Lower back problems - herniated disk

[Guest guest]

Hi there,

I just became a member of Supertraining. I love to work out, but have

a herniated disk and pinched nerve in my lower back. I am currently

going through physical therapy, which includes spinal decompression.

It doesn't seem to be working that well. Does anyone have any options

out here? Thanks.

Tom Buhlinger

[Please don't to forget to sign your posts with your full name, city and country

of residence - thanks.]

[Guest guest]

Tom

Within the past year I have herniated a L4-S1 disc in my back. As a powerlifter

and strongman, this type of injury is quite devastating. I believe my rehab

protocol went as follows:

Two weeks of from all physical activity

2-3 weeks of working back into heavy upper body (I benched with my feet on a

chair straight out in front of me to take the stress off my back)

2-4 additional weeks completely off lower body

6-8 weeks of working back into lower body

For my lower rehab, I was instructed to move at about 10% a week, but I didn't

have the time for that. I moved up about 90lbs a week for the first 3-4 weeks

and then 50lbs from then on. To re-strengthen my lower back, I did everything I

could that didn't load my back axially (barbell on back). Hyperextensions,

supermans, 45 degree ext, etc. One of the best exercises I used was to do a lot

of my activity holding a stone (made from a broken collar and rubber 45s) and

doing good morning and squats with those.

I choose to set my ego aside for a few weeks in order to get this problem fixed

and I haven't had any problems since. I went through the decompression and I

bugged the doc every week to keep upping the pressure. Within a few weeks, I was

at the max he would go on a person.

Hope this helps

Szorc

Minnesota

USA

To: Supertraining

From: Buhlinger@...

Date: Tue, 9 Dec 2008 20:43:32 +0000

Subject: Lower back problems - herniated disk

Hi there,

I just became a member of Supertraining. I love to work out, but have

a herniated disk and pinched nerve in my lower back. I am currently

going through physical therapy, which includes spinal decompression.

It doesn't seem to be working that well. Does anyone have any options

out here? Thanks.

Tom Buhlinger

[Please don't to forget to sign your posts with your full name, city and country

of residence - thanks.]

[Guest guest]

A good many suggestions have come up here at ST regarding these problems. Eddie

White had one last year and has returned successfully to the powerlifting

platform - he may be able to share his experience.

Dr. also has some good information.

One of my clients blew out his L4/L5 and after going to three doctors, found a

fourth who would remove the blown disk. His recovery was much improved!

There are also new replacement disks which finally are FDA approved - and they

were in use for years in Australia. I remember a posting where someone has

several of these in place?

One correction for Mr. Szorc's posting or clarification - you did mean L5/S1 or

are you missing an L5 vertebrae? (this is possible - just wondered).

It can also be quite a matter of which vertebrae, which disk... and if it were

my back, I'd want Xray plus MRI to know exactly what's happening. Then I'd go

looking for the people who work with the professional sports teams here in

Denver!

The Phantom

aka Schaefer, CMT, competing powerlifter

Denver, Colorado, USA

--------- Lower back problems - herniated disk

Hi there,

I just became a member of Supertraining. I love to work out, but have

a herniated disk and pinched nerve in my lower back. I am currently

going through physical therapy, which includes spinal decompression.

It doesn't seem to be working that well. Does anyone have any options

out here? Thanks.

Tom Buhlinger

[Please don't to forget to sign your posts with your full name, city and country

of residence - thanks.]

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