Lifters that have had herniated disc(s).I need your story.

[solidspine]

Herniated L5 and L4 and I believe S1 about 7 years ago, thought it would be easier to die. Hurt like heck,

Took so much percidant, thought I was going to shot down my kidneys and liver,


Anyway, solved the problem with bed rest, light exercise, and then lifting.


Everything went back to normal after about 6 months, has been fine ever since.

 

[pilgrim]

Messed mine up with martial arts. L5 with all the twisting spinning kicks. Stopped Martial arts and started lifting to strengthen... 18 mths later much stronger back, no more pain, and squating ok. Concentrated on chiropractor til the pain went away, and then worked on higher reps of lower weight to build strength for the first 6 months or so. Now I can lift heavy with good form, but am always careful to allow good recovery time before I lift again, sometimes up to two weeks for squats if I have given them a hard time.

 

[motoxer125]

I have 2 herniated discs, and a slipped disc. went through physcal therapy (better then the chiro!) that releaved the inflamation and back pain. felt good for a while, with alot of rest, light lifting and PT. then i started getting pain down my right leg. hurts evey morning when i wake up. I do stretches in the morning that help alot. keeping the discs mobile is important. I do front squats (recomended) and just statred very light weight deads.
I'm still young and want to try to fix it without surgery or injections, which it is possible. everyones herniated discs are different, some can be fine after rest and PT, others need surgery.

 

[Illuminati]

First off I would like to take the time to give kudos to the moderators that make this a helpful and entertaining site.

Second, I understand this is the wrong section for this topic, I would just like it to stay here long enough to get a few first hand experience suggestions from weight lifters that have had herniated disc(s), and what they had to do to overcome, and get back to lifting.

Here’s the short version.
I have been an on and off lifter for years. But never as dedicated like I have been for the past year. I have made tremendous strides thanks to diet, dedication and other. I am 34 years old, 6’1”, and 230 pounds. I am in the care of a Chiropractor right now. MRI showed herniated c7 disc. The pain is not as bad as it has been, but not completing gone.
I understand the medical advice that I recieve here is not for treatment, but just info.
Any good stories / advice would be appreciated.

I have a bulging disk in my lower back at my L5-S1. The write up on the MRI said that it was "a very large protrusion," in other words, my shit was fucked up, I could barely walk for about 3.5 months. It happened while squatting. I was warming up, had a relatively light weight (495) got down in the hole, got a little out of position, tried to correct it, felt a shot of electricity throughout my body, managed to get the weight up, racked it, and was in some serious pain. Shitty part was that I was still in my squat suit, and it takes 2 people to get it off, and even then its a struggle. I was in the military at the time, and ended up having to go through 3 months of physical therapy before getting out (started w/ electrical stimulation, then traction). They also heavily medicated me w/ muscle relaxers for some reason (wouldn't give me any opiats, just muscle relaxers). Nothing helped with the pain.

When I got out, I decided to go on cycle and run Deca, as I knew that it helped to relieve some pain. I figured what the hell, I've tried everything else. 3 weeks into the cycle, I went from barely being able to bend over and tie my shoes, to being in no pain, and being able to lift heavy again (just to give you an idea, after my slipped disk happened, I couldn't put my hands over my head w/o being in pain, yet alone put any weight on my back). Its been about a year and 3 months since I got out and went on cycle. I have come off twice, but whenever I am off for more than a month, the pain comes back, and its crippling, so I go back on. I know the Deca is only masking the pain, thus allowing me to work out. I should probably go see a doc. again, and have it looked at, but for the time being I'm happy being on, and quite frankly, a hell of a lot cheaper than having to go see a doctor again, and having to possibly get surgery, or have spinal injections.


I wish you the best of luck. I know what you are going through, and its no fun.

 

[DPH]

Thanks for all the stories, advice, and encouragement. I was able to take something from every post. For now its, 3 days spinal decompression, a smidgen of deca, hydro, and hoping to just maintain my gains. Thanks again.

 

[iHulk]

Grade A slip disk in my lower lumbar --> Got diagnosed as Spondylosis.
I've been literally paralyzed and dropped to the floor by the sudden onset of back spams from stupid things like washing dishes or vaccuming.

Took years of training my abs and lower back to strengthen my core muscles to not have those problems anymore. Its the #1 reason why I train my abs so much. Also I went out and bought myself a luxury Tempur-Pedic visco foam mattress. Saved my life I swear to Gawd.

 

[juggy54]

Im not sure if i have a herniated disc, i had an x-ray on my back but would that show a herniated disc? I have lower back pain and my ankle feels like i sprained it(sharp pain) so im worried.

 

[DPH]

Grade A slip disk in my lower lumbar --> Got diagnosed as Spondylosis.
I've been literally paralyzed and dropped to the floor by the sudden onset of back spams from stupid things like washing dishes or vaccuming.

Took years of training my abs and lower back to strengthen my core muscles to not have those problems anymore. Its the #1 reason why I train my abs so much. Also I went out and bought myself a luxury Tempur-Pedic visco foam mattress. Saved my life I swear to Gawd.

iHulk, your freaking me out! Just this morning I was throwing some thoughts around in my head about what I could do to lower my chances of this being a chronic problem. Strenthen my back and abs was my thoughts, and coming up with a plan. Thanks. Oh yea, if that is you in your avatar? Un-freaken believable !

 

[kaoz]

juggy54 thats probably a herniated disk bulging into your nerves like mine cause i had pain in foot too

 

[drdug27]

Im not sure if i have a herniated disc, i had an x-ray on my back but would that show a herniated disc? I have lower back pain and my ankle feels like i sprained it(sharp pain) so im worried.

xrays dont show herniated discs