Herniated disc l 4 - 5 w/ pinched nerve - looking for out of the box advice

[Becoming]

I had it all set....today I was supposed to start m sten and 4 Andro. Unfortunately Christmas Eve after training back I re injured/aggravated an old injury.

I had to pay my dr. $500 in cash to come to my house on Christmas Day to give me cortisone injections. (12 on Wed. - by Friday I was able to walk a bit and got another 6. Without him coming over I literally couldn't move. Had the wife bring me a bottle to piss in.



When my herniated disc gets aggravated which seems to happen every other year the pain is unbearable. Takes 20 minutes to squeeze a piss out lying on the floor into a bottle.

Followed by a chiro, pt, message etc.

Not the best holidays.


MRI results were slightly diff than my last one a few years back...this time showing a pinched nerve with the same herniation.

"There is a descogenic desiccation and loss of height at l4-5. At l4-5 there is a central disc extrusion which travels inferiorly behind the superior end plate of L 5 into the medial aspect of the left lateral recess impinging the descending left L5 nerve root.

"impression - L 4 L 5 left central disc herniation impinging the descending L 5 nerve root"

I am going to do the smart thing and meet with a neurologist next week to see if I need surgery. As long as I won't suffer permanent nerve damage without surgery I will decline any type of procedure and hopefully rehab with training/icing stretching etc.

Today I'm feeling human again as the steroid injections have fully kicked in and hoping the dr. gives me positive news next week so I can hit up the gym for a few weeks and start the cycle.

Question is does anyone have any thoughts on my madness...taking ds/ph or whatever chem is recommended to build more muscle as I am rehabbing to strengthen the core and lower back faster?

Does this seem mad?

Any suggestions on "supplements" or whatever may help is really appreciated.

Of course given the dr. Says surgery is not required.

Thank you for listening.

 

[dirtbikeguy]

I hate to say it, but 98% of people won't ever fully recover from a back injury. You may feel perfect, but it's always going to be MUCH MUCH easier to injure yourself again. You have to focus on making sure that you're NOT doing anything too stressful, and I mean NO DEADS, or Squats!!!! Pretty much anything that can cause serious pressure to your back.
If you're that 2%er, then by god, you're blessed.

Every single morning, make sure you stretch your entire back, and legs. Your hamstrings will pull on your lower back, causing it to seem like it's in pain. Just stretch more, and the pain will subside slowly over time.

This is coming from someone who's had surgery, and hates the thought of someone else needing to go through it.

 

[Becoming]

Thank you for the response. I def would not try doing deads...the thought just puts me to my knees.

I def will take your advice and stretch daily.

If you don't mind me asking what type of surgery did you wind up having? What was your injury?

Have you had any positive effects from taking ds/ph in regards to rebuilding your back?

I am planning on leaning out as much as I can to reduce pressure on my back and build up my core.

It is horrible being out of the gym...it is really all I look forward to. (As sad as that sounds) ...of course I mean in terms of recreation.

Thank you

 

[Coltboy]

F'd up my back about 4 years ago. Chiropractor did nothing. After 2 years of that and re-injuring it, I got and MRI and found out it was a herniated L1. Ended up getting epidurals for a whole year. They'd help out for about a month or so. I quit getting them b/c they're were about $400 after deductable and insurance. Its not bad enough for surgery yet, but when it is, I'll try to get that laser surgery. Heard of ppl going in to surgery in a wheel chair, and walking out on their own feet. Good Luck OP.

 

[Becoming]

Coltboy...do you feel that taking the ds/ph help in recovery or no difference?

I have looked into laser, microdiscectomy and other options. I am just avoiding the knife at all costs if I can.

Thank you for the reply.

 

[Coltboy]

I can't say that PHs help or harm it. TBH, I think keeping my weight down helps alot. My back bothered me all last winter when I was 220-230, once I started cutting, the back felt 100x better once I got under 215. Again I started bulking this past fall and the back problems worsened.