8mm hernia between L4- L5 surgery op-out

**RaW InStiNcTz** · 04-24-2013, 01:29 AM

Hello Everyone,
My name is Angel, I'm 32 started lifting at 14 by 18 I was 205lbs at 11% BF. I was active for the better part of my life mainly playing football (All-American Strong Safety) Back in 2008 I suffered a lower back injury that took 9 months to figure out. I initially injured my back doing deadlifts, nothing to extreme I was doing a plate at the time. The following day I woke up with soreness that never went away. A week after I squat 315 my a football buddy, I'm guessing it didn't help my injury

Anyways the pain progressed to the point that I could only stand for a period of 15 - 20 minutes at a time. What finally did it for me was that I couldn't even lay on my back to sleep, so one night I decided to go to the ER at about 3am because I could not take the pain any longer. I was given vicodin for the pain and after going to the doctor and finally getting an MRI I was told I had a HUGE herniation between my L4 - L5 disc. I was hoping that PT would help and I would go back to being a 100% but that was not the case. I spoke with my doctor and he basically told me that my best bet would be surgery. Once I heard surgery I completely turn down the option.
With that said it has now been 6 years since my injury. After noticing that 750mg Vicodin and epidural shots were not helpful at all, even made it worse in my opinion. I went against my doctors order and decided to return to familiar grounds and jump back in the gym to see what I could do. I will say that it has helped but I try to avoid lower back workouts all together and won't dare to squat. Although, I do use the hack squat machine but can't go past 5 plates simply because of the pressure felt on my lower back. Since returning to the gym I have gone from taking 4-5 vicodin daily to 2 once a day.
I'm hoping if anyone has gone through this type of injury what did you do as far as workouts and if you opt for the surgery. I realize eventually I will need the surgery and thinking maybe it would be best if I did it now to give my body a chance to recover. With all that said I recently did start a tren cycle followed by a pro tren / h drol cycle. After doing research I'm tempted on running D bol w/ test on my third cycle, thank for taking the time to read my post all advice welcome

BTW I'm currently 5'9 188lbs between 13 - 15% BF I workout 3 hours a day 45 minute cardio, 45- 60 minute each body part (2 a day) then finish with a touch up of core, traps, or forearms. My diet is not the best but I do know how my body works and don't eat anything I can't burn off in the next workout or 2.

**LT75** · 05-04-2013, 09:32 PM

Just injured my back at work 2 weeks ago. I herniated my L5-S1 and its now pushing on my sciatic nerve. It's so bad that Percocet and naproxen did nothing. It has subsided a little but I am losing function in my foot.

Long story short. A discectomy is not that bad. It is what we both need. Don't wait till it is like mine. You don't want to lose the function in your leg. If work comp would get their but in gear I would get it done now. But till then no lower body work outs for me for a while.

**lovbyts** · 05-04-2013, 11:24 PM

I lived with L3/L4 herniated for 20 years until I was at the same place; I could not walk or stand for more than 15 minutes at a time. Surgery was the best thing I ever did. I felt 95% better starting the day of surgery and got to about 98%.

I would have done better but I did not get back in shape like I should have and let myself get fat but still active and ruptured L5/S1 2 years later. That was the worst pain I had ever been in and the worst 2 weeks of my life. It was for sure a life changer and after surgery I got back in shape knowing if I did not it would eventually lead to a wheel chair.

i am now 90% and can live with that but would have much rather been at the 98% like before but it was my own fault.

**LT75** · 05-05-2013, 12:33 PM

Originally Posted by lovbyts

I lived with L3/L4 herniated for 20 years until I was at the same place; I could not walk or stand for more than 15 minutes at a time. Surgery was the best thing I ever did. I felt 95% better starting the day of surgery and got to about 98%.

I would have done better but I did not get back in shape like I should have and let myself get fat but still active and ruptured L5/S1 2 years later. That was the worst pain I had ever been in and the worst 2 weeks of my life. It was for sure a life changer and after surgery I got back in shape knowing if I did not it would eventually lead to a wheel chair.

i am now 90% and can live with that but would have much rather been at the 98% like before but it was my own fault.

How long was your recovery from the L5-S1? Your right about the pain!

**lovbyts** · 05-05-2013, 09:41 PM

Originally Posted by LT75

How long was your recovery from the L5-S1? Your right about the pain!

Recovery as in pain was quick. the pain was 90% gone right away but I lost all the muscle tone in my legs and it took a few months to get them built up even close to normal, 6mo or more. I literally could not walk, stand or even sit for the 2 weeks before surgery. If I tried to sit longer than 30 seconds I would pass out from pain and I have a HIGH pain tolerance.

I had to learn to walk all over again because the muscles just did not work right.

I still have residual numbness in the feet but I can live with that.

**LT75** · 05-06-2013, 07:11 AM

Originally Posted by lovbyts

Recovery as in pain was quick. the pain was 90% gone right away but I lost all the muscle tone in my legs and it took a few months to get them built up even close to normal, 6mo or more. I literally could not walk, stand or even sit for the 2 weeks before surgery. If I tried to sit longer than 30 seconds I would pass out from pain and I have a HIGH pain tolerance.

I had to learn to walk all over again because the muscles just did not work right.

I still have residual numbness in the feet but I can live with that.

Thanks! I am just trying to see what I have to look forward to. How long after surgery could you not drive for? Sorry for all the questions. I have had 3 shoulder and 4 knee surgeries. But never anything with the back.

**lovbyts** · 05-07-2013, 01:02 AM

I drove the same day as surgery although it's not recommended due to pain killers but I had no choice. I had more feeling in my legs/feet than I had in a long time so it was all good and I am/was use to the foggy feeling from pain meds so it was all normal for me.

I started using TB500 about 6 months ago and my lower back has not bothered me since like it use to except when I really over do it but then it's only temporary. I wish I could say the same for my shoulder but I think I just need to up my TB500 for a couple of months and be more diligent on taking my MSM.

**yannick35** · 05-07-2013, 11:31 AM

I wish you luck in your rehab, bro i injured myself doing deadlift and squats at my gym there is a powerlifting cage where people deadlift and squat all the time and i keep hearing they complain about pains and all but they still squat and deadlift thinking its the best thing to do. Well its not, i know that most people will get injured rehab and get back doing those 2 very dangerous exercises. In 11 years of chronic back pain due to ligament laxity i have done and seen them all, i am very big on prolotherapy right now because i have ligament laxity back in the gym after 11 years and many failed attemps, i am 225 pounds i got some fat to lose i am training using the 100 reps program for maximum capillary circulation and rehab along with prolo and paloe diet.

TB500 did not do anything for me but i dont have a hernia prolotherapy does wonders for hernia because it builds back the collagen around the disc. But its not a fix all.

All back pain specialist i have seen told me that squatting and deadlifting put so much pressure on the spine that its just a mater of time before people get hurt.

Both exercises have taken 11 years of my life listening to a stupide idiot called Keith Wassung who told me even if i was in pain to push true and i did and i hurt myself. I am almost 41 years old and i am on the road back to building a great physique you wont see me squatting or deadlifting ever again in my life no mater what people say its hammer strenght and isolation all the way if it feels uncomfortable i skip it.

**RaW InStiNcTz** · 06-12-2013, 10:29 AM

Originally Posted by LT75

Just injured my back at work 2 weeks ago. I herniated my L5-S1 and its now pushing on my sciatic nerve. It's so bad that Percocet and naproxen did nothing. It has subsided a little but I am losing function in my foot.

Long story short. A discectomy is not that bad. It is what we both need. Don't wait till it is like mine. You don't want to lose the function in your leg. If work comp would get their but in gear I would get it done now. But till then no lower body work outs for me for a while.

I'm just worried about the end results most guys I've seen with my hernia are using canes. Since I posted this I've set a plan to bulk up to 225 by next year and after next tax season I will be going in for the surgery. I'm currently 207 at 12% (pinch method) and getting to 225 doesn't be too hard.

**RaW InStiNcTz** · 06-12-2013, 10:31 AM

Originally Posted by lovbyts

I drove the same day as surgery although it's not recommended due to pain killers but I had no choice. I had more feeling in my legs/feet than I had in a long time so it was all good and I am/was use to the foggy feeling from pain meds so it was all normal for me.

I started using TB500 about 6 months ago and my lower back has not bothered me since like it use to except when I really over do it but then it's only temporary. I wish I could say the same for my shoulder but I think I just need to up my TB500 for a couple of months and be more diligent on taking my MSM.

I'm going to look into the tb500 when I last logged on here I believe Roman was starting his tb500 cycle. Sounds like it would go perfect in recovery process

**itsjayman02** · 06-22-2013, 04:19 PM

L5 S1 2 letters and numbers that changed my life
Big time !!

2001 was when my disc prolapsed can remember the pain like it was yesterday.

3 years I was off work for and doctor advised
The nerves can take up to 7 years to heal !!

That was 12 years ago now and I cannot kneel due to right leg cramping and the back of my leg looks like a creature is trying to get out

Pins and needles this past 13 years 24 hours a day and numbness in my foot

Now for the good news training was resumed after a number of years and today I'm in just as good shape as I was before the accident.

Train smart ni squats or dead lifts always wear a belt!!

To conclude its not the end but a lifestyle change