I hurt my back in December 2006, and although I never got it checked out, I am certain it was a herniated disc. It’s been about 8 months, and I don’t really have that much pain anymore besides very rare muscle spasms if I twist my back in a jerky motion. Heavy squatting hasn’t really been a problem for me either.
I did some very light deadlifting today for the first time since I hurt it and I really want to incorporate it back into my back workouts…however I don’t know if it is a good idea since my back is vulnerable from my previous injury.
I’d just like to hear some of your guys’ experiences if you have suffered a back injury. Have you guys been able to get back into deadlifting or do you just avoid it now?
There is a difference between a bulging and a herniated disc. Both are painful, but a herniation is much more serious and if you are really certain it was that I would have gotten it checked out in the first place. Herniated discs also have a much greater tendency to cause long term issues even if nursed. Frankly I suspect it was bulging disc which will heal up on it’s own much more readily, but there’s obviously no way for me to actually know. At the very least I wouldn’t push it too heavy too fast or you may find yourself with chronic problems.
[quote]Tiribulus wrote:
There is a difference between a bulging and a herniated disc. Both are painful, but a herniation is much more serious and if you are really certain it was that I would have gotten it checked out in the first place. Herniated discs also have a much greater tendency to cause long term issues even if nursed. Frankly I suspect it was bulging disc which will heal up on it’s own much more readily, but there’s obviously no way for me to actually know. At the very least I wouldn’t push it too heavy too fast or you may find yourself with chronic problems.
[/quote]
I was thinking the same until recently. It seems that people refer to a bulge as a prolapsed, herniated or slipped disc. They all indicate some damage to the inner wall of the disc and perhaps some nerve compression.
Then there’s the ruptured disc. Thats when the fluid pushes through the outer wall of the disc and lands you in the hands of a surgeon.
Have you got some more info on this, there seems to be a slight confusion of terms.
i was in a really bad accident 3 years ago for the first 6-12 months rehab for my back i came out with 3 or4 hern. 2 bulged and 2 compressed.after the rehab. i started lifting very light and then about 12 months ago i started lifting heavy.at first very painful,a word to the wise become close friends with your doc he needs to know what is what.but now i have little to no pain and i actually feel 100% more of a man now than then.looking back now i wish i was lifting before the accident. hope it was helpful.
[quote]Andrew Dixon wrote:
Tiribulus wrote:
There is a difference between a bulging and a herniated disc. Both are painful, but a herniation is much more serious and if you are really certain it was that I would have gotten it checked out in the first place. Herniated discs also have a much greater tendency to cause long term issues even if nursed. Frankly I suspect it was bulging disc which will heal up on it’s own much more readily, but there’s obviously no way for me to actually know. At the very least I wouldn’t push it too heavy too fast or you may find yourself with chronic problems.
I was thinking the same until recently. It seems that people refer to a bulge as a prolapsed, herniated or slipped disc. They all indicate some damage to the inner wall of the disc and perhaps some nerve compression.
Then there’s the ruptured disc. Thats when the fluid pushes through the outer wall of the disc and lands you in the hands of a surgeon.
Have you got some more info on this, there seems to be a slight confusion of terms. [/quote]
I always though that bulging was anything short of actually ruptured which was synonymous with herniated. I could be wrong as it’s been quite a while since I read up on this. The point I was making was that I find it a little difficult to believe that he toughed out an actually ruptured disc. Could happen I suppose, but it seems more likely that it was a bulge which still really blows as well I know.
Same here. I now think it was actually a bulged disc. If I’m not mistaken, a herniated disc actually breaks open and the fluids spill out while a bulged disc is exactly what it sounds like. However, when it comes down to it, I guess there is no way to really be certain than to see a doctor.
[quote]Andrew Dixon wrote:
Tiribulus wrote:
There is a difference between a bulging and a herniated disc. Both are painful, but a herniation is much more serious and if you are really certain it was that I would have gotten it checked out in the first place. Herniated discs also have a much greater tendency to cause long term issues even if nursed. Frankly I suspect it was bulging disc which will heal up on it’s own much more readily, but there’s obviously no way for me to actually know. At the very least I wouldn’t push it too heavy too fast or you may find yourself with chronic problems.
I was thinking the same until recently. It seems that people refer to a bulge as a prolapsed, herniated or slipped disc. They all indicate some damage to the inner wall of the disc and perhaps some nerve compression.
Then there’s the ruptured disc. Thats when the fluid pushes through the outer wall of the disc and lands you in the hands of a surgeon.
Have you got some more info on this, there seems to be a slight confusion of terms. [/quote]
A bulge will heal completely, at least mine did. Took like six weeks and I was really careful with it though I did continue to train. Been over a year now and I forgot about it until I saw this thread. Not an issue at all. Sounds like yours may have been worse though.
This thread is near and dear to my heart. M.D. here, extra info. Herniated discs are indeed disc material forced outside the ring of the disc. Interestingly, many people have been found to have these on MRI, with little to no pain. Others, of course, are literally disabled by them.
It has to do with WHERE the disc herniates to, and how much. In my case an accident caused two herniations, damaging spinal nerve roots going to my legs, and I suffered with a knife like pain going down my legs until the herniated disc was surgicaly removed.
Now, five years later, I did my first deadlifts a month ago. Scared to death. No pain after. Slowly increasing weight, one time per week, and so far, so good. I make sure my technique is perfect with no flexion (rounding) of the back. Flexion is your enemy with most herniations and bulges, because the bulges most often leak out backwards.
Make sure to put your hands on your hips and do gentle hyperextensions back, looking at the celing, after every set.
I am also doing cleans once a week with similar precautions. Orthopedists would NEVER support these recommendations, but my back feels better now than it did when I was doing just ortho-sanctioned rehab exercises. Be careful in the lowering of the bar, let it drop. Controlled lowering, especially with cleans, is the one thing that has flared it up. Good luck
Three months ago, I herniated a disc. I healed up pretty fast, and I can row and deadlift no problem. To stay healthy, IMO, it’s particularly important to build ab strength and lower-body flexibility.
It’s important to figure out how/why you herniated your disc in the first place. Otherwise, you’ll just hurt yourself again.