Disc Herniation Vent

quote:

---

PRP -platelet rich plasma injections were recommended for me. Like you, I didn’t want surgery so I opted to try Platelet Rich Plasma injections.

I went through two treatments of PRP about 3 months apart and feel better than before my injury.

If you have another flare up, look into that. I was amazed at how effective it was and still is.

---

Like the similar stem cell treatment, neither are covered by insurance, right?

quote:

---

And at first that made me hesitate but when I did the math in terms of meeting my OOP deductible, lost time off from work and rehab if I did surgery - and knowing full well a back is NEVER the same after surgery- it was more affordable to do the PRP.

---

The PT I'm seeing now does not accept insurance. At first it was sticker shock, but I did the same thing as you. Looked at my Deductible and OOP Max, 6 months of PT would be about the same price I would have to pay for another MRI.

I'll look into PRP though, may be beneficial to do this as well!

ETA - Do you follow any specific stretching/mobility program? When I do discontinue PT, I know I do better when I have a plan to follow.

quote:

---

In about 6 weeks of concentrated daily effort with a good PT, I am getting back so much. I'm working out again, I can sit down to eat and work, I'm riding my bike for 45 minutes at a time, and on the brink of being able to run again. All of the aforementioned issues are gone. I still have some hip tightness and range of motion issues that we are working through, but what a difference. It's incredible what a good PT that doesn't just stick you on Stim and let a tech babysit you can do.

TL:DR - Back sucks, found a good Physical Therapist and it doesn't suck as much now.

---

You're lucky. With mine (L3/L4 - bad herniation) no amount of PT, time or shots improved it. In fact, it kept getting worse. I ended up having the microdiscectomy and it changed my life.

I was VERY anti-surgery until I learned more about it. It's pretty routine, it's not a fusion and they don't really go near your spinal cord. It's really just a soft-tissue surgery that is surprisingly mundane. You can go on Youtube and see the procedure (I did this the night before mine).

It's always good to avoid surgery when you can, but if your "doesn't suck as much now" is a 4 out of 10 pain instead of 8 out of 10, yes, that's a great improvement, but it's still no way to live, IMO.

quote:

---

I'd say from rock bottom when I started, pain was at a 9. I view 10 as death. Currently I'm between a 0-1.

---

That's amazing. I believe you on the 9. I was pretty much at a 9 the entire 72 hours leading up to my surgery. Wouldn't wish it on anybody.

quote:

---

OP- mind telling us what kind of exercise your new PT prescribed

---

This might be lengthy, but I'll try to keep it brief:

PT uses an app and programs each week for me based off my feed back and progression. Our first in person session was a 90 minute 1 on 1 evaluation. I go into the clinic twice/month. There are no other patients in the clinic during your appointment, its 100% 1 on 1. No time fillers like stim, all hands on. I leave sweating my arse off usually.

At first, it was just Knees to chest, press ups, Pelvic Tilts, nerve glides, trunk rotations, quadradep rockbacks, QL stretches, some thoracic stretches, breathing exercises. In this stage, I could kind of do these, but with very little ROM. I could not do a cat cow at all, so he had me work on Posterior pelvic tilts. Once my pain started decerasing and my ROM started increasing, he progressed me.

I moved to banded isometric clam shells, box squats, incline push ups, childs pose (as best I could),segmented cat cows,glute bridges, plank variations, incluned mountain climbers, etc.

I am now up to weighted jefferson curls,dumbbell deadlifts, feet elevated glute bridge, goblet squats, Mountain Climbers.

Every day I walk, quadraped rockbacks, bird dogs, deadbugs, childs pose, and standing QL Stretches. I've been able to ride my road bike, so I've thrown that in a few days a week. I also added 25lbs to a pack this week and went for a 2 mile ruck.

Right now he is basically programming 2 workout days, 2 Mobility/Stretch Days, and 2 Walk/Active recovery days.

quote:

---

You should probably be doing some strength and mobility work in that area to prevent it from happening again. A lot of people, myself included, have this issue multiple times.

---

You’re probably right. My injury was a result of improper body mechanics used suddenly trying to turn a 650lb vented COVID patient who became unstable during a repositioning turn so I had to move quick and get him back settled.

During the 6 months of therapy before the PRP injections, the PT focused on teaching me how to engage my core during everyday activities so that my core is strong and engaging those core muscles comes naturally now.

When I run now, I am still mindful and focus on my core, posture and whatnot.

But you’re right. I probably need to add some strength training in.

Read Stuart Mcgill and keep going to that PT!