[Beasty]

I would echo part of what what Ryder is saying - try and get your GP to recommend a physio. I would only suggest a bike fitter if your physio recommends it (as bike fitters are not medically trained, and there is a risk they could do more harm than good). It's possible your GP is not sufficiently specialist in this area, and may be erring on the side of caution.

The sooner you get this sorted the better though. I had 10 years of major back problems (although it's not been too bad for the past 8-9 years), and it was my physio who regularly got me back walking at more than a snail's pace.

Hopefully it will quickly sort itself out

[kennyb3]

Im guessing as a swords member you are likely to be in north dublin. Go see this lady, i find her brilliant and she is taking care of my QL muscle problem at present.

A 2nd opinion at least is advisable

[lafors]

Originally Posted by Ryder

*not medical advice* have you seen a physio/bike fit specialist. Could some of your back issues be sorted by stretching/strengthening with a physio and getting a less aggressive bike position? obviously this only applies if something minor is wrong but it may be worth getting a second opinion from a physio anyway.

even if you cant compete, the atmosphere around the etape/tour is fantastic and you can always oogle the bike expo and camp out on the mountain like a proper continental fan.

Originally Posted by Beasty

I would echo part of what what Ryder is saying - try and get your GP to recommend a physio. I would only suggest a bike fitter if your physio recommends it (as bike fitters are not medically trained, and there is a risk they could do more harm than good). It's possible your GP is not sufficiently specialist in this area, and may be erring on the side of caution.

The sooner you get this sorted the better though. I had 10 years of major back problems (although it's not been too bad for the past 8-9 years), and it was my physio who regularly got me back walking at more than a snail's pace.

Hopefully it will quickly sort itself out

Originally Posted by kennyb3

Im guessing as a swords member you are likely to be in north dublin. Go see this lady, i find her brilliant and she is taking care of my QL muscle problem at present.

A 2nd opinion at least is advisable

Its not just a small problem unfortunately. I've a bulging disk between L4-L5 which is putting pressure on my nerve endings.
I've been to the doctor then to the physio in Intel (where I injured myself) then back to my doctor, then for an MRI, then to my physio who's a very well respected sports physio. He wasn't happy that I wasn't responding to treatment so back to the doctor and now waiting on the consultant.

PS I've had my bike fitted, I actually feel fine on the bike. It does get sore when I'm climbing but its the fact I'm sore after it.

[Beasty]

Ouch!!

Having been through that on 4 different occasions, you have my sympathy. Hopefully the specialist will sort it out for you

[seve65]

Originally Posted by lafors

That's it I'm out.

sorry to hear that, sure at least you can over-indulge and have numeous bevvies whilst away now. Good luck anyway.

[kennyb3]

Sorry to hear that. Didnt realise you were that far down the road with it. Hopefully you'll get it sorted

[RobFowl]

Originally Posted by lafors

Its not just a small problem unfortunately. I've a bulging disk between L4-L5 which is putting pressure on my nerve endings.
I've been to the doctor then to the physio in Intel (where I injured myself) then back to my doctor, then for an MRI, then to my physio who's a very well respected sports physio. He wasn't happy that I wasn't responding to treatment so back to the doctor and now waiting on the consultant.

PS I've had my bike fitted, I actually feel fine on the bike. It does get sore when I'm climbing but its the fact I'm sore after it.

It sounds like you've approached this in exactly the right way.
Good luck with the specialist.

[lafors]

Thought I'd update this seeing as I have had a lot of treatment for my back at this stage, may be of interest to someone someday...

Well when I had posted last I was waiting on a consultant who has a very good reputation with my type on injury. I got to see him soon after my last post (May) and he recommended that I get another MRI. He then suggested a steroid injection and undergo a series of physiotherapy.
I eventually got that injection in July and had about 8 physio sessions. There was very little improvement in the physio's (and my opinion) so I contacted him again, wasn't impressed with the fact I had no contact from them after the injection. When I contacted him I received a letter stating that in his opinion the options were Physio/Pilates or surgery, and he wouldn't do the surgery. I obviously wasn't happy with this so I contacted his office again and asked about another steroid injection...the Dr. who did the initial injection in the Mater had said I may need a second injection as the first was a low dose.
They scheduled me for another injection (Sept/Oct) and this time is was a larger injection. Again I had a series of physio sessions and while there was improvement this time, again my physio (and myself) felt the improvement wasn't what it should have been.

We had been recommended a different consultant, in santry sports clinic, who also looked at alternatives to the usual Physio or surgery options.
Got an appointment quickly enough, just after christmas and he was excellent. He asked what "I" wanted or expected out of treatment. We agreed that injections hadn't helped and physio/pilates etc. alone would not fix the issue. He also said he wouldn't like to do surgery but if in 12 months time I still had the issue he would be recommending a paring of the disc.

He explained a new enough treatment where they use nucleoplasty to remove material from the nucleus of the damaged disc and then they fill the disc with Ozone (O3) gas. The trials of the treatment had a very high success rate with no side affects seen. I've read a few of the papers on the procedure and how the ozone works to repair the disc and was happy to go ahead with it.

So I had the procedure done this week. It was under local anesthetic and the use fluoroscopy to guide them in real time with xrays. Had an epidural so it was more uncomfortable than painful. I'm on my back now for at least a few days, very sore but hopefully its worth it.

The professor who did the surgery said they did the same procedure for the exact same injury on one of the italian olympic athletes just over 2 weeks ago and she was back training a couple of days ago with no symptoms of her original injury He has also seen a number of patients who were far worse than me and couldn't even walk and within 72 hours of the procedure they were back walking.
He's obviously said that it will differ from person to person but he is very confident I will have a successful recovery.........

So will be getting the bike serviced soon fingers crossed

[thebestone]

Originally Posted by lafors

Thought I'd update this seeing as I have had a lot of treatment for my back at this stage, may be of interest to someone someday...

Well when I had posted last I was waiting on a consultant who has a very good reputation with my type on injury. I got to see him soon after my last post (May) and he recommended that I get another MRI. He then suggested a steroid injection and undergo a series of physiotherapy.
I eventually got that injection in July and had about 8 physio sessions. There was very little improvement in the physio's (and my opinion) so I contacted him again, wasn't impressed with the fact I had no contact from them after the injection. When I contacted him I received a letter stating that in his opinion the options were Physio/Pilates or surgery, and he wouldn't do the surgery. I obviously wasn't happy with this so I contacted his office again and asked about another steroid injection...the Dr. who did the initial injection in the Mater had said I may need a second injection as the first was a low dose.
They scheduled me for another injection (Sept/Oct) and this time is was a larger injection. Again I had a series of physio sessions and while there was improvement this time, again my physio (and myself) felt the improvement wasn't what it should have been.

We had been recommended a different consultant, in santry sports clinic, who also looked at alternatives to the usual Physio or surgery options.
Got an appointment quickly enough, just after christmas and he was excellent. He asked what "I" wanted or expected out of treatment. We agreed that injections hadn't helped and physio/pilates etc. alone would not fix the issue. He also said he wouldn't like to do surgery but if in 12 months time I still had the issue he would be recommending a paring of the disc.

He explained a new enough treatment where they use nucleoplasty to remove material from the nucleus of the damaged disc and then they fill the disc with Ozone (O3) gas. The trials of the treatment had a very high success rate with no side affects seen. I've read a few of the papers on the procedure and how the ozone works to repair the disc and was happy to go ahead with it.

So I had the procedure done this week. It was under local anesthetic and the use fluoroscopy to guide them in real time with xrays. Had an epidural so it was more uncomfortable than painful. I'm on my back now for at least a few days, very sore but hopefully its worth it.

The professor who did the surgery said they did the same procedure for the exact same injury on one of the italian olympic athletes just over 2 weeks ago and she was back training a couple of days ago with no symptoms of her original injury He has also seen a number of patients who were far worse than me and couldn't even walk and within 72 hours of the procedure they were back walking.
He's obviously said that it will differ from person to person but he is very confident I will have a successful recovery.........

So will be getting the bike serviced soon fingers crossed

I would be very interested in an update on your progress since the nucleoplasty? hoping its all positive.

[lafors]

Originally Posted by thebestone

I would be very interested in an update on your progress since the nucleoplasty? hoping its all positive.

I had it done in January. I was sore for a few weeks after but that was probably due to the fact I had another operation 4 days after this one... glutton for punishment!
Initially the pain had returned to the same level as it was when I injured it originally. It did recede slightly but didn't get any better. I met my consultant for a review about 8 weeks after the op. Unfortunately for me it didn't work. If I remember correctly it was approx. 80% success rate.
So now I'm back to intense physio. The only other option would be full on surgery and they don't want to do that, either do I.

[thebestone]

Originally Posted by lafors

I had it done in January. I was sore for a few weeks after but that was probably due to the fact I had another operation 4 days after this one... glutton for punishment!
Initially the pain had returned to the same level as it was when I injured it originally. It did recede slightly but didn't get any better. I met my consultant for a review about 8 weeks after the op. Unfortunately for me it didn't work. If I remember correctly it was approx. 80% success rate.
So now I'm back to intense physio. The only other option would be full on surgery and they don't want to do that, either do I.

It seems to be 80% sucess with all back procedures and surgery. not good it you fall into the 20%!! have you been able to go back to cycling? i had microdisc l3-4 and l4-5 last year and now back to where i was before surgery - the same discs have re herniated. i dont know where to turn.