Herniated Disk Lower Back???

[Pacer]

I had some pain over the winter, but a few trips to the chiropractor cured it. I put my standup in the water a few weeks ago, and could barley walk the next day. After several trips to the chiropractor it got worse and worse. I had an MRI done last week, and I've got a herniated disk. The doctor said on a scale of small, med, large, ex large, its at least a large.

The doc doesn't think it will heal on its own. I am laying on my back for the rest of the week to see if there is any improvement. If not it looks like surgery to remove the part hitting the nerve.

My question is, do you guys know anyone that rides a standup that has had a herniated disk? The doctors I've talked to say my riding days are over, and I should start fishing more.

 

[fulltilt429]

I have two bulged discs, impinged nerve and a lacerated disk in L4 and L5 and I race. Get some flexeril, hot pack, a muscle stim unit and stretch daily, the next two weeks is gonna be sore. Cortisone helps. But start light but core workouts and abs help a ton. Also drop 10 lbs.

 

[AtomicPunk]

I had a herniated disk before I started riding again. It took two cortisone shots and getting rid of a bad chair (poor posture) at work.

Take it easy, light core exercises, stretching, even yoga. Ibuprofen worked for me too.

My back is actually better now that I am riding.

oh yea, ditch those doctors.

 

[Pacer]

Hurts

The last thing I want is for them to cut on me, but right now if I don't take a codine pill every 3 hours the pain is too much to take. No position makes it better. I had a kidney stone a couple of years ago, and thats the only thing I can compare it to. I've been laying on my back for 2 days now, and I don't think its any better.

I don't think I can drop 10 lbs. I'm 5'6" and 147 lbs. I'm in decent shape.

I'll see If I can get a pic of the MRI up later.



Thanks

 

[yamaslut]

I have 2 migrated extruded discs (pinched nerve), 2 herniated discs and a bulging disc in my lower back (lumbar) and all I can tell you is you will have pain for the rest of your life so just learn to do things that don't aggravate it. I stretch a lot use lots of Tiger Balm and that's about all you can do besides strenthening your core and back muscles. Like I said it will always be a problem.

fyi - I would get 2-3 other opinions on surgery. It usually does not work and can make things worse. Not a good option usually..


my situation:

L 1-2 migrating extruded disc fragment producing impingement and posterior displacement of the left L-1 nerve root as it traverses the left lateral recess superiorly and enters the left neural foremen
L 2-3 tiny posterior central superiorly migrating extruded disc fragment superimposed upon a mild posterior disc bulge. Mild stenosis of the canal and lateral recess
L 3-4 subtle left lateral disc bulge
L 4-5 Mild left post lateral and forminal disc bulge protruding mild stenosis with out definite nerve root impingement
L 5-S-1 Degenerative disc disease w/ small posterior central and left paracentral disc heriation

 

[SJBrit]

BS!! Your riding days are not over, but you won't be riding much this year. I had the same thing - crippling pain that stopped me from doing anything. Go and get the surgery!! It really works. Doc told me 4 months recovery to get back to 100% normal, but then I explained what "normal" was for me and he said "OK: 6 months"! That was early last year. I'm out practicing flatwater backflips now and the only part of my body that didn't hurt afterwords was my lower back.

There's a lot of misinformation out there, but trust me: this is a very quick surgery, with very low risk and a 95% success rate - how is that not a good option? I had to take 6 months off riding, but now my back is totally back to normal.

I'd be happy to talk to you about this in more detail if you like. JLMK and I'll PM you my number.

 

[orangefinger]

Here is some easy good to follow advise with back problems.

When you come and lay on the coutch to watch TV, put something under the lower part of your legs, preferrable Foam Cubic /--- you need your body to lay in an L shape, this will release all tension of your lower back tremendously, if you can keep that up every time you lay on the sofa in combination with " light core exercises, stretching, even yoga " you will astonished how well it can get.

 

[SJBrit]

All the stretching, working out etc. suggestions are helpful, but a disc that is pushing on your sciatic nerve and causing pain cannot be cured using those techniques - they only help the symptoms. The disc either has to be shrunk (cortizone shots, but that only works in mild cases) or the swelling has to be removed (microdiscectomy). There are serious long term implications if you don't take care of it: the pain gets worse, and then the numbness starts in your foot. Next comes the loss of muscle control in your foot as the damage to the sciatic nerve gets worse and worse. After tripping over twice because of a floppy foot, I realized I had to get something done - and I was WAY TOO LATE in acting: I should have had professional help a long time before.

With respect, none of you guys are doctors. The tips and hints are great for alleviating back pain, but a herniated disc that is causing this much pain is a big issue that needs to be taken care of. The surgery is quick, safe and effective, although the recovery time is measured in months.

Talk to your doctor about medical advice. Talk to an orthopedic surgeon. Get a second opinion. Talk to people who have been through the surgery. But don't get medical advice on what is a serious issue from the internet. Please.

 

[SJBrit]

you need your body to lay in an L shape.

Worst thing you can do for a herniated disc. In an L-shape you bend the sciatic nerve and increase tension, which increases the pressure and therefore the pain.

 

[Pacer]

Thanks for the advice.

One thing I'm sure everyone that has back pain has learned is that EVERYONE knows exactly what you need to do because it worked for their cousins brothers fathers friend. My boss swears that a "cox distraction" will fix everything that is wrong with me. he wants me to fly out to Atlata and go to his doctor. I can't walk to the bathroom without almost crying much less get on a plane.

I'm just looking for some opinions from other guys that ride standups. Especially to see if anyone else is riding after going through this. So it sounds like ther is hope for me yet. I just bought a Blowsion hood insert, and a new mat kit. Maybe I'll get to use them next year.

I've got an appointment tomorrow morning with a neurologist that was recommended. He is going to read my MRI and hopefully give me some advise, or send me to the right doctor. I am trying to get an appointmen with a doctor in New Orleans that fixed my friends back when he blew out a vertebrate. he's got rods connecting two an the center is gone.


Thanks for the help

 

[SJBrit]

Good luck. They'll fix you up and you'll be riding again for sure. I was the same as you - the pain was just unbearable. But I'm living proof that you can come back from that end engage in ill-advised jet ski activities again!

 

[Pacer]

Thanks for the votes of confidence. 4 docs and my chiropractor have all said surgery. 3 of the docs also said "thats a big disk"

I also went to a neurologist for nerve tests. He did the test where they put stickey things on you and shock you wit a toned down stunn gun, and the test where he sticks needles in your leg and they make noise like tuning a radio. My knee reflex is week, and my ankle reflex is gone. I also have some week nervs, but he said they should repair themselves.

I am going under the knife first thing this Friday for the disectonomy. The doc said 6 weeks to full recovery. Hopefully I'll be riding 4th of July.

Gives me enough time to pull the standup in the garage, change the dry pipe orings, change out a bilge pump and give it a good once over. Maybe I'll pull the top end and check the pistons. Might be time to go oversize.

 

[AtomicPunk]

I am going under the knife first thing this Friday for the disectonomy. The doc said 6 weeks to full recovery. Hopefully I'll be riding 4th of July.

Listen to your doctors but dont rush back. I had an injury/surgery that was "6 weeks recovery". I tried to come back in 5 weeks and it literally set me back 2 months. If I waited another couple of weeks in the first place I am sure I would have been fine.


SJBRIT said it took 6 months for him.

 

[SJBrit]

Thanks for the votes of confidence. 4 docs and my chiropractor have all said surgery. 3 of the docs also said "thats a big disk"

I also went to a neurologist for nerve tests. He did the test where they put stickey things on you and shock you wit a toned down stunn gun, and the test where he sticks needles in your leg and they make noise like tuning a radio. My knee reflex is week, and my ankle reflex is gone. I also have some week nervs, but he said they should repair themselves.

I am going under the knife first thing this Friday for the disectonomy. The doc said 6 weeks to full recovery. Hopefully I'll be riding 4th of July.

Gives me enough time to pull the standup in the garage, change the dry pipe orings, change out a bilge pump and give it a good once over. Maybe I'll pull the top end and check the pistons. Might be time to go oversize.

I'm glad you're getting the surgery. I don't want to be a buzzkill, but you aren't going to be riding by the 4th - you may not be riding again this summer. And you certainly won't be pulling your ski into the garage to bend over it doing any kind of work. The disc takes a long time to heal after they have sliced the bulging piece off - discs just don't get much blood supply so they take ages to heal. You're going to feel pretty puny for a while, and your surgeon is going to have you take it VERY easy for a good while. Each surgeon has a different recommendation in terms of recovery, but I just want to set your expectations for what might well be reality. Make sure your surgeon knows about your jet skiing so he can make the best recommendation for you.

Also, they don't always prescribe physical therapy, but it's very important. There's a much higher long term success rate if you have therapy than if you don't. So, if they don't offer it, then ask for it: they won't care about prescribing it for you if you ask them to.

Good luck! The moment I woke up from surgery might be one of the best moments of my life - to feel no pain after having so much pain was a HUGE relief. The pain will come back a little for a few weeks, but that's just recovery from the surgery. You'll also have nerve issues for a while: it took a year for my sciatic nerve to settle down.

You're going to feel so happy after that surgery.

 

[Pacer]

Thanks for the advice.

I don't know anyone that has had this surgery. What exactly should I expect? How long until I am able to walk? Do they suggest several days of bedrest, or should you get moving as soon as possible. How long until I will be able to walk around and sit in a chair? Do I just need to make sure I don't bend much or lift aything heavy, or are there a ton of restrictions? They gave me a brace that demobolizes your back. I thought I could move around as long as I don't bend much?



Thanks

 

[SJBrit]

Here's how my recovery looked:

A week of mostly doing nothing - laying down most of the time, great care and technique in standing up and laying down. Then about 6 weeks of light lifting only, no sitting for more than an hour without getting up and walking around, definitely no airplane trips. After that more normal activity, but nothing to strain your back. I think I still had some lift restrictions for a while. Definitely no jet skiing or anything else that would put stress on your back, like jogging, cycling etc. At this point I could start exercising, but only light exercise and only on an elliptical. After that I got into 6 weeks of physical therapy to help regain some mobility and build up some strength. Most people are "life as normal" at 4 months, but when I explained what "normal" meant for me he told me 6 months. I rode at 6 months and it felt fine.

 

[chasingdaylight]

What surgery are you looking at ? I had a alternative surgery done called nucleoplasty for L4/L5/S1. this where they go in and burn with a probe into good tissue the size of the herneation. then the herneation moves back into that area that they burned out . It is a good alternative but now wish i had the more evasive surgery done. Insurance did not pay for it i did. Insurance would have paid for the mose evasive surgery
Durning therapy for my lower back they found i have had a broken neck bone pinching 3/4 of my spinal cord. then they replaced the bone and fused two vertebrae. That surgery was great when i awoke i had no pain. and no drugs after. lower back still can act up but totally workable. Since then my back is stronger then befor (w/ therapy/ exsersize). I believe wake boarding and crazy tube flying did Most of the damage in the past

 

[crashnburn86]

I have 3 bulging disc's in my l1 l2 and l3 i will NEVER get surgery. Everyone i have ever talked to that has had surgery has worse pain the rest of there life(atleast 6 diff people). You need to strecth and work your ab's and your legs out. Once your ab's and legs are stronger your body will use thoughs insted of your back. Also find a new chiropratic doctor becuase ive been through 4 and all of them told me it was hopeless until this one. Now im getting better.

 

[deftons56]

My dad had the same problem and was in serious pain.. got to the point where he couldn't stand it and got surgery, they wanted to keep him there over night but he went home an hour after and went to work the next day. I would do the surgery without question...it was just like an inch long cut.

 

[Gainera2582]

Whatever you do, DO NOT FLEX THE SPINE UNDER LOAD. Compression becomes an issue when disks are damaged. The only way they are going to heal is strengthening your posterior chain(glute activation) and strengthening all core muscles(obliques, abdominals). Along with that, stretching of overactive muscles(hip flexors, tfl, quadriceps, adductors, calves) 2-3 times a day.

Be as active as possible. Lots and lots of walking and swimming do the spine good. Along with that, keep your diet clean to avoid any inflammation from processed foods(its a bigger issue than you might think, and it becomes critical if you want to heal faster).


Lastly, avoid surgery unless its a last resort. Give these methods a good month or two to work before considering another option.