Torn disc, anyone had one?

Jimdagym

As the title said, i had an mri last week which showed i have a torn disc, with a slight bulge (giggitty) and was warned off golf for the forseable future. Given that i am starting physio later in the week, and i currently cant stand up straight, i was wondering if anyone here went through this or similar. How long the recovery was and before they could get back playing. Obviously i'm not gonna rush anything and risk further damage, but i was looking for some sort of reasonable time frame for someone who has gone through it.
Many thanks.

BUACHAILL

Never had one thankfully but would like to wish you a speedy recovery. I know what it's like to miss out on sports through injury and it's not nice. That said everyone heals differently and you will know yourself when the time is right just make sure you follow all rehab orders, wish you well !!

Mikefitzs

Are you sure it's a torn disc as opposed to a torn ligament? I might be wrong and I hope I am, torn (ruptured) disc will not heal, this is usually a permanent injury. Physio might help ease the pain but it won't heal the rupture. This is often called a "slipped disc" it sounds like something has slipped out of place and can just be popped back but it's not like that at all.

It's best helped by learning to cope with less movement of the back and to do exercises that don't involve twisting or bending especially a combination of both - walking!

If you are heavily involved in sport very often a surgical procedure can be performed to remove the ruptured disc.

http://www.back.com/causes-mechanical-herniated.html

I wish you good luck with it and knowing from experience - it's not a nice one.

padzer

I had a herniated disc before, originally i was told it was sciatica and that the pain would go after a while. I put up with that pain for 7 years!! I couldnt lift my leg over a certain height (which was a problem playing football) and i also couldnt stand up straight.
Eventually my doctor referred me to the back pain screening clinic in tallaght hospital where after a few months of physio that didnt do anything for me i was put on a waiting list for surgery. He told me i could still play golf tho as i couldnt make it any worse (i actually played the game of my life and won a society outing the night before checking into hospital).
Had to go under the knife twice as it didnt work the first time but now im 100% brand new and i forget what the pain was like.
Is the pain in your lower back? Does the pain run down your leg?

deman

I have a raptured disc and for a long time time the pain was excruciating. Like the above poster said, it also caused sciatica which ran down my left leg to my lower calf. I walked with a limp for ages which didn't help the back problem. My physio could do nothing to ease the pain. I was living on strong prescription pain killers. I was sent to a neurologist who recommended that I go to the gym and concentrate on lower back and stomach exercises. She said if I still had the pain after 6 months that I would need to have surgery to remove the disc and fuse the two vertebrae. So I joined a gym. Told the instructor what my problem was and she put me on a programme. Within a couple of weeks the pain was easing, and when it came to seeing my neurologist 6 months later, the pain was completely gone. But even though the pain has gone, the disc is still raptured and the pain could come back if I don't look after myself.

When I play golf now, my swings aren't as strong as they were but they are more accurate.

blackwaterfish

just about recovered from 2 dislocated ribs. its been a total pain in the hole. still though, read a lot a books!

speedy recovery dude!

once you start to feel like your mobility is returning its a great period of weeks to practice putting at home and maybe some gentle short game work.

Jimdagym

Mikefitzs wrote: »

Are you sure it's a torn disc as opposed to a torn ligament? I might be wrong and I hope I am, torn (ruptured) disc will not heal, this is usually a permanent injury. Physio might help ease the pain but it won't heal the rupture.

Definitely torn. I know the physio wont heal it, but since the tear is not near any nerves, the hope is that with physio I can build up the muscles around it to protect it, and prevent the problems again. Failing that, its surgery for me.

This is actually my fourth week off at this stage. My back spasmed at the start, thats how the mri came about. Climbing the walls at this stage. Although as blacckwaterfish said, the putting mat is getting some go. The problem is I cant stand, sit, or lie in the one position for more than 5 minutes without the pain getting unbearable. Its like a knife slowly getting pushed between my shoulderblades.

I think I may write off 2010

deman

http://www.getback2life.com/

I've never tried this myself but it looks really good. If my back were as bad as it had been, I'd definitely give it a go.

soundsham

had a few injuries myself,nothing as bad,reading helps good weather sucks...

speedy recovery,
may the fore's be with you

Russman

My dad had a damaged disk about two years ago and it took him from the July until around Christmas time before he could even think about golf. He's fine now but the best advice would be to follow what the medical professionals tell you.

I've missed 3.5 years myself with injury, half of '06, all of '07,'08 & '09, and its not nice. Get as many opinions as you can though (from professionals) and follow what they tell you. Best of luck.

Jimdagym

Just as an update on this, had a physio session today, and the pyhsio said that if next weeks session went well, she saw no reason why I cant start going the range after that. Obviously baby-stepping it, hit 25 balls, wait a couple of days, do it again. I was amazed that this was on the cards so quickly, I pretty much had the year written off in my head.
Having said that, this is my 7th week off work, so it hasnt felt quick. Thank god for the internet is all I'll say...

thelongfellow

Jimdagym wrote: »

Just as an update on this, had a physio session today, and the pyhsio said that if next weeks session went well, she saw no reason why I cant start going the range after that. Obviously baby-stepping it, hit 25 balls, wait a couple of days, do it again. I was amazed that this was on the cards so quickly, I pretty much had the year written off in my head.
Having said that, this is my 7th week off work, so it hasnt felt quick. Thank god for the internet is all I'll say...

So if your able to go to the driving range you able to go back to work?! You'll have to watch out for people following you with cameras...

Jimdagym

thelongfellow wrote: »

So if your able to go to the driving range you able to go back to work?! You'll have to watch out for people following you with cameras...

I'll be back to work two weeks today, all things going well, but i did think of that alright. Wouldnt even attempt it untill I went back, just in case.

f22

I have a grade 3 slipped disc myself, which will eventually require surgery. As the doctor said I will have peaks and troughs, sometimes with respite of months on end. When it's bad it's unbearable, especially sitting, but remarkably less when active. I have a permant prescription of painkillers which I only take when really necessary.

I've had several short periods off the course, but moreso have struggled to maintain consistency. Keep the chin up, it's better to be playing then not at all.