Folks, hoping to get some assistance on a herniated disc. I was diagnosed with a large far lateral herniation at L4/L5 about a month ago. It was miserable for about three weeks until the neuro surgeon got me on some pain meds and then to a McKenzie specialist which seems to be helping a lot. I am back at work and starting a walking routine along with McKenzie stuff. At about 5 weeks I would say I am 50% - 60% better. Two questions:
Anyone had a similiar issue and a non - surgical success story (how long did it take to get back to triathlon)?
Is the recovery supposed to be straight line or are there lots of ups and downs?
Folks, hoping to get some assistance on a herniated disc. I was diagnosed with a large far lateral herniation at L4/L5 about a month ago. It was miserable for about three weeks until the neuro surgeon got me on some pain meds and then to a McKenzie specialist which seems to be helping a lot. I am back at work and starting a walking routine along with McKenzie stuff. At about 5 weeks I would say I am 50% - 60% better. Two questions:
Anyone had a similiar issue and a non - surgical success story (how long did it take to get back to triathlon)?
Is the recovery supposed to be straight line or are there lots of ups and downs?
Thanks, the man from Nantucket.
I’ve had back spasms periodically starting in my early 20’s. About 7 years ago, I crashed on my MTB and shortly after had really bad sciatic pain, numbness in my right foot, and drop foot(inability to stand on the toes of my right foot). I had 3 cortisol shots into the area and did decompression and physical therapy for about 6 months. 5 months after that I did an Olympic distance tri. I felt like I was back to 100% after about 1 year. The decompression therapy was awesome, it totally relived my sciatic pain for about an hour. I’m currently recovering from another spasm that has lasted almost 4 weeks. I’m avoiding surgery at all costs until I see much better prognoses post surgery.
My recovery was pretty much straight line. I started everything really gradually(only running about 1/4 mile for my first few runs), but I did have significant weakness in my right leg. It took about 4 months to get up to 6 miles.
Will be as brief as I can. L5/S1 and L4/L5 which went from bulging to herniated. Mileograms x 3, Discectomy x 2 and shots…so many treatments I can’t recall. I have permanent nerve damage which manifests itself as something called ‘foot drop’. Very odd, just kind of lose control of it periodically.
Last fall I tried an inversion table and it has hands down been the best thing for my back since the first discectomy in 1987. In point of fact I have not been to my neuro since. Nothing will ever help the foot drop as that sciatic damage is long since permanent. But recurring sciatic throbbing pain is 100% gone and I have had the longest ‘spasm’ free back run of my life the past half year. YMMV, but about a week after I started using it all my daily back issues melted away. I will say I miss it something fierce when I travel and it’s the first thing I do when I walk in the door. Remember, the table worked for me, but I’d never rec using it unless you do your own homework. I was faced with the proposition of going under the knife yet again and figured I had nothing to lose by trying it. Just wanted to voice my experience with what worked for me.
I have had a herniated lumbar disc as has my wife. We found success in different ways: after my injury, I took about 2-3 weeks completely off and took pain meds during that time. Only “activity” was walking dog. When it didn’t hurt when I sneezed, which was by week 3 or 4, I started into an easy core workout routine. It took about 7 weeks before I could jog and get on the bike again without pain; 2.5 months to get full flexibility back and touch toes.
My wife had it much worse (she was really hobbling and had a lot of pain) and went the route of a lumbar epidural steroid injection. 2-3 days after getting that, she started feeling better and was encouraged to walk, do elliptical machine and slowly get back into activity. Her timeline of recovery after injection was quite similar to mine.
To specifically answer your questions:
both of us are doing fine with non-surgical solutions. It took me about 2 months before doing anything strenuous again.
the recovery from a herniated disc felt slow for both of us. Lots of ups and downs.
Can you tell me about decompression therapy? What is it? I have similar issues and have been managing well but have seen a local specialist ad for decompression therapy and thought it looked interesting but don’t know anyone who has tried it.
To the OP - I have been dealing with this issue since last march and tried lots of things but no surgery. I am currently self managing with McKenzie stuff and other exercise/stretching I’ve found online and in a “heal your back” book provided via a program sponsored by my employer. There are lots of ups and downs but I’ve been doing well keeping my runs on the shorter side since I’ve been back to full time training. The one issue I can’t seem to shake is sciatic pain down one leg and that’s the reason I’m looking at the decompression therapy.
I herniated L4/5 last April. I couldn’t walk for about 4 days. Started PT within 5days. McKenzie approach. I manage a few PT clinics. my staff took great care of me. One of the biggest challenges for me was the mental health aspect. I was super depressed! My therapist was a competitive swimmer. She got me swimming right away. Was swimming 2weeks from the injury. Started running after a month. No hills, a mix of walking and running for 20 minute sessions. Started riding after two months. Had been riding for about a week and decided to do an OLY I had signed up for earlier on in the year. Did well considering the extent of my injury and time frame. Did a half ironman 6 weeks later. I still have back issues. That was my second injury. I get flare ups from time time. I am doing IMCDA in June. Fingers crossed.
Will be as brief as I can. L5/S1 and L4/L5 which went from bulging to herniated. Mileograms x 3, Discectomy x 2 and shots…so many treatments I can’t recall. I have permanent nerve damage which manifests itself as something called ‘foot drop’. Very odd, just kind of lose control of it periodically.
Last fall I tried an inversion table and it has hands down been the best thing for my back since the first discectomy in 1987. In point of fact I have not been to my neuro since. Nothing will ever help the foot drop as that sciatic damage is long since permanent. But recurring sciatic throbbing pain is 100% gone and I have had the longest ‘spasm’ free back run of my life the past half year. YMMV, but about a week after I started using it all my daily back issues melted away. I will say I miss it something fierce when I travel and it’s the first thing I do when I walk in the door. Remember, the table worked for me, but I’d never rec using it unless you do your own homework. I was faced with the proposition of going under the knife yet again and figured I had nothing to lose by trying it. Just wanted to voice my experience with what worked for me.
Good luck a bad back is a nightmare at times.
I’m about 5 months post herniation and stll dealing with a slight numbness in the foot and a stiff lower back. I have an inversion table as well but have tried it fully inverted and also at about 35 degrees. What angle did you find the best relief?
I’m about 5 months post herniation and stll dealing with a slight numbness in the foot and a stiff lower back. I have an inversion table as well but have tried it fully inverted and also at about 35 degrees. What angle did you find the best relief?
I started with the strap that held me to about 30 degrees from fully inverted, but worked my way to full. I mix it up b/c I do some streamline stretching while inverted and that needs to be at the full range. It all feels good really so can’t say any one angle is best for me. I just know when I’m away for a few days I miss it. My flexibility has improved greatly in addition to the alleviation of numbness completely now. The foot drop is permanent nothing will get that back for me unfortunately, but my back problems are a thing of the past finally. Sigh.
I’m about 5 months post herniation and stll dealing with a slight numbness in the foot and a stiff lower back. I have an inversion table as well but have tried it fully inverted and also at about 35 degrees. What angle did you find the best relief?
I started with the strap that held me to about 30 degrees from fully inverted, but worked my way to full. I mix it up b/c I do some streamline stretching while inverted and that needs to be at the full range. It all feels good really so can’t say any one angle is best for me. I just know when I’m away for a few days I miss it. My flexibility has improved greatly in addition to the alleviation of numbness completely now. The foot drop is permanent nothing will get that back for me unfortunately, but my back problems are a thing of the past finally. Sigh.
Thanks. How long at a time and how many times a day do you hang?
After I get a cup of coffee on board and my eyes are wide open I go around 7-10 minutes. Before I go to bed another round of the same time. Weekends where I’m home more, I hit it b/f my swim mid day or whenever I’m around. Anyway, hope that helps.
I’m about 5 months post herniation and stll dealing with a slight numbness in the foot and a stiff lower back. I have an inversion table as well but have tried it fully inverted and also at about 35 degrees. What angle did you find the best relief?
I started with the strap that held me to about 30 degrees from fully inverted, but worked my way to full. I mix it up b/c I do some streamline stretching while inverted and that needs to be at the full range. It all feels good really so can’t say any one angle is best for me. I just know when I’m away for a few days I miss it. My flexibility has improved greatly in addition to the alleviation of numbness completely now. The foot drop is permanent nothing will get that back for me unfortunately, but my back problems are a thing of the past finally. Sigh.
Thanks. How long at a time and how many times a day do you hang?
After I get a cup of coffee on board and my eyes are wide open I go around 7-10 minutes. Before I go to bed another round of the same time. Weekends where I’m home more, I hit it b/f my swim mid day or whenever I’m around. Anyway, hope that helps.
I’m about 5 months post herniation and stll dealing with a slight numbness in the foot and a stiff lower back. I have an inversion table as well but have tried it fully inverted and also at about 35 degrees. What angle did you find the best relief?
I started with the strap that held me to about 30 degrees from fully inverted, but worked my way to full. I mix it up b/c I do some streamline stretching while inverted and that needs to be at the full range. It all feels good really so can’t say any one angle is best for me. I just know when I’m away for a few days I miss it. My flexibility has improved greatly in addition to the alleviation of numbness completely now. The foot drop is permanent nothing will get that back for me unfortunately, but my back problems are a thing of the past finally. Sigh.
Thanks. How long at a time and how many times a day do you hang?
Will be as brief as I can. L5/S1 and L4/L5 which went from bulging to herniated. Mileograms x 3, Discectomy x 2 and shots…so many treatments I can’t recall. I have permanent nerve damage which manifests itself as something called ‘foot drop’. Very odd, just kind of lose control of it periodically.
Last fall I tried an inversion table and it has hands down been the best thing for my back since the first discectomy in 1987. In point of fact I have not been to my neuro since. Nothing will ever help the foot drop as that sciatic damage is long since permanent. But recurring sciatic throbbing pain is 100% gone and I have had the longest ‘spasm’ free back run of my life the past half year. YMMV, but about a week after I started using it all my daily back issues melted away. I will say I miss it something fierce when I travel and it’s the first thing I do when I walk in the door. Remember, the table worked for me, but I’d never rec using it unless you do your own homework. I was faced with the proposition of going under the knife yet again and figured I had nothing to lose by trying it. Just wanted to voice my experience with what worked for me.
Good luck a bad back is a nightmare at times.
X2. My inversion table has kept me off the operating table.