Herniated/bulging disc

[wings56]

So I had made a post about some back pain a while back... as time goes on, more signs lead to some type of bulging or herniated disc. With that being said, I'm able to mange just fine as long as certain movements are avoided.

My question, who here has dealt with a herniated or bulging disc? How was it diagnosed, what was the treatment, and what was recovery like?

Thank you!

 

[ollinger]

diagnosis -- clinical symptoms, confirmed by MRI.
treatment -- various forms of physical therapy and lifestyle adjustments, possibly surgery if no improvement after months.
recovery -- extremely variable, ranging from resolution of all symptoms to chronic back pain; yes, it varies tremendously.

 

[wings56]

diagnosis -- clinical symptoms, confirmed by MRI.
treatment -- various forms of physical therapy and lifestyle adjustments, possibly surgery if no improvement after months.
recovery -- extremely variable, ranging from resolution of all symptoms to chronic back pain; yes, it varies tremendously.

lovely. will have to get checked out ASAP

 

[ollinger]

my own physical therapy followed the McKenzie method (in essence, doing the cobra position from yoga relentlessly and vigorously many times a day) and it helped alot.

 

[Kevin T]

my own physical therapy followed the McKenzie method (in essence, doing the cobra position from yoga relentlessly and vigorously many times a day) and it helped alot.

+1. I ruptured my L4-5 many moons ago (10+ years ago). Tried to come back to sports too early and ruptured it again. I tried it all from yoga to Chiro to acupuncture to meds to cortisone (works like a charm!) but a good PT that worked my rear off and was big on McKenzie did the trick. I also stopped doing sit ups and crunches, started paying close attention to posture while sitting at work and stopped lifting heavy weights. I now only do planks in various forms for core stength and bodyweight exercises such as pull-ups, dips, lunges, etc. Knock on wood, no flare ups in over 4 years. Good luck!

 

[wings56]

my own physical therapy followed the McKenzie method (in essence, doing the cobra position from yoga relentlessly and vigorously many times a day) and it helped alot.

unreal. this whole time ive been trying to stretch my hamstrings... forward... anything that involves bending over so I can feel it stretch, but this cobra position provides a tremendous amount of looseness and flexibility! I'll give this a try for a while! Thank you!

 

[RogueFLIP]

IME, about 99.99% of "low back pain" has a iliopsoas muscle and soft tissue restriction/tightness. The cobra position can help stretch things out and give relief.

 

[tennisdad65]

12 years back.. 10 mm extrusion. could not function/sleep/walk/sit for a month. 5 years later still had the lump in my calf. Whenever I feel it flaring up, yoga fixes it for me. I really should be doing yoga 3-4 times a week to prevent flare ups, but it is more like once a week for me.

 

[wings56]

IME, about 99.99% of "low back pain" has a iliopsoas muscle and soft tissue restriction/tightness. The cobra position can help stretch things out and give relief.

I saw the doctor and given the location of my pain, she thought it was highly unlikely to be a herniated disc. It's upper lumbar/lower thoracic. I got some anti inflammatory medicine and some muscle relaxers. Take that for two weeks and no lifting weights. I've already played tennis without any issues. The weight lifting is what was reaggravating it.

 

[hordent]

I have been through the gambit. I have done arguably every non surgical treatment known to man. I was doing well with some of treatments listed above until i re ruptured a disc that had previously been injured and healed. Look up regenexx and email me for more info if you want. Hordent@aol.com. Im feeling tons better finally. And no surgery.

 

[basil J]

L5, L5s1 bulging for over 20 years now. I have an inversion rack that I use two to three time per week. Lets your body weight product the traction that helps separate the discs. I probably throw my back out 2-3 times per year where it affects me enough that I have to take a pain killer and skip the gym for a week. Otherwise, strong core and good hamstring flexibility are the keys for me to stay relatively pain free.

 

[wings56]

The medication has made a tremendous difference. I'm back to 100% on serving. I still am sensitive to the touch on my back, but hopefully that is just where the muscle ties in like the doctor thinks

 

[GabeT]

Strongly, strongly recommend Pilates for this. I've had back problems since my 20s, very light at first but got much worse over the years (I'm 51 now). A few years ago it got so bad that I ended up in bed for three days after a ski day.

Since then I got serious about exercising the right way. I tried a lot of things and am now doing Pilates 2-3 times a week. Pain is gone. Completely. In the past even in the best of circumstances I always had to deal with some low level discomfort. No longer.

Besides the pain reduction benefits Pilates has also helped my tennis, stronger core, generally more flexible.

Give it a try if you haven't yet.

 

[heninfan99]

Is a rupture the same as an "annular tear"??? anyone know?

+1. I ruptured my L4-5 many moons ago (10+ years ago). Tried to come back to sports too early and ruptured it again.

 

[Dso]

Is a rupture the same as an "annular tear"??? anyone know?

http://www.spinemd.com/symptoms-conditions/annular-tear

 

[heninfan99]

http://www.spinemd.com/symptoms-conditions/annular-tear

it seems tears with "extrusion" and still falls under annular

 

[Dso]

Annular Tear doesn't necessarily mean a leak of fluids and/or rupture. I think most people would be surprised at hom common these things can be. Many people have bad discs and don't even know it. Some have minor bulges and can't walk. Some have ruptures and recover after a couple months. It's crazy.

 

[heninfan99]

Annular Tear doesn't necessarily mean a leak of fluids and/or rupture. I think most people would be surprised at hom common these things can be. Many people have bad discs and don't even know it. Some have minor bulges and can't walk. Some have ruptures and recover after a couple months. It's crazy.

the word for it is extrusion and worse is sequestration

 

[Mr.Lob]

Any misdiagnosis of sciatica for a herniated disc?

 

[Fintft]

I have a displaced disc (old basketball injury), last time it flared was a few years back and since then I've been more careful to do my core exercise (especially push ups and planks).

 

[heninfan99]

I'm ordering an inversion table which apparently you can do vertical situps on if feeling brave.

 

[Mr.Lob]

Anybody ever try the Lumbar Traction device's? Around $150 up to $1,000 that I've seen.

 

[ByeByePoly]

I'm ordering an inversion table which apparently you can do vertical situps on if feeling brave.

This is what I have used for 30 years. It would be more stable than the inversion tables, but you don't have control of the incline.

 

[heninfan99]

A folding bench is next have an ab wheel on the way.

This is what I have used for 30 years. It would be more stable than the inversion tables, but you don't have control of the incline.

 

[Zlatni]

A folding bench is next have an ab wheel on the way.

Be careful with the ab wheel. It puts quite a strain on your low back.

I would highly recommend yoga and pilates.

 

[heninfan99]

Be careful with the ab wheel. It puts quite a strain on your low back.

I would highly recommend yoga and pilates.

I also recommend those but don't do them any more.

 

[scotus]

I'm ordering an inversion table which apparently you can do vertical situps on if feeling brave.

I bought one a long time ago.

Except for the first month, I haven't used it. It's just collecting dust.

Much better and more convenient to do the cobra, superman, etc.

 

[heninfan99]

more convenient to do the cobra, superman, etc.

No doubt but not the same

 

[Crocodile]

+1. I ruptured my L4-5 many moons ago (10+ years ago). Tried to come back to sports too early and ruptured it again. I tried it all from yoga to Chiro to acupuncture to meds to cortisone (works like a charm!) but a good PT that worked my rear off and was big on McKenzie did the trick. I also stopped doing sit ups and crunches, started paying close attention to posture while sitting at work and stopped lifting heavy weights. I now only do planks in various forms for core stength and bodyweight exercises such as pull-ups, dips, lunges, etc. Knock on wood, no flare ups in over 4 years. Good luck!

Good answer, I also do a bit of swimming and have weekly massage with my PT. Try not to sit for long periods.

 

[heninfan99]

Loving my new inversion table.

 

[wings56]

I guess I should give an update on this... I don't believe I ever had a disc issue. It was a muscle issue. Some chiropractic treatments and therapy completely alleviated my problem!

 

[Crocodile]

I guess I should give an update on this... I don't believe I ever had a disc issue. It was a muscle issue. Some chiropractic treatments and therapy completely alleviated my problem!

It could still be a disc problem. Physio treatments can reduce inflammation and some treatments alleviate muscle spasms so you feel better. Strengthening exercises can make your back muscles stronger which support your back more.

 

[Crocodile]

Don't forget to rest your body.

 

[Dartagnan64]

Annular Tear doesn't necessarily mean a leak of fluids and/or rupture. I think most people would be surprised at hom common these things can be. Many people have bad discs and don't even know it. Some have minor bulges and can't walk. Some have ruptures and recover after a couple months. It's crazy.

That's because disc bulges are rarely the cause of people's problems. It's most often an incidental finding on MRI that pateints focus on as a cause of their back issues. Low back pain is mostly multifactorial in nature and rarely due to a simple disc bulge. An acute herniation can cause acute low back pain followed by severe leg pain when the herniated disc material puts pressure on a nerve root. Those symptoms last 6 weeks to 3 months and often resolve without surgery.

Back stretching, good posture, core strengthening are the best things you can do to stave of back problems over time.

 

[Womble_of_Wimbledon]

+1. I ruptured my L4-5 many moons ago (10+ years ago). Tried to come back to sports too early and ruptured it again. I tried it all from yoga to Chiro to acupuncture to meds to cortisone (works like a charm!) but a good PT that worked my rear off and was big on McKenzie did the trick. I also stopped doing sit ups and crunches, started paying close attention to posture while sitting at work and stopped lifting heavy weights. I now only do planks in various forms for core stength and bodyweight exercises such as pull-ups, dips, lunges, etc. Knock on wood, no flare ups in over 4 years. Good luck!

what was too soon and how long was your journey back to tennis? I'm dealing with a bad L3 extrusion and nerve impingement. Nearly four months making a decent recovery. Lots of physio/pilates, some pain relief injections.