Herniated Disc Experiences/Stories?

[Judo Tom]

Does anyone here either have or know anyone who has had a herniated disc and recovered without major surgery.

I herniated two discs in my neck almost 2 years ago. I never had surgery just rehab type stuff and it is still not 100%.

I am looking for any ideas stories or life experiences that either helped or hurt someone in my situation.

I am just sick of sufferering set back after set back because of this injury.

I keep missing workouts or worse tournaments that i spent months training for and I need some help.

Please Post!

Thanks

 

[PBR]

judo....have 3 c-spine fusions and a double laminectomy...c4 thru t1.....what do you need to know ?????

 

[Judo Tom]

Damn.. that is no joke.

How does it effect your life now? HOw did you recover? Do you continue to have setback or "flare ups" now? Do you still do rehab? Did you look into other treatment options?

Sorry I just have a ton of questions and i havent really found much out there to help me out...

I appreciate any respone you give

 

[sh4dowf4lcon]

They have a surgery now that repairs and removes herniated tissue with small incision. They put a bandaid on when it is complete and you go home. I know a 70 yr old man who had this done three weeks ago.

 

[Judo Tom]

can you give me any more details on this at all?

Thanks

 

[jnuts]

2 x herniations-> c4/c5 c6/c7 (or something like that, can't quite remember) It comes and goes with how much it bothers me. I haven't had the surgery yet... and I'd rather not. The neurosurgeon I talked to said the recovery would be about a month and they'd use a cadaver bone to fuse the discs. Not my idea of fun. I'll wait until I can't stand the problems any more.

 

[gonelifting]

4 herniated disks and the last setback was sciatica nerve. That was damn painful. No surgeries but lots of chiropractic care helped ALOT. I was supposed to get an epidural (sp) but never did for the sciatica. It just went away with the chiro.

I thought I would never lift again, let alone squat or deadlift. lol but now I`m doing both.

I feel a little twinge once in a while with the leg, and the back hits like a light switch. I could hurt my back if I sneeze the wrong way. lol

 

[PBR]

judo...I was partially paralyzed on the right side from the waist up....when there is a structure issue it has to be dealt with....no passive therapy is going to help get rid of the problem...maybe some symptoms but only short term....If you wait too long and the nerves are impeeded and you start getting muscle atrophy- thats when all hell breaks loose....repairing nerve damage takes years...some muscles do not recover fully....do not wait for this to happen....Ive recovered almost fully...its taken me nearly 6 years to get the condition I have now....I am still dealing with some muscle atrophy....howevr small...mostly stablizer muscles.....I have no discomfort at all...I only have 30% range of motion in my neck....thats forever....Ive done alot of GH therapy and AAS...as these drugs are the only thing in medicine to help rejuvinate nerve paths once they have been damaged or dorment...but that is later down the road in extreme cases...like mine...dont make my mistake...get help now before you start loosing muscle mass and reflexes and coordination .....what else can I answer for you bro?????

 

[cccp]

4 herniated disks and the last setback was sciatica nerve. That was damn painful. No surgeries but lots of chiropractic care helped ALOT. I was supposed to get an epidural (sp) but never did for the sciatica. It just went away with the chiro.

I thought I would never lift again, let alone squat or deadlift. lol but now I`m doing both.

I feel a little twinge once in a while with the leg, and the back hits like a light switch. I could hurt my back if I sneeze the wrong way. lol

I have a similar problem to yours. I had a herniated disk between L5L6 I think. I forgot. injured myself a year ago, but now I deadlift and squat no probs, just make sure the form is good. My sciatica nerve used to kill me, I could barely walk, couldn't drive, couldn't get into a car, because it required me to bend. I hadn't touched my toes in more than six months because of the pain. Right now it seems to be getting better, I powerlift, and on my way to full recvery in a couple of years.


PBR, I am sorry to hear about your problem.
1. How did you get injured?
2. You are speaking of atrophy. Can a person get atrophy just because that person's nerves are damaged? what if that person still workouts with damaged nerves? don't want to sound stupid, just want to know.

 

[Judo Tom]

PBR Great post Karma your way!!!

well I made an apt to see a doc and I am really interested in seeing what options i truly have

I ruptured the 2 discs doing judo.. go figure.. i went to a chiro for about 3 months and then just continued to rehab on my own doing the stretches and the exercises.. about a year after that i started lifting again and put on about 20lbs of muscle (all natural) then about 4 months ago i started judo again and i have already had some setbacks and had to miss classes and lifting sessions because of the neck.

I have yet to hurt it really bad again.. i mean it gets really sore.. really stiff.... i loose range of motion and flexibitlity but the sharp pains that shoot down my arm have not returned but i would like to avoid that.

I am just curious if i will need a serious treatment.. or if maybe a good bulk cycle will help.. maybe i just need to do more and more stretching and strengthening of the neck/back/traps

has anyone heard of prolotherapy?
I was curious about the epidoral but i have heard some bad stories about that..
Many people have suggested I go on GH for a few months but i lack the funds for that and a doc is not going to prescribe GH for me


PBR how much do you think the lifting or gaining of weight has helped? how would you rate GH.. is it worth me saving up and doing some GH.. what dosages would you recommend.. how about a normal cycle.. do you think a "bulk"er would be good or a cycle where i just focus on gaining strength rather than weight

Just looking for any ideas to help me out...

Thanks again to all who replied