Advice needed: slipped disc in back (prolapsed disc)

[Face Plant]

i Had exactly the same diagnosis about 7 months ago, depending on how severe the herniation is there are a couple of options available

 

it the herniation is not severe - cortisone and anti inflammatory agents are used.

 

if herniation is bad but not burst there is a procedure that i went for: they put you under and inject a very specific medication into the discs and while you under they perform a manipulation. this treatment can work for many years but as my Doc says it depends on how long the first procedure works as the time span decreases every time you go. this is an in and out procedure.. walked out of hospital the same day

 

If the disc has actually burst there is no option other than a discectomy which comes with a 8 week on your back recovery

strenghtening of the core muscles is also vital to a full recovery!

 

i really hope that your herniation is not that serious and what ever treatment you choose works well! nothing worse than chronic back pain

[Guest ctMTBer]

 

If the disc has actually burst there is no option other than a discectomy which comes with a 8 week on your back recovery

strenghtening of the core muscles is also vital to a full recovery!

 

 

I had a discectomy and it is not 8 weeks on your back....as a matter of fact they want you walking in 24hours. BUT good news is that they do Micro discectomy these days....much smaller cut and they just fetch those little bits and you should be able to be back on the bike 8 weeks later....

[Cycle Fan]

I've been struggling for about a year now with what the Physio thought was a herniated disc. I haven't been able to afford to go for an MRI and have tried to avoid surgery at all costs. To be honest, I found all the treatments from the Physios made it worse. Been on a gym programme for last while now to try strengthen core, back, etc and seems to be helping a bit.

 

It's extremely frustrating - I know! But listen to the guys above and use surgery as a last resort.

[arendoog]

Firemeister .I was ready for surgery ,any surgery in the first week .It was that bad .I am a MD myself and could not believe this is happening to me .Find a specialist with a good conservative rep .It all depends on the severity of each individual case .If i became incontinent ,i would have opted for an op .I lived on painkillers for 6 weeks and it subsided .PAIN IS NOT AN INDICATION FOR SURGERY !!!!Drop foot ,weak leg ,incontinence is .Get more than one opinion if you can .It is unethical to put DR name on a forum like this .E-mail me .

[Firemeister]

Firemeister .I was ready for surgery ,any surgery in the first week .It was that bad .I am a MD myself and could not believe this is happening to me .Find a specialist with a good conservative rep .It all depends on the severity of each individual case .If i became incontinent ,i would have opted for an op .I lived on painkillers for 6 weeks and it subsided .PAIN IS NOT AN INDICATION FOR SURGERY !!!!Drop foot ,weak leg ,incontinence is .Get more than one opinion if you can .It is unethical to put DR name on a forum like this .E-mail me .

Thanks for all the comments and informative feedback from everyone on this thread, much appreciated.

 

Blitzer I guess you hit the nail right on the head here.. Unfortunately I've already got the symptoms of drop foot and weak leg that being the main reason the Neuro and Orthopedic recommended (actually advised) surgery. Seems like I am on the right track then. Good thing is life can return to normal again after the op, possibly just swop for a soft tail again.

 

Thanks guys.

[Firemeister]

Had similar experience towards end of last year, cause of my mishap - wheelie that went wrong. Tried physio as 90% of disc prolapses starts correcting themselves with time witin 6-8 weeks. Mine was one of 10% that got worse.

Had op where neuro removed part of disc protusion. Did my exercises and was off bike for 10 weeks, caused me to miss out on this year's Sani2C. Back on bike but on somedays I feel that my back aint what it was before my mishap. Just need to manage it and keep on working on your exercises to strengthen back and stomach mussles.

 

Good luck

This time last year i also had a herniated disc from too much hard cycling 'Standing' running and carrying my 6 year old son down a mountainside .It took 6 weeks to the day to subside .Walking was the worst .Cycling was the most comfortable .Be brave and take the pain with the help of painkillers and fisio .I kept on cycling ,sitting only .It will get better with conservative treatment .Surgery only if you have neurological fallout in 2 months time .I still get a faint sciatic pain if i overdo standing cycling .Also your new hardtail can play a role and was just enough trauma to burst the disc .Consider DS bike

So it is now 6 weeks after the discectomy, and already glad I had it done. Went to the doc today for checkup and startingthe rehab excercises in the gym with the biokineticst tomorrow. Wil get back on the bike in January only..

 

How is your cycling now?, after the surgery and recovery - back to normal? I'm looking at doing another Epic in 2014. Would also like to sart doing some trail running in a couple of months time. This realistic?

[Super J]

I slipped 3 discs on Easter sunday,badly trapping the nerve to my left leg while on me bike, but cycling is not the cause! I have degenerative disc disease,I was rushed to hospital and had an emergency op,just remember,nerve tissue cannot regenerate! They removed the 3 discs and added a few pins and rods and fused S1,L3,4,5...... I was in high care a week,home in bed for 3 months! Started on the trainer in week 4,watched the entire TDF from my trainer! The healing process is a tad slow but I am now 7 months post op and training like a machine,running and feel better than I have in years! The secret is to listen to your body. Gimme a call if you wanna chat! Jay 0832339674

[Firemeister]

I slipped 3 discs on Easter sunday,badly trapping the nerve to my left leg while on me bike, but cycling is not the cause! I have degenerative disc disease,I was rushed to hospital and had an emergency op,just remember,nerve tissue cannot regenerate! They removed the 3 discs and added a few pins and rods and fused S1,L3,4,5...... I was in high care a week,home in bed for 3 months! Started on the trainer in week 4,watched the entire TDF from my trainer! The healing process is a tad slow but I am now 7 months post op and training like a machine,running and feel better than I have in years! The secret is to listen to your body. Gimme a call if you wanna chat! Jay 0832339674

Thanks for the input, you had a serious operation Super J. Good news that you can run and ride again.

So to be clear you started riding on the trainer in month 4 I presume? Are you on a hardtail or dually post surgery?