I've got one (in my L5 I think he said), although the MRI showed it's only a minor bulge, but a bulge nonetheless, and an injury that has been hampering me for months. I did a few stupid things trying to come back too early, and reinjured it and set myself back to square 1. I first hurt it surfing back in the spring, and it hasn't been right since but just recently got an MRI. I know they're a fairly common thing, even though I'm only 24. Has anyone here recovered from one before and can shed some light? Specific exercises, recovery time (I heard up to 6 months to be 100%), etc. I just want to get back in the water. Don't stone me but I'm actually secretly happy that hurricane season has been so bad because it would make it so much harder to allow myself to heal if it was goin off.
I'm praising you for taking one for the team. Head high surf from now until you get better. take your time and make sure you heal completely. PS, I hope it's flat, I pray it's cold, and gahd, please send massive amounts of jelly and increase the amount of venom in their testicles. armen
The simple exercises (basically upward dog) in Treating Your Own Back by Robin McKenzie will ABSOLUTELY cure your bulging disk. It helped me completely recover and will definitely help you. Do NOT consider surgery for this injury. It's a mechanical issue that can easily be reversed. Buy the book or check it out from a library and see for yourself.
Sorry to hear your out of the game for a bit. You are young and you will heal quick if you are smart. Tai chi my friend. And be a good doobie and take a camera to the beach while you are rehabbing. Become useful to your surf buddies by taking photos. Explore the magic of sunshine, shadow and wave. When you get back in the water you will have earned a few first peak set waves from your crew.
the 2 most important things on my back health is yoga and core workouts. a few yrs back i herniated my l5/s1 and had a bulge in the one above it, l4/l5 i think. went to a DO and he gave me some exercises. basically all yoga stuff. i took off about 5 months. month 3, 4 & 5 i was working out pretty hard, did p90x. now, as long as i keep up on my yoga and core strength, i dont have a whole lot of back pain.
Saw the surgeon specialist today, obviously no surgery needed. See the more practical/rehab guy on Wednesday. Mostly just wanted to vent my frustration at not being able to shot the pier, and was hoping someone on here could give me the magical cure. Mizrachi, I've heard of McKenzie's book, mostly good things although a few bad. Maybe I'll check it out
This past spring my right arm and part of my neck went numb after hitting the lip too high and getting slammed. I was freaked out because I couldn't move very well and was sitting inside getting pummeled by chest high storm chop. My buddy ditched his board and got me to shore. The VA took an MRI and I have 2 herniated discs in my spinal column and two bulging ones under the herniated ones. They wanted surgery but I wanted to try physical therapy. While waiting a month for consultation I stretched and worked out with light cardio. Pain and numbing was severe...now after 2 months of staying on top of cardio I feel way better and just started PT. When I surf, sometimes im fine, others I aggravate it and numbing continues but with heat, naproxen, and constant upright movement im way happier and pain free. Good luck but don't paddle out in anything over stomach high if you are hurting.
Will give you my personal story maybe it helps; I am a dentist so have medical background. Having herniated L3 and having locked facet joint on L2 left side over past 3 yrs, it has not been fun. There is no set timetable for recovery, I talk to everyone of my patients that say they have had a herniated or bulging disk so i hear lots of personal stories (people will love talking to you about there back injures; its a club) If you talk to orthopedics most will tell you active people over the age of 20 will show some degree of a bulging disk but some are symptomatic some are not. My injures started in Nica in 2011 and I got the full herniation in 2012, I am active triathlete and surf whenever work allows and the surfing gods give us surf in NH (has not been good lately). My injury (the herniated disk) took me out of any active lifestyle for about 4 months, i had just moved beach front 3 weeks before i did i to; major bummer. I did stretches PT told me to do avery morning for 30 min and throughout day at work, i added in yoga and pilates to my workouts slowly, lot of spin classes (was sitting up not able to hold bars of bike). It was kinda a 2 steps forward 1 step back thing. 4 months till i was back in water on a longboard in small surf and morning paddles on flat days to strengthen lower back (hey at least in was in water), my PT told me surfing was going to be hit or miss, a simple fall slightly the wrong way and i was going to be messed up again. 8 months till i was back to light running, 1 yr before i did another triathlon. Its been a life changing experience, i think twice now before i drop late on head high + waves which is not the best thing. When i feel my back start to feel "funny" and anyone with a back injury knows what i mean you have to take it easy. Books the helped me "pilates for the outdoor athlete" and "Foundation" by Dr. Goodman good luck man dont rush it back could set you back weeks or months. Feel free to email me if you have more questions. DRBLOEHR@GMAIL.COM Take lots of photos for your friends and people you dont know, you will make more friends that way then you would ever believe.
Had a bulging disc in L5 I believe due to skis put across my back at full speed by an out of control teenage girl at Hunter mountain. LOTS of upward dogs like the above poster stated will due wonders. Also did some PT -- alot of electro stimulation. Over time, maybe 8-12 months was finally back to normal. There wont be a magic cure and will be a long process but it will get better over time. Good luck, those injuries suck.
it takes time to heal properly. I've been there. Not to mention alot of muscle spasms during recovery.Do alot of swimming and jacuzzi. yoga, breathing, massage,
Hey where I live, has the best sports surgeons in the world. Most high end guys pull a 6 month to a year gig here then move on after being trained. I believe in yoga n the Pilates and rehabing stuff first. Right now I've heard about them doing out patient stuff with lasers( not the ones on sharks). Really quick life changing stuff for athletes with back issues. Minimal cuts n quick back to life living I have heard. Probably expensive without insurance but with may be the ticket. Just a thought.
bulged my disk a few years ago. I was snowboarding in 3 foot deep spring powder, but mid-day quickly cooked it to mush. I was hauling major ass down to the lodge on one of the steeper runs when my board's nose stuck deep to an immediate halt...but my upper body kept going. Whiplashed my face into the snow and my back's never been the same since. I couldn't surf for 6 months after that. I couldn't touch my toes and trying to pop up on the board was excruciating. I had to really be conscious of being in proper posture at all times (even sleeping) and got into a stretching routine. I can still feel a little pain sometimes, but have been able to resume surfing at 100% even worse, a couple decades ago, I killed my back bailing at a concrete skateboard park (always wear padded shorts, kiddies). That one was so bad, it had me sleeping flat on my stomach, on the hard floor, for a couple of months (it's the only way I could get to sleep ).
