there.

If you give it time to recover w/o aggravating it, you'll be surprised at how quickly it'll recover.

That's the kicker, keeping myself from irritating it and having it flare up. I try my best, but you use the low back in just about everything you do.

 

[HK1]

Was your disc pressing against a nerve and making pain run down your leg? I had those muscle spasms as well, then got an epidural injection. It took care of the soreness but the nerve pain was still there.

Mine never actually pinched the nerve, everything locked before that happened. Guess I got lucky in that aspect.

That's the kicker, keeping myself from irritating it and having it flare up. I try my best, but you use the low back in just about everything you do.

I couldnt even get myself to stand, yet alone walk without extreme pain for the 1st 5 days. You're going to have to limit what you do, there's no way around it. Even if it means time off work, etc. Its either rest for a month, or its going to take a looooooooooooong time to heal (if ever).