The OP's got a herniated L4/L5 disc -- last thing he needs is a chiro slamming his spine around, popping more of his discs as you describe.
Can't play because of back pain (hernia) - any tips?
- Thread starter skogstokig
- Start date
Take care of your back , the more you aggravate it , the longer it takes to heal , if it is ever going to. There are a lot of people helped with alternative healing methods , but not everyone is that lucky. Be careful what you let anyone do to you, it may make the pain so unbearable you can't do anything but sit and pray to get better or die. Do research yourself , do not listen to anyone else , including doctors , some of them are completely incompetent or even nuts.
For an example ,I had 3 cortizone shots by 3 different doctors, I had a fourth suggest a cortizone shot and I said, I had 3 that didn't work , he asked if they had me under a scope when they did it , I said no , he said , then they were just guessing at where to put the shot , they could have just as easily crippled you as helped you, they need to have a scope on you. Why didn't the other 3 know that? or did they know it and just skip it ? Don't think for a moment there are not some real idiots that are doctors , I have met at least 3 that were bona fide goofballs, I think 2 of them were drug monkeys and the third was a psychopath.
I put my faith in God , he is the only one who has helped me so far.
For an example ,I had 3 cortizone shots by 3 different doctors, I had a fourth suggest a cortizone shot and I said, I had 3 that didn't work , he asked if they had me under a scope when they did it , I said no , he said , then they were just guessing at where to put the shot , they could have just as easily crippled you as helped you, they need to have a scope on you. Why didn't the other 3 know that? or did they know it and just skip it ? Don't think for a moment there are not some real idiots that are doctors , I have met at least 3 that were bona fide goofballs, I think 2 of them were drug monkeys and the third was a psychopath.
I put my faith in God , he is the only one who has helped me so far.
Not
not off hand everyone is different I would look into memory foam I got one med firm and it helps me to move less while I sleep.
From the Web:
Chiropractic is a preferred treatment method for many patients with bulging and herniated discs because it is non-invasive and does not involve drugs or injections. Once you have your diagnosis, you and your chiropractor can work together to find the best way to treat your condition.
Your chiropractor will want to verify your diagnosis so you may go through questions about your medical history, a physical examination, and tests that involve nerve function, reflexes, and muscle tone. Your chiropractor may also order MRI or x-ray as well as other diagnostic testing in order to get a better picture of what is going on.
One of the most popular features of chiropractic care is the whole body approach to wellness. Your chiropractor will look at your entire spine, not just the area that is painful. They will treat your entire spine and provide self-care direction, exercise, and nutritional recommendations so that you can continue to progress and live pain free. Your pain and spinal problems could be the result of spinal misalignment so your chiropractor will seek to get to the root of the problem and treat your entire spine so that you have less pain, your spine can heal, and you have better mobility.
Through focused chiropractic adjustments, your chiropractor will gently use low force techniques to relieve the painful symptoms by manipulating your spine around and at the disc that is bulging or herniated. Using cervical or lumbar traction machines can aid in helping to open the joints of the spine up to take pressure off of the disc and allow for the bulge and herniation to absorb back to where it needs to be.
Chiropractic treatment for bulging or herniated discs is safe, effective, and long lasting. If you are having back pain from a disc problem, you owe it to yourself to seek quality chiropractic care so that you can enjoy less pain, improved mobility, and better quality of life.
Ice,20 min on/off then as much as ya can. Bag of frozen peas or a flat frozen zip loc bag. Before playing pool or golf I roll on some rub with lidocaine in it. Can use it every 6-8 hours 3 times day. There are several brands out there. A great retired baseball catcher advertises a rub. Ya can get it with lidocaine in it. It does numb pain and fast. They also sell back wraps that give support. Don't use heat. Ice shrinks herniated disks some. Also ya can make a paste out of NSAIDS with teaspoonful hand cream and rub well. Use liquid caps. No stomach or head problems that way. Make a batch every couple days. Will cut down on inflammation. Read entire directions with lidocaine.
Do not under any circumstances, agree to physical therapy until after you've had an MRI. My insurance company tried that BS with me. I won't detail what I said to them, but needless to say, the MRI came first.
Physical Therapy IMO, is a recommended/prescribed treatment. Why anyone would agree to a treatment, especially on an area as critical as the spine, without a proper diagnosis/imaging, is beyond me. Good luck. I've been through it all...DJD, stenosis, and a tear in the disc between the L5-S1. All of it sucks. 
Everyone is trying to be helpful....but diagnosis is the first step. I have been through this and yes successfully. J2pac is giving great advice.Do not under any circumstances, agree to physical therapy until after you've had an MRI. My insurance company tried that BS with me. I won't detail what I said to them, but needless to say, the MRI came first.
Here is a good starting point....get a diagnosis at a major hospital spine clinic. On the surface my problem was similar to yours.
Get yourself to a doctor,please.
I’m 43 now, but at 21 I herniated the same discs in a motorcycle accident. I dealt with it on and off for years. Around the age of 30 I finally lost weight, quit drinking and smoking, and started to exercise. Around 32, I did something that caused me to be in serious pain, needing two canes to walk kinda pain. I went to a chiropractor and it helped some. I then started smoking a ton of pot and found that pot food helped. It didn’t get me high but it relaxed the muscles. I wouldn’t take pills, my family has a history with addictive behaviors.
Cannabis food, stretching and visits to the chiropractor school, no insurance, seemed to work, but only for a few months at a time. Finally someone realized my hips were out of alignment. I had been trying to fix my back but my hips kept pulling things out of wack.
For the last 8 years I’ve worn suspenders, went up a pant size, made sure my underwear wasn’t tight and bought quality shoes with quality insoles. It’s been a long journey, but no pain. Actually a few days ago I was standing in the kitchen and felt something release. I think my lower back shifted into place from all the bicycling I’ve been doing. I feel like I’m 30 again.
good luck with healing your pain. Stay hydrated, make sure your psoas muscles are loose and no tight clothing.
with regard to the bed, I use a high quality firm futon.
I also have a zero gravity chair and an inversion table.
Cannabis food, stretching and visits to the chiropractor school, no insurance, seemed to work, but only for a few months at a time. Finally someone realized my hips were out of alignment. I had been trying to fix my back but my hips kept pulling things out of wack.
For the last 8 years I’ve worn suspenders, went up a pant size, made sure my underwear wasn’t tight and bought quality shoes with quality insoles. It’s been a long journey, but no pain. Actually a few days ago I was standing in the kitchen and felt something release. I think my lower back shifted into place from all the bicycling I’ve been doing. I feel like I’m 30 again.
good luck with healing your pain. Stay hydrated, make sure your psoas muscles are loose and no tight clothing.
with regard to the bed, I use a high quality firm futon.
I also have a zero gravity chair and an inversion table.
Im in the same boat as you with ruptured discs at L4-L5 & L5-S1 (plus more in my neck but lower back is the worst). Have you ever had an epidural? My first 2 shots were in 1998 (they usually do them in sets of 3, 1-2 weeks between each injection) and never got a 3rd because they did not help. What I found out is that you must find the right Dr. for you, back in 2005 I referred to another Dr. by my Doc and PT people, all he does is epidurals, it made a world of difference. I have gotten at least 6 rounds of injections since (you can only get 2 rounds of injections per year, once set every 6 months) but it has made enough of a difference to keep me out of surgery which was suggested way back in 1998. My back still gets plenty sore but I can usually keep it manageable with a little stretching and teeth gritting.
yep, that's the exact same discs. my latest MR showed a herniated L4-L5 and a bulge L5-S1. i have not tried shots, my doc said they don't help if pain doesn't go down to the leg? in my case pain stops at the buttocks, goes horizontal out to the side. feels like i'm cut in half, hard to explain.
changing mattress has actually helped some, as have traction exercises. but still quite bad. i will ask again for shots, get a 2nd opinion. thanks for your input!
I never had pain going down my legs, it was all pretty much confined to my lower back and the epidurals absolutely helped. Like I mentioned earlier, the best thing you can do is find the right Dr. for you, it can be trying by that is the most important thing. I think the Dr. that does my epidurals is a spinal specialist but not a surgeon. I get as much info from everyone I talk that mentions that they have back problems, you never know where you might find that gem.
CBD oil is good, but not strong enough. You need to eat pot brownies or something along those lines.
Inversion table. Invert Align3
futon. The floor ones, shikibuton, but I have a full size futon that needs a frame. I know you are not in the states, but I have the ultra wool firm from these guys
My father has had three back surgeries and a neuro-impulse stimulator implanted. He has a nice zero gravity chair. I have a manual version I found on Craigslist. It’s pretty amazing when you recline and you can feel the pressure taken off of your lower back. While not cheap, they do help.
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