Herniated Discs

[bennelson57]

Alright, a lot of us active folk have this problem. And we all know it sucks, I wake up and limp the first 2 hours of my day all hunched over.

I herniated 2 discs in my lower back when I fell off the stairway to heaven during my time with the USMC. Basically, the doctors have told me that I can get a surgery where they shave off the part of the disc that rub against the sciatic nerve; however this fix would be temporary and eventually I will need more procedures. The surgeons recommended that I live with it until it is "unbearable".

Has anyone had success with a PT program? Care to share? I appreciate it.

 

[SicVic]

Im wondering this 2. I have 3 in my neck. I also had 2 in my back when I was like 19.

 

[HammerT1]

There is a theory that certain excerises can let disk slide/slip back in place for my lack of medical terminology. They are called Mckenzie extensions? there is another type out there too that is slightly different. The picture and instructions can be found on the net as well as both schools of thought on one page to make the reviewing of both easy. My phone is not searching my emails so I can't find the link I have to them right now. I will look on my computer and post the link that has both of them later.

My pt therapist said that as little as 15 minutes a day with these can make all the diffence for some along with making sure the core is properly strengthened. It took forever for me to get proper Pt so I was already behind the 8 ball.

One thing a lot of people do not realize and many doctors don't explain is narcotics can shut down T levels fast. I am firm beleiver the body needs good T levels to hep heal itself. It took me forever with my spinal injures to learn that the narcotics shut my T production down and had my hormones all out of whack . I basically had to figure it out on my

Also, there is a book that's been out for a while with a lot of excerises for disk issues. I know people and doctors who swear by it. They all say it took months to get relief using the excerises and one cannot let up with the excerises or the back issues will come back. There is suppose to be a lot more then just the Mackenzie type excerises in the book. I havent seen it so I cannot say if the book is worth buying or not. They used to let it be viewed for free righr when I found about. At the same time the publisher stopped allowing the previews.
One of these days I will get around to finding one somehwere.

I stretch every single day or its hell for me with my injury. I have a lot hardware in my spine so the mckenize type stuff is kind off moot other then trying to make sure I don't have anything else slip out from the pressure of the hardware on my spine so I do them but its more preventive maint.

I've also had doctors tell me that having proper T levels helps with pain. They also reported their pain meds work better too. I will be able to answer that one in a few weeks eithe way. Maybe increase my T can chime in on that part better then I can.

I hope this helps.

 

[HammerT1]

Found it
Back exerecise -- Williams Flexion versus McKenzie Extension

 

[bennelson57]

awesome fellas appreciate it, its not dissimilar from what my chiropractor had me doing before I had the MRI's done. has anyone tried this?

 

[ktown]

Swimming helps me get moving in the morning and sauna .I have been doing Pilates for about a month and getting much better movement in lower back and decrease in pain the Pilates was my last try after trying everything except the knife

 

[SicVic]

Whats a good roid to take for that? I guess thats why my neck always hurts when I do Back, LOL. BTW didnt read it yet.

 

[bennelson57]

Im not a doctor, but I don't see how any gear is going to have a significantly positive impact on our spinal issues... I have been working through it and doing VERY light deadlifting and back extensions... I do not squat, I have been using machines for legs.
My chiropractor told me on Tuesday that I should keep doing light back workouts to strengthen the muscles around it. The flipside is if/when I have to get the knife, there is going to be more muscle to cut through in order to do the surgery. However, I would presume that the chiropractors advice to workout my back would also apply to your neck

 

[Transformation2013]

I am currently recovering from a similiar injury - 2x prolapsed discs in the lower reigion of the back.

The doctor recommended the Mckenzie extension, and then gradually progressing onto flutter kicks - but where you dont kick ... you just work your core to support your heels 1-2" off the deck.

In terms of managing the pain / discomfort Ive been using three things.

1. An anti inflamatory gel to remove swelling in the area to help ease the nerves off the disc. Ive been using VOLTAROL EMULGEL which is an OTC dicolfenic based anti-inflamatory.

2. Ive then been supplementing this with parectomol and diclofenic. Taking diclofenic together with ibruprofen is likely to cause mouth and stomach ulcers.

3. And this is what has worked the best IMO I purchased one of those microwavable heat bags - full of beads that you heat and then it stays warm. When Im at home I basically wear a pair of jogging bottoms with that wrapped around my waist to keep the area hot / warm and keep circulation flowing. Ive found this best out of all three options.

Hope this helps mate, and that you find a comfortable place sooner rather than later.

T13