How to deal with a lower back Bulging Disk?

[corozco]

Just last week I hurt my back really bad doing powercleans. Before I already had minor back pain but not too bad. Not I can't really bend forward and when I sit for long it hurts and so does raising my right leg. After researching I found out that a Bulging or slipped disk is what I have. Now what have any of you guys if any at all done to get over this type of injury? Currently I take Ibuprofen and stay aways from deads, squats, and cleans which happen to be my favorite exercises. I feel like those pussy kids who work out only upper body. Any help would be appreciated. Thanks

[ironmaidn4life]

It's always best to consult and md. I did that and saw a chiropractor for years to get relief while training. In the end I did need to have surgery, but back surgery has come a long way and I was fully recovered in 6-8 weeks and back hitt'n it hard in the gym. Try the more less invasive stuff first like chiropractics (if you believe in them) and see if you get relief. Best wishes to you - Iron

[killatiger]

90% of slipped, herniated, or bulging disks will heal with time according to my neurosurgeon friend. May take a little time just stay away from things that aggravate it. Funny thing is a good neurosurgeon would tell you the only 2 fixes to make lower back pain better is surgery, or exercise.

[DiRect]

go see your doctor first, don't self diagnose yourself. it is most likely a bulged disc, but it can't hurt to make sure. there is a difference between bulged disc and a herniated disc. i recommend you rest and exercise lightly to help the bulged disc heal, before its herniated then its most likely surgery. I HAD a bulged disc and now the pain has gotten so much worst to the extent that its constantly there, my leg constantly hurts and my back is always hurting... sometimes so much that i can't even walk. i tried physio, made it worst, but i heard chiropractor is good, so id try one of those two first to try and heal it without surgery. im currently consulting with my orthopedic surgeon whether surgery would be a good option for me or not... kinda screwed myself over at a pretty young age :(

[2uantuM]

go see your doctor first, don't self diagnose yourself. it is most likely a bulged disc, but it can't hurt to make sure. there is a difference between bulged disc and a herniated disc. i recommend you rest and exercise lightly to help the bulged disc heal, before its herniated then its most likely surgery. I HAD a bulged disc and now the pain has gotten so much worst to the extent that its constantly there, my leg constantly hurts and my back is always hurting... sometimes so much that i can't even walk. i tried physio, made it worst, but i heard chiropractor is good, so id try one of those two first to try and heal it without surgery. im currently consulting with my orthopedic surgeon whether surgery would be a good option for me or not... kinda screwed myself over at a pretty young age :(

I feel ya, I'm in the same situation. Stay away from the chiro though, they can make things a lot worse for people in our situation.

They tend to do alot of "adjustments", which basically translates into them throwing themselves ontop of you and blindly cracking your back. As you can imagine, unnecessary twisting and turning of a herniated disc (and especially a bulging disc) can be disastrous. However, the massaging/heat/electrotherapy that chiros do is pretty good.

[igetSWOLL]

you could simply have a pinched nerve and / or strained / torn muscles.

i had trouble leaning forward, sitting for an extended period of time, etc.

and i had strained lower back muscles. no nerve / spinal dmg.

saw my MD, he did a few things and checked the feeling in my toes / feet.

he said stay away from heavy weight for 4 weeks.

it hurt to simply lift myself out of bed in the morning, so it was kinda intense.

but i stayed away from heavy weight on squats, deadlifts, and rows.

kept it simple (135) and high reps along with heavy stretching in the morning and post workout.

stretch even though it hurts. i shut myself in my room, cranked the music and screamed.

you'll make it. gl.

[2uantuM]

you could simply have a pinched nerve and / or strained / torn muscles.

i had trouble leaning forward, sitting for an extended period of time, etc.

and i had strained lower back muscles. no nerve / spinal dmg.

saw my MD, he did a few things and checked the feeling in my toes / feet.

he said stay away from heavy weight for 4 weeks.

it hurt to simply lift myself out of bed in the morning, so it was kinda intense.

but i stayed away from heavy weight on squats, deadlifts, and rows.

kept it simple (135) and high reps along with heavy stretching in the morning and post workout.

stretch even though it hurts. i shut myself in my room, cranked the music and screamed.

you'll make it. gl.

I had many doctors check for feeling in my feet. The thing was, my feet were fine. The pain/numbness was in my calf. He dismissed the possibility of a bulge and diagnosed me with a muscle strain in my back (which somehow lasted 6 months). I was sent to a chiropractor to help it out. During one of his adjustments, I felt a sharp pain shoot down my hamstring, calf, and toes which lasted for a few days afterwards. More than likely, he caused the herniation of one of my bulging discs.

After that fiasco, I was sent to an orthopedic doctor who then revealed several bulges and a herniated disc through an MRI. The only good way to verify disc damage is through an MRI.

[Derrick101]

sure you do not have sciatica?

[2uantuM]

sure you do not have sciatica?

It's sciatica caused by a herniated disc.

[Derrick101]

can your disc bulge heal over time? I had / have the same kind of problem but not as severe. I noticed when I do leg ext and leg work like squats etc. I get this pinch nerve pain near my tailbone. I then tried some You tube video stretches for this and ever since it has helped a lot..I mean last Sat after legs, I could barely walk . Now I have little pain and my leg has no more pain to my feet. I have been doing lots of stretches like this:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aU7abgOefu8&feature=related
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GJq3WImz0fU&NR=1

maybe it can help.

http://www.healyourbulgingdisc.com/

also:
http://www.spine-health.com/wellness/exercise/pain-relief-mckenzie-treatment

[2uantuM]

can your disc bulge heal over time? I had / have the same kind of problem but not as severe. I noticed when I do leg ext and leg work like squats etc. I get this pinch nerve pain near my tailbone. I then tried some You tube video stretches for this and ever since it has helped a lot..I mean last Sat after legs, I could barely walk . Now I have little pain and my leg has no more pain to my feet. I have been doing lots of stretches like this:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aU7abgOefu8&feature=related
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GJq3WImz0fU&NR=1

maybe it can help.

also:
http://www.spine-health.com/wellness/exercise/pain-relief-mckenzie-treatment

McKenzie exercises are great for helping the reduction of a bulge and easing pain. Bulging discs can often heal completely, but herniations and such will generally always leave the disc damaged for a lifetime.

Also, I'd stay away from squats and deadlifts if you have a bulging or herniated disc. It is probably one of the worst things you could do to a damaged disc.

[Derrick101]

I'm laying off legs for a month. After doing these McKenzie's , I am pain free so far. I did abs today and that usually cause nerve pain, but through many stretches, I am ok.. I have never had this before, maybe got this from leg press machine or I have bad posture and a weak lower back. These sites were so far very helpful. I am using the bouncing ball method to help it heal as it says it needs oxygen and gels, nutrients to heal.