Torn L4-L5

[BOPJohnDoe]

Hey I’ve been off work for a couple months due to protruding discs and a torn L4-L5 disc. Been going to physical therapy 2-3 days per week for the past two months. Mainly doing press ups (McKenzie method) and hamstring stretches. Doc has me on 300mg of Gabapentin 3x per day and Meloxicam 15mg once per day. Mainly have issues sitting down, standing from a sitting position, and bending over forward.

Anticipate returning to work within a couple weeks.

Anyone else experience a torn disc or similar? Just wondering if I’m taking enough time off work or if I’m returning too soon. My work is very labor intensive at times.

[GearHeaded]

well over the years I've had a bunch of spine injuries, blown discs, ruptured discs, torn discs, herniated discs, and one 'exploding disc' (yes the disc blew apart into chunks into my spinal chord). I've had 4 surgeries on them. Have 6 industrial size screws, 2 rods, 6 lug nuts, a cage around my spine, and a bunch of artificial bone material put in where discs used to be.
so you can say I've got some experience with back pain.

if you have 'real' mechanical issues with your back and things are actually 'broke' . Then getting the inflammation down and doing PT may help manage the pain, but unfortunately one wrong move later on in life will bring it all right back.

if your already under insurance and claim filed for this injury , I would pursue things more and a second opinion with a very good surgeon and well as an MRI.. if things are really 'broke' then they will need fixed sooner or later . and when you healthy and strong is better then when your older and not able to recover as well.
just my 2 cents

also, the Gabapentin is really doing nothing for the injury or pain itself. its mainly just altering the chemistry of your brain and dopamine receptors . which will be altered even when you come off.
gaba for me elevated my blood pressure a ton too .. however, if the pain is super severe then taking just about anything is understandable.

[Obs]

Hey I’ve been off work for a couple months due to protruding discs and a torn L4-L5 disc. Been going to physical therapy 2-3 days per week for the past two months. Mainly doing press ups (McKenzie method) and hamstring stretches. Doc has me on 300mg of Gabapentin 3x per day and Meloxicam 15mg once per day. Mainly have issues sitting down, standing from a sitting position, and bending over forward.

Anticipate returning to work within a couple weeks.

Anyone else experience a torn disc or similar? Just wondering if I’m taking enough time off work or if I’m returning too soon. My work is very labor intensive at times.

I honestly cant imagine climbing with an injured back. The saddle puts so much pressure there....

I took too much cialis and it tensed my back enough my disc slid into my nerve, (old injury) it hurt so bad coming down a tree... That was tge start of three or four days of agonizing pain waiting for the cialis to leave my system. Just laid in bed moaning.

I hope it gets better JD.
Don't rush it.

[BOPJohnDoe]

well over the years I've had a bunch of spine injuries, blown discs, ruptured discs, torn discs, herniated discs, and one 'exploding disc' (yes the disc blew apart into chunks into my spinal chord). I've had 4 surgeries on them. Have 6 industrial size screws, 2 rods, 6 lug nuts, a cage around my spine, and a bunch of artificial bone material put in where discs used to be.
so you can say I've got some experience with back pain.

if you have 'real' mechanical issues with your back and things are actually 'broke' . Then getting the inflammation down and doing PT may help manage the pain, but unfortunately one wrong move later on in life will bring it all right back.

if your already under insurance and claim filed for this injury , I would pursue things more and a second opinion with a very good surgeon and well as an MRI.. if things are really 'broke' then they will need fixed sooner or later . and when you healthy and strong is better then when your older and not able to recover as well.
just my 2 cents

also, the Gabapentin is really doing nothing for the injury or pain itself. its mainly just altering the chemistry of your brain and dopamine receptors . which will be altered even when you come off.
gaba for me elevated my blood pressure a ton too .. however, if the pain is super severe then taking just about anything is understandable.

When I take the Gabapentin most of my pain is gone or masked. After two missed doses the pain starts reminding me that I haven’t taken any and I eventually give in.

There has been no talk of surgery. Just physical therapy and gabapentin (pain management) and releasing me back to work. Not sure what they could do for a torn disc anyhow?

[SocioMachiavelli]

I've never heard of a disc being torn? I'll have to have a look at that. I have a herniation at L4/L5.... it rarely gives me trouble now but I did have my first flare up a few weeks ago. I'd definitely seek alternative opinions/medical scans as previously suggested if you haven't already, I appreciate some medics specialise in this area but I would not just take their educated opinion. You do not want to be rolling the dice with your back

if the gabapentins efficacy wears off I'd recommend an epidural, I've just checked and surgery is indicated should physical therapy fail. For me personally with my back I ice the fk out of it and push through the pain. I keep mobilising normally without too much lifting heavy and it generally subsides... if i rest too much it gets worse. Ice will help with the inflammation in that area, I got one off of amazon that comes in a sleeve and I can rap around my abdomen/lower back for 25 minutes.

Other things would be not to sit for too long without standing up after 25-30 minutes, your spine will decompress a little when standing. You can also buy ergonomic cushions etc that you can use in chairs which give you that additional support you may need.

If you're going back to work my advice would be to bend your knee's when lifting..... before you call me captain obvious.... I have lost count of the amount of days when I seem to be pain free and I forget.... the shooting pain up my left leg gives me a sharp reminder when i forgot to use my knees. Even as I sit here in this chair my posture isn't great, so i guess it's about you being very mindful until you progress through your convalescence.

[BOPJohnDoe]

I've never heard of a disc being torn? I'll have to have a look at that. I have a herniation at L4/L5.... it rarely gives me trouble now but I did have my first flare up a few weeks ago. I'd definitely seek alternative opinions/medical scans as previously suggested if you haven't already, I appreciate some medics specialise in this area but I would not just take their educated opinion. You do not want to be rolling the dice with your back

if the gabapentins efficacy wears off I'd recommend an epidural, I've just checked and surgery is indicated should physical therapy fail. For me personally with my back I ice the fk out of it and push through the pain. I keep mobilising normally without too much lifting heavy and it generally subsides... if i rest too much it gets worse. Ice will help with the inflammation in that area, I got one off of amazon that comes in a sleeve and I can rap around my abdomen/lower back for 25 minutes.

Other things would be not to sit for too long without standing up after 25-30 minutes, your spine will decompress a little when standing. You can also buy ergonomic cushions etc that you can use in chairs which give you that additional support you may need.

If you're going back to work my advice would be to bend your knee's when lifting..... before you call me captain obvious.... I have lost count of the amount of days when I seem to be pain free and I forget.... the shooting pain up my left leg gives me a sharp reminder when i forgot to use my knees. Even as I sit here in this chair my posture isn't great, so i guess it's about you being very mindful until you progress through your convalescence.

Thank you for your detailed response. My ortho doctor did say if pain did not subside w Gabapentin and physical therapy the next step would be an epidural to calm down inflammation. I don’t think an epidural is necessary as of right now.