Bolo , I posted this msg on S&C to get viewpoints there as well. I hope you don't mind the double post. I value your opinion too.
Here goes:
This is what I was diagnosed with:
MRI Cervical Spine Alignment is within normal limits. The vertebral body heights and the disc space heights are maintained. At C4-5 there is severe right and mild left neural foramnal stenosis secondary to osteophyte. At C5-6 there is right paramedian disc protrusion which is effacing the left anterior thecal sac but not impinging upom the cord. Moderate right neural foraminal stenosis is noted. The remainder of the cervical spine is unremarkable. The cord is visualized down to T4 is of normal caliber and signal.
I have never competed although I have trained all out in boxing, judo, karate, and bjj. I go to massage therapist who has does wonders to my neck since diagnosed. The neck is loose now and posture corrected. There is no tingling down right arm anymore. But I CAN see a problem if someone where to grab me hard by teh neck and twist it. I do lift weights (very light 20 lbs dumbells) 2x week, and do aerobics 2x week (on elliptical and recumbent bicycle)
Well what do you think? Am i DONE?
If not, how should I go about my modifications to training and GJJ?
While martial arts is hard on the body, the amount of time you spend outside of martial arts is far greater than the amount of time training. The thing to understand is that everything you have done in your life, not just martial arts, led your body to the situation you just experienced. Therefore, it is logical to assume that if you to do not make changes in your life, not just to how you train, the exact same result will occur again.
Eventually, it comes down to doing what your body needs to improve versus what you want to do. In most instances, the two do not match. From observing your previous posts on my forum and others, I have seen that you tend to prefer to do what you want versus what you need.
What do you recommend I need? MBF?
You can e-mail me at mjen@pacbell.net if you like. I don't think you quite understand what I am talking about and I think it would be better if I explained what I meant in private.
I have 2 bulging discs that seemed to just happen "overnight" and I was in a lot of pain. I have since stopped all heavy lifting and moved towards more circular lifting and stretching, use a sports chiro and deep fascia release bodyworks guy, use traction, ice before and after bjj and I am now revamping aspects of my game.
I am a top guy that imposes the pass using my head to keep my opponent down. I also post on my head alot and use it to "steer and guide".
All that's gone. I'm passing standing with no head pressure, and i'm working hard on guard positions that protect my head and neck, and I'm going to start delving into leg locks.
Not sure if I am misunderstanding bolo, but what I hear him saying is that if you like what you do more then how you feel, and you don't change what you are doing, there is no relief. You will have chronic pain and injury.
I had to weigh what one guy said to me..."do you want to be able to bathe yourself when your 80" (or for that matter 50, 60, etc). Yes I do.
So do I quit judo and bjj or do I change things. I'm changing "things" and right now that is helping a lot. Not completely but helping.
rooster,
I find that the main reason why most people live with chronic pain is due to mental issues rather than the physical impossibility of repairing what has happened to their bodies. When I refer to mental issues, I am not saying that people are imagining the pain in their head, but rather certain aspects of their personality and outlook on life and situations prevent them from resolving their issues.
For example, though I helped my mother get rid of all her pain in the past, she now has knee pain again. The reason is because she didn't like having me tell her what to do. She returned to doing certain things that told her not to do. Rather than admitting that she doesn't like me telling her what to do, she is now attempting to blame her situation on old age.
My mother-in-law is extremely overweight, does not want to exercise at all, eats poorly, and believes that all her problems can be resolved by taking pills. She'll get back pain and foot pain and if pills can't numb her pain, she blames her situation on old age and "wear and tear".
I've met many people who will only look at options that are covered by their health insurance. So even if there is a way to resolve their pain that isn't covered by their medical insurance, these people will not want to spend a single penny out of pocket. For these people, it is not because they are poor as they have no problem spending their money on a new DVD player.
I have a student who works at Google and she used have a lot of neck pain because of all that sitting in front of a computer. I was able to help her resolve her issues. At her work she says their are many other people with neck and back pain. They would ask her how she was able to get rid of her pain and she tells them through exercise. Their response was, "Exercise? Forget that. I don't want to do exercises. I'll just live with the pain."
I could go on and on with different examples, but I think you get the point. For Grappler2010, I believe he has certain issues that need to be resolved first before he can truly make his way towards resolving his physical problems. I don't really want to get into detail about it because I don't feel discussing his specific issues is best done on the forum.