Injury recovery

[Timberstalker]

I've been dignosed with a bulging disc in my lower back. I have been dealing with the issue since early February, back pain, numbness and pain in my left hip to my toes. I had a Steroid Injection exactly one week ago and haven't had good reults yet. Dr said to give it more time and take it easy. Have any of you guys been through this? If so what do you recommend I do from here? I don't want to keep taking injections, but I don't really want surgery at this point either. I have read many differant stories and options about this, but I don't know who to believe. All I know is hunting season is not far away, and I need to get back to normal asap! This is driving me crazy, the only time I don't hurt is when I sit on my azz!

 

[hardstalk]

Ive got no advice but im all ears. Im in the same boat with compressed disks. Pain is officially constant. Im 26 years old. Sketched out about surgery. And financially to be laid up for several months would not be cool.

 

[tdub24]

Sorry to hear that fellas, hopefully someone on here as had experience and can give you some good remedies. Here's to a speedy recovery!!!

 

[slim jim]

Im 43 and had bulging, herniated discs on my L4, L5 and S1 with degenerative facets since I was 23 years old. It was real bad in my twenties but I was a brick mason, lifted alot of weights at the gym and snowboarded every weekend. The pain was so bad sometimes it would take my breath away just to stand erect. Then I started training MMA for about 5 years in my mid thirties and the pain was so bad sometimes that I would want to cry. I finally had to quit and after about a year of no snowboarding and MMA my back began to get back to normal. It's been about 4+ years now with only maybe two or three episodes of back pain which is probably arthritis now.

My point is that if there isn't a lot of nerve damage it can get better with correct training using strict form lifting weights and higher reps. Cardio is a must because it helps with blood flow to all muscle groups.

Use ice at night before bed and warm up good and stretch in mornings. Don't start using pills to mask the pain because it will make you lazy then the downward spiral begins. Just my two cents

 

[Kevin Root]

I don't have much in the way of advise. I just hope all goes well for everyone dealing with these painful back issues. I've seen my wife's back pictures showing where her back was out of alignment and degenerated and it gets scary seeing where bone gets close to hitting bone. So far it has been manageable without the need for heavy pain meds for her.

Hoping your doctors will give you good advise and you will gain the wisdom to make good decisions to get you as pain free as possible and some healing solutions.

 

[Timberstalker]

I can tell you one thing, if the Doc says I need to have another injection if this one doesn't take, I'm going to really have to think it over. I've never been someone who kills pain with drugs, so far I'm not impressed with the injection, or the pain meds. I may just have to Ice, stretch and grit my teeth till it either gets better or worse. I will have something figured out before hunting season, I have to, I'm NOT a good road hunter.

 

[slim jim]

I hope all is well TS

 

[sjsmallfield]

My uncle is currently going through the same thing as you guys. He has been taking it really easy for the last several weeks and said it has helped alot. He's not a big fan of the injections or surgery either. I have watched the pain he's been in for a while now and I really feel for you guys. Good luck!

 

[hardstalk]

Currently Ill pound an 800 mg ibuprofen in the afternoon before the kiddo gets home. That allows me to breathe normal and stand erect without pain. Also swing and throw her around as she wants. And I sleep on a heating pad every night cranked up. Is ice better than heat slim jim?

 

[Mwalczak]

my wife is going through the same thing. she didn't have any relief until the third shot

 

[25contender]

That is a tough one! I really feel for you on the back pain. My dad went through this for years and finally bit the bullet and had the operation. Seems like the more shots he got the less effective they were and the pills only do so much. The only regret he had was not having the operation sooner. I know it takes a while to get over it(In his case 6 months) but it was no comparison to the years of pain he went through. Tough choice.

 

[jjenness]

I feel your pain. I am 30 and have two bulging disks in my lower back, along with some degenerative arthritis, all from an old Army injury. I keep up on the Ibuprofen most days and that keeps things tolerable. Once hunting season rolls around I usually start hitting the chiropractor 2 to 3 times a week, mainly to keep things loose. It sucks most of the time though, as there is not a whole lot you can do to have fast relief.

 

[Musket Man]

I would visit a good chiropractor. I have degenerative disc and joint problems ever since my tour in Iraq and the only thing that has helped is the chiropractor. IMO the doctors just want to give meds to mask the problem and the chiropractor puts it all back in place and helps fix it.

 

[hardstalk]

I would visit a good chiropractor. I have degenerative disc and joint problems ever since my tour in Iraq and the only thing that has helped is the chiropractor. IMO the doctors just want to give meds to mask the problem and the chiropractor puts it all back in place and helps fix it.

Im the opposite. Ive had nothing but run arounds with chiro's. I've been to 4 different ones with no success. Only one took an xray to see the underlying problem. Then he wanted me there 5 times a week for months. "My insurance only goes so far dude!" Is what I told him. Ive yet to find a happy medium specialist.

 

[Timberstalker]

I've had good success with chiro's in the past for my upper back/neck. I went to my Chiro when this first happened, but was too sore to do anything, it was suggested I go see a dr and get an MRI. I may call now that I know whats up and see if they can help out.

 

[Musket Man]

Im the opposite. Ive had nothing but run arounds with chiro's. I've been to 4 different ones with no success. Only one took an xray to see the underlying problem. Then he wanted me there 5 times a week for months. "My insurance only goes so far dude!" Is what I told him. Ive yet to find a happy medium specialist.

I did say a good chiropractor! lol I realize they vary greatly and a really good one is not easy to find. Honestly the first 1 I used wasnt very helpfull, second was ok but not great. The one I use now is great and has helped me alot! He also gives a military discount where I can pay whatever I can afford at the time. I can even go in and not pay anything if I need to.

 

[tttoadman]

I've had good success with chiro's in the past for my upper back/neck. I went to my Chiro when this first happened, but was too sore to do anything, it was suggested I go see a dr and get an MRI. I may call now that I know whats up and see if they can help out.

If you are straight up with a chiropractor and pay out your pocket a few times, they tend to cut to the chase a little. I have only been a few short spells when my back spasms locked me up so bad I couldnt get a full breath. kinda scary. touching on an earlier comment about heating pads. I have gone into that cycle where you cook on a heating pad every night and eat pain killers. I can honestly say that it likely went away on its own, and all I did was burn my brain for a couple days on pills that didn't do anything.

I was fortunate to have a doctor that was really cool. he put it straight. If I took a hit to my neck just right, I could be paralyzed, or I could do a fusion and lose some mobility for the rest of my life. I have no intension of slowing down, so I operated. no regrets. just cant turn around quick or very far. With the constant advances, I would not discount the idea of fixing it. Even if we don't know all the fancy lingo, we can still educate ourselves pretty good on these types of things. People like us that have a passion for something tend to be good at rehab.

Good luck with it. You are no good to us road hunting.

 

[Timberstalker]

Well its now been 2 weeks since the injection. I feel way better than I did a week ago, if I continue to improve at this rate I will be in good shape in a week. I am really looking forward to getting better so I can get back in shape, I haven't been this out of shape in a LONG time. I haven't gained any weight, just loosing muscle, I hope it doesn't take too long to get it back! Thanks for all the suggestions guys, I'm ging to give it another week and go from there.

 

[Ikeepitcold]

My hunting partner just had his third back surgery. Two in the lower back and one in his neck about 30 days ago. Same deal. Numb foot, hands, and leg. Last year he fell flat on his face while we where hiking to a glassing point cause he couldn't feel one of his feet. He called it a flipper. As much as surgery would scare the crap outta me and it did him too they have worked! He is still in a neck brace for another week. They went through his throut to repair the disc. Feeling is back in his hand now. Good thing he did it early we have a Nv bull elk to pack out in Nov.

Good luck and get multipal evaluations and opinions.

 

[Kevin Root]

I have two folks her at work that have done the back fusing operation and my brother in law just got it done a few weeks back and is in the recovery period. The folks at work here have good days and bad days. Seeing them walk stiff and slow some days does not look like a lot of fun but it seems better than when they would fall over and such with massive pain with tears in their eyes or them being in the clouds on pain meds. You do hear of folks having had real bad experiences with surgery so my hope is that you all get lots of doctor opinions and have a good doctors with good recommendations that will help you all with back pain or pain in general and help you get pain free.

So far so good with me. I feel so fortunate getting by so far without any back pain all these years. It does not sound like fun at all. Hoping the best for you all!