L5-S1 bulging disk recovery

[hardgainer]

Some background: In mid April of this year (on my B-day non-the-less) "I" received an injury to my lower back. After a month or so I finally got to see a neurosurgeon who immediately advised, upon reviewing my MRI, that the intense pain that I've been going through was from a bulging disc that was not symptomatic until that mid April incident. I will tell you all that have not had this issue before that the "sciatic" pain that was emitted from all of this kept me from walking for over a month and the only minor relief was to lay on my left side, ALL THE TIME. This had to be the worst pain related situation I've ever encountered in my 34 yrs!! 2 mos. later I was walking, bent over, with a lower back that was so swollen that I looked like a 70 yr old man. I had to take a leak like a dog in order not to collapse. Anywho, progress was made by seeing two very capable chiropractors and one phys therapist. It's been about 7 mos. now and I can walk without a limp, my back pretty much looks normal now, and the only real reminder is a random ache in center of my right calf. This is nothing compared to the complete intolerable pain that I delt with before that emitted from my butt check to ankle 24 hrs a day. If this is all I have to deal with the rest of my life then I'm super happy.

I did like many you would have and searched the web over and read up on this issue. I also realize the majority of us here are not doctors but I would like to hear from any of you that have worked through a similar issue as this one. I've got allot of living to do and I don't like being held back at all by this bulging disc. Good thing is that it did not lose any fluid and it's obviously getting under control. I have an inversion table that I go vertical on every night which is assisting in the healing.

Any opinions on if I should forget about ever doing any motocross, skateboarding, etc. ever again?? Again, I hate being held back so if there are any exercises that you all can recommend to try and bullet proof this area of my back I'd be much appreciated. Sorry for the long post...

[wildstang]

sorry 2 here you have back problems. im currently living with those issues myself 4 quite some time now. i delt with the ciatic nerve prob daily untill unfortunately i needed surgery to relieve the pressure on the nerve being compressed in the L4 region. L5 was fused many years ago and i recovered quite nicely from it actually. i knew over time i would eventually have problems with L4 since MRI at time of fuseing indicated bulged disc. now if and when the time comes 4 another fuzion there are better options available today then when i had 1st initial surgery. they can replace discs now with an artificial disc now restoring mobility. but in the meentime i was forced to have an lamenectomy to relieve pressure on the nerve by grinding away a little bone material to accomodate the nerve and relieve the pressure. that surgery also was quite fast at recovery also. conditioning plays a big deal in recovery. i even had to go through some cervical repair also similar to john cena do to road side bomb.
anyways the main thing you need to do is maintane being as limber as possible stretching daily religiously. pay close attention to the hamstrings and keep those as limber as possible. theraputically speeking this is a method used today to relieve back pain. all good chiros and P. therapists should have you pay close attention to this particular area. as far as bomb proofing goes no such animal. once you develop back problems you have to learn to work around them. lighter weights on squats and deads and more leg machine work to support the back. this is whats worked for me allowing me to continue bulking up. also the more muscle i put on the better the mobility issues became towards absorbing impact from daily activities with one draw back only added mass creates more pressure and creates dull back pain but ive learned to live with it.

[hardgainer]

Wild, thanks for the reply. I was in the USAF, which was not as hard a branch on my body as yours is. Their activities threw mine out slightly every now and then but nothing like this current situation. Also appreciate your post cuz it reminds me of a E-6 (Army) I met a few months ago while working light duty who had 500% more back issues than I and he still continued doing it all. Your right, I guess I gotta cope with it for the rest of my life. I'm very excited to see how technology comes along in the next few years as I too assume that I'll need some kinda serious fix down the road.

Your instructions to stretch and do machines is the kinda stuff I need to hear. I'm pretty much figuring on not doing any more squats (if I do, it'll be high rep, light weight). The P. Therapist gave me a good piriformis stretch that has helped allot. It's funny how much that muscle (when it's pissed off) can affect sciatic pain.

[tooncesthecat]

I agree with Wildstang. Good advice! I might also add that in addition to the piriformis stretch you are doing, you can put a tennis ball under your butt and move until it sits right over the piriformis. You'll feel it if you can apply deep enough pressure. When you feel it, hold this and gradually increase the static pressure over several minutes. If you have a significant other, they can do the same move using an elbow to the piriformis while you lay on your belly. Although you probably have a good idea of where it is, here's a pic to guide placement of the elbow or tennis ball.