Slipped Disk and Other Back Issues

FTA69

While training for a fight in four weeks I seem to have herniated the old spinal column thus leaving me a broken crippled mess weeping over the shattered remnants of my boxing career. On a serious note, I've been to the physio and doctor and am awaiting an MRI scan to determine whether I should be put down or not. F*ck me though, I was out running one day and suddenly felt as if an elastic band snapped in my spine, cue agonised screams and terror and almost a month doing zip all. I feel like a racehorse cut down in his prime.

Has anyone else suffered from this lark and if so how long did it take before you got better?

(As appealing as popping diazepam and lying on the floor is, the walls are closing in a bit.)

Keane2baMused

I slipped a disc 3 months ago and my OH 5 days ago! Absolute agony and tbh from what I've been told it can continually flare up.

Pilates and swimming (very gentle at first) are really recommended to help recover.

Ah the diazepam.. The relief!

Feel for you it's awful.

Your Face

Yeah, I hurt my knee once. Thats why I could never play Test rugby.

FTA69

Alf Veedersane wrote: »

I went back to the gym a week after the Littl'un was born with little sleep or food under my belt in that week. Kept going with the programme and f**ked my back up. It was fine then for a few hours then I found myself on one knee on the kitchen floor unable to move.

Fortunately I was only out of full training for 3 months.

Funnily enough I feel grand today, full ROM and actually did some light shadow boxing in the kitchen (with the blinds open so everyone knows I'm a total badass) but not chancing training til I've been proper assessed to be honest. It's kind of worried me a lot because you've only one back as they say. What happened to your back and when did you realise it was time to go back training?

Tilly

I had a disc removed and was out of work for 6 weeks. But you probably won't need an op so will be good to go once you've rested it then start with Pilates.

Alf Veedersane

FTA69 wrote: »

Funnily enough I feel grand today, full ROM and actually did some light shadow boxing in the kitchen (with the blinds open so everyone knows I'm a total badass) but not chancing training til I've been proper assessed to be honest. It's kind of worried me a lot because you've only one back as they say. What happened to your back and when did you realise it was time to go back training?

I got away lightly, to be honest. I went to the physio next day. I would have put it off but I was terrified I'd drop the Littl'un cos it could just go without warning.

A lot of hip exercises all around the hip area to work the muscles and within a week or so the physio said the ROM was pretty good (that's when I knew I had got away lightly) but eased back into it. 18 months later I have only just got the doubt about it holding up out of my head.

Junkyard Tom

Spirit crushing pain caused by herniated disc pushing on the sciatic nerve. 6 weeks on my back numbed by that codeine stuff. Horrible.

gctest50

FTA69 wrote: »

Funnily enough I feel grand today, full ROM and actually did some light shadow boxing in the kitchen (with the blinds open so everyone knows I'm a total badass) but not chancing training til I've been proper assessed to be honest. It's kind of worried me a lot because you've only one back as they say. What happened to your back and when did you realise it was time to go back training?

Get it looked at by a doctor etc before you go back, or you could end up permanently paralysed

like this poor puppy :

http://i.imgur.com/pajXfeC.jpg

biko

I took an arrow in the knee once.

eviltwin

Had a slipped disc over Christmas, first time and the pain....I had a cold too and every time I coughed the pain was awful. Sitting down and getting up hurt, I'd get back spasms when i walked but walking did seem to help. Bending and lifting was impossible. Took a few weeks to fully recover and I still get the odd dodgy moment. I hope you get better soon OP.

Stay away from chiropractors was advice I was given from two doctors! Physio and light exercise. Decent mattress is important too

juke

Slipped disc, spinal injections 5 years ago. Bed for 6 weeks.

Have trained hard since (weights,core).

Relapse Saturday, no idea why. It sucks Physio tomorrow

The Sidewards Man

I was beaver tailing Maryanne the other night and back gave, the back is a weak link.

Broken Hearted Road

Never had a slipped disc but I know a few people who had and it's terrible. I do suffer from back ache from time to time. Mainly upper back but last summer my lower back started giving me trouble. I found sleeping on my back instead of my side great and helped a lot. Uncomfortable at start getting used to that. If I wanted to turn to my side, I couldn't except for my head. Hot showers help me too and hyrdotherapy pool. My back is weak and I've been meaning for a long time to take time out and exercise my core in the hope that would strengthen my back. Sometimes when I bend, it nearly feels as if my spine is crumbling. It's not sore. More so dullness and stiffness now.

byte

Back trouble is a real form of torture!

I've had back issues on and off for years, but always put it down to my job, where lifting heavy things like dryers, washers, etc. would be the norm.

It came to a head in February, with excruciation spasms of pain, which progressed quickly so that my entire back from back of ribcage to my hips would go into intensive spasms of pain. I never had pain like it.

Long story short, I've been diagnosed with a condition I never heard of, called ankylosing spondylitis, and some of my back joints are fusing together, especially at the base of my spine (sacroiliac joints).

My back has been in persistant pain since Feb, though thanks to lots of anti-inflammatorys (Arcoxia, and now Celebrex), not at spasm levels.... so far anyway.

Got prescribed Humira injections by the rheumatologist on Monday just past, just waiting now for a nurse to call to my home and instruct me how to use it!

The worst thing I could've done, had I listened to others giving advice, was go to a chiropractor, as apparently, that could've made things much worse! :eek:

Anyway, back pain, no craic!

The Raptor

Woke up one night last August in severe pain. It came out of nowhere, so i don't know what i did. It lasted about six months straight, waking up every night in so much pain. Sometimes it would take me 30 minutes to move, roll over and get out of bed. Other times, i wouldn't be able to support myself when out of bed and collapse.

It was painful, every night for 6 months straight. Its not as bad as it used to be. Sometimes get a sore back but at least its not every night.

ThunbergsAreGo

Had a disectomy two years ago, found out today it has relapsed and I now, again have a slipped disc.

Devastated

qo2cj1dsne8y4k

I get sciatica. It's the worst feeling. What generally triggers mine is laying flat on my back for any period of time. If I get a facial or when I'm having my eyelash extensions applied, I know getting up is going to kill me. A couple of years ago, went to salon on my birthday to have a massage and facial. Had my massage first and struggled to move from my tummy to my back. By the time the facial was finishing I knew something bad was happening. I couldn't move myself to sit up. I ended up panicking and practically forcing myself to sit up which sent my back into spasm and it locked on me. I was standing in the treatment room, no top or bra on, crying my eyes out. Alternating between standing, crouching over, bent in two but nothing was making it feel better. Now after about 20 mins it started to subside but I had to get a needle in my bum and some Xanax to relax the muscles. People with pain free backs take them for granted!

_Brian

I had a bad bout of back issues around 2000, have three seriously degenerate red discs in lower back.
Took a lot of work but I got back to a reasonable level of activity.

Than in 2009 I was blindsided by a large transit van and it shredded a disc in my neck and the three degenerated discs in lower back are back to square one. Since 2009 I made some progress but the disc in my neck is inoperable and the consultant said that fusing three discs in lower back is a non runner as I'll loose flexibility.

I've had root nerve injections in neck and back but they're short term releif at best.

This is my life now, a spectator to life.

cbyrd

I was in a car accident 2 years ago, I was 9 weeks pregnant. It was a side impact, really fcuked up my lower back. 2 years on after an extremely difficult birth, I'm still in physio, still in constant pain with spasms that lay me out for a day or 5 at times.

I have diazepam for spasms, diclac and zydol for pain and I was given xanax last week after I was rear ended on the way home from the school run. It hurt my back again but the worst thing was I went into complete shock in the middle of the road and the woman who ran into me got my phone and rang my partner to come get me. Complete meltdown.. think something in my brain just broke. I'm finding it very difficult to get in the car at all.... I did the school run this morning and when I get back to my house I turned off the car and burst into tears... I rarely cry.

I used to go to the gym 5 times a week, I ran 5k for warm up before a boxing class or circuits. I was lifting 50kgs for squats and lunges and 30kgs on the incline press. I could plank for 3 mins, and did knee lifts hanging from the bar with an 8kg medicine ball between my knees. I could do sit ups forever and my favourite were the incline with the 12kg medicine ball.
On a Saturday evening after work I'd do 10kms on the treadmill to wind down after a busy week at work hairdressing.

I struggle to stand in the bank queue now, I'm back doing some lifting in the gym but all lying down. I do the spinning classes. I will never run again. I can swim a few lengths before it hurts. I can't sweep mop or vacuum. I struggle some days to hold it together, but I have 5 kids and they keep me going. I will never work as a hairdresser again. I wouldn't be able to stand.
But it could be so much worse. Hope you feel better soon.

suicide_circus

Might I suggest tetrahydrocannabinol?

ScumLord

Is this the over 30s social group?

LuckyLloyd

That's terrible - makes me wince tbh. When you get past the initial period of medical treatment get yourself to a sports physio with a reputation for focussing on what people can do rather than what they can't and consider what strength training options will be available. People have come back from these things, there is more hope than you might believe at this juncture. Best of luck.

failinis

I have scoliosis which is far less painful than a slipped disc.

For ever odd

Wearing the belt at the moment just so I can walk upright without to much discomfort. It had been a great three years of pain free, and then wallop, bending down to pick up a fallen item off the floor.

My usual routine after this happens is,

Hit the gym, bike only for the next four weeks. Start on low setting and short time and build up gradually.

Hit the pool, walk up and down pool till back loosens out, then knee-uppies, then float behind head and kick legs. Again building distance and time.

Slow progress, but it works for me.

Just to add, I spent the last three years working on my core.

martinedwards

Chiropractors.....

a mixed bag.

Over the last 30 years I have had long term back issues which finally resulted in me having to retire early from teaching, so I now work sitting down in a call centre.

SOME chiropractors worked absolute wonders, some did no good at all.

now?

Codidromol & Gabapentin get me through the day

4ensic15

I had terrible sciatica some years ago. I have on and off lower back trouble. One incident about six months ago left me with difficulty walking for a few days.
I got over the sciatica using the Sherwood method. The worst thing of all for back trouble is doctors. They haven't a clue. the vast majority of back trouble is due to muscular spasm. Keeping the back working is key to avoiding trouble.
Bed rest is the worst thing possible. Anti-inflammatories are useless.

ThunbergsAreGo

4ensic15 wrote: »

I had terrible sciatica some years ago. I have on and off lower back trouble. One incident about six months ago left me with difficulty walking for a few days.
I got over the sciatica using the Sherwood method. The worst thing of all for back trouble is doctors. They haven't a clue. the vast majority of back trouble is due to muscular spasm. Keeping the back working is key to avoiding trouble.
Bed rest is the worst thing possible. Anti-inflammatories are useless.

What is the sherwood method?

4ensic15

naughtb4 wrote: »

What is the sherwood method?

It is described in a book written by dr paul Sherwood called The Back and Beyond. uses Ultra-sound, surging faradic, exercise and manipulation. Turened me from a cripple to a builders labourer in two weeks.

Cathy.C

Relative of mine lived beside a bonesetter years ago and I used to keep hearing stories about him which I found hard to believe. Then I seen with my own eyes a few years later how people would be carried into him screaming in pain and after ten minutes or so they would walk out with tears of joy looking as if they had just won the lottery. Some members of the county's GAA team at the time used to go to him after a knock even before they would attend a hospital, so highly was he regarded.

True story.

flutered

_Brian wrote: »

I had a bad bout of back issues around 2000, have three seriously degenerate red discs in lower back.
Took a lot of work but I got back to a reasonable level of activity.

Than in 2009 I was blindsided by a large transit van and it shredded a disc in my neck and the three degenerated discs in lower back are back to square one. Since 2009 I made some progress but the disc in my neck is inoperable and the consultant said that fusing three discs in lower back is a non runner as I'll loose flexibility.

I've had root nerve injections in neck and back but they're short term releif at best.

This is my life now, a spectator to life.

been there have that, i wear the t shirt, medication and patches etc etc, early on i had the pleasure of being told i was putting it on as i did not want to work, i said who the fcku would hire me, no answer to that one

byte

4ensic15 wrote: »

the vast majority of back trouble is due to muscular spasm. Keeping the back working is key to avoiding trouble.
Bed rest is the worst thing possible. Anti-inflammatories are useless.

Indeed, for Ankylosing Spondylitis, they insist that physio, keeping the muscles active is key for making it more bearable.

However, I'm finding it difficult. I went for a walk this evening after work, and now my hips are throbbing. I was a bit sore before hand, and thought a walk might shake it off, but no, it made it worse.
I was pretty much unable to do some of my leg stretches afterwards (particularly one where I'm lying, knees up, and slowly bend from side to side).

You seem to be right about bedrest. When I come home from work, sore, I would lie down for an hour, but fcking hell, the pain is twice as bad when I get back up! So, for now, I've decided not to do that anymore until it's actually bedtime.

As for the anti-inflammatories, I dunno. If I stopped taking them, I'd be sure the pain would be worse with spasms galore! Jesus, they're just the worst.

Back to the physio tomorrow morning, will see what she says.

cbyrd

byte wrote:

As for the anti-inflammatories, I dunno. If I stopped taking them, I'd be sure the pain would be worse with spasms galore! Jesus, they're just the worst.

Some days it's the only thing that gets me moving. Ice, heat, movement, no movement.. sometimes the drugs are all that work

hatrickpatrick

I'm not sure if I've ever slipped a disk. Sometimes after a weight session I get a pain where it hurts to turn my head, and feels like a jigsaw piece that isn't connected to all the others at the right angle, in the middle of my back or shoulder blade - usually lasts a few days and is unimaginably painful at unexpected moments.

According to my dad, it's most likely a pinched nerve and the actual injury is in a different place to where the pain occurs, a bit like a piece of bad programming which throw up an error on line 20 for a missing semicolon on line 4. Incredibly tedious.

ScumLord

hatrickpatrick wrote: »

I'm not sure if I've ever slipped a disk. Sometimes after a weight session I get a pain where it hurts to turn my head, and feels like a jigsaw piece that isn't connected to all the others at the right angle, in the middle of my back or shoulder blade - usually lasts a few days and is unimaginably painful at unexpected moments.

According to my dad, it's most likely a pinched nerve and the actual injury is in a different place to where the pain occurs, a bit like a piece of bad programming which throw up an error on line 20 for a missing semicolon on line 4. Incredibly tedious.

The physio I've started going to says the majority of back pain has nothing to do with the spine, slipped discs, or pinched nerves. Those are serious debilitating medical conditions.

Most of us have muscle problems and I'd think for you in particular, doing a weight season you've more than likely hurt a muscle. You should probably go to a physio and have it checked out. Weight lifting isolates big muscle groups and makes them bigger and stronger than the smaller controller muscles can handle. It's probable you have an overworked muscle somewhere in your back. If you don't strengthen it up as well it could essentially kill the muscle.

Leogirl

Junkyard Tom wrote: »

Spirit crushing pain caused by herniated disc pushing on the sciatic nerve. 6 weeks on my back numbed by that codeine stuff. Horrible.

Same here- while pregnant. Worse pain than labour!!!