Herniated Disk in spine

[jg42058p]

Hi,
I may have herniated a disk in my spine. Hurt it doing some squats the other day, and my lower back made a crunch noise while lifting. The following days since my leg hurt (not my back). My doc did a physical evaluation and suggested I herniated a disk, and I will go for an MRI on monday July 2nd.

The pain isn't extreme for the most part and it sounds like if I did indeed herniate a disk it's a mild case in comparison as the stories I've heard from other people. Regardless, I am limping, have some weakness in my left leg and pain in my leg (not the area that was actually hurt, the nerve is being pinched). Since then I have been doing nothing but hanging around the house all day.

I am 27 years old, 6ft tall, white male and around 205lbs.

Anyone have any experience like this?

Trying to determine the game plan as to how long I may be out of the gym for. It sucks but I gotta rest.
Doc speculated it might be till "the end of the summer" until I am able to lift again, but I may be allowed to do some swimming in a few weeks which I am hopeful for.

How are other people's track records of returning to lifting?
Would leg press be a better choice in the future for my leg lifts, instead of squats?

[FONZY007]

I hurt my lower back and have to be careful on anything over my shoulders, so no shoulder press and squats.. The pain in the leg might not be a good thing, doc told me if I start losing feelings and or start to hurt I need to worry

[lovbyts]

You hurt your back and the pain is in your legs. 99.999% it's your sciatic nerve. your doctor can not tell if you herniated your disc without a MRI but he can give you an educated guess.

For now use Ice 30 minutes on, 30 minutes off 3x in a row 3 times a day. It should be better in 2 or 3 days. If not ask your doctor for prednisone. This helps in most cases.

After your back is better start working on form. Most people have poor form for squats even if they think it's good. It's one of those exercises that is great for you if done right but can be the worse if done wrong. I'm not a squat expert by far and have had 3 herniated/ruptured disc but due to other things. I have a LOT of experience with sciatic nerve pain though.

[jg42058p]

You hurt your back and the pain is in your legs. 99.999% it's your sciatic nerve. your doctor can not tell if you herniated your disc without a MRI but he can give you an educated guess.

For now use Ice 30 minutes on, 30 minutes off 3x in a row 3 times a day. It should be better in 2 or 3 days. If not ask your doctor for prednisone. This helps in most cases.

After your back is better start working on form. Most people have poor form for squats even if they think it's good. It's one of those exercises that is great for you if done right but can be the worse if done wrong. I'm not a squat expert by far and have had 3 herniated/ruptured disc but due to other things. I have a LOT of experience with sciatic nerve pain though.

How long of a time were you out from lifting weights for when you initially hurt your back?

He did give me prednisone.

[jg42058p]

I hurt my lower back and have to be careful on anything over my shoulders, so no shoulder press and squats.. The pain in the leg might not be a good thing, doc told me if I start losing feelings and or start to hurt I need to worry

How long were you out from the gym

[lovbyts]

1st time I hurt my back was WAY back when I herniated it doing drywall carrying 2, 5/8 sheets of 4' x 12' sheets, 240 lbs. I had done it many times over the last couple of years and it was probably due to repetitive abuse not the single time. I really did not have proper guidance or any PT and would have recovered a lot better if I did but I was young and dumb and wanted to get back to work ASAP. I only took 2 weeks off work and not much longer off the gym. Squats were a problem for a LONG time maybe 6 months if not more but I was never really BIG on squats or practiced enough.

I would take a least a few weeks off doing anything low back oriented even any stretching excessively but dont let it stiffen up. Use the ice a LOT even if it feels better. How did the prednisone work? Did it help the leg pains? Next they will suggest epidural steroid injections to reduce swelling. This helps some people but it can be dangerous also and make it worse. Never helped me at all. I would avoid them at all cost.

If after 2 or 3 weeks it's feeling better I would do very light weight or even bar only squats and basically re learn to get your form down 100% Do some searching online or youtube to see if you can find videos of proper form. Keep it light for several weeks building back up SLOWLY and always working on form, keeping the stomach tight always.

[SexySweetheart]

wishing you a fast heal jg42058p!

[Leroy Jenkins]

I herniated my L5 several years ago. Bigtime sciatic pain. I also had one "bulging" at the time (probably herniated by now). Once I learned proper form (went to a Rippetoe 3 day course), my back is better than ever. Regardless of proper form, deadlifts are still an issue for me. I have to keep them light or pay the price. Also, I do not try to set PR's any more. I workout to look better, feel better and to meet my physical goals. For us older folks, you learn to live with aches and pains. Part of life my friend.

[jg42058p]

wishing you a fast heal jg42058p!

Thank you I appreciate that.

[jg42058p]

1st time I hurt my back was WAY back when I herniated it doing drywall carrying 2, 5/8 sheets of 4' x 12' sheets, 240 lbs. I had done it many times over the last couple of years and it was probably due to repetitive abuse not the single time. I really did not have proper guidance or any PT and would have recovered a lot better if I did but I was young and dumb and wanted to get back to work ASAP. I only took 2 weeks off work and not much longer off the gym. Squats were a problem for a LONG time maybe 6 months if not more but I was never really BIG on squats or practiced enough.

I would take a least a few weeks off doing anything low back oriented even any stretching excessively but dont let it stiffen up. Use the ice a LOT even if it feels better. How did the prednisone work? Did it help the leg pains? Next they will suggest epidural steroid injections to reduce swelling. This helps some people but it can be dangerous also and make it worse. Never helped me at all. I would avoid them at all cost.

If after 2 or 3 weeks it's feeling better I would do very light weight or even bar only squats and basically re learn to get your form down 100% Do some searching online or youtube to see if you can find videos of proper form. Keep it light for several weeks building back up SLOWLY and always working on form, keeping the stomach tight always.

Prednisone seems to be helping a little bit, and swelling has gone down. It's been about a week since the injury and I think that I may take a good 4 weeks off from lifting any weights and maybe I'll just do some non-impact cardio like swimming or biking once my limp goes away.

I'll see the MRI results tomorrow. The limping on my leg isn't as bad but it sort of feels like a weight is hanging on my left leg.

[lovbyts]

Keep using ice, trust me it helps but you have to be consistent. I even slept with an ice pack under my back sometimes. I used it at work and driving.

[jg42058p]

Keep using ice, trust me it helps but you have to be consistent. I even slept with an ice pack under my back sometimes. I used it at work and driving.

thank you for all the supportive advice

[HansVonSchnittchen]

I herniated my L5-S1 in October of 2010. I tried physical therapy, and no drugs, but this didn't seem to work for me. Infact I think some of the therapy may have been making it worse. And actually one of the best things I found for me was doing nothing for it, and it tended to get better on it's own.

I did a search for herniated discs on this website in particular and found a lot of good information. It took sometime to get thru it all. But it was well worth it. I found a lot of helpful information from a lot of folks. Lovbyts is one of those posters whose advice was a godsend for me. Moslty because he's been thru so much so he really knew what works and didn't work. That being said different things will work for different folks.

I did get an Inversion Table, but to be honest I've barely used it. I get dizzy on that thing. I know I need to give it more of a fair shot and work my way into it timewise (build up to longer duration). But since I bought it and stopped my P/T, and avoided heavy back/leg workouts my back has been pretty good. I don't Squat anymore (with weight anyway), but I'm still able to do most other things I did before workout-wise.

Not much more to say. But I would definately recommend reading thru a bunch of the old threads on here about Herniated Discs. I tried to stick with ones that had a lot discussion going on, that way I got a lot more info. from a lots of folks.

-Hans

[Far from massive]

Been there done that..herniated L 3 4 and 5 over time (25-32 now 56) from motorcycle accidents, drywall up stairs, and auto mechanics,etc. In addition to what lovbyts has said ( all great information) also use an anti-inflammatory medication during these early days to reduce swelling and keep further damage to the nerve bundles to a minimum.

For me after a week or two to allow stabilization and swelling reduction, a month to 6ks of phys ther ( traction and eletro-stim) was always very beneficial, after that the amount of improvement drops quickly.

Good luck,

FFM

PS as far as giving it time, agree 100% had trouble all through my 30s. I was able to avoid surgery ( 26 yrs ago all they wanted to do was fuse, fuse, fuse LOL. Since my 40s have been pretty much pain free and now at 56 still do squats and leg presses with no problems.

[FONZY007]

Keep using ice, trust me it helps but you have to be consistent. I even slept with an ice pack under my back sometimes. I used it at work and driving.

Ice is your friend, I have those machines that's like an ice chest that pumps cold ice water into a pad oh I love that thing when my back
Is hurt

[MuscleScience]

25% of the population at any one time has a disc herniation of some sort. Its just a matter of where the disk bulges. If it bulges towards the nerve roots that is where you get pain and run into trouble. Sitting is the worst thing you can do to your back. A steady program of walking over the course of 3-4 months is the best at home therapy you can do on your own. Anti-inflammatorys are ok at first, however your body needs a healthy amount of inflammation as part of the normal repair process to heal properly. Anti-inflammatorys over time will actually significantly reduce the bodies ability to heal properly. Especially be careful with epidural's as a course of management. They are cortizone, they are destructive to bone and soft tissue. Short term is ok, most docs wont allow you to have more than 3 shots in a year.

The best practitioners to see would be a chiropractor or physical therapist (See AMA recommendations on low back pain). Surgery should be an option, but only as a last resort. Remember almost all disc repairing procedures are still classified as experimental and are not approved by the FDA. I have seen surgery work miracles, just make sure you do what you can before you go that route. If you have one failed back surgery, you will never be the same again.

[jg42058p]

Thanks guys.

I'm considering doing some non-back exercises this week. Probably chest - flat bench, incline, flies. along with some arms - biceps, forearms, and some deltoids (upright rows). Do any of those sound too dangerous?

I am going to avoid anything that makes me lift with my lower back for a while. Maybe at the 6 week mark I'll do some very light exercises that use that.

[MuscleScience]

Upright rows are a no no. Avoid all movements that cause excessive flexion of the spine. Typically flexion is the mechanism of injury for acute disc injuries.

Thanks guys.

I'm considering doing some non-back exercises this week. Probably chest - flat bench, incline, flies. along with some arms - biceps, forearms, and some deltoids (upright rows). Do any of those sound too dangerous?

I am going to avoid anything that makes me lift with my lower back for a while. Maybe at the 6 week mark I'll do some very light exercises that use that.

[jg42058p]

Upright rows are a no no. Avoid all movements that cause excessive flexion of the spine. Typically flexion is the mechanism of injury for acute disc injuries.

Thanks muscle science.

I am thinking of trying to do something light for my legs that has no use of my back, such as seated leg curls.

Would really like to do some abs and exercises to tone the love handles region but pretty much all the exercises I can think of may use some of the muscles surrounding that disk.

Unless you guys have any suggestions...?

Maybe weightless reverse crunches maybe?
Flutter kicks for my legs on a big bouncy inflatable ball?
Really just aiming to do some toning exercises for the hip area. Got some cellulite I would like to get rid of.
I have been doing stationary bike, which feels ok despite some slight stiffness in my left leg thats associated with scattiac nerve being pinched.

I understand I gotta be delicate for a while though so if nothing else I suppose I could just stick to the stationary bike.

[Far from massive]

Get a good back routine, as directed by your phys ther/doctor. Done religiously they will tighten your core which will be the main factor in your recovery.

[yannick35]

chiroprator with high velocity adjustment will make the hernia worst, i hate them with a passion they are incompetent. They have no knowledge of what they are doing and think that there adjustments will make everything better. A part from the spine bone they know crap. A subluxation is a vertebrae that as moved out of alignment, there is a reason for that and popping it back in place does not mean it will stay there.

I went to a chiro for a year and a half, he laxed all the ligaments in my neck, upper back, lower back and even cause me to develop a popping hip and popping shoulder. When i told him about the problem he lifted is shoulders and said i don't know. He is not the only idiot chiro i saw i saw a lot more they all think alike. Instead of saying hey its been a year lets just stop and look into other venues he continued to adjust me like a moron til i got pissed off mad at him for being worst.

Chiro are against all other type of treatments, physio is not better its crap too. The only thing that i have seen fix people is prolotherapy but sadly there aren't much competent doctor that practice that. A cortisone shot will also weaken ligaments and eat up cartilage so its not good either. Ice will stop the healing process removing inflammation.

I have ligament laxity that is being fix with prolotherapy, 80% of that laxity was made worst by stupid chiroprator adjustments.

Hernia responds very well with prolotherapy strengthening the weak part and all do some research on it. Squatting and deadlifting again......... why people keep doing this is beyond me. In Mexico there was a gym at the resort and a guy wanted to impress everyone loaded up on the smith machine, i saw him at the bench later on he was in great pain. Squatting and deadlifting put way too much pressure on the disc, the ligaments, tendons, hip joint, and more and are dangerous.

I regret doing them, and am in pain because of that, lasted nearly 10 years thank god for prolotherapy.

[RacerRose]

I guess I'm lucky to have had good chiropractic experience. I had disc decompression therapy instead of surgery. 20 sessions at 30 minutes a day for 5 straight weeks. I'm not 100%, but 90% at my best now is much better than the pain I was in. Still had sciatica after the treatments. I'm not one to believe in most natural or holistic treatments, but my doc told me about Kali Phos. Looks like a BB, and tastes like sugar. I took the recommended doses from him, and NO MORE SCIATIC nerves pain! I literally could feel the pain being relieved while taking the Kali Phos. I also did my standard ice treatment and massage.

[yannick35]

I guess I'm lucky to have had good chiropractic experience. I had disc decompression therapy instead of surgery. 20 sessions at 30 minutes a day for 5 straight weeks. I'm not 100%, but 90% at my best now is much better than the pain I was in. Still had sciatica after the treatments. I'm not one to believe in most natural or holistic treatments, but my doc told me about Kali Phos. Looks like a BB, and tastes like sugar. I took the recommended doses from him, and NO MORE SCIATIC nerves pain! I literally could feel the pain being relieved while taking the Kali Phos. I also did my standard ice treatment and massage.

Decompression is not high velocity adjustments. I saw lots of chiros i am talking about getting ajusted 3 times per week for a year and a half. One of my friend has a lower back hernia he got some laser therapy, it releives him for some time but does not solve is issues. He also got plenty of high velocity ajustements and that cause is hernia to get worst.

[jg42058p]

How many weeks did you guys experience pains in the back or down the legs from it?

[johnnylucifer]

It depends on the how bad the injury is and how old you are I think. I'm going though this very thing right now. I'm my third round of prednisone and going in for an MRI next week. Started up last summer actually. Got the pred and it cleared up, then I messed it up again in October. Got the pred again and cleared it up, then messed it up again in February. Finally got back into the doctor for more pred and thats where I'm at right now.

I've done some honest soul searching and think that I need to avoid deadlifts, overhead stuff and squats. I think I'm just prone to this as I had a few sciatica episodes 10-15 years ago. I suspect that I may have a curved spine or something. Anyway, once I clear up, going to lay off the above exercises for several months. Also going to cut back on number of sets that I do when I start back up again.

About that time, I'll be looking forward to my first stack.

[johnnylucifer]

It depends on the how bad the injury is and how old you are I think. I'm going though this very thing right now. I'm my third round of prednisone and going in for an MRI next week. Started up last summer actually. Got the pred and it cleared up, then I messed it up again in October. Got the pred again and cleared it up, then messed it up again in February. Finally got back into the doctor for more pred and thats where I'm at right now.

I've done some honest soul searching and think that I need to avoid deadlifts, overhead stuff and squats. I think I'm just prone to this as I had a few sciatica episodes 10-15 years ago. I suspect that I may have a curved spine or something. Anyway, once I clear up, going to lay off the above exercises for several months. Also going to cut back on number of sets that I do when I start back up again.

About that time, I'll be looking forward to my first stack.