I'm going on two months, then pain is tolerable in my back but the sciatic pain in my left leg is what's bugging me the most. It comes and goes but it doesn't feel like it's improving.
Just wondering for those who have gone thru it:
How long did it take for you to get over the herniated disc?
do you still feel pain from sciatica?
Any exercises/ stretching you can do while recovering? (doctor limited me to walking only but i'm curious to what you guys were able to do)
any other advice would be greatly appreciated.
thanks & happy holidays
get some physical therapy so they can give you specific exercises. I herniated my disc twice, took a year each time to get back to training, get treatment now you should be fine.
thanks man, i'll definately look into it in today. anyone else had experiences/ advice?
i've tried acupuncture & shiatsu. it gave temporary relief but just for a few hours. by the next day the pain was the same.
Epidural Steroid Injection! No lie on this!
I had the same thing happen to me and It was almost impossible to rehab. I got the ESI and the pain went away long enough to allow deep streching and massage. I also built up my core during that time (huge help).
Read Bob Cooley.
End Thread.
I had a bad l5-s1 herniation July 08. I tried the PT and wait it out route to no avail. I had a microdiscectomy 8 weeks ago. My back feels great. I'm starting to exercise again with no pain so far.
i did the same thing as kidjustice and it really worked. i got the shot over a year ago and so far there has been no pain. granted you need to stretch everyday and stay away from things that might stress the back out too much (like deadlifts possibly). a heating pad also works for me when my back is sore.
If you can't deadlift then your back isn't really any better. You're just masking the problem/pain.
I went through a month long course of vax-d, kind of like traction, followed by a month of required rest, not quite bed rest but close. It worked great for about a year and then my back started hurting again. Sciatica and lower back pain.
I was talking to a P.T. who told me to start doing more core work.
It sucked bad for about a week but I kept it up. It continued to hurt and then......it just stopped. I woke up one morning and didn't feel any pain.
Now my back feels good as long I keep it up, but if I lay off more than a few days or a week it starts to twinge again.
First of all, if you think you've got a good doctor, listen to him. I had a ruptured L5/S1 and was told not to do anything but walk for the first couple of months. And walking was extremely difficult and painful because of the extent of the sciatica. But I walked every day and worked up to several miles/day. When you're ready, the doctor should get you to a good PT. You will do a lot of core work and exercises specific to your condition. If PT works for you (it did for me), great. If not, the protocol is 1-3 epidurals (works well for some and not at all for others) and, if those don't work, surgery.
My advice, when you get to the PT stage, rehab like your life depends on it.
First of all, if you think you've got a good doctor, listen to him. I had a ruptured L5/S1 and was told not to do anything but walk for the first couple of months. And walking was extremely difficult and painful because of the extent of the sciatica. But I walked every day and worked up to several miles/day. When you're ready, the doctor should get you to a good PT. You will do a lot of core work and exercises specific to your condition. If PT works for you (it did for me), great. If not, the protocol is 1-3 epidurals (works well for some and not at all for others) and, if those don't work, surgery.
My advice, when you get to the PT stage, rehab like your life depends on it.
Most herniated discs recover if you give it enough time. It took me 6 months. I am now training fully again, no surgery nothing.
McKenzie exercizes helped me a lot (google them)
I've tried everything in the world. Accupuncture, Flexion, inversion table, massage therapy, chiropractor, ESI, physical therapy,... Anyways the best is the ESI. Had one done in the past. You are allowed to get up to three a year. There a some questions as to whether or not there are long term negative effects on the body since it is a steroid (granted it is not anabolic). It is a pain in the ass to get set up for one though. I am currently trying to get one now.
thanks for the replys guys! i thought this would go away on it's own, but now i'm realizing it's not that simple.
my job requires me to stand all day(8.5 hrs). it's tolerable but towards the 5hr mark i hit a wall. i just rough it or 2 simple advils or motrin work fine.
currently all i do is go to the gym, walk on the treadmill & try to do a few ab exercises that won't stress my spine. i wish i could get my active lifestyle back & was starting to get depressed but your words of advice regarding time frame, core work, & other possibilites gives me a more positive outlook.
thanks again & happy holidays!
Do you wear a heavy belt? or something around your waist? If so get suspenders as well. No shit. to take the weight off your waist.