Injury Management

[Pistol Pete]

Whats up my fellow iron brothers. I had a question about an injury situation that I've been facing. I've had a herniated disc in my lower back for the past 4 years that has not gone away, I've tried everything other than surgery up to this point. Most of the time the pain is moderate but manageable, but every once in a while it flares up to the point where I can't get out of bed.

The doctors tell me to "stop lifting so heavy" or "stay away from the gym for a few months" but I'm sure I can speak for a lot of us out there when I say it hurts more to not train than it does to push through it.

Pain is just part of the animal bodybuilding lifestyle, I've accepted that fact a long time ago, but does anyone have any similar situations and if so what do you do to keep the pain minimal so that training can be at its optimal at all times?

Thanks a lot fellas, greatly appreciated.

[Firedrake]

Bro, after fighting that same issue, but with three wacked discs and an impinged nerve making my legs weak, and constant stabbing pain in the back, I finally had the surgery. On July 31, the doctor went in and did some major work on me from L2 all the way down to S1. I spent through last week in a back brace, and I've finally started physical therapy -- now I just have to find a real therapist who understands weightlifters.

Try everything you can from Active Release Therapy (which kept me going for a couple of years) to sports medicine chiropractic to massage therapy and acupuncture, but doing ignore it or "work through it." It'll only hurt more.

[SDR]

trained for 8 months with a horrible wrist injury - both.

I just take a week at a time, work around the pain, take flex and use Ice when necessary (VERY IMPORTANT)

It sucks, but id rather train in moderate pain than not train at all, having said this we must think of our future health and not sacrifice *everything* for today.

[ANewBreed]

trained for 8 months with a horrible wrist injury - both.

I just take a week at a time, work around the pain, take flex and use Ice when necessary (VERY IMPORTANT)

It sucks, but id rather train in moderate pain than not train at all, having said this we must think of our future health and not sacrifice *everything* for today.

I think thats a great point. True being out of the gym for a year would be horrible. But what about when you work through the pain for that entire year and the doctors tell you that you can never lift again? I've seen all sorts of atheletes ignore a SERIOUS problem (obviously no finger sprains) and down the road they are a mess....I mean the biggest and strongest men reduced to a wheel chair...just try and keep it in mind as you way your options bro.

[squattingtillipuke]

Had serious issues with my left shoulder...fought through it for a couple of years but finally decided that I couldn't take the pain anymore...instead I decided that I would get the surgery and take a little time of R&R.

1 major thing bro...you are 23, I think your profile said, remember you have a long life ahead to hit the iron. You need to make sure that when you are 33 you are able to stand up. I'm not telling you what to do but if one day down the road you find that special girl and have kids, you want to be able to hold them play with them etc. just my 2 cents

mick

[Pistol Pete]

Thanks for all the help fellas, I needed to hear it from guys like you because to everyone else that doesnt hit the iron as hard as we do its a no brainer for them to jsut stay away from the gym.

[IRBS]

Bro, after fighting that same issue, but with three wacked discs and an impinged nerve making my legs weak, and constant stabbing pain in the back, I finally had the surgery. On July 31, the doctor went in and did some major work on me from L2 all the way down to S1. I spent through last week in a back brace, and I've finally started physical therapy -- now I just have to find a real therapist who understands weightlifters.

Try everything you can from Active Release Therapy (which kept me going for a couple of years) to sports medicine chiropractic to massage therapy and acupuncture, but doing ignore it or "work through it." It'll only hurt more.


This is very solid advice. I have bad disks at L3-L4 and L5-S1 and Degenerative Disk Disease. Both my Orthopedic Surgeon and Chiropractor are Team docs for our Pro teams in town and a University in town. The best advice I can give is to go to a doctor who specializes in treating athletes and go from there. Put off the cutting as long as you can. My Chiro has done more for me in the past 2 months than I could imagine. I thought surgery was iminent a few months back but now I am good to go. Still stiff, but good.

Good Luck...
IRBS

[MNfreak]

Had serious issues with my left shoulder...fought through it for a couple of years but finally decided that I couldn't take the pain anymore...instead I decided that I would get the surgery and take a little time of R&R.

1 major thing bro...you are 23, I think your profile said, remember you have a long life ahead to hit the iron. You need to make sure that when you are 33 you are able to stand up. I'm not telling you what to do but if one day down the road you find that special girl and have kids, you want to be able to hold them play with them etc. just my 2 cents

mick

i agree bro watch it close dont go cripplin yourself

[gflash77]

4 years with a herniated disc? I would say that's tougher to do than to take the time off needed to get proper treatment and rest for it. If it has affected your workouts, then technically you haven't been able to go at 100% health for four years. Think of how awesome your workouts will be when the pain is gone...

physical therapy usually ends up making the body parts being rehabbed stronger than they were pre-injury.