A couple of weeks ago I had surgery to remove a ruptured disc at L3-L4. The procedure was called a lumbar discectomy and was done out-patient and I was walking around that evening. They removed 60-70% of the disc. What I’m wondering is if this means squats are definitely out. Also any kind of deadlift. At 34 I don’t want to stop working my legs, but I don’t have access to a leg press machine. Anybody have, or know anyone who has had, this done I would appreciate any advice.
P.S. The reason for the surgery wasn’t so much the pain, but the fact that a nerve was compressed to the point that my right foot was weak and numb.
I have chronic problems with L4 and have been reduced to eliminating Squats from my training sniff…sob……I try to get by with single leg squats, lunges, extensions and heavy leg press.
Still feel like a Weasel/Nutfuck for not squatting but my ego is getting used to it.
Really.
I’m O.K.
Where did I put those razors…
“The Packers have lots of owners nobody knows instead of one owner who doesn’t know squat”
You might have to work your legs around this problem. There have been a few GREAT threads about working legs around low back problems. They all give great advice too.
Also, ask Machine. He has a hurt lower back. I also believe he’s the one who started the leg workout for hurt back thread. I could be wrong.
I recently had two ruptured disks in my neck removed and the vertebra were fused - longer recovery but it’s now solid. I mention that only to show that I have some “experience” and have done lots of reading on the 'Net about these types of surgeries. One of the concerns with the non-fused procedures on the neck, and I imagine this also applies to the lumbar region, is that by removing the disk and not putting anything back in its place, there may be chronic instability. So, squats may no longer be advisable.
My chiro lets me do squats but is against deads…we continue to have this little discussion at every appointment. I have a compressed disc in the S1-2 area. His main concern was me attempting to move too much weight.
So you might actually be able to do the squats but not load the bar. I would ask your doctor though since he/she is the one that did the surgery and is treating you.
Not being able to squat is not the end of the world but I do understand how you feel.
I had the same operation for the same reason about 5 years ago. I typically do machine hack squats or box squats, among other exercises, but don’t go crazy on the weight. I have had no problems since the operation.
Thanks for the replies everyone. My doctor is one of those that says that noone should even run and instead should get their cardio through walking. Minutes after he said this I talked with the therapist there in the office and he said I should be playing soccer again by the end of August as long as I save my running for the field. This therapist also said I probably shouldn’t squat, so I’m looking at alot of 1-legged squats ala Ian King. The first installments of his “Limping” series seem to use alot of body weight exercises, so this is probably where I’ll start.
