Herniated disc

Hi guys,

spike I hope you read this too

I have a recurring problem with a herniated disc. Once it's triggered it really affects my training. This time round it came about while doing double bicep curls on the cable cross-over. Just felt the pinch when I dropped the cables.

It's very specific movements that will trigger it to "pinch" and it takes my feet out under me. I will be starting a new 3 to 4 month training cycle and want to up the intensity, but this disc is still so tender.

I would appreciate some input on managing this problem. If I need to put down more specific info just letme know.

Thanks!

Hey JB
Can you give a bit of a history of the problem? Including previous examinations, treatments etc.
Who made the diagnosis for you and was an MRI done?

Hi spike,

I ruptured 2 discs in 2000 doing deadlifts. Went for chiro manipulation, but the back muscles were too tight. Physiotherapy helped a lot to release the spasms, but I didn't train for quite a while.

The neurosurgeon I consulted is a good family friend, maybe not a back specialist but he sent me for a MRI. He suggested to fuse 2 vertebrae but I decided not to go through with it.

It's been with me for years but I've become strong enough to do heavy back movements without pain. It's just every now and then that it "pops" out. Usually I would see my physiotherapist to release any spasms in my lower back, and I would stretch my hams and glutes often (they are too stiff most of the time anyway).

Lately I've been doing a movement to relieve the pressure - lying on stomach, doing a push-up but my lower body stays on the floor. So I'm actually just hyper extending.

I think I've been irritating it with leg presses (when bum lifts up a bit), but funny enough I don't have any discomfort doing squats and front squats.

Exercises requiring more core work like arm curls & upright rows also bites a lot. Maybe my core has become weak again as I'm not paying enough attention to that type of training.

Hope this is helpful.

JB wrote: Hi guys,

spike I hope you read this too

I have a recurring problem with a herniated disc. Once it's triggered it really affects my training. This time round it came about while doing double bicep curls on the cable cross-over. Just felt the pinch when I dropped the cables.

It's very specific movements that will trigger it to "pinch" and it takes my feet out under me. I will be starting a new 3 to 4 month training cycle and want to up the intensity, but this disc is still so tender.

I would appreciate some input on managing this problem. If I need to put down more specific info just letme know.

Thanks!

go back to the chiropractor, the neurosurgeon etc....you not going to find expert help here on spinal conditions....:blink:

and here i am come on barbell, give me some credit

Alright jb, well im glad you made the decision to hold out on the surgical fusion, as those are really the last resort. One fusion increases your chance of a second by 30%, and a second increases your chance of a third by 60%... a rather slippery slope.

Chiro will definately help you out, personally i would use dry needling to relieve any lower back spasm. That technique you describe would be extending the spine and thus distracting the anterior aspects of the vertebral bodies... thus relieving any pressure on the discs. I'd be interesded in seeing the mri in order to fully understand your condition.
You are right in thinking that your core should be stronger, and the best thing i can suggest for that is bridging... Assume push up position but place forearms on ground, hold yourself dead straight in this position for 30 seconds, then raise one foot just off the ground, 30 secs, then swap feet, 30 secs, then both feet down, 30 secs... all in all a two minute bridge. You should start to get shaky round the end. do a couple of these every 2 days and see how it helps with the core

I feel your pain.....

I had a problem with S4 and S5. The disc would somehow push against the spinal column and cause serious pain in my legs. So much so that I couldnt even bend them at all for days on end. After an MRI scan they found the problem.

Luckily my Ortho is not one who just wants to cut and dice. First I had 'lumber' to remove excess fluid that had built up and then immediately had a cortisone epidural. Worked like a bomb the first time but the problem came back about 2 years later. I had the same procedure again and it worked but not as well as the previous time.

I have to now be carefull during squats, leg presses and even dead lifts. Every now and again I get a little reminder of what it was like not to be able to bend my legs at all.

sorry if i am going off topic, but did u guys have bad form when training? were these injuries preventable?and how?

My concentration was definitely a bit off, and I pushed my butt out on the deadlift. It was a heavy lift, required more focus. Stupid!

I also had a herniated disk last year April which resulted in surgery. In my case they opted to only remove the piece of disk putting pressure on the nerve going to my leg.

I'm up and running but put a lot of focus on core muscles and do squats & deadlift in high rep sets with light weights.

Dont know where you are in the world but my neurosurgeon is VERY reluctant to cut and people come from Durbs and Pretoria so he cant be bad.


Good luck!