Torn Disc

Bigger Stronger Leaner Injuries and Rehab
1

Hi All,

First post on this forum i’ll try keep it short but in detail.

Started lifting in Jan 2013 - in December 2013 i was going about my normal workout, deadlifts, BOBR etc etc… Got to work 2 hours later and could barely sit/bend , took 2 weeks off and only got a little better, went to Docs who prescribed me some anti inflams and physio (physio gave me some exercises to try but didn’t really have an understanding)

2 Weeks ago i finally was allowed an MRI Scan which showed up a partial tear in my L5/S1 i believe but was told gym work should be fine (i have had muscle tightness in my lower back since december but have been going careful)

I had cut out deadlifts squats and BOBR, anything which uses back basically, and over the psat couple weeks really worked on rehab for the back.

On wednesday however, doing DB Bench press, i picked up the first DB and sat down, went to pick up the other one (with the other still on my knee) and stood up slightly to rest the other on my knee and suddenly i felt an extremely painful shock (no idea how to explain it) in my lower back, at this point i thought i was paralyzed. I dropped the dumbbells and could barely move, walk or sit

Went to A & E here in the UK who just said they think i strained my back.

Saw my specialist the next day who thinks i may have exagerated the tear in my back

My first question is - 1. What was the pain i felt? i’d never felt anything like that before, not even when i originally hurt my back. The only way i can describe it is when you break a bone, and you push it past the point where it hurts.

I;ve been RICEing for the past couple days but obviously still spasming and painful.

Second question - 2. Will my disc ever heal to the fact where i;ll feel no pain and be able to whack out reps of deadlifts and squats again?

  1. What sort of re-hab is the best? i’m trying a few things but not sure what to do. Do you guys think gentle core work and perhaps a 6 week break will be sufficient?

i’m thinking of not going back until im 100% pain free, but wil this ever be the case?

P.S Extremely sorry for the essay but i feel so lost on what to do and suffering from No lifting depression.

2

Just a little update - got my first physio session with someone else Thursday

I’ve been doing rehab extensively now and feeling a little relief however despite endless google searches I still can’t find the pain I felt

3

Had one of these leave my office a little bit ago. He’s on his fourth treatment and at 0-1 out of 10 on the pain scale. He walked in last week with a crutch and severe scoliosis from the pain. Find a competent chiropractor and give them 2-6 weeks and you’ll be good as new.

  1. Go to your appointments
  2. Do exactly what he tells you
  3. Have a good attitude
4

[quote]CroatianRage wrote:
Had one of these leave my office a little bit ago. He’s on his fourth treatment and at 0-1 out of 10 on the pain scale. He walked in last week with a crutch and severe scoliosis from the pain. Find a competent chiropractor and give them 2-6 weeks and you’ll be good as new.

  1. Go to your appointments
  2. Do exactly what he tells you
  3. Have a good attitude[/quote]

apologies if this sounds rude, but surely a chiropractor forcing it into different positions will swell the area further and possibly cause more injury??

5

[quote]tayr wrote:

[quote]CroatianRage wrote:
Had one of these leave my office a little bit ago. He’s on his fourth treatment and at 0-1 out of 10 on the pain scale. He walked in last week with a crutch and severe scoliosis from the pain. Find a competent chiropractor and give them 2-6 weeks and you’ll be good as new.

  1. Go to your appointments
  2. Do exactly what he tells you
  3. Have a good attitude[/quote]

apologies if this sounds rude, but surely a chiropractor forcing it into different positions will swell the area further and possibly cause more injury??
[/quote]

I personally don’t adjust the low back of patients I’ve diagnosed with disc derangement. Our scope of practice allows us to do a lot more than just adjust the spine. Some of us take advantage and have good outcomes for these kinds of conditions.

Where are you located?

6

[quote]CroatianRage wrote:

I personally don’t adjust the low back of patients I’ve diagnosed with disc derangement. Our scope of practice allows us to do a lot more than just adjust the spine. Some of us take advantage and have good outcomes for these kinds of conditions.

Where are you located?[/quote]

South UK unfortunately

Out of interest have you got any idea what the pain was I had?? Was it a muscle strain/sprain? (The stabbing feeling)

I’ve become a little anxious about feeling it again, it’s really scared the crap out of me

7

There’s no real telling what the pain was if it isn’t reproducible. Could be a lot of things: protective spasm, soft tissue damage, bone fracture, nerve pain, etc.

8

thanks Cro,

Out of curiosity, if it was something fairly serious would i still be in alot of pain?

I’m pretty much pain free now other than the slight buttock pain and slight spasms.

Have i just been extremely lucky in the fact it hasnt been worse, or have i just had a normal sprain seeing as the pain has subsided?

9

You pulled a muscle back there.I also pulled my back muscle pnce,the mid traps, and had intense pain,hurt like hell of i wasnt sitting on my back.Took like 1 day to recover.

10

If by “tear” they mean a radial tear, these hurt like hell but aren’t as “dangerous” as other types of disc injuries. By dangerous, I mean the disc isn’t bulged, herniated or whatever word your particular doc may use, and therefore isn’t pressing against the spinal cord or nerve roots. As far as prognosis, they can and do heal to a great extent, but they tend to be quite problematic.

Look up the work of Stuart McGill. He has a series of exercises that should be of great help, and his book can help you dial in lifestyle changes that will help as well. Generally speaking, lumbar flexion will be problematic, and you need to be very careful to avoid it in daily life AND in lifting. You should be able to lift again after an appropriate amount of healing, but your form and technique will need to be SPOT ON! Especially avoiding lumbar flexion.

11

[quote]Dr J wrote:
If by “tear” they mean a radial tear, these hurt like hell but aren’t as “dangerous” as other types of disc injuries. By dangerous, I mean the disc isn’t bulged, herniated or whatever word your particular doc may use, and therefore isn’t pressing against the spinal cord or nerve roots. As far as prognosis, they can and do heal to a great extent, but they tend to be quite problematic.

Look up the work of Stuart McGill. He has a series of exercises that should be of great help, and his book can help you dial in lifestyle changes that will help as well. Generally speaking, lumbar flexion will be problematic, and you need to be very careful to avoid it in daily life AND in lifting. You should be able to lift again after an appropriate amount of healing, but your form and technique will need to be SPOT ON! Especially avoiding lumbar flexion.[/quote]

^ This!!!
Especially regarding any lumbar flexion being problematic. Along with McGill’s work, I’d recommend looking into McKenzie technique approaches - they even have a book titled “Treat Your Own Back” which is a good resource into their treatment technique. Also, look into PRI exercises. I have found great results utilizing those exercises to help maintain a neutral lumbar spine.