Okay, just back from the MRI and confirmed the second herniation of L5-S1. Second time since original blowout last August. Trying not to freak out and let my emotions / depresssion overrun me at this point. In a way I’m relieved to see the film as both the docs and PT kept telling me it was probably something else, and not the disc (for the past 7 weeks!).
History: Last August, I hurt the disc in a short Oly race, one the bike. I had the tapering prednisone (worked great), MRI and a few days later, the steriod injection, which just kicked ass, and I was pain free, but leg screwed up from nerve damage. I followed docs orders, no working out for 8 weeks, then easy riding, swimming, didn’t take a running step for 3 months. Was pronounced “healed” in Nov, “go back to Ironman” but told no heavy lifting for a year. Things seemed fine, back to full swimming, riding (did week road training camp in Moab in March and even riding 180 miles in 3 days with 10000ft. of climbing, totally fine). All along, I could tell the right leg, side was much weaker, but figured it would improve with more riding. Did Wildflower, and although it was a disaster, I was pain free.
June 1, go out for garden variety 40 mile ride. Legs feeling strong, so I decidecd to stay seated on this short 18% wall, and push the ergomo watts and stay with the boys, for fun. 1/2 up the hill, i felt the disc “shift”. I knew immediately it was the disc and could feel discomfort right away in the butt, hammy, back. Not bad, so I continued ride, but knew when I had trouble getting off the bike, I had done something bad. Anyhow, saw doc, who did some tests (stand on toes, etc) and said, probably not disc, but gave me prednisone / Vicodin as precaution. I took it, but for 2 weeks, could not sit for longer than 5 minutes, driving was a nightmare, etc. Back to doc / PT, got steriod injection on June 17. Didn’t do shit, which was a big surprise. Anyhow, been in various states of pain and suffering since, not able to sleep for longer than 3-4 hours unless drugged to the gills with Vic/Advil. PT has tried everything, traction felt good, but didn’t help in long term. Last week, I called and got appt. Tuesday, she ordered MRI and that went down today. I asked tech to show me L5-S1, and sure enough, it was herniated.
Anyhow, it’s been 7 weeks on the couch (thank god the TDF is on now!), while everyone is out riding, running and enjoying summer, I have been stuck inside barely able to move, taking drugs / dealing with pain, and trying not to go postal and axe-murder anyone! Sucks does not even begin to cover it.
So anyone done their discs multiple times? What was the outcome? I am thinking about trying another injection, but have lost confidence in it. I know we are all different, but it would be nice to hear of others experience.
Before I left the doc, she mentioned I needed to prepare myself for possible surgery, which scares me. My doc is the best ortho-spine specialist in town. Many people I know have had successful surgery with him, so I know he is competent. My brother blew his in Feb, had surgery March and is back to waterskiing no problem (hate him!)