i was just diagnosed with c6-c7 herniated disk. It's not severe at all and have only mild pain but was wondering if you guys had any suggestions. Should I take a 6 months BJJ break? thx for the advice!
Hurt a limb = tape it and train without it
hurt anything on the spine = time off to heal.
we do not mess with the spine.
cortisone,decompression and when pain is minimal light physical therapy exercises
Take the time to heal!!!
TAKE AMPLE TIME TO HEAL, DO ALL OF YOUR THERAPY.
Seriously. I am recovering from a spinal injury as well...you cannot afford
to fuck around with this. Do the exercises, decompression therapy, ice
and rest.
Good luck and heal up!
i have had this before, and im actually still contending with it now. Not herniated but a little bulging. There is a huge difference between herniated and bulging, the major difference is, bulging you can still train, herniated probably not the best idea to train. Take a few weeks off and see how you feel.
I have 3 herniated discs I have no pain so I don't need surgery and won't get it until I have to. I took 3 months off and I just started training again slowly. I started with 1x a week and now am up to 3. I won't push it beyond that.
I will keep training but I probably won't compete again the risk is not worth a medal imo.
I have 4 injured disc in my neck. The best thing to help relieve pain is a traction machine. I bought one a few years ago and it really makes a difference. Good luck with the recovery. Be sure to rest and listen to your body.
thx for the advice guys!
What's a traction machine?
A traction machine will help relieve the pressure on your discs, and will sometimes, overtime allow the discs to settle back in place. There are many different types of units out there. One of the least expensive is one that hangs over the door. I have one that in pneumatic and it helps me a lot. I did not take the appropriate time to heal the first time I hurt my neck/back and now it will be with me the rest of my life. The traction unit helps me to keep the pain somewhat manageable. Spinal injuries can take a long time to heal and that's ok. What is not ok is jumping back into training to early and messing up the rest of your life. Take the time to heal bro, and maybe just a little bit longer to be sure. Then incrementally return to training, don't do to much to soon. Then when you have your game back and have total confidence in your health go kick some ass!
when u get a bulging or even herniated disc you will know.
it is a pain like you have never felt before.
you will know.
so what's the best traction machine out there?
I herniated my C4-C5 a few years back and my fingers are still tingly. I'd say its been close to 4 years now.
I went to an ortho surgeon, chiropractor, and physical therapist. Traction is good, rest is essential. Don't push it man, you don't mess with your back.
I used to do traction with a water bag. There was the doodad that went around my jaw and head, kind of like those old school tooth ache bandages. That was connected to a string that would go around a pulley and was attach to a water bag. The water bag acted as the weight needed for traction.
bmfl, i still have pins and needles in my right hand
has your tingling sensations been constant? or do they come and go?
mine have been constant since i injured my neck over 18 months ago now. they seem to intensify if i train harder and i get pain in my right tricep as well.
traction didnt have much of an improvement for me though.
I have had a weird shoulder blade and neck tightness for the past few weeks. Went to the chiropractor and got massages etc and it didn't seem to get any better.
Luckily one of the ppl training at our academy is also an orthopedic. He did a variety of tests (*** see the link below for more info). One of the tests involve putting your hands directly straight out in front of you with the fingers pointing toward the ceiling. He would try to push my palm downward (facing the floor) as I resisted and try to keep my fingers pointing upward. I couldn't keep my fingers upward no matter how hard I tried on the side that I had the pain and neck tightness. Funny because he had also speculated that it will be a C6-C7 herniated disc as well.
Put me on a regiment of MethylPREDNISolone (it's a steroid) and I immediately felt better after the first day (6 pills @ 4mg each). Going for an MRI today and hopefully be back training in a couple weeks at most (light or just drills)
Good luck and don't fock around hoping it's gonna get better.
*** Orthopedic tests
http://www.stanleyconsulting.ns.ca/Files/Neuro_Ortho_Tests.pdf
March 2003 I herniated the disc between L4-L5 lifting a log on an incline. I heard the "pop" in my back. Couldn't barely walk(left leg pain on side and front and numbness/had to crawl around home for about 5 weeks. P.T didn't help the pain was too great to do the traction/exercises. Then one "magical" day the pain was reduced by 50%. My Orthop. said the therory is the body absorbes the excess disc material pressing on the nerves. The disc material is "not going back in" he also mentioned. Gradually my back/ L. leg got to 80% over the next 6 months and then I began to train lightly. It took 2-3 years for all the numbness to go away along the shin area. Today my back is 100% and left leg strength is at least 95%. Hope this helps.
dojo stormer,
my pins and needles are constant...24/7. i pretty much don't even notice it anymore.