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Discussion starter · #21 ·
She&I said:
Herniated disk here, too, Sean. 10mm bulge on L5 (plus scoliosis and calcification). Issues since I was in my early 20s, now I'm 50 and have it under control. Keys to success IMO:

Ice
You didn't mention that as part of your back management. IME when at your worst is when you need it most. Get a neoprene back brace and re-freezable pouches so you can ice anywhere/time without laying down. I used to do it at work, while driving, etc.

Hydration
I can always feel dehydration. When my back is feeling grumbly, I chug more and it invariably helps.

Avoid bikes and chairs
Duh, right? Sit as infrequently and for the shortest durations you can. I know it's tough; I missed a few years of biking, partly because I was riding the wrong bike...FS for me these days.

When you do ride, use a back-friendly bike/build
Sounds like you're prolly not on a hardtail or something less forgiving. An extra-plush seat and shock absorbing post (Thudbuster, etc.) are prudent measures (that your buddies might laugh at). A back brace or kidney belt can provide support and be worn under clothing.

Keeping back muscles toned
More preventative than a treatment. Don't even think about it during a low point.

Indoor "rock" climbing
An activity that decompresses your spine (rather than compress it, which cycling, weight lifting and generally living in gravity does), combined with moderate twisting and pulling. Moderation is key. Always climb with a top-rope. Jumping to the ground is obviously bad, so is being caught by the rope after a fall. Again, not to be done at the worst times. Go easy and beware of shoulder, elbow and finger ligament strains. This is a great one because you actually feel like you're doing something, which can stave off that "losing it" feeling when riding is not possible.

Physical therapy
My wife was a PT assistant, and she took me in after hours and did ultrasound (w/ analgesic gel), electro-stimulation, massage and ice many nights in a row to get me under control.

Eventually I weaned off the Celebrex, but I think anti-inflam meds have their place.

I haven't had any debilitating episodes in years, knocking wood. (FWIW, I never had lasting results from chiropractors.) You can get through it, too. Wishing you quickest recovery and ongoing good back health.

Mike
Click to expand...
Thanks for the info, I'm going to start icing instead of heating and see how that works out. And the rock climbing sounds pretty fun as well.

And thanks to everyone else, I'm not considering surgery as an option right now. My trust in doctor's is not very high, just based on my mom's experiences.

I've pretty much just been sleeping all weekend, kind of depressed I guess. But I just woke up from a nap and got 2 nice pops out of the left side that locked up, and the spasm has calmed down a bit. I'm hoping by Tuesday I can start therapy again.

You all have cheered me up a bit, Thanks again for the kind words.
 
#22 ·
Consider a single speed. I had very bad back pain and meds wouldn't even touch the pain and I started core training. Later after I got stronger, I started SSing and it really works your core and makes you stand much of the time with can also help. Keep in minds many doctors will tell you not to ride and push drugs and "procedures".
 
Discussion starter · #23 ·
She&I said:
Herniated disk here, too, Sean. 10mm bulge on L5 (plus scoliosis and calcification). Issues since I was in my early 20s, now I'm 50 and have it under control. Keys to success IMO:

Ice
You didn't mention that as part of your back management. IME when at your worst is when you need it most. Get a neoprene back brace and re-freezable pouches so you can ice anywhere/time without laying down. I used to do it at work, while driving, etc.

Hydration
I can always feel dehydration. When my back is feeling grumbly, I chug more and it invariably helps.

Avoid bikes and chairs
Duh, right? Sit as infrequently and for the shortest durations you can. I know it's tough; I missed a few years of biking, partly because I was riding the wrong bike...FS for me these days.

When you do ride, use a back-friendly bike/build
Sounds like you're prolly not on a hardtail or something less forgiving. An extra-plush seat and shock absorbing post (Thudbuster, etc.) are prudent measures (that your buddies might laugh at). A back brace or kidney belt can provide support and be worn under clothing.

Keeping back muscles toned
More preventative than a treatment. Don't even think about it during a low point.

Indoor "rock" climbing
An activity that decompresses your spine (rather than compress it, which cycling, weight lifting and generally living in gravity does), combined with moderate twisting and pulling. Moderation is key. Always climb with a top-rope. Jumping to the ground is obviously bad, so is being caught by the rope after a fall. Again, not to be done at the worst times. Go easy and beware of shoulder, elbow and finger ligament strains. This is a great one because you actually feel like you're doing something, which can stave off that "losing it" feeling when riding is not possible.

Physical therapy
My wife was a PT assistant, and she took me in after hours and did ultrasound (w/ analgesic gel), electro-stimulation, massage and ice many nights in a row to get me under control.

Eventually I weaned off the Celebrex, but I think anti-inflam meds have their place.

I haven't had any debilitating episodes in years, knocking wood. (FWIW, I never had lasting results from chiropractors.) You can get through it, too. Wishing you quickest recovery and ongoing good back health.

Mike
Click to expand...
Thanks for the info, I'm going to start icing instead of heating and see how that works out. And the rock climbing sounds pretty fun as well.

And thanks to everyone else, I'm not considering surgery as an option right now. My trust in doctor's is not very high, just based on my mom's experiences.

I've pretty much just been sleeping all weekend, kind of depressed I guess. But I just woke up from a nap and got 2 nice pops out of the left side that locked up, and the spasm has calmed down a bit. I'm hoping by Tuesday I can start therapy again.

You all have cheered me up a bit, Thanks again for the kind words.
 
#24 ·
Some great advice has already been provided. Avoid surgery at all costs and take small steps toward a goal. Each step forward is a step closer. The hardest part of this is mental. You will battle it daily in your head.

I ruptured a cervical (neck) disc (C5/6)and they told me riding would be out of the question. I also have a herniated lumbar at L4/5. Posture and PT are key for me. That, and listening to my body. I find gears really exascerbate the lumbar problem. Fortunately for me, I have been single speed only for a very long time. I tried gears as a test and the pain was brutal.

I do an hour of PT daily and still ride a lot. I try to get in an average of 3 days per week. But, it takes a lot of time to recover and PT really helped me. I also stopped seeing a chiropractor after the ruptured disc.

Listen to your body and be willing to stay off the bike for an extended period of time. Give your body time to recover and try SS'ing. You will stand a lot and it helps stretch your lumbar region. This is a good thing. Seated grinding, even easy stuff, will make it worse in my experience.

Keep us posted and know that you're not alone. It's a lifestyle change.
 
#25 ·
Hang in there! I can relate, since I'm only slightly ahead of you in the recovery phase. I feel you on the depression thing, had to cancel my gravel race reg for next week, and with all the nice weather, it kills to be standing/lying around when every hour another group ride goes by the house. Just remember, this too shall pass. My pain finally started trending better last week after maybe three weeks of PT.
Also, I can personally vouch for waiting it out. I hurt my back in January, and kept trying to get on the trainer to spin for 30-45min. Bad idea, made it worse. I should've just stayed off the bike altogether.
 
#26 ·
HelloMyNameIsSean said:
Thanks for the info, I'm going to start icing instead of heating and see how that works out. And the rock climbing sounds pretty fun as well.
Click to expand...
I hope it helps, Sean. FWIW I've gotten the best results from heat early in the day (hot shower blasting in the morning) and ice later in the day and before bed. At the worst times I've also iced in the middle of the night for some relief. I hope you have a decent climbing gym close to you. Cheers...

Mike
 
#29 ·
Been there. My 2 cents. Chiros are quacks....they crack your back, charge you 80 bucks and say "see you tomorrow." I'd be very leary using a chiro if you have herniated disks. On the other hand, all doctors want to do is to dope you up or cut you open. Do not consider back surgery at your age unless you really have no other options. Most folks I know who have had back surgery are worse off after than before.

Here is what I did, which really seemed to help. 1) Physical therapy; 2) I bought "How to Heal Your Own Back", which contains a tons of stretching exercising..pelvic tilts, bridges, etc.; 3) stay as active as you can. I hear you about lying on the floor in pain....But lying on the couch for weeks on end will make things worse; 4) join a gym with a pool----floating on my back really seemed to help; 5) pay attention to your posture when sitting; 5), when you feel up to it, start working on core exercises.....pilates REALLY helped me; 6) I bought a temperpedic bed-----soooooooo worth it; 7) Do as much light cycling as possible, and look into getting a suspension seatpost and/or a brooks saddle until you heal up a bit.

Hang in there. It can and does get better. I spent a year suffering with this....but over time, it became manageable, and let got to the point where I can still do xc stuff. Hang in there. Stay off the drugs and religiously do your stretching exercises.
 
Discussion starter · #30 ·
4x4runner said:
i didn't reat the whole thread but please take it form someone with (second hand) experience... be VERY careful with pain meds...
Click to expand...
I don't take anything besides Aleve/anti-inflamitory. Pain meds have there place, but I don't feel like they'll do anything to help this situation.

TheBigV said:
Been there. My 2 cents. Chiros are quacks....they crack your back, charge you 80 bucks and say "see you tomorrow." I'd be very leary using a chiro if you have herniated disks. On the other hand, all doctors want to do is to dope you up or cut you open. Do not consider back surgery at your age unless you really have no other options. Most folks I know who have had back surgery are worse off after than before.

Here is what I did, which really seemed to help. 1) Physical therapy; 2) I bought "How to Heal Your Own Back", which contains a tons of stretching exercising..pelvic tilts, bridges, etc.; 3) stay as active as you can. I hear you about lying on the floor in pain....But lying on the couch for weeks on end will make things worse; 4) join a gym with a pool----floating on my back really seemed to help; 5) pay attention to your posture when sitting; 5), when you feel up to it, start working on core exercises.....pilates REALLY helped me; 6) I bought a temperpedic bed-----soooooooo worth it; 7) Do as much light cycling as possible, and look into getting a suspension seatpost and/or a brooks saddle until you heal up a bit.

Hang in there. It can and does get better. I spent a year suffering with this....but over time, it became manageable, and let got to the point where I can still do xc stuff. Hang in there. Stay off the drugs and religiously do your stretching exercises.
Click to expand...
I'm actually starting to agree with everyone about chiro's. I went to my therapist today, and he told me I through my back and hips 100% out of line, just like the first time he saw me he said. My Chiro told me it was a spasm, and would heal on it's own in a few days. The two of them work in the same office I'd like to ad, so they both know me and know what's going on.

Anyways, he set my hips in place today, how long they'll hold position for i don't know. But the pain as subsided a little bit.

It's story's like your's that scare and confuse me. My P.T says I should make a full recovery in a few months, but I keep hearing from people that years later they're still suffering and battling this.
 
#31 ·
Wow,

sorry to hear of your pain and just being plain depressed. I have been reading
this thread as I too am in pain. When I was 10 years old{now 43} I ran through
the house playing tag. I pushed on a door with Plate Glass in it with my ass
as the door would stick. It broke, formed a V and stuck right through me missing
my Liver by 1" the Doc. said. 36 stictches inside and 25 out. As the one
poster said,scar tissue is nasty. That's what I have now. I should go and get it
cleaned up,but have been in pain for so many years,I just deal with it. When It's
cold, my scar turns Purple. The harder I work,the worse the pain.

I am a Glazier{ a person who install's any type of Glass} Glass is heavy,very heavy.
Which brings me to my current pain. My c4,c5 bulding disc in the spine is squeezing
the nerves that conduct sensation from the Arm. My Lord,this is a terrible thing. I
Hold my arm as if somone shot me in pain. It's been 6 mounths now, and short of
getting a Shot in the neck,there is nothing I can do. I stretch it,which brings some
relief,but not much. I need to rest,but I cant,like the rest of us,I have to go to work.
That's all I have to say. Peace.

MTK
 
#32 ·
I had prolapsed discs in my neck and after suffering for 5 years I was finally diagnosed correctly. If I had been diagnosed correctly from the start the issue could have been fixed with physio. Instead I now have a plate in my neck and 2 fused discs. After 10 years of using all sorts of meds for the pain that the op did not fix I decided to stop all meds except cannabis. The cannabis helps stop the sudden spasms I had that caused a lot of the pain. Years of pills just seem to lower your pain threshold over time. Since I quit the meds my pain has almost gone I just use pot regularly (I would have anyway) Occaisionally I use anti-inflammitory pills when the pain gets bad. I had the op when I was 30 and I have excellent flexibilty but the pain does not go away. You may have to put up with this for the rest of your life if you dont get it treated ASAP. As for operations I would always leave this as a last resort but dont avoid it if you really need it, you could make things far worse if you delay too long. The spine grows around the bulging disc and can compress the nerves, once damaged nerves will never fully recover. I wouldnt say my op was a success but you dont know how bad it would be without it. My doc said I was about to lose the use of my arm and I can still use it now. But he also said I would never work as an electrician again and I have been for 12 years since the op. Remember physio can move things around or make muscles stronger but it cannot repair anything.
 
#33 ·
Avoid Surgery at all costs......now that you read that load of crap one more time - ignore it. If your PC recommends it and you can find a surgeon you trust, don't hesitate to consider it. Consider it carefully but consider it. I had a ruptured disk 7 years ago. Went through pain for months trying to figure it all out and then trying to avoid the surgery - finally got the surgery - problem solved - at least for now. I still have a partial disk, I am not young again but the pain is gone and the memory of the pain is almost gone - seriously, that part took a while. Some injuries are good canidates for a surgical solution and some are not so consider your situation carefully but ignore anyone who tells you to avoid surgery as a matter of course...it's uninformed too often repeated - reread akazan's post - best advice on this thread.
 
#34 ·
Let me add my nickel to this.

I'm now 53; in 2003, I was diagnosed with 2 herniated lumbar discs (a third a year later) and spinal stenosis (told then that this condition narrows the vertebral openings for the nerves). I spent the entire month of December '03 perched on a chair that I was sitting backwards on (leaning on the chairback, ass off the seat, basically supported by my thighs); it was literally the only comfortable position I could find ANYWHERE. I was started on meds then (Lodine, they avoided Vicodin/Oxy because of the addictive natures), that work well enough to allow me to function even now. December '04 saw the same thing, and I was resigned to the idea that I'd have to find a job that wasn't physical, severely curtail my riding, and stop playing so much with my kids.

Never happened.

The body DOES adapt; as long as I don't act recklessly, my back pain is marginal now. (I have constant numbness in my right big toe, but that's about it) I'm still doing the same job, I wrestle with my boy, we do 20+ -mile rides together.

Your situation sounds a little more intense than mine, but I'm confident you WILL come out the other side. Did you say you were 23? I remember the immediacy of that age, just take a deep breath and wait for it. (I look at it like this, and have for decades: you'll either wake up tomorrow or you won't. If you don't your worries are over. If you do, you're a step closer to recovery.)
 
Discussion starter · #35 ·
Woke up this morning and the pain has actually gotten worse than ever, Before it stayed in my butt, at one specific point. Now its across my entire left cheek and down the front of my leg. I've already been recommended a surgeon and I'm making an appointment.

This is the part thats getting to me, last week I was fine, slowly back to the gym, riding 10 miles a day on a paved path. Not the level I was at, but still active enough to keep my sanity. Now I'm hobbling around again. Just knowing that I could sleep a little weird, and destroy all the progress that was made kills me.
 
#36 ·
Really sorry that you're having such a difficult time. I don't know much about back injuries, but when I was 18 I injured my lower back from riding BMX. I don't know exactly what the problem was as I never went to a Doctor or Chiropractor. It took probably 3 months for it to recover completely. In the interim, I just rode my track bike fairly leisurely and impatiently waited.

I'm lucky that I recovered and didn't hurt myself more. I'm in my early 20's now. I would try to just look at the long term here, as hard as it is. You sound like you're taking it fairly well. I know I'd be a nut case. Don't worry about this season. Just take it slow, get some pavement rides in when you feel up to it, and you will recover. I'm sorry I don't have better advice than that, but I'm sending healing vibes!
 
#37 ·
So just pain in your leg ? No unceasing numbness ?
That is actually a a good sign that you can avoid surgery and make a full recovery with your anatomy intact. Numbness signals nerve damage and pain demonstrates that the nerve is sensitive and in a healing state. Only experiencing pain means your body has been able to heal whatever neurological damage is being caused by the compression.

I have ruptured discs in my neck and back, and from my experience no matter which route you go you are gonna have to bear down and train core and legs (without weights) for ~2 hours everyday and include lots of walking to get back to full health.

Take this opportunity to heal before things get worse and you wind up in a deeper hole. You have to DIG to get yourself out ! Really, get with the best PT you can and GO HARD !
 
#38 ·
Been there & through multiple surgeries. Go easy and controlled with the PT program you are assigned. Agree that core and flexibility work are critical. Walking also helps greatly. Do not go hard until you are cleared to do do. Depending on your situation and level of herniation you can prompt nerve damage if you aren't careful. Then you'll have a real permanent situation to deal with. Agree surgery s/b avoided at all costs..very good advice above but I'd add one thing:

Stop getting adjusted if you have 3 herniated discs:nono:
 
#39 ·
I use these things called gravity boots. You put them on and hang upside down from your feet. They straighten and decompress your back. For me anyway absolutely fantastic.

I also sit on a workout ball at work. yoga. single leg lunges. Anything to straighten your core and fix posture issues.

I wish you luck. Nothing as awful as that. Well, pylon fracture is no fun either.
 
#40 ·
The most important piece of advice in this thread

Read this book: Amazon.com: Low Back Disorders: Evidence-Based Prevention and Rehabilitation (9780736042413): Stuart McGill: Books

A few facts about disc problems.

A herniated disc is caused by a combination of the following:
The spine being in a state of flexion for too long a period of time. (sitting for too long)
The spine being flexed to many times. (bending over to many times)
The spine being under too much load. (moving heavy stuff around)
Especially the spine being under load while in a state of flexion. For example bending over at your back to pick something very heavy off the floor.

Think of the discs in your back as being able to handle some amount of the stresses above before they herniate. Every time you bend down to pick something up with bad form you damage your discs slightly. Discs heal very slowly because they have no blood supply.

At the age of 23 you did something wrong over a period of time to cause your discs to herniate. You need to identify what that is and stop it. You also need to develop an understanding for how the back works to PREVENT future injury and allow your back to heal. Back Injuries are generally not acute injuries they are an accumulation of stress over a period of time.

This book is written by a world expert in bio mechanics. It will teach you so much that I do not have the expertise or the time to post in a form. It will not solve your immediate problems, but it likely stop you from making mistakes that will make the problem worse in the short term.

For links to interviews with the author go to BackFitPro.com. It will show you the quality of his thinking and explain some of his key ideas.

I am not a doctor. I have dealt with a back injury (minor compared to yours.)
I have no affiliation with the author of this book.

If you are not convinced feel free to PM me

P.S.

Do not stretch your back. If you have a disc problem this will probably just make it worse.
 
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