messed up discs?

[missliz]

This is the kind in your back- not your brakes. Anybody ever have a disc injury and how did it go? How long to heal? Did you need a refit to change position? Did you get back to normal?
I have two herniated discs in the lower part of my neck, and I'm nashing my teeth over losing another seasons riding. A lot of this is headplants that caught up with me, along with other stuff. I wanna ride my bike!!! So if any of you all know about this please tell.
Thanks,

Lizzy

[fultzie]

my mom (gretchen... usually posts in the "new riders" section ) just had surgery for a herniated disc that was causing a cyatic nerve.

this was about two weeks ago, and she's back on the trainer. the dr. said that she'd be back outside (on the bike) in about a week. same bike fit... from what she's said she's almost back to normal now... though this disk was in the lower part of her back (not sure how big a diference it makes where it is along your spinal cord...)

i'll tell her to post in this forum, so you can hear it from her!

[missliz]

Lucky Mom! Surgery is easier than just PT for a lot of things, the technology is so good now, but of course my deal is a surgery no no. I don't want anybody jacking around with my spine, but if it were fixable that way I'd be there. This sucker has been there, better and worse, for a year!
I'm glad she's doing well. Thanks Fultzie.

Lizzy

[kimba]

Hey missliz!!

Yes- I have had a herniated ( ruptured)disc. It was in the lower portion of my back though - not in my neck.

I was off for about 2 months- almost 3 if I recall correctly. Had a LOT of physio- when I first got to the hospital with it the pain was so bad I could only make a kind of errrghhhh sound. Seriously- I was non verbal!
They immediately gave me morphine- had to have 2 shots before it subsided- then they were really worried and I got a cat scan right away- considering that it takes on average 4 or 5 months to get a cat scan...they *were* worried.

Anyway- what I found worked was the physio- electrical muscle stimulation, stretching, and exercise. The therapist was great- said I could go home and lay in bed for 8 weeks or- I could do some light exercise and massage. I opted for the latter. No surgery was necessary- except for the worry that my foot would never regain it's strength,(it did- though it took a year) I got off lucky. The dr. says that I have only slightly higher odds than the average populace for this to recur. I learned my lesson though- Took yoga and started to go to the gym to build on my abdominal and back stregth. So far- so good. I lift fairly heavy weights at work, and am quite flexible.
I hear ya about letting anyone do surgery on your spine. I know I've talked to people who demanded the surgery- but not me. I would rather have a non invasive technique and progress at a (slightly) slower pace!

Good luck! I hope you're back on the bike sooner than later!!

Kimba

[missliz]

Oooh, mines not that bad- although it hurts awful. Well, I guess it is bad, I cry if the pain meds wear off. I don't have a full rupture, they're just so far bulged out of place the vertebra between them is out of place and it irritates the stuff covering the spinal cord. Terrible headaches, and I can only use the stationary recumbent 'cos I get wobbles. No bombing singletrack for me!
I'm so sorry that happened to you- and I feel much less sorry for myself now. My spine doc said it would take a long time in physical therapy and to get in the pool. PT hurts pretty badly too. The swimming is great!
The big question? How's your riding, and did you need a refit, or a different position? Has it healed totally or is it really maintenance needy? Other than yoga and gym stuff. I guess the numb foot puts a crimp in ones style, but if that's livened up great! I've got other high maintenance bad joints, and another one is just a really overwhelming idea.
If I could ride the four miles to the pool, it'd be a fix.
Thanks kimba,

Lizzy

[bikergirl62]

I had disc surgery after suffering for 2 years, stopping running and gaining 30lbs. yuk! I lost myself during that time. I am fine now, just had what is called a discectomy (bad spelling for sure). did my own pt walking and weights since I had been fit all my life. Got the strength back in my leg and foot over time. My recovery is due to keeping very fit, not doing stupid things anymore, and the fact that the affending member was removed. Find a good confident surgen if you go that route. Get recomendations. It is a common surgery. I bet you know someone who has had it. I am back to running (smarter now), cycling and keep lifting to make sure I can keep doing what I love. Keep us up to date with what you decide.

[missliz]

Well, that's actually good news, bikergirl. For me. I've had so much injury lately I know exactly what you mean about losing yourself. And that you and kimba both had worse disc injury than I did and came back to have fun playing is very encouraging! That's what I wanted to hear. This is kind of a scary thing- I know a lot of technical info but no long term anecdotes from people who ride. Just bad news from couch potatos.
I have a great spine doc- and if she refuses to operate 'cause she thinks I can just heal it I beleive her. It's best to keep your original gruppo as long as possible I say But I don't have a full rupture. And I've been to the point of begging to get my knees done, so I think I'll wait for that if it's going to happen with the discs.
So did the vertebrae fuse where you had the disc removed? That's just kind of a gory trivia question- but I always wondered if it would affect range of motion and athletic performance. Apparently it's not too big a problem.

Anyway- after kimba's encouraging story last night I went to the gym and got really drippy on the stationary recumbent. Made it better!

Thanks girls- I really appreciate it,

Lizzy

[kimba]

Actually- I think it sounds a lot worse than it was. It did take a year and half- but my strength in my foot/leg is back to normal. And aside from the annoying cramping that I get now every once in a while..
well- it's fine. Though I wonder if the occasional
problems I have while riding standing up - like the cranks click on one side almost like one leg is not keeping up with the other- that is probably due to residual weakness...

I hope the gym was good- but don't overdo!! Make sure you get an okay from your doctor! I wouldn't want to have you make it worse! I was surprised at just how much the PT would let me do though...
I would go in there all cramped up in a C shape - One hip was raised up higher than the other for a good long time.And by the time I was finished I'd be standing normally--and that would last several hours.
The yoga really helped to. Strengthened my back and abs- and more importantly got me to bend backswards, helping me recompress the disc.

You go girl! Another thing- keep doing exactly what the PT says- do your exercises at home like you are supposed to! I know I did and I recovered faster than they expected. I saw some folks though- they would work only at their appointment and not at home... and what does that do for you?
Anyhow- I was motivated to get better- I couldn't stand that kind of limitation!

Kimba

[missliz]

I'm really good about PT homework, and the gym is as much to keep the habit as anything else. Ride the recumbent, a good stretch, and I'm told to use pain as the indicator of what not to do. I don't have a full rupture, and I don't have nerve problems going down. Only going up, and making blinding headaches. But as long as I don't haul on the neck- I'm good.
Maybe you should talk to somebody about the foot and leg, Kimba. You may have lost strength by favoring it when it was numb, so perhaps you could ride drills or use leg press to get it back? Asymetrical leg strength can set up other problems, and it'd be better to do one legged pedaling drills now. If that's the problem.
Something to think about,

Lizzy

[kimba]

Thanks for the advice- I'll look into that. I'm going to try and get back to the gym next week- so maybe I can talk to them about that...
I'm supposed to go to the PT about my knee- but it seems to be almost back to normal so I've put it off- but- it wouldn't hurt to have him take a look at it anyway.

Kimba

[Irulan]

round these parts, we are big believers in chiropractic and massage, with exercises from the Mackenzie books for pain free backs.

irulan

[doctorfrau]

Irulan,

My brother had good success with MacKenzie also. He herniated L5-S1 back in High School while working in a warehouse, and it still comes back to haunt him. Last year (he is now 42 and a physician himself), it came back with a vengeance. He was off work for weeks, was on heavy duty meds and in PT, but still couldn't straighten up without bringing tears to his eyes. He was experiencing foot-drop and was on the verge of talking to neurosurgery. Finally, his PT tried MacKenzie on him, and it was like flipping a light switch. He now has nearly normal function, and continues the exercises at home. He is a very happy camper.

[ljkl]

i too have herniated discs in my neck - c5 & c6 - along with arthritis in my spine. i don't get headaches, but do get extreme pain and numbness down into my arms/hands. i have had several bad episodes over the past few (6)years.
i opted for the physical therapy route, and never took off from riding (for my mental health).
i haven't had pt for a year and a half now, just kept up the exercises and keep moving. if i slow down, i set up like concrete. i listen to my body and can tell when that old feeling is creeping in and beef up exercise, stretching, and try to de-stress. ice is my friend, and occasionally ibuprofen (800mg). a vacation helps, too!
it takes time, but i think that it beats surgery.

best luck, whatever route you choose.

-lj

[bikergirl62]

Missliz, No I didn't have a fusion. That another surgery. I just had the herniated part of the disc removed. All of us that are responding have one thing in common--Degeneration of the spine. We will never have the choice of becoming a couch potatoe, we must keep moving and we must remain fit from head to toe. Its great that we can do it on the bike. Yesterday I was flying along at 27mph (good spring wind at my back) and thinking that I was the luckiest girl in the world. If I were naturally thin and did not have to keep fit I might have missed that.