re: Low back pain and disc injuries - experiences?

But aren't there cases of surgeons doing microdiscectomies not for the symptoms of radiculopathy but for intense soreness and stiffness? Especially for disc bulges and herniations?

I'm 99% positive that it's a disc injury based on how the pain manifests and dissipates with certain movements

OP,
I’ve been dealing with similar issues for years. First, yes, it sucks. However, as you get use to dealing with the flare ups and getting better at finding ways to mitigate the pain, it becomes manageable.

The key is you simply have to learn what to do and what not to do to keep it in check. It’s not going away so all you can do is deal with it. Like you, when a flare up hits I just know it’s a 3 week process. So my days of full court hoops are over. I no longer use a barbell as it puts too much strain on the spine. I’ve transitioned to dumbbells, air squats, etc that don’t put the direct strain on the discs. I can still row and bike but running is essentially out although short distances in a treadmill are doable due to give of the machine. I’ve had MRI’s, did therapy, spoke to doctors and the bottom line is with surgery you just don’t know if it will actually fix the issue so I haven’t gone there. If I was in constant pain then of course you have to address it. But since it only flares when I’m doing an activity then I have just changed routines. And yes when it first started I reinjured it by sneezing, a wrong step in the shower, driving, etc. Just take the month it will take to settle down and then play around with things that set it off.

I’ve read about a certain condition that a lot of chronic back pain patients develop called “central sensitization syndrome”

Basically, someone becomes so anxious and hyper focused on pain that the slightest sensation they feel becomes misinterpreted by the brain as painful stimuli. They hyper-fixate on the slightest movements and how that could possibly hurt the injury site

There’s been cases of people with disc injuries that heal and reabsorb almost completely within 4-5 months based on MRI scans yet they still report significant pain

Kinda makes me wonder if a lot of it is psychosomatic

I use an inversion table when it flares or after a workout and if definitely helps. Anything to relieve the pull of gravity in the discs. I also hang from a pull up bar and that helps. Also, will put pillows under my feet to raise them to change the angle. It gives short term relief.

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The pain in the low back absolutely sucks

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It doesn't just suck, it's fricking debilitating and drains your energy and soul

I'm living in paranoia everyday with the smallest foot steps I take, constantly nervous that the slightest twist or turn will cause my QL to lock up like a plank. And sure enough, it will if I try hard enough.

I don't know what the definition of living is, but this sure as hell isn't. This is fricking torture and I don't know how people manage to live with this for 20+ years. Throw me in a fricking warzone because this is absolute agony and it's driving me insane. It's deteriorating my mental health and making me hopeless with every passing day. It's been damn near 4 months since I injured it and yet it feels like the healing process has run into a brick wall.

This is one of those things that will absolutely eat at your will to live if you let it. Definitely forces you to confront how you view your life and what you have to live for.

Trust me I know exactly what you mean. I've been there. Waking my wife every night because one wrong roll in my sleep would make me yell out in pain. I would have to get up multiple times in the middle of the night and go for walks around the block bc it was the only way to calm things down enough to fall back asleep (plus gabapentin and 35+mg of melatonin). Sometimes it would be pitch black outside snowing with temperatures in the teens so I had to buy a treadmill. We couldn't have friends over or go to other people's houses because I couldn't sit and talk without it flaring up. Anything sedentary killed me. Beach vacations that are supposed to be fun were miserable. I also have really bad allergies in the spring and sneezing spells were torture for my back. Everything is uncomfortable and it puts you in a bad mood at all times which then affects all your relationships with others. It starts to affect your job because you can't sit in a meeting for an hour. Road rage becomes a thing because the longer you sit in traffic the more it hurts. I know it's no way to live.

I had a microdiscectomy at just 22 years old. I thought it was fixed and eventually forgot all about it. 7 years later it came back with a vengeance much worse than before. I'm fortunate to have fixed mine without a 2nd surgery but it took a lot of work put in over about 20 months. Many different doctors, PTs, and lots of trial and error until I found the formula that worked for me. And once i fixed it i didnt stop the exercise. I still work on many of the same exercises today to keep reinforcing that strength and confidence in my low back. I can now do whatever i want. I did deadlifts to failure earlier this week.

Hopefully knowing that others have made it through this will bring you some hope. I know everyone is different and I know it's a bitch, but just keep fighting it and I believe you can pull through.

Damn Yeti, you described that perfectly. I have allergies, but very manageable. I take zyrtec every day, not really for my allergies, but to stop the sneezing. It's ridiculous that one errant sneeze can wreck my week/month.

Jason, you can do this. It just takes persistence.

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HYDRAFIL

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Not FDA approved

You should give it a try (after speaking with your doctor, of course.)

Definitely try to exhaust all other options before going "under the knife!"

The cost of an inversion table is much less than those associated with surgery and the ensuing rehab. Your insurance might even cover the purchase, especially if prescribed by a physician.

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Probably going to push for an MRI in the next couple of weeks

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This your best course of action. Brother had a bulging disc in his L4.

Tried a bone cracker(chiropractor), did little to help.

Tried steroid shots, worked a little but pain came back a day or two later.

Finally went to his primary care Doc. Doc ordered an MRI and it revealed the bulging disc in L4.

Scheduled an Endoscopic Lumbar Discectomy and now he is nearly back to 100%
Pain has completely subsided.

Nephew had the same procedure a few years back and he is 100%.

Here is a short vid on the procedure: