Disk Bulge

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maverick786us

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I am having a small disk buldge (Herniated Disk) Since last couple of years. Can someone recommend me some excercises for this problem to heal? Although I have started swimming so hopefully it should give some releaf.

Body building is my hobby. But due to this back problem whenever I hit gym within 5-6 days my back pain starts. So can someone suggest me counter measures while doing heavy exercise so that it does'nt stress my back??


Thanks in Advance
 
Did you have an MRI to confirm your disc bulge? What level is it at? Where is your pain and is it just in your back or also down your leg?

If you have a disc bulge, you body can partially reabsorb it over a few years, but it will always be a weakened area. Lifting heavy weights for body building could possibly cause further injury to the point where you have to have surgery in the future. You need to decide if your body building hobby is worth possibly causing you to have back surgery in the future. You can read some of our posts to see how life after back surgery can be.

I personally wouldn't be willing to risk my back health for a body building hobby, but you need to make that decision for yourself.

Exercises for recuperating from a disc bulge/herniation typically focus on core strengthening exercises such as Pilates, and avoiding stretches/exercises that flex/twist the spine or put heavy loaRAB on it. You would be best to work with a physical therapist or physiatrist to develop an exercise regimine and discuss whether or not you are risking your back health for your body building hobby.

Good luck!
 
Maverick,

I think you are looking for someone to tell you it is possible to have your youthful body back where you can do anything you want, including body building, and not worry about it. None of us can say this to you.

The reality is that you have incurred damage to a disc, and if you choose to do heavy lifting in the future you are playing Russian roulette. You might be just fine, you might have increased pain, or you might cause the disc to completely go which could mean serious future back problems and giving up many of the physical activities you enjoy. You'll need to decide for yourself if this risk is worth it, and I wish you the best.
 
Thanks for the advice:(.

I will wait for this thing to heal fully then I will start the heavy exercises.

Yes I have done the MRI scan 2 years back in which showed a slight disk bulge and it was also mentioned that its not that serious. The pain is only in lower back no in the legs.

Although the condition is better now but whenever I hit gym, within days the pain starts within days. Although I use the belt, and I am not doing any heavy weight exercise, I am just general exerciese to stay fit and tough like pull ups, lat machine and parallel bars etc. I am avoiding weight. However even these exerciese seem to cause strain on my back.

Different docs have different openions. Some suggest hydrotheripy some suggest other modes of treatment. So what is the best advice you can suggest? can this problem be fully recovered so that I can start heavy exercieses again?? Or do i have to live life of handicappt where I have to avoid running and weights throughout my life?? :(:(:(
 
Thanks for the advice doc. I am just 31 so still young. The best thing I can do is I will seek advice from physicans on various exercises that will not cause strain on my back or the disk. Lets see how much helpful it is.
 
Unfortunately, once a disc has been damaged, it is never possible to fully heal it. The damage is done, the disc is weakened, and the best you can hope for is enough recovery so it doesn't cause you pain that interferes with your life or activities. You will never be able to "fully" heal the disc back to the way it was before it was damaged.

The fact that you are in pain shortly after hitting the gym is your body telling you that there is a problem and warning you.

Living life with a back problem does not mean that you need to live a "handicapped" life; however, it does mean you need to watch what activities you choose to do. Many people with back problems or even who have had back surgeries are able to run and work out at the gym. Lifting heavy weights, however, can cause a weakened disc to become damaged further. So you may need to modify the activities you do in the future - again, I would recommend you work with a physical therapist or physiatrist to determine what you should or should not do.

Good luck!
 
I might suggest you look into Vax-d. I did this treatment in Chicago and it completely helped my back. I had three herniated discs. I have been pain free for years and I am able to workout and do all the activities I did before my accident.

When I looked into doing this treatment I heard a lot of different opinions about the treatment some for and some against, but for me the major plus was it wasn't going to make me worse so I tried it and it worked.
 
This is what the MRI taken 2 years back says...

Streightening od normal luraber lordotic curvature. There is a mild retrolisthesis of L5 on S1 vertebral body. The vertebrae are otherwise normal in size, shape, alignment and singal intensity. No osseous destruction is seen.

Degenerative changes are present in L5-S1 intervertebral disc as evidence by reduction in the bright singnal intensity of necleus pulposus on T2-weighted sagittal sections. There is a mild posterior disc bulge at this level with propeensity to right causing some effacement of ventral epidural far planes and mild com[ression of right lateral nerve root. other intervertebral discs are unremarkable

The bony central luraber canal is adequate in diameter with no evidence of primary stenosis. The lower end of spinal cord, consus medullaris and nerve roots of the cauda equina are normal. The thecal sac is normal and CSF demonstrates normal singnal intensity

No intraspinal mass or pre-paravertebral collection is seen

OPENION: MR findings are suggestive of degenerative changes in L5-S1 intervertebral disc with a mild associated posterior disc bulge with propensity to the right. Please correlate clinically

This was the condition when the pain was severe. Now the pain is almost gone. How serious do you think this problem is Dr. Brendaks

 
There was some good advice given by Brendaks1. It is probably not the bulge as much as it is that you have some slippage in there (retrolithesis) backward. And it looked back then like a disc drying out at that level so by now it could be even more prone to movement and not the stability you need for heavy weights. Because you are having symptoms and have a desire to work your body hard, I think you should have a recheck and make sure it is safe for you to lift. If the retrolithesis has worsened you ARE taking a big risk. They might be able to fit you for a good brace that would allow you to follow your hobby at some level. You do have degeneration and in two years it can change quite a bit. What you have doesn't "heal".
 
It can be if it continues to grow worse and these do with time. It says your displacement is mild, but that was a couple years ago. Degenerative changes are often seen at the levels where a retrolisthesis is found. These changes are more pronounced as time progresses after injury and are evidenced by end plate osteophytosis (bone spurs), disc damage, disc narrowing, desiccation (drying) and disc bulging.
 
Well, it seen to get better than before. Its just that when I do some workout (although as a precaution I have stopped heavy exercises which involve vertical weight lifting) like lat machine, parallel dips, bench press, the pain relapse within days and goes off after discontinueing the exercise.
 
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