So I have an f-ed up disc in my lower back...

[purbeast0]

Dunno if you guys know or not cause i've mentioned it on here before, but about a year ago I hurt my lower back doing squats. I laid off doing weights and watched my lower back while doing stuff for a while and then eventually threw it out again when trying deadlifts.

It's been on and off again for about a year or so and just when I think it's fine I go and screw it up.

So last week I was having right testicular pain. It was nothing really bad but it felt like i was kicked in the nuts and that feeling just wasn't going away, and it just felt very tender. I also noticed this pain always seemed to happen when my back would be bugging me. SO I did a little research online and actually was scared by what it could possibly be so I called my dad who's a urologist. I explained the pains to him and told him about my back pains and said its very common to have nerve damage in your back cause testicular pain. So I was going to meet w/him the next day for an exam down there.

Next day he checked me out and it was pretty awkward having him touch my nuts, but it all seemed well to him. Since we were doing this he also recommended i had a scrotal sonogram (ultrasound of my sack) just to be 100%. I had that done the following day and all went well (by a hot russian chick too!) with no problems..

So everything is fine with my boys atleast.

So today I went in for MRI's and X-Rays. He called me this afternoon and told me yup, something is wrong w/one of my discs in my lower back. He doesn't know 100% what it is since that's not his field but he read the report and said something is definitely wrong w/a disc in my back. He's pretty sure I have a herniated disc that is protruding and pinching a nerve in my back, but again not 100% certain since thats not his field.

So I see a neurosurgeon on Thursday and I'll have my final diagnosis as to what the problem is and how I"ll heal it.

When I work out I have been VERY VERY careful to not do anything to aggrivate my lower back. I haven't done deadlifts in ages (my favorite exercise too) or squats as well. I am just all around very careful of my lower back.

I am very worried that the doc is going to tell me that I can't workout for like 2 months, which is really going to be a letdown considering I'm pretty much at my best strength/size shape of my life. I'm hoping he just tells me to avoid certain exercises while doing physical therapy or something, but i'll keep you guys posted.

 

[RaiderJ]

FYI - knowing that your dad touched your sac is WAY too much information.

 

[purbeast0]

Originally posted by: RaiderJ
FYI - knowing that your dad touched your sac is WAY too much information.

hey like my dad told me - if he can't do it, who can?



EDIT:

oh and he has had some pretty amusing license plates.

CME2PEE
IHELPUP
COCDOCK

he's had like 1 or 2 others I forget. it's funny cause I remember 2 incidents when I was younger at red lights in his car and the car next to asked us if he was a urologist

 

[ubercaffeinated]

man props to your dad. urology is a VERY competitive field to get into, and once you are in, you get a pretty cush life style.

 

[paulxcook]

Those license plates are hilarious. Good luck with your back, that sounds pretty painful.

 

[Koing]

Originally posted by: purbeast0
Dunno if you guys know or not cause i've mentioned it on here before, but about a year ago I hurt my lower back doing squats. I laid off doing weights and watched my lower back while doing stuff for a while and then eventually threw it out again when trying deadlifts.

It's been on and off again for about a year or so and just when I think it's fine I go and screw it up.

So last week I was having right testicular pain. It was nothing really bad but it felt like i was kicked in the nuts and that feeling just wasn't going away, and it just felt very tender. I also noticed this pain always seemed to happen when my back would be bugging me. SO I did a little research online and actually was scared by what it could possibly be so I called my dad who's a urologist. I explained the pains to him and told him about my back pains and said its very common to have nerve damage in your back cause testicular pain. So I was going to meet w/him the next day for an exam down there.

Next day he checked me out and it was pretty awkward having him touch my nuts, but it all seemed well to him. Since we were doing this he also recommended i had a scrotal sonogram (ultrasound of my sack) just to be 100%. I had that done the following day and all went well (by a hot russian chick too!) with no problems..

So everything is fine with my boys atleast.

So today I went in for MRI's and X-Rays. He called me this afternoon and told me yup, something is wrong w/one of my discs in my lower back. He doesn't know 100% what it is since that's not his field but he read the report and said something is definitely wrong w/a disc in my back. He's pretty sure I have a herniated disc that is protruding and pinching a nerve in my back, but again not 100% certain since thats not his field.

So I see a neurosurgeon on Thursday and I'll have my final diagnosis as to what the problem is and how I"ll heal it.

When I work out I have been VERY VERY careful to not do anything to aggrivate my lower back. I haven't done deadlifts in ages (my favorite exercise too) or squats as well. I am just all around very careful of my lower back.

I am very worried that the doc is going to tell me that I can't workout for like 2 months, which is really going to be a letdown considering I'm pretty much at my best strength/size shape of my life. I'm hoping he just tells me to avoid certain exercises while doing physical therapy or something, but i'll keep you guys posted.

I'm no Dr but you are doing the right things by seeing them:
http://forums.anandtech.com/me...ht_key=y&keyword1=disc

Originally posted by: Koing
I don't have a ruptured disc but I have a bulged L4. I have had an MRI (not that they are that accurate in reality). The Dr's also offered surgery to me but I avoided it due to the fact that the younger Dr seemed far too keen on operating on me to get experience. I can understand if he doesn't operate how can he get real experience. Coupled with the fact that my coach (40yrs) experience has never seen a lifter get back to where they were, let alone lift more.

Does it hurt when you cough or sneeze?

I was injured and rehabbing for 9months. Took me ages to get back together

Do lots of incline sit ups with weights and hyper extensions for your back. You need to make your abs and back as strong as possible. This has helped me out a lot.

I'm a weightlifter so I pound the squats and OLifts (heavy on the back). Take it easy and don't over do it. Add 5kg a week or so and start from the beginning.

Can you do squats? Start with lighter weights and build up the reps. Don't go too heavy. You know how your back feels you go heavy so becareful. My back will never be 100% but I have hit PB's post injury and I am still doing so.

I had a relapse on my injury about 3 weeks ago and it sucked balls. I thought it was a big relapse but it doesn't seem to be and I'm lifting again now after some rest and rehab. I'm about 80% of where I was pre injury.

I'm not sure how a ruptured disc is when compared to a bulged disc. I do know the pain was unbearable when I coughed or sneezed.

As for bulking, do squats and deadlifts WITHIN REASON. DO NOT PUSH IT TOO HARD. Take it easier. Go for more reps but don't over do it as the more reps you do the more tired you get and this could lead to a big injury. By the same token don't go too heavy as the chance something may happen at heavier weight is big also. So it is a hard line to walk.

Unless your naturally quite big it is had to put on size if you don't do squats or deadlifts. This is more evident by the guys in all the gyms I go to. They are the same build year after years.

Koing

The issue is that maybe you avoiding all your back exercises has made your weaker and more suspectable to injury? I had pretty horrific injury 2.5yrs ago. I could not put any vertical pressure on my spine with the pain being so intense it would move my body. When I sneezed or cough it would move my whole body and I would wince in pain.

The Dr had surgey on their mind so I could lead a 'normal' life with no pain but I would probably never lift well ever again .

How does DL with the bar and 40kg feel? Same with squats?

Do you do ab or back exercises or not? For me hammering the ab exercises has made my back stronger and it will help to protect your injury.

Be sensible about it. IF you do an exercise and it HURTS DO NOT DO IT! Don't be silly and tough it out', this isn't a case of uscular pain, but real pain that your disc is impinging on your nerve. The pain would go from my back, through my left glute, hammy and down to my calf.

Koing

 

[purbeast0]

Koing thanks for the input.

Recently i've been doing back hyperextensions weightless just to start to strengthen it back up. I still do back exercises, mainly upper back (lat pulldowns, t-bar rows, and bent over dumbell rows) and for my abs I do quite a few exercises that I also feel my back having to help support somewhat (declined leg lifts, weighted crunches on the roman chair, declinded weighted twists [not sure of the name of these]) and my abs are pretty damn strong.

I haven't done deadlifts solely because i don't want to throw my back out. I've reactivated my injury 2 times by trying squats and deadlifts, both not very light or anything, but both not nearly as heavy as I was once doing. I then tried bent over barbell rows and reactivated the pain before i even did my first rep, just adjusting the bar.

So I try to steeer clear of stuff that I know may potentiall reactivate it. I've been doing the leg sled maching (where you push your body up, kind of the exact opposite of leg presses where you lie w/your back to the ground at an angle and push your legs up) andn I've noticed virtually no pain/stress on my lower back. It's as close to squats as I can get for time being.

I'm going to see if the doc says it's okay to continue doing these, however I'm really hoping he doesn't say to cut it out completely.

I also really REALLY think I need a new matress. I noticed when I go on vacation my back is a lot less stiff when I wake up and in general I have less back pain. But again I'm going to talk to the doc about all of this.

 

[Koing]

Originally posted by: purbeast0
I haven't done deadlifts solely because i don't want to throw my back out. I've reactivated my injury 2 times by trying squats and deadlifts, both not very light or anything, but both not nearly as heavy as I was once doing. I then tried bent over barbell rows and reactivated the pain before i even did my first rep, just adjusting the bar.

It sucks complete ass but thats the problem mate

Start with 40kg and build up 5kg each fortnight . It is a long, slow and drawn out process. Thats what I did and I lifted more then ever after 9months of rehab and a miracle weekend.

Have you gone to see a Chiropractor? I was REALLY sceptical but I saw one and he was good and helped me out. I got my range back (after being injured I was about a foot away from touching the floor, the injury really killed my range . Pre injury I could touch the ground palms flush with no warm up and now I am back to that )

The Dr can take two stances:

1) don't do any exercises at all : your back will gradually get weaker
2) do some exercises but ones that do not hurt it

Get back on the squats and deadlifts SLOWLY. You have shown it relapses if you go near heavy so avoid that. It sucks ass and I had a relapse a in January also but I am back on the mend and lifting well.

What position do you sleep in also? Do not sleep on your front! It really hyper extends your back! Sleep on your back or side. Try sleping with a towel between your knees also if you sleep on your side.

Koing