Returning from a back injury

Yah that friggin blows big time.

Had my share of back issues from years of catching pro ball & the pounding from lax & every other sport under the sun. And now surfing.......surfing is tough on the back & neck.

I'd bail on the cortisone. Nasty stuff with medium-term harsh consequences. Same with prednisone; although you didn't mention that poison a lot of people get pumped with it. And you're to be commended for not letting the hack car mechanics start cutting on you.

Don't know where you're located, and I realize that you've tried PT & a lot more, but will strongly recommend CORE PT in NWDC, If it's accessible for you. If not, well, like I said that's my 2 centavos.

"What do you call the guy who graduates first in his medical school class?"
"Doctor"

"What do you call the guy who graduates last in his medical school class?"
"Doctor"

You get my drift.

 

GrantLee: I really don't know very much about this or have any helpful answers. Have you tried doing any kind of swimming in a pool yet? That might be a place to start. I mention swimming, not only because of its similarity to paddling, but President Kennedy, who injured his back in WWII would swim as a form of exercise that did not aggravate his back injury.
I wish you the best. I know it's not easy. But you do see or hear about those who have overcome very serious injuries (wounded vets, Bethany Hamilton, and others) who are out there on the water, so hang in there.

 

Go here,
http://www.ticoshopping.com/
Buy this,
http://www.ticoshopping.com/Cofal-Fuerte-6-pack

I put it on my wifes arthritic hands and she can use the for the rest of the day. I put in on my neck and back. it burns but only where it hurts. my wife always tells me her hands are on fire afterwards. my hand don't.

My back used to go out a couple times a year until I moved my wallet to my front pocket. Takes time getting used to. for several years I'd grab my pocket thinking my wallet was gone.

reminds me of a song

[video=youtube;jVmYofyXSz8]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jVmYofyXSz8[/video]

 

I'd seriously consider a new mattress. I've had a few good ones and they do wonders and you really feel the bad ones.

 

Bulging disk - been there, done that...did the therapy, shots, spinal injections, etc...things helped, but nothing "fixed" the problem. Just pushed through the pain and kept doing what I was doing. Eventually the disk exploded and I was done, couldn't move. Had to go under the knife. After that and the subsequent rehab I was finally fixed. In retrospect I wish I had done it 5 years earlier. Maybe 10.

I would heed Yankee's advice though. Get a real, highly recommended sports therapist to work with. Get references and check them. However, if you aren't getting fixed you may want to consider surgery. If the disc is still healthy (i.e. not in danger of collapse) then you could consider just getting the bulge shaved off. They can do it outpatient and have you back on your feet in a few days.

I had to have the disk removed and a lumbar fusion of my vertebrae. No issues since then other than the normal, occasional soreness from over exertion.

Its a tough call to go under the knife, and I've been cut on enough in my life, but in retrospect I should have realized after years of trying everything else it wasn't working and just got it done.

If you do decide to go that route and want the name of my surgeon in Raleigh let me know. In talking to the staff at the hospital everyone raved about him and he was the go to guy for when they or people in their family had issues. I am 100% satisfied with his work and good to go now.

One last bit of advice...once you are "fixed" be patient the first time you get back in the water. I was so amped to get into some waves I rushed out in bad conditions, took a wave too late, and took one of the nastiest falls I ever had. Got faceplanted hard into a sandbar (good thing it was a sandbar) and scorpioned, thought for sure I'd broken the fusion apart.

It's a horrible thing to go through what your going through, feel free to hit me up for any info or moral support you want, either here or via PM.

Good luck on your therapy, I hope it works and you don't have to get cut.

 

Iv never had a real serious back injury but back in high school I hurt my back in a lacrosse game, I want to say I pinched my syatica(?) nerve but I am doubting myself on that. Point is I was in tears, I couldn't move. My lower back was in so much pain. I needed help getting out of bed because I couldn't move without serious pain. I was out for the rest of the season, I went to PT, the pain got better but still to this day its an issue. This was in 05 or 06, some day's are worse then others, I will get very stiff accompanied by a dull pain on the bad days. On the good days I feel fine.

Recently iv had much fewer bad back days, and I like to think its the yoga. I started in the middle of the summer some time. Now I feel almost no pain and am rarely stiff. Ill do a more intense yoga routine on days when I don't surf, and when I do surf I will do a yoga routine that is more like stretches then a workout. Im no doctor so im not saying you should do yoga, but its something to look into. I believe DDP, the wrestler, injured his back pretty damn bad and now has his own yoga dvd set. Im sure with a quick google search you can find his website and his back injury comeback story and how yoga was what got him back, if your interested.

Also while on topic of coming back from injury I saw a guy out in the water today who had a fake leg. He was on a SUP but it was still really cool to see him out there despite missing a leg. And it was like chest/head high.

 

I herniated a disc in my low back last May, L5-S1 disc to be specific. I couldnt sit at my desk or stand in place for more than 20 mins at a time during the worst part. No physical activity for a month. The neurologist told me it would basically be like I had a partially flat tire on my car for the rest of my life...happy analogy.

Anyways he receommended PT and said only 5-10% of people with similar condition end up getting surgery. Did the PT for about a month, 3x/week and noticed a definite difference. Started doing the exercises from home after that. The pain has gotten less and less over time. If it starts to bother me, i do the exercises. Down to 1-2 times per week now.

I was only out of the water for about a month and a half. started back just longboarding and taking it easy for a few weeks after that. After 2.5-3 months, i was pretty much back to normal. I play volleyball 1-2 times per week as well, which can be pretty rough on the back. If its sore after, i usually ice it for 20 mins before bed. I've found that actually makes a big difference. Stretching, specfically my hamstrings also seems to make a big difference.

 

Same boat my man, herniation in L5 with the bulge pressing against my sciatica and an anular tear across the front. I have found that the best thing I can do is bicycle riding and yoga. Looking at having surgery soon, artificial disk replacement, scared as hell...but I cant take vicodin forever.

 

I think by this point you should be getting the idea people are convaying, take your time! Waves will be there when you are are healthy again. Do what you must now, so you can do what you want later.

Sorry to hear about your pain, I was there for too long. Seven years to get back to the point where I felt comfortable being back in the water. I had a pinched nerve that fired down my leg to my foot. I now surf as much as I can and haven't missed a beat, some same I surf better.

Good luck and keep positive!

 

Like I mentioned in my earlier post, a friend of mine does the DDP yoga. I just do surf specific yoga dvds at home. But he was telling/showing me everything that came with the dvds. There's a whole book on nutrition and his story with his back injury. I didn't read all of it but I'll see if I can get a hold of it to see if it says anything specific. If not, I'm sure if you can get in touch with DDP through the website, he calls everyone who buys the dvds personally, do I'm sure if you explained your situation they would be able to give you good advice.

 

GrantLee- I have been practicing yoga for 7-8 years, certified as a Teacher 2 years ago.
You are right that with an injury you need to be careful and get some good instruction of HOW to practice. It would be best to take a few classes @ a studio to get some 1on 1 direction. I live in chesapeake, not sure where in VB you are. If you want PM me and I can give you some ideas of good places to go
Jim

 

+1, my lower back always feels better when I stretch frequently and keep those hamstrings nice and loose, also doing some strength building in your legs can help. But stretch, stretch, and stretch some more. Some say Yoga, I say stretch at home in front of the TV.

 

I find Pilates helps me ...tried yoga but with a herniated and bulging discs too much bending in a forward or downward U shape was not good for my back at all so yoga did not work for me. (also put strain on the burser area below my knees). I swear by Pilates, its all about the core, helps my back immensely.
All personal preference, trial and error....

 

Yoga may be a great option for you, though I tend to think swimming would do you the most good. Most importantly, take your time getting back in the water. You don't want to mess up the progess you've made by pushing yourself too far too fast.

 

Swimming, yoga. Know it will take time. I broke 7 ribs in my back years ago from hitting a tree skiing. One in two places. I got in the water a month after the injury and everything lined up. That was 20 years ago and I'm still surfing and skiing at 54