Herniated Disk -- Do they ever Heal?

[ShindoNinja]

Thanks to everyone who responded again! Great pointers. I scheduled a whack of appointments too, message, acupuncture, neuro specialist etc.

 

[Nick Kilian]

Well update for me. Herniated disk still giving me problems 2 years later! Scheduled for microdiscectomy in two days. Hopefully this gets me back on track to training like I used to.

 

[fightme]

Well update for me. Herniated disk still giving me problems 2 years later! Scheduled for microdiscectomy in two days. Hopefully this gets me back on track to training like I used to.

Good luck brah. Let us know how it goes.

 

[waza]

Ive got one ( L5-S1) circa 10 years ago from judo training , still carrying it today in BJJ You need to rest sometimes after feeling some "flashes" in your leg (due to some pressure on your back) otherwise it is ok:wink:

 

[Lutador011]

Well update for me. Herniated disk still giving me problems 2 years later! Scheduled for microdiscectomy in two days. Hopefully this gets me back on track to training like I used to.

Good luck man. I'm 2 years in also. Swimming has done wonders

 

[jag6984]

Just an anecdotal experience here, but about a year and a half ago I got an extruded disk in my lubar region (L5 or L6 I think) while I was doing squats in a Smith machine. Sidenote, never use a Smith machine, I only did because it was the only thing available in the gym. I was stuck in bed for 5 days, unable to walk, but luckily no nerve involvement. The doctor I went to said that I'd never lift weights or play hard sports again.

After about 2 weeks or so, I started some basic core strengthening exercises every night and light barefoot jogging on the beach. As I got stronger and the pain receded, I started a very basic weight lifting routine where I incorporated lots of compound lifts with relatively light weights. Specifically, I felt overhead lifts were fantastic, as they forced my core to be very strong.

I started BJJ about 7 months ago and I haven't had any major issues even training 4 days a week. Some minor pain here and there, but that might be from a desk job as well. I think this kind of injury is recoverable, but it's best to be very careful and don't try to jump back into anything too quickly.

 

[Nick Kilian]

Well just got back from surgery. A lot worse than they originally thought. Was supposed to be a herniation but they found an even worse herniation with a bunch of fragments, An arthritic cyst and a problem with the nerve bundles that travel down the spinal column(This is something i was born with probably explaining back issues my whole life)

As always i get the maybe you should not train as much anymore response. Doubt it........

 

[Ladder Master]

Well just got back from surgery. A lot worse than they originally thought. Was supposed to be a herniation but they found an even worse herniation with a bunch of fragments, An arthritic cyst and a problem with the nerve bundles that travel down the spinal column(This is something i was born with probably explaining back issues my whole life)

As always i get the maybe you should not train as much anymore response. Doubt it........

There is a good chance I will need the same type surgery. I have got the MRI and I have multi level disc herniation with the worst at L5-S1. Will be seeing a neurosurgeon on the 24th.

Would you care to write about your experience with the surgery and your recovery.

 

[anaconda]

Two things which helped me a lot (more than hundreds of $$ of chiro and phys therapy):

A rolled up towel under the neck, inside the pillow case. Put rubber bands on the ends so it doesn't come apart. Helps so much! And a towel works better than the more expensive mckenzie roll.

Secondly, try l-theanine. 200mg (I like NOW Foods brand; I get it from amazon). It works really well for neuropathy.

Anyone with cervical issues is recommended to try these remedies.

 

[MyBodyHurts]

I also used a cervical pillow. I bought two and found the much more expensive one was really uncomfortable. Not sure if it's just placebo or not (since I was doing a lot of stuff at once) but I would also take baths a few times a week with epsom salt and ice my neck a lot.

 

[anaconda]

I also used a cervical pillow. I bought two and found the much more expensive one was really uncomfortable. Not sure if it's just placebo or not (since I was doing a lot of stuff at once) but I would also take baths a few times a week with epsom salt and ice my neck a lot.

I tried a multitude of pillows. None of them helped as much as the rolled up $2 towel sadly.

 

[Zankou]

I use one of those fairly cheap memory foam pillows, the smallest one, and it works great. Fixing your pillow (most are terrible) is definitely an awesome help if you have a cervical disk problem.

 

[JRT6]

My wife bought a two pack of memory foam pilllows at costco a few weeks ago and while at the time I thought it was an impulse buy and a waste of money from the moment I put my head on mine I was glad she bought them.

 

[Ryo]

Well just got back from surgery. A lot worse than they originally thought. Was supposed to be a herniation but they found an even worse herniation with a bunch of fragments, An arthritic cyst and a problem with the nerve bundles that travel down the spinal column(This is something i was born with probably explaining back issues my whole life)

As always i get the maybe you should not train as much anymore response. Doubt it........

Let us know how it goes for you man. Wishing you all the best. I've been injured for over two years now, doctors, chiro's, pt's and still I'm in pain all the time. I still train though but its usually in pain. lol

Give us an update and tell us how's it going for you.

 

[Nick Kilian]

Well two months out from surgery. Things do feel better. I do a tremendous amount of re-habbing for it. I am dead lifting now and stretching is a constant thing in my day. I am going to get back to sparring this week and see how it goes. So far though I haven't had any issues with my back locking up like it used to. *Crosses fingers*

I am sure it will rear its ugly head later but I really need to get this fighting thing out of my system so hopefully surgery gives me some years to train hard.

 

[tjitsu]

Whoa!

Seems like forever ago when I started this thread. Update: 3 years later no tingling or symptoms anymore.

I train 3-5 days a week and will be graduating from dental school.

Physical therapy + conditioning + dummy grappling drills + time

Seemed to work for me just perfect.

 

[DanOfEarth]

Crazy thread! Makes me worried.

Last Saturday when rolling one of the browns was going for a bow and arrow choke on me, but the collar was across my jaw therefore cranking my head and neck around. It didn't hurt at the time and I didn't tap, I ended up escaping and everything felt find.

The next morning I woke up with a horrible pain between my shoulder blades. It really hurt if I leaned forward, over the last week or so I noticed if I slept without a pillow I would feel much better in the morning. At work on Thursday though my right tricep starting twitching every once in a while and now I'm concerned it's related. Although it hasn't happened since.

I actually feel a lot better today and I honestly feel that maybe it was just swollen and got tweaked but otherwise will be ok.

I'm waiting for my HRA funds to make it into my account since I just started a new job, so am hesitant to go to the doctor since I feel it is progressively getting better.

Question wise, how long do you think you would go before making a doctors appointment or think it's something serious? I don't think the back/neck is anything to mess around with.

 

[DevinTheDewd]

One of my teammates got 2nd place worlds purple belt adult in 2009, went to train muay thai in Thai land, started his MMA career and was looking like he was definitely going to make it into the UFC and be a contender. Sadly, he herniated his disk and is now retired from athletics for good. Sad to have seen someone with so much talent, work ethic, and dreams have to give it up due to an injury. I hope things fare better for those who herniate a disk and come looking on this forum.

 

[BeRGLeZ]

I should chip in too. I believe I posted here years ago...
About 5-6 years ago I had a broad disc bulge in my lumbar. Put me out for 6-12 months. For about 6 months it was hell; unable to do many things - effectively could not stand longer than 30 mins at a time! Leg would wobble, sciatica would overwhelm me and I'd literally drop to the floor trembling.
-about a year or 2 later I got guillotined - tapped, relaxed, then the guy wrenched my neck again - bulge disc in neck. Only occasionally gave me trouble.

7 months ago, at a seminar with Guillerme Mendes, I rocked up with a very stiff neck. Didn't warm up as well as I should have, rolled Gui - got caught in a cross choke as I was trying to invert. Felt very stiff and sore after it, went and sat by the side, put my right arm out to stretch, and twisted - TOO HARD - trying to relieve the tension I felt down my arm and neck. Felt a 'twang'.
Went to the ER few hours later, spent the next month in the worst agony of my life. Every specialist said surgery ASAP
Couldn't do anything at all, took a whole month off work - on top of medical bills - very stressful time. Was told I could never do BJJ again..
My C6 was so severely herniated - a 'separating fissure' supposedly. Nerve pain in my arm was so intense, my thumb was completely numb and I had to hold my arm like a chicken wing to relieve some of the pain. Every hour I slept I awoke screaming... I am pretty sure I traumatized my girlfriend from it!

It's been 6-7 months now.
After 7 weeks, I felt 80% better. Walking towards the end of the day, I could feel my nerve twinge when I took a step.
After about 12 months - I felt erady for BJJ.

Got scans done in Italy recently, and my bulge is only minor and the herniation has cleared; I feel an occasional numbness in my thumb.
I have trained bjj about 4 times in the past month and felt fine.
Returning for good this week!

 

[MyBodyHurts]

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