Sciatica / Herniated Discs Really Really Suck

[fuzzybabybunny]

It's been about half a year since I herniated my disk doing a Crossfit WOD in which my form crapped out doing deadlifts for time. Now I've got pretty constant pain down my right leg, all day, every day.

Went to the doctor and they just gave me painkillers. Went to the chiropractor and he took an X-ray and saw that my lower spine was very, very straight. No curvature, like it should have. So he's been working to adjust my back to get that curve back in there. When I came to him I was hunched over with pain.

It's been 3 months and now I can stand straight, but the pain is always there and because excruciating when I try to do things like put on socks. I still get a big surge of pain when I sneeze, and even when I flex my core. I've been like this for 2 months and I think I've plateaued.

I can hardly bend over to try touching my toes - the furthest I can do is almost touching my knee. When I have my knees bent I can curl up just fine, but as soon as I try to straighten out my leg I get pain. I can't even sit on the ground with my legs extended straight out, I can't even do that 90 degree angle between my torso and legs if my legs are straight.

Running hurts. Squatting hurts. Sitting for a long time will hurt a lot when I stand back up.

*sigh*

I don't know what to do. Should I be furiously working my core and doing the stretches anyway to try and get back that range of motion, and hopefully decrease the pain in the process? I seriously do not enjoy life as much anymore. Constantly feeling in pain, not being able to climb or amble over anything, being stiff with pain all the time, etc.

I'm 26.

 

[Phynaz]

Go see a spine specialist. First step will be a MRI, first treatment most likely PT. Cortisone injections can work wonders.

 

[fuzzybabybunny]

Go see a spine specialist. First step will be a MRI, first treatment most likely PT. Cortisone injections can work wonders.

I'll check it out. I see this as a purely structural problem and I really don't want to end up using painkillers and drugs like cortisone to mask pain. To me it's a dead end - the problem is structural, so why use chemicals to treat it? At best drugs will help me deal with the pain, but it's not going to fix the problem, at all.

Guh, this sucks. I will never take being healthy and pain free for granted again.

Guys, be thankful. With this herniated disc and a recent accident in which I had a concussion and continue to experience dizziness spells, I have come to the realization that the best I've ever felt was what I would classify as "normal." Really, I had no idea how good it is to just feel "normal," free from pain and other problems. I just want to go back to feeling normal. To be able to bend down without excruciating pain. To be able to run without feeling dizzy. Stuff like that.

 

[CrazyAznDriver]

Dang that sucks... I hurt my back doing deadlifts about 2 months ago. It was just a bulged disk though. I am just now just getting back into the deadlifts. The mental part is the worst part for me. I was in some intense pain for about a week then it got better thank god... Everyone takes their back for granted when it it healthy, but when its fucked up... man... Hang in there, I second some PT if you can afford it.

 

[fuzzybabybunny]

Dang that sucks... I hurt my back doing deadlifts about 2 months ago. It was just a bulged disk though. I am just now just getting back into the deadlifts. The mental part is the worst part for me. I was in some intense pain for about a week then it got better thank god... Everyone takes their back for granted when it it healthy, but when its fucked up... man... Hang in there, I second some PT if you can afford it.

Well, the chiropractor thinks that it's just a bulging disc, not a true herniation. He said I'd be *crawling* on the floor if it was a true herniation. Still, the pain is there and it's not getting any better. Does your back still feel sore and does your leg and/or glute still hurt?

 

[SociallyChallenged]

First of all, a diagnosis involving nerve pain down the leg should never be sciatica slash herniated disc. That should be confirmed very early on with a complete evaluation of the lumbar spine, piriformis, and mechanical interface down the leg. You 100% need to go visit a physical therapist. Chiropractic manipulations could help and if the chiro was approaching it correctly, therapy should definitely help. However, if he's JUST using manipulations, it's no wonder that you don't have improved symptoms. Do to an orthopedist (or your old doctor) and ask for a prescription for physical therapy. Honestly, this problem typically has good results with conservative care involving mobilization of the spine, soft tissue mobilization of the piriformis, hamstrings, gastrocnemius (whichever necessary), very specific core stabilization exercises, postural re-education, and tractioning. Physical therapy typically addresses most aspects of the condition that can be treated conservatively. You need to try it out and find a good PT clinic in your area. Many times, you need a prescription for that. Try it out - you honestly don't have anything to lose.

 

[SociallyChallenged]

Well, the chiropractor thinks that it's just a bulging disc, not a true herniation. He said I'd be *crawling* on the floor if it was a true herniation. Still, the pain is there and it's not getting any better. Does your back still feel sore and does your leg and/or glute still hurt?

For the technical terminology, there's three types of disc injury - protrusion, herniation, and sequesteration. A protrusion is when the inner jelly material pushes through the fibrous layer on the outside of the disc, causing disc pain, but no nerve symptoms. A herniation is when the jelly material protrudes through the ligamentous layer and can impinge the spinal nerve roots or the spinal cord itself. A sequesteration is when the jelly material actually gets sheared off during injury and is floating around near the neural tissue (typically needs to be removed with surgery). If you have nerve symptoms, you, by definition, have a disc herniation (aka a bulging disc) if the source of the nerve pain involves the disc. The injury can very well not involved the disc, but can also be caused by excessive extension within the lumbar spine, poor lumbar control, hypermobility of certain segments, and compression of the nerve via musculature environment.

Honestly, you should stop seeing this chiropractor, as he doesn't seem to know what he's talking about. Many people (actually, quite a lot) have disc herniations, but are NOT symptomatic. That's because many people have enough space to compensate for the lesion. In addition to this, even symptomatic individuals vary vastly in their presentation. I've seen people with L3 to L5 disc herniations who only get a little bit of tingling and numbness. I've seen some with a minor herniation at L5/S1, but be in severe pain. It varies.

If you have specific questions about PT and what it could do for you, feel free to reply or PM me.

 

[fuzzybabybunny]

First of all, a diagnosis involving nerve pain down the leg should never be sciatica slash herniated disc. That should be confirmed very early on with a complete evaluation of the lumbar spine, piriformis, and mechanical interface down the leg. You 100% need to go visit a physical therapist. Chiropractic manipulations could help and if the chiro was approaching it correctly, therapy should definitely help. However, if he's JUST using manipulations, it's no wonder that you don't have improved symptoms. Do to an orthopedist (or your old doctor) and ask for a prescription for physical therapy. Honestly, this problem typically has good results with conservative care involving mobilization of the spine, soft tissue mobilization of the piriformis, hamstrings, gastrocnemius (whichever necessary), very specific core stabilization exercises, postural re-education, and tractioning. Physical therapy typically addresses most aspects of the condition that can be treated conservatively. You need to try it out and find a good PT clinic in your area. Many times, you need a prescription for that. Try it out - you honestly don't have anything to lose.

Gotcha. Manipulations without PT isn't enough, huh? Dammit, this is an expensive injury.

 

[CrazyAznDriver]

Well, the chiropractor thinks that it's just a bulging disc, not a true herniation. He said I'd be *crawling* on the floor if it was a true herniation. Still, the pain is there and it's not getting any better. Does your back still feel sore and does your leg and/or glute still hurt?

I went to the ER and had a CT of my back when I got hurt. It hurt very bad for a few days(5 or so) and it got progressively better each day after that. I took about 3 weeks off from lifting and eased back into it, though the ER doc said to take 6 off... It is back to normal now, still have the mental side of it on deadlifts though 🙁

 

[TecHNooB]

This happened just before Thanksgiving. I tore something in my upper right hip around the joint. Whatever it was, it caused a popping sound when it gave, and it happened to be right next to the sciatic nerve. The only comfortable position was standing. Could not sit. Could not lie down. If I tried to sleep, I would wake up within the hour with excruciating pain down my right leg (sciatica). Had to get up and walk it off for about 30 minutes. Took anti-inflammatory medication as well as pain killers. Nothing stops the pain from hitting once I go to sleep. Was a shitty Thanksgiving weekend 🙁 On the plus side, my back seems to be just fine.

PS: was alternating between conventional and sumo deadlifts when this occurred. sticking to sumo from now on :|

 

[SociallyChallenged]

This happened just before Thanksgiving. I tore something in my upper right hip around the joint. Whatever it was, it caused a popping sound when it gave, and it happened to be right next to the sciatic nerve. The only comfortable position was standing. Could not sit. Could not lie down. If I tried to sleep, I would wake up within the hour with excruciating pain down my right leg (sciatica). Had to get up and walk it off for about 30 minutes. Took anti-inflammatory medication as well as pain killers. Nothing stops the pain from hitting once I go to sleep. Was a shitty Thanksgiving weekend 🙁 On the plus side, my back seems to be just fine.

PS: was alternating between conventional and sumo deadlifts when this occurred. sticking to sumo from now on :|

Did you see a doctor about it? Have you tried physical therapy? You definitely don't have to live with this sort of pain - it's very readily treatable. In addition to this, you want to get it treated quickly because, if you don't, you can get permanent damage to the nerve, causing continual pain, regardless of actual mechanical damage.

 

[TecHNooB]

Did you see a doctor about it? Have you tried physical therapy? You definitely don't have to live with this sort of pain - it's very readily treatable. In addition to this, you want to get it treated quickly because, if you don't, you can get permanent damage to the nerve, causing continual pain, regardless of actual mechanical damage.

I was injured on a Monday. The pain didn't set in until Tuesday. Couldn't actually sleep lying down until the following Tuesday.

I'm pain free now, but I still feel numbness between the inner part of my big toe and its neighbor for both feet. It's wierd.

As far doctors go, I went to the ER over thanksgiving because the pain was preventing me from sleeping. Was given a prescription for inflammation and some painkillers. The pain meds didn't do anything though, so I tried a bunch of wierd sleeping positions. Ultimately had to hunch over my bed while kneeling on the floor.

The cause of the pain was due to me literally tearing something. Not some condition that slowly manifest itself. So there wasn't any exercise I an aware of that would actually help.

 

[highland145]

What SC said. Get a good PT. My Dr didn't even know the one I went to and I'm in small town USA. She came highly recommended by a PT friend and she was good. About $90/visit but worth it. The best known place in town assigns random therapists with each visit so you would not get the same one every time.

Planks, my newest core torture exercise.

Doesn't cortisone mask the pain which can cause further damage?

Best of...

 

[fuzzybabybunny]

i can't afford PT 🙁

insurance doesn't cover it, so it's around $110 for each visit. Ugggg...

 

[Pantlegz]

Doesn't cortisone mask the pain which can cause further damage?

Best of...

Cortisone is a steroid that reduces inflamiation which can help with pain but it can cause cartilage damage if it's over used. From what I've been told anyway.

 

[SociallyChallenged]

i can't afford PT 🙁

insurance doesn't cover it, so it's around $110 for each visit. Ugggg...

Insurance doesn't cover it? What kind of insurance do you have? In most plans, they at least cover something, especially if it's related to your severe dysfunction. If the chiro is covered, you can get your insurance to cover PT.

 

[the DRIZZLE]

Insurance doesn't cover it? What kind of insurance do you have? In most plans, they at least cover something, especially if it's related to your severe dysfunction. If the chiro is covered, you can get your insurance to cover PT.

This. Read your policy again.

 

[highland145]

i can't afford PT 🙁

insurance doesn't cover it, so it's around $110 for each visit. Ugggg...

Mine used physio tools handouts. Can't find them free online.
http://www.physiotools.com/?Region=US
Slow progression from stretches/small core muscle control to large muscle strengthening (planks). Mine is a vertebra issue.

Cortisone is a steroid that reduces inflamiation which can help with pain but it can cause cartilage damage if it's over used. From what I've been told anyway.

Thanks.

 

[fuzzybabybunny]

This. Read your policy again.

Chiropractor is not covered. He normally charges $50-$60 per adjustment, but he made me a deal for $200 a month, 3 adjustments a week. He's a really good guy. Adjustments only take him like 5 minutes though for me.

I looked up my insurance - Physical Therapy is not covered.

I've got Blue Shield of California Vital Shield Plus 900 Generic RX

 

[lord_emperor]

That sucks about the coverage.

As it happens I had mostly the same thing happen, the difference being I'm very out of shape and herniated my disk while bending down for a glass of water. It was clearly not as bad as yours because I was only down for three days but my GP referred me to physiotherapy immediately and FWIW I have been assigned progressively more difficult core exercises focusing on those little muscles around my spine.

By the time I got in to see the PT though my pain was almost completely gone. Still the exercises are designed around fixing you and reducing the chance of another injury so if you can manage to see a PT by any means, do so. When it starts to hurt again the PT recommended ice to reduce swelling and take pressure off the nerves.

 

[the DRIZZLE]

That sucks. I would call around and tell them you don't insurance and see if you can get something cheaper. I think the place by me only charges $60/visit if insurance isn't covering it.

You will be able to do most of the PT exercises yourself after a few visits but not the mobilizations.

 

[SociallyChallenged]

Chiropractor is not covered. He normally charges $50-$60 per adjustment, but he made me a deal for $200 a month, 3 adjustments a week. He's a really good guy. Adjustments only take him like 5 minutes though for me.

I looked up my insurance - Physical Therapy is not covered.

I've got Blue Shield of California Vital Shield Plus 900 Generic RX

You can definitely try to talk to a PT clinic. Many offer some pro bono work, especially if you really need it. It can't hurt to try, man.

 

[fuzzybabybunny]

You can definitely try to talk to a PT clinic. Many offer some pro bono work, especially if you really need it. It can't hurt to try, man.

I've called around to a bunch of other places and it looks like the average price is $100. The initial appointment is like $130-$150. Ugg... $200 a week for this. $800 a month. That's rent right there. With no guarantee that this isn't just a wild goose chase. But you say that this is readily treatable? Sciatica pain from a bulging/herniated disk is totally treatable? I see to feel like this is going to become a chronic condition for me, and I might as well get used to it. It is not piriformis. Probably a herniation in the L4- L5 or L5- S1.

There are places advertising spinal decompression and active release technique, as well as Graston technique. I don't know what the heck to do.

*guh*

I just want someone to give me a list of exercises to do. There's gotta be a way for me to fix this myself through exercise and stretching, right? All I know at this point are McKenzie stretches and planks. That's it. There must be a ton of people out there with disc herniations impinging on their sciatica around the L4-L5 or L5-S1. Aren't there some standard stretches/exercises that all physical therapists prescribe?

 

[marmasatt]

Don't get too depressed, Fuzzy. You are young. You are thinking the worst because this is new to you. But it *will* get better. Whether you utilize physical treatment, pain management (ie medication or possibly shots), spinal adjustments, rest, and anti-inflammatory treatment/meds, or all of the above, you will make progress. It won't be this way forever.

I'm by no means an expert, but I have 4 bulging discs in my neck, C4-C7 that send a numbing tingling painful shot down the outside of my arm all the way to my fingertips at times. But it ebbs and flows. Sounds like you are in a rut. Just stay aggressive with the treatment and stay positive. There are PT's, inversion tables, sometimes rest just does it.... Neurosurgeons will tell you the same thing.

Hell, read my post a half a year ago regarding a similar issue. I was ready to slit my wrists. While I'm only 80-85% now, I'm much better than I was at my worst.

http://forums.anandtech.com/showthread.php?t=2178022&highlight=medicate

 

[coreyb]

It's been about half a year since I herniated my disk doing a Crossfit WOD in which my form crapped out doing deadlifts for time. Now I've got pretty constant pain down my right leg, all day, every day.

Went to the doctor and they just gave me painkillers. Went to the chiropractor and he took an X-ray and saw that my lower spine was very, very straight. No curvature, like it should have. So he's been working to adjust my back to get that curve back in there. When I came to him I was hunched over with pain.

It's been 3 months and now I can stand straight, but the pain is always there and because excruciating when I try to do things like put on socks. I still get a big surge of pain when I sneeze, and even when I flex my core. I've been like this for 2 months and I think I've plateaued.

I can hardly bend over to try touching my toes - the furthest I can do is almost touching my knee. When I have my knees bent I can curl up just fine, but as soon as I try to straighten out my leg I get pain. I can't even sit on the ground with my legs extended straight out, I can't even do that 90 degree angle between my torso and legs if my legs are straight.

Running hurts. Squatting hurts. Sitting for a long time will hurt a lot when I stand back up.

*sigh*

I don't know what to do. Should I be furiously working my core and doing the stretches anyway to try and get back that range of motion, and hopefully decrease the pain in the process? I seriously do not enjoy life as much anymore. Constantly feeling in pain, not being able to climb or amble over anything, being stiff with pain all the time, etc.

I'm 26.

no way!? you injured yourself seriously doing crossfit!?

this is one of the many reasons why the majority of crossfit is just a piece of shit waste of time. injuring and hurting yourself isnt cool though many crossfitters take pride in it.