Back Issues

[kerradoh]

Hello Guys, 

Likely a well versed topic, but couldn't find a current thread, interested in others's experience.

 

 

Ive been having severe pain on and off for the past two years at least concentrated in my lower back, and eventually had MRI's done to get to the source of the problem.
The scans reveal a severe disc degeneration l5-s1 and the orthopaedic surgeon reckons i'm a good candidate for an anterior lumber fusion.
This op scares the daylight out of me, but truth is I cant carry on the way things are now.

I can ride mtb still currently, but have to keep myself dosed with prescription drugs to manage the pain. Cant surf anymore for fear of spasms and drownings, can swing a golf club for 9 holes max, only on heavy anti inflammatories.
I cant play ruff house with the kids or pick up anything too heavy, and Im constantly in some form of pain.
Im mostly a desk jockey at work, and constantly having to manage the way I exist around my lower back issue.
Ive also realised that i fall into the "lazy" category when it comes doing the daily exercises set out by the bio-kenetisist and hang my head in shame.
Different medical advice from different professionals can be confusing, my childhood doc is of the opinion that the discs may fuse themselves over time, and we can manage the pain with some meds and cortisone injection every 3 months or so in the interim.. Or they may not.. The Biokineticist  swears by getting the core strong and activated, and def no op required, the surgeon reckons lets cut you open and fuse those bad boys, hey Tiger Woods had the exact op and look at him now (jokingly..)

Do you guys have any advice on a plan moving forward, has anyone tried other options like pressure release therapy ect?
Has anyone else been down this road, and what did you do, was it successful?
I realise that at the end of the day is probably a personal choice on how to mitigate the situation, but any pointers or advise will be most welcome.

Thanks for reading

[JacBrand]

Back pain is terrible. I have been living with it for 16 years now.

Personally I don't take pain killers when my back hurts, as I feel that I may cause more damage to the back.

I had the same disc prolapse twice. Both times had to be operated on.

The operation you refer to is is low risk low invasive operation, and you will be up and going with in 6 weeks.

Back problems unfortunately force you to change how and what you do with regards to movement, carrying stuff and playing with the kids.

Edited October 5, 2020 by JacBrand

[Veebee]

"most" surgeons will say lets cut you open... i mean they need to make a living.

Do the exercises and strengthen your core, it will take some time but you will eventually get there. Remember daily stretching and recovery work after rides will also aid in reducing pain.

 

Also go see a Chiro and get another opinion from them. They may be able to help with some adjustments. Can become costly but may be worth it.

 

I will spend some time on these first, and if it doesnt work in reducing the pain then you will have to get the surgery done.

Edited October 5, 2020 by Veebee

[ChrisF]

https://community.bikehub.co.za/topic/186971-getting-back-on-bike-after-disc-herniation/

[DR ◣◢]

"most" surgeons will say lets cut you open... i mean they need to make a living.

Do the exercises and strengthen your core, it will take some time but you will eventually get there. Remember daily stretching and recovery work after rides will also aid in reducing pain.

 

Also go see a Chiro and get another opinion from them. They may be able to help with some adjustments. Can become costly but may be worth it.

 

I will spend some time on these first, and if it doesnt work in reducing the pain then you will have to get the surgery done.

 

Chiro is the worst thing you can do if you have a badly herniated disc and could potentially lead to a sequestrated disc. It will compound the problem. 

[kerradoh]

Thanks for the input - surgeon is talking about going in through the stomach for the fusion, and taking a bone graph off the hip simultaneously to wedge inbetween the discs, then fuse them all together, do you reckon this is low risk?

 

Back pain is terrible. I have been living with it for 16 years now.

Personally I don't take pain killers when my back hurts, as I feel that I may cause more damage to the back.

I had the same disc prolapse twice. Both times had to be operated on.

The operation you refer to is is low risk low invasive operation, and you will be up and going with in 6 weeks.

Back problems unfortunately force you to change how and what you do with regards to movement, carrying stuff and playing with the kids.

[kerradoh]

Shot - saw this, but didnt wanna hijack his thread for my own questions

https://community.bikehub.co.za/topic/186971-getting-back-on-bike-after-disc-herniation/

[kerradoh]

Ya, agreed, seen 2 different chiro's and i didnt get much joy at all from then, not saying they dont have a place but made me uncomfortable that they would do some "re-alignment" without having a look at a xray

 

Chiro is the worst thing you can do if you have a badly herniated disc and could potentially lead to a sequestrated disc. It will compound the problem. 

[JacBrand]

Thanks for the input - surgeon is talking about going in through the stomach for the fusion, and taking a bone graph off the hip simultaneously to wedge inbetween the discs, then fuse them all together, do you reckon this is low risk?

Sorry, my bad, I though he would go in from the spine side. In that case it is high risk.

[RobertWhitehead]

I have had a herniation between L4&L5 going on 11 years now. I had chronic back pain for more than 2 years, crawling around in the house and not being able to sit for more than 15 min or so at a time. I tried: Bio, physio, chiro, sports doctor, surgeons - yes I went to two. The one wanted to fuse and the other did not. 

 

When last have I had a back spasm where I could not do anything but lie flat on my back? I would guess probably more than 5 years ago. Yes I still have pain, yes I know about it if I drive 400km or sit for long periods of time but, its manageable, I have not had any surgery and I will not get any in the near future either. The key: YOU NEED TO WORK ON YOUR FLEXIBILTY AND CORE. Pretty much what the Bio told you  . 

 

Yoga is absolutely amazing for strength and flexibility and you'll start to notice a difference with as little as 15min a day. 

 

My suggestion: Get yourself a stretching rope and join a yoga class or download some videos off the web. 

 

PS: Since my herniation I've completed 2 x TransBaviaans (rode 4), 1 x Cullinan2Tonteldoos on a single speed, 5 x 94.7 and quite a few smaller events. Head me up if you need some more guidance but you do not need surgery imo.  

 

Shot - saw this, but didnt wanna hijack his thread for my own questions

[Chingy182]

Hello Guys, 

Likely a well versed topic, but couldn't find a current thread, interested in others's experience.

 

 

Ive been having severe pain on and off for the past two years at least concentrated in my lower back, and eventually had MRI's done to get to the source of the problem.

The scans reveal a severe disc degeneration l5-s1 and the orthopaedic surgeon reckons i'm a good candidate for an anterior lumber fusion.

This op scares the daylight out of me, but truth is I cant carry on the way things are now.

I can ride mtb still currently, but have to keep myself dosed with prescription drugs to manage the pain. Cant surf anymore for fear of spasms and drownings, can swing a golf club for 9 holes max, only on heavy anti inflammatories.

I cant play ruff house with the kids or pick up anything too heavy, and Im constantly in some form of pain.

Im mostly a desk jockey at work, and constantly having to manage the way I exist around my lower back issue.

Ive also realised that i fall into the "lazy" category when it comes doing the daily exercises set out by the bio-kenetisist and hang my head in shame.

Different medical advice from different professionals can be confusing, my childhood doc is of the opinion that the discs may fuse themselves over time, and we can manage the pain with some meds and cortisone injection every 3 months or so in the interim.. Or they may not.. The Biokineticist  swears by getting the core strong and activated, and def no op required, the surgeon reckons lets cut you open and fuse those bad boys, hey Tiger Woods had the exact op and look at him now (jokingly..)

 

Do you guys have any advice on a plan moving forward, has anyone tried other options like pressure release therapy ect?

Has anyone else been down this road, and what did you do, was it successful?

I realise that at the end of the day is probably a personal choice on how to mitigate the situation, but any pointers or advise will be most welcome.

 

Thanks for reading

I'm also in the medical field and I don't think the Bio can guarantee you anything.

It depends entirely on the level of degeneration from your MRI report.

If it is SEVERE, then surgery could be warranted.

 

My mother had an anterior neck fusion a couple of years ago and next morning she was up and about walking in the ward. She hasn't had any complaints since.

 

Anterior fusions have been working quite well in recent years and it also allows for more mobility than your posterior fusions.

 

All that said, a fusion is a slippery slope, as a lot of people who have had 1 fusion, later require an additional fusion. This can be avoided if you improve your posture, lose weight, improve core strength, etc.

[Malut]

I also have a herniated L5S1 disc, etc, etc... My biased advice is to try Body Stress Release. Biased because it works for me, and because I qualified as a BSR practitioner 3 years ago. Before having the op chat to a practitioner in your area. www.bodystressrelease.com

Wishing you all the best.

[Wayne pudding Mol]

I have had a herniation between L4&L5 going on 11 years now. I had chronic back pain for more than 2 years, crawling around in the house and not being able to sit for more than 15 min or so at a time. I tried: Bio, physio, chiro, sports doctor, surgeons - yes I went to two. The one wanted to fuse and the other did not. 

 

When last have I had a back spasm where I could not do anything but lie flat on my back? I would guess probably more than 5 years ago. Yes I still have pain, yes I know about it if I drive 400km or sit for long periods of time but, its manageable, I have not had any surgery and I will not get any in the near future either. The key: YOU NEED TO WORK ON YOUR FLEXIBILTY AND CORE. Pretty much what the Bio told you  . 

 

Yoga is absolutely amazing for strength and flexibility and you'll start to notice a difference with as little as 15min a day. 

 

My suggestion: Get yourself a stretching rope and join a yoga class or download some videos off the web. 

 

PS: Since my herniation I've completed 2 x TransBaviaans (rode 4), 1 x Cullinan2Tonteldoos on a single speed, 5 x 94.7 and quite a few smaller events. Head me up if you need some more guidance but you do not need surgery imo.  

this

 

Lots of older surfers experience back pain and this is the best way to resolve issues IMO

 

But be careful, there is never a one size fits all and no one knows exactly what triggers your back better than you

 

My wife is a lifelong yoga devotee and it really didn't work for me, in fact stretching oddly enough is bad for me - exercise, regular massage and hanging upsidedown is my coping method and its works well enough

 

Be very cautious of surgery  - that said I was in so much pain that I was desperate for surgery but the damage is too complex

Edited October 5, 2020 by Waynemol

[MarcHD]

Hello Guys, 

Likely a well versed topic, but couldn't find a current thread, interested in others's experience.

 

 

Ive been having severe pain on and off for the past two years at least concentrated in my lower back, and eventually had MRI's done to get to the source of the problem.

The scans reveal a severe disc degeneration l5-s1 and the orthopaedic surgeon reckons i'm a good candidate for an anterior lumber fusion.

This op scares the daylight out of me, but truth is I cant carry on the way things are now.

I can ride mtb still currently, but have to keep myself dosed with prescription drugs to manage the pain. Cant surf anymore for fear of spasms and drownings, can swing a golf club for 9 holes max, only on heavy anti inflammatories.

I cant play ruff house with the kids or pick up anything too heavy, and Im constantly in some form of pain.

Im mostly a desk jockey at work, and constantly having to manage the way I exist around my lower back issue.

Ive also realised that i fall into the "lazy" category when it comes doing the daily exercises set out by the bio-kenetisist and hang my head in shame.

Different medical advice from different professionals can be confusing, my childhood doc is of the opinion that the discs may fuse themselves over time, and we can manage the pain with some meds and cortisone injection every 3 months or so in the interim.. Or they may not.. The Biokineticist  swears by getting the core strong and activated, and def no op required, the surgeon reckons lets cut you open and fuse those bad boys, hey Tiger Woods had the exact op and look at him now (jokingly..)

 

Do you guys have any advice on a plan moving forward, has anyone tried other options like pressure release therapy ect?

Has anyone else been down this road, and what did you do, was it successful?

I realise that at the end of the day is probably a personal choice on how to mitigate the situation, but any pointers or advise will be most welcome.

 

Thanks for reading

 

I 100% believe in the Bio's as following a rigorous schedule of core exercises are what allowed me to not only ride again, but never have issues with pain again in 9 years since breaking my back in 4 places.

 

Now I get that a back break is not quite the same as your situation, but understand my break was a compression caused by head butting a tree in 2011.

 

I split in half two vertebrae, chipped one and fractured the 4th while also losing 3cm in height due to compressing my discs by 35% (HUGELY lucky as anything over 40% would have required traction)

 

I was out of hospital in a week and 10 months later I was doing exercises with the Bio for a further 6months, all after being told by 5 different surgeons that I would never be able to ride bikes again (let alone Downhill, which was my preferred discipline back then) 

 

Long story short - while my circumstances are different my point in this long explanation is that despite 5 surgeons telling my otherwise, 6 months with a determined bio had me riding DH again for another 6 years until I gave it up for the more practical format of Enduro! 

 

Hope this helps!

[MarcHD]

I 100% believe in the Bio's as following a rigorous schedule of core exercises are what allowed me to not only ride again, but never have issues with pain again in 9 years since breaking my back in 4 places.

 

Now I get that a back break is not quite the same as your situation, but understand my break was a compression caused by head butting a tree in 2011.

 

I split in half two vertebrae, chipped one and fractured the 4th while also losing 3cm in height due to compressing my discs by 35% (HUGELY lucky as anything over 40% would have required traction)

 

I was out of hospital in a week and 10 months later I was doing exercises with the Bio for a further 6months, all after being told by 5 different surgeons that I would never be able to ride bikes again (let alone Downhill, which was my preferred discipline back then) 

 

Long story short - while my circumstances are different my point in this long explanation is that despite 5 surgeons telling my otherwise, 6 months with a determined bio had me riding DH again for another 6 years until I gave it up for the more practical format of Enduro! 

 

Hope this helps!

 

Further to this I wold caution against surgery in general but especially a fusion of the lumbar spine - this area is notorious for giving severe problems down the line!  

[ChrisF]

..... The key: YOU NEED TO WORK ON YOUR FLEXIBILTY AND CORE. Pretty much what the Bio told you  . 

.....

 

In the 80's and 90's I had some issues with lower back pains.  A bit of scoliosis, but nothing structurally wrong, or at least not identified at the time.  Physio sessions ans some core work would solve it for a few years ... rinse repeat ...

 

As some of you know, 2020 started with me limping back the last 12km of Hermanus trails .... right side knee "bust".

 

Physio checked me out, said we can try 2 sessions, after which she would recommend a specialist look at it.  X-ray, MRI followed, and then the visit to the specialist.  I am VERY grateful I ended up with a surgeon that pointed to torn meniscus, then refused to operate as the physical damage "is minimal", though irreversable.

 

 

This is when I ended at a biokineticists.  WOW !! Absolutely brilliant !!!

 

 

Should add that she insisted on seeing my medical history, and a letter from the specialist.  She even wanted to see the X-rays and MRI .... Then a long session to check my mobility, limits, issues, etc ....  From this basepoint she worked on an exercise plan that works for ME.

 

 

Certainly, it is not a "cure all" approach.  And giving a set of "standardized" exercises without KNOWING the individual can certainly be very bad.  But when done right a bio can really be your best friend ... once you get back in shape. 

 

 

 

PS - sorry for my partly off-topic post.  Hope it is of value to somebody.