Herniated Disk (Tips, Suggestions, Etc)

[theronin391]

Hello, I just want to post my story and see if I can get any tips or advice. Okay, about 2 weeks ago I was deadlifting, on the last rep my back basically popped and I felt something move. Of course, I freaked out but I was in no pain. I finished my work out on that day. Since then, I have continued to go to the gym with no real pain. I have even Squatted and Benched my Maxes and no real pain. However, I feel some Sciatic pain when I am not doing anything or when I first wake up in the morning. Or like when I am driving and I get down that first step sort of hurts. The main discomfort that I do have is coming from my left leg (calf region), it just feels weak. I went to the chiropractor and he examined me and said I was fine, that it was not anything serious. I kept going with him and I didn’t feel any better. Yesterday, I went with him again and I told him that I really wanted for him to order a MRI. He was trying to convince me out of it but I insisted and he ordered it. So they rushed it and I received the results that same day. I figured it wasn’t anything serious but the first thing the chiropractor told me when I walked into his office was “I want to apologize, I was wrong”… So from there on I knew it was bad lol… Basically I have a Herniated Nucleus Pulposus in my L5/S1 SIZE: 1.3CM. He said that that is the largest one that he has seem and he is shocked that not only em I still able to Squat but that I am not in more pain. He said I might require surgery so he referred me to a Neurologist (the appointment is months away, going to try to see if anyone else will see me sooner). First off, has anyone else had this type of injury? If so, how did you treat it? Any tips you guys gals would recommend? Do you think it is wise for me to continue going to the gym? (I have modified my routine and unfortunately will have to discontinue squats and deadlifts for a while). One common thing that I have read in similar situations is that INVERSION Tables have pretty much cured people with this type of injury. I am already planning on buying one this weekend. Any tips or words or opinions are greatly appreciated, thank you.

[BrotherWolf]

Hello, I just want to post my story and see if I can get any tips or advice. Okay, about 2 weeks ago I was deadlifting, on the last rep my back basically popped and I felt something move. Of course, I freaked out but I was in no pain. I finished my work out on that day. Since then, I have continued to go to the gym with no real pain. I have even Squatted and Benched my Maxes and no real pain. However, I feel some Sciatic pain when I am not doing anything or when I first wake up in the morning. Or like when I am driving and I get down that first step sort of hurts. The main discomfort that I do have is coming from my left leg (calf region), it just feels weak. I went to the chiropractor and he examined me and said I was fine, that it was not anything serious. I kept going with him and I didn’t feel any better. Yesterday, I went with him again and I told him that I really wanted for him to order a MRI. He was trying to convince me out of it but I insisted and he ordered it. So they rushed it and I received the results that same day. I figured it wasn’t anything serious but the first thing the chiropractor told me when I walked into his office was “I want to apologize, I was wrong”… So from there on I knew it was bad lol… Basically I have a Herniated Nucleus Pulposus in my L5/S1 SIZE: 1.3CM. He said that that is the largest one that he has seem and he is shocked that not only em I still able to Squat but that I am not in more pain. He said I might require surgery so he referred me to a Neurologist (the appointment is months away, going to try to see if anyone else will see me sooner). First off, has anyone else had this type of injury? If so, how did you treat it? Any tips you guys gals would recommend? Do you think it is wise for me to continue going to the gym? (I have modified my routine and unfortunately will have to discontinue squats and deadlifts for a while). One common thing that I have read in similar situations is that INVERSION Tables have pretty much cured people with this type of injury. I am already planning on buying one this weekend. Any tips or words or opinions are greatly appreciated, thank you.

well I have had herniated disk for a long time but in a different spot so i cannot give you much advice on how to improve the condition , I do however continue squatting and deadlifting and setting pr and I am 51
but again it's a different position mine is in the lower back .
I would trust the specialists that said you need surgery , for sciatic pain there are many different type of stretching movements you can do just use youtube, plenty of videos in there.

Hold on on the inversion table, it can be useful for certain injuries but for others can be even dangerous and make things worse, you should ask your chiro about it or maybe actually find another one (chiropractor).
If it doesn't cause you pain I'd continue as usual just be aware when you squat or DL and keep the weight and volume light, I think it's always better to keep the back muscles in good shape when you have spine injuries

[theronin391]

well I have had herniated disk for a long time but in a different spot so i cannot give you much advice on how to improve the condition , I do however continue squatting and deadlifting and setting pr and I am 51
but again it's a different position mine is in the lower back .
I would trust the specialists that said you need surgery , for sciatic pain there are many different type of stretching movements you can do just use youtube, plenty of videos in there.

Hold on on the inversion table, it can be useful for certain injuries but for others can be even dangerous and make things worse, you should ask your chiro about it or maybe actually find another one (chiropractor).
If it doesn't cause you pain I'd continue as usual just be aware when you squat or DL and keep the weight and volume light, I think it's always better to keep the back muscles in good shape when you have spine injuries

Mine is in the lower back too, the last disk on the left side I beleive.

[nitefeatherz]

I would be careful to find a sports medicine specializing orthopedic surgeon. They can give you the best advice on how to proceed.

Also keep in mind- I have known people who did the wrong thing with herniated disks that lost bladder control until after they had the surgery. VERY embarrassing and inconvenient as well as being painful.

As much as it sucks, follow your doctors advice. It's your back and doing the wrong thing too soon can make things MUCH, much worse on a possibly permanent scale. Better to take a few months off to recover so you can get back into it safely than hurt yourself in such a way it keeps you from getting back to the gym.

[Iceman1800]

1.3cm is massive. Mine was shutting down my bladder as well as the inability to walk which is why I had to have surgery.
Google can help ease your issues but obviously keep doing what the professionals say. Search for Stuart McGill big 3, McPhearson stretches, and dead bugs (core exercise). Avoid stretching and bending for the first hour after you wake up in the morning. I'm 9 months post op and still not 100% but it's getting there.

[theronin391]

1.3cm is massive. Mine was shutting down my bladder as well as the inability to walk which is why I had to have surgery.
Google can help ease your issues but obviously keep doing what the professionals say. Search for Stuart McGill big 3, McPhearson stretches, and dead bugs (core exercise). Avoid stretching and bending for the first hour after you wake up in the morning. I'm 9 months post op and still not 100% but it's getting there.

Yeah, they told me that 1.3cm is pretty big but the thing is I am not in any real pain, it only bothers me in the moring. ...... I have squatted my maxes since (at the time I didn't know about the herniatuion thoug, wont be doing that again)