Spinal Stenosis

Dharmaboy · 09-10-2012, 01:03 PM

So been dealing with bad back pain and spasms for the past 6-7 months. Decided to go see a Therapists once the crunches, stretching and deep tissue massage did nothing. The therapist determined spinal stenosis.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Spinal_stenosis

Seems my arch on serve and too much knee bend (some local coach observed) has been causing the excessive twisting in my back where one of my vertebrae is touching a nerve causing the discomfort.

Its to the point where after an hour, I can barely walk and have to crawl out of my car after I am done.

So lots of physio and core strengthening. I figured my core was ok as I play goalie in ice hockey 2 time a week and play tennis quite a bit in the summer.

I will put a vid of my serve for you guys to view soon.

Thanks

ollinger · 09-10-2012, 01:39 PM

This thread unfortunately is indicative of how people try to treat medical problems with generic therapy approaches, even if they're more likely to do harm than good. Spinal stenosis is a very serious condition that puts people in wheelchairs if it progresses too far. It has nothing to do with your "core" and is not affected by deep tissue or any other massage. I hope you feel better but the things you're doing are apt to make the problem worse. There are different types of stenosis, and some are not apt to be treatable. My former mother in law is a very wealthy woman who lives half an hour from NYC (i.e. there is no medical treatment that is beyond her means) and she has to walk with a walker because of stenosis that could not be treated. You need to lay off sports. This isn't likely going to disappear.

ollinger · 09-10-2012, 01:43 PM

"I can barely walk and have to crawl out of my car after I'm done".......WHY do people not listen to what their bodies are telling them??

Dharmaboy · 09-10-2012, 01:44 PM

Well it started getting bad just recently to the point where I was in alot of pain. so I am getting the MRI and Xray to determine what could be going on.

See how it goes.

Dharmaboy · 09-10-2012, 01:46 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ollinger

"I can barely walk and have to crawl out of my car after I'm done".......WHY do people not listen to what their bodies are telling them??

it only hurts when I play tennis. I have no issues playing hockey.

r2473 · 09-10-2012, 01:54 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Dharmaboy

Its to the point where after an hour, I can barely walk and have to crawl out of my car after I am done.

Quote:

Originally Posted by ollinger

"I can barely walk and have to crawl out of my car after I'm done".......WHY do people not listen to what their bodies are telling them??

Doesn't sound too bad to me Dharmaboy. I'd keep playing....

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=t3lsh...feature=fvwrel

Dharmaboy · 09-10-2012, 01:57 PM

Let's see what the doc says. I have kept activities down to a null recently.

So basically is this all sarcasm from the posters or what? I am confused cuz people are pretty obtuse on this forum.

r2473 · 09-10-2012, 02:11 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Dharmaboy

So basically is this all sarcasm from the posters or what? I am confused cuz people are pretty obtuse on this forum.

Ollinger is serious and knows what he's talking about.

I'm just messing around.

charliefedererer · 09-11-2012, 07:39 AM

You're doing the right thing resting from tennis until after the MRI and X-ray.

Hopefully this will be a problem best treated with some physical therapy and you will be back to tennis before too long. (I would think that the fact you can play hockey without discomfort is a good sign.)

It sounds like groundstrokes were not a problem - just your serve.

It may be that even when you do come back, hitting sessions without serving may be the way to get back to the sport.

Time will tell whether you can do a classic service motion, or whether you will have to make some concessions in your back bending.

Dharmaboy · 09-16-2012, 11:33 AM

So Played for a light hit and a set with a friend yesterday. I was very mindful of my serve and how much arch I had in my back. I was able to walk off the court like never before and wasnt in much pain. Just a little sore.

So looks so far that my inefficient back arching during serve is causing the creak in my back. I will try to put up a vid sometime to see what I mean.

I am seeing a sports doc in October who will assess my situation better.

Dharmaboy · 09-20-2012, 08:24 AM

Here are some vids of my serve. I did change it up a bit but I can feel the lack of power from before where I had alot of bend etc.

http://youtu.be/8rqFOg0odNA

http://youtu.be/EzXKHRcQbCE

http://youtu.be/_h1ml1pSBPM

sureshs · 09-20-2012, 08:44 AM

Why are you relying on a therapist's opinion? Shouldn't you go a doctor first and then get referred to a neurosurgeon or someone like that?

North · 09-20-2012, 08:46 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Dharmaboy

Well it started getting bad just recently to the point where I was in alot of pain. so I am getting the MRI and Xray to determine what could be going on.

See how it goes.

The MRI is what will actually confirm a diagnosis of spinal stenosis. An exam alone may be suggestive but some of the findings in spinal stenosis also occur due to other causes of back pain.

Hopefully, you do NOT have spinal stenosis because it is not always amenable to treatment and can be progressively debilitating. If there is a genuine concern you have spinal stenosis, stop playing sports until you confirm otherwise and let your return to activity be guided by a knowledgeable sports doc.

Dharmaboy · 09-20-2012, 08:48 AM

Yes I am seeing a sports Doc in October. They have a huge waiting list because I am in the epicenter of a hockey town.

Limpinhitter · 09-20-2012, 08:50 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Dharmaboy

So Played for a light hit and a set with a friend yesterday. I was very mindful of my serve and how much arch I had in my back. I was able to walk off the court like never before and wasnt in much pain. Just a little sore.

So looks so far that my inefficient back arching during serve is causing the creak in my back. I will try to put up a vid sometime to see what I mean.

I am seeing a sports doc in October who will assess my situation better.

Here is some info on the underlying causes of spinal stenosis and treatment options:
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmedhealth/PMH0001477/

A sports orthopedist is a good place to start. Depending on the underlying cause of the stenosis, there are specific exercise therapies that may be the best course of action for now. I don't know about now, but, the University of Miami School of Medicine had a department called the Comprehinsive Pain Center, run by a renowned neurosurgeon (now deceased), which specialized in non-surgical back pain rehabilitation. However, a neurosurgeon is probably the appropriate specialist if you ultimately need surgery.

sureshs · 09-20-2012, 08:55 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Dharmaboy

Yes I am seeing a sports Doc in October. They have a huge waiting list because I am in the epicenter of a hockey town.

Why do you have to wait for a "sports doctor?" Any general physician should do for a start, and then a specialist if necessary.

Limpinhitter · 09-20-2012, 08:59 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by sureshs

Why do you have to wait for a "sports doctor?" Any general physician should do for a start, and then a specialist if necessary.

No!

10no's

sureshs · 09-20-2012, 09:25 AM

So general physicians are regarded as useless now? No wonder health care costs are out of control.

Limpinhitter · 09-20-2012, 09:55 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by sureshs

So general physicians are regarded as useless now? No wonder health care costs are out of control.

Another strawman. What a bunch of pea brains on this board.

r2473 · 09-20-2012, 10:04 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Limpinhitter

Another strawman. What a bunch of pea brains on this board.

Lot's of wonky body clock engines.

09-10-2012, 01:03 PM	#1
Dharmaboy Rookie Join Date: Jun 2011 Location: Canada Posts: 132	Spinal Stenosis So been dealing with bad back pain and spasms for the past 6-7 months. Decided to go see a Therapists once the crunches, stretching and deep tissue massage did nothing. The therapist determined spinal stenosis. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Spinal_stenosis Seems my arch on serve and too much knee bend (some local coach observed) has been causing the excessive twisting in my back where one of my vertebrae is touching a nerve causing the discomfort. Its to the point where after an hour, I can barely walk and have to crawl out of my car after I am done. So lots of physio and core strengthening. I figured my core was ok as I play goalie in ice hockey 2 time a week and play tennis quite a bit in the summer. I will put a vid of my serve for you guys to view soon. Thanks __________________ Default is Never Enough. [Yonex vCore 98D][Wilson Juice Pro BLX]

09-10-2012, 01:39 PM	#2
ollinger Hall Of Fame Join Date: Nov 2004 Posts: 4,418	This thread unfortunately is indicative of how people try to treat medical problems with generic therapy approaches, even if they're more likely to do harm than good. Spinal stenosis is a very serious condition that puts people in wheelchairs if it progresses too far. It has nothing to do with your "core" and is not affected by deep tissue or any other massage. I hope you feel better but the things you're doing are apt to make the problem worse. There are different types of stenosis, and some are not apt to be treatable. My former mother in law is a very wealthy woman who lives half an hour from NYC (i.e. there is no medical treatment that is beyond her means) and she has to walk with a walker because of stenosis that could not be treated. You need to lay off sports. This isn't likely going to disappear. __________________ Angell 105 WC Silverstring

09-10-2012, 01:43 PM	#3
ollinger Hall Of Fame Join Date: Nov 2004 Posts: 4,418	"I can barely walk and have to crawl out of my car after I'm done".......WHY do people not listen to what their bodies are telling them?? __________________ Angell 105 WC Silverstring

09-10-2012, 01:44 PM	#4
Dharmaboy Rookie Join Date: Jun 2011 Location: Canada Posts: 132	Well it started getting bad just recently to the point where I was in alot of pain. so I am getting the MRI and Xray to determine what could be going on. See how it goes. __________________ Default is Never Enough. [Yonex vCore 98D][Wilson Juice Pro BLX]

09-10-2012, 01:57 PM	#7
Dharmaboy Rookie Join Date: Jun 2011 Location: Canada Posts: 132	Let's see what the doc says. I have kept activities down to a null recently. So basically is this all sarcasm from the posters or what? I am confused cuz people are pretty obtuse on this forum. __________________ Default is Never Enough. [Yonex vCore 98D][Wilson Juice Pro BLX] Last edited by Dharmaboy : 09-10-2012 at 02:01 PM.