Bobby Buggs Posted March 3, 2005 Report Share Posted March 3, 2005 Well time marches on as they say and my 41 year old back blew a L5 disc in Early Feb. I dont even know how it happened but you could have cut off my right leg and I would have been happy. This all happened 1 week before my trip to Crested Butte and NO this year I didnt get the trip insurance. So I get a Injection in the L5 nerve root and off to the Butte. NO problems at all while riding just when sitting at dinners. Now 1 month out I still have what they call Foot drop and numbness in my right foot. Its obvious that the nerve is still in some sort of impingement but I really dont have any pain. Where the Hell am I going with this... Well I am getting another injection Tuesday and Hope to be a Okemo Wednesday night to "GO WILD" for a few days with the crew. Has anyone had this type of back problem and how did it work out for you. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Neil Gendzwill Posted March 3, 2005 Report Share Posted March 3, 2005 Did you actually blow the disk? If you're having numbness and all that you should see your doc. It might be time to get that sucker fused. My mom blew a disk up higher near her neck and her right arm was in horrible pain. They fused it and she's been fine since. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bobby Buggs Posted March 3, 2005 Author Report Share Posted March 3, 2005 Yeah I had the MRI and it said Lateral herniation of the L5 and incroachment on the L5 nerve root. The way I look at it, I rode for 5 days already and dont think I will do more damage. Yeah I could crash and hurt it worse but the way I look at things I could slip on the ice in my drive way any day and do the same thing. I was hoping someone here had been through this type of thing before Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Daneille Posted March 3, 2005 Report Share Posted March 3, 2005 No help for the back problem, but you're right about the driveway. You are in more danger in your kitchen or bathroom than just about anywhere else. Daneille Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pat Donnelly Posted March 3, 2005 Report Share Posted March 3, 2005 I wrenched my back last month at the SES and ended up able to SKI the last two days with the help of "mother's little helper's" (600mg Ibuprofin + Vicodin). I just started to read "Backache: What Exercises Work", by Sobel & Klien. So far the read makes sense as it is saying most people "cannot accept that exercise is simply the best, most potent medicine available to treat a back problem." Don't expect instant relief as this should be a routine to live the rest of our days by. Detailed (back specific) exercises are outlined later in the book. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bobby Buggs Posted March 3, 2005 Author Report Share Posted March 3, 2005 Detailed back specific excersizes?? Post some or copy and fax them to me please?? 413-732-6868 fax Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jim Posted March 3, 2005 Report Share Posted March 3, 2005 I've had a degenerative L5 for over 8 years. Never blew it out but I know the pain from ankle to neck. How it could make my hamstring cramp is a mystery to me. So physical therapists showed me how to avoid aggravating sitting/standing positions. Stretching is a daily routine too. Ice is your friend. And no pain meds before carving. Carving doesn't bother it near as much as surfing. Good luck with getting it under control. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mike Tokar Posted March 3, 2005 Report Share Posted March 3, 2005 I've been dealing with herniations at L4/L5 and L5/S1 (and some minor bulging in the neck) for about 10 years. You're probably aware of the nerves getting pinched, and then the pinching causing pain or numbness down the leg. The pinching then causes inflammation of the nerve, which makes it get pinched more, so that's where the anti-inflams help. I've done the injections, but there's a limit to how many you can have and how long the injections last. Also, it's tempting to just eat Advil like candy, but don't rely on it too heavily for daily life because it can bother your stomach over time. I think staying loose and stretching is critical. If you're not hooked up with PT already, look into getting into a regular rountine of loosening up you're whole body. It's easy to remember if you start at your head and work your way down. (rotate the head, loosen the shoulders, twist at the trunk, rotate the hips, etc.) You may want to get into a martial art to make it a regular deal. If I don't get to Taekwondo on a regular basis, I can feel it in my back and neck. You'll know you're improving as the pain becomes more localized. At its worst, you'll feel it down to your foot, and then you may only feel it behind the thight, then only in the back, then maybe not at all. Bottom line, you can function and have fun, but you have to avoid bad posture and doing stupid things, like reaching out and over to pick something up. If you have small kids, you should get your wife to give them baths. (You may also tell her that daily horizontal hip movement with a partner will make you feel much better.) Good luck. MT Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pat Donnelly Posted March 3, 2005 Report Share Posted March 3, 2005 http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0312142811/102-5909889-1242562?%5Fencoding=UTF8&n=507846&s=books&v=glance Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gecko Posted March 3, 2005 Report Share Posted March 3, 2005 when I passed 35 almost 4 years ago I included Yoga into my required exercise...the smartest thing I've ever done. Yoga is the only reason I've been able to walk after some of the pool/ramp slams I took in Hawaii (skateboarding...pads only help soo much) . How often I practice varies but usually at least twice a week regardless. It opens my back up stretching, loosening and strengthening everything my back included. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Allee Posted March 3, 2005 Report Share Posted March 3, 2005 My old gym training partner had chronic issues with discs in her back (not sure which ones) that almost caused her to have surgery. Some days would be good and others she could barely walk. She was in her late 40's when the problems started. She has been going to yoga for a year now and has never felt better - she absolutely raves to me, and after postponing the surgery twice, now feels that she doesn't need it (at least for now). Obviously a HUGE improvement. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bobby Buggs Posted March 3, 2005 Author Report Share Posted March 3, 2005 Mike give me a call when you get a chance 413-531-9734. I have been thinking about surgery since I have this numbness and foot drop in my right foot. I dont need that foot movement to ride though;) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
underdog Posted March 3, 2005 Report Share Posted March 3, 2005 bobby, invest in a 20.00$ swiss ball and stretch stretch stretch. lots of backwords bending as oppossed to forward bending. i have what qualifies as a "bulged" disc. once in a wile it likes to play peekaboo with my cyatic. if access is availible go right for the LORTABs. superman pills i call em. exhaust every option b4 diving in to surgery. friend had the in and out fusion done and he has less mobility now then b4. it just stinks when the medical community tells you youre stuck with this for life good days and bad (they told me to lose weight too-went from 260 to 230-still hurts) just stretch every day and strengthen LOWER abs. good luck-chris Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bobby Buggs Posted March 3, 2005 Author Report Share Posted March 3, 2005 Thanks dog, my wife has the bug blue ball here. I dont believe I am a candidate for fusion, more the Micro disectomy. Time will tell , I just hate this foot drop, I walk like I have a fake foot, Call me peg leg:eek: Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
trikerdad Posted March 4, 2005 Report Share Posted March 4, 2005 They are replacing discs now. From what I understand, you can only get one done in the US but a friend is in Germany as we speak having 3 replaced. He said they'll do up to 5 there. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest scloyes Posted March 4, 2005 Report Share Posted March 4, 2005 Bobby, I have had back problems for years. As others have mentioned, yoga is great. I have friends who swear by the discectomy, but fusion is a bad option. Mac's coach, Mike Mallon, had a very successful artificial disc operation last year and I could put you in touch with him. I have overcome the majority of my back issues through exercise, but I still take a couple of advil before I ride. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bobby Buggs Posted March 4, 2005 Author Report Share Posted March 4, 2005 Thanks Steve. I will get my 2nd Injection Tuesday, lets hope it knocks out the inflamation enough to avoid even the discectomy. As of today my big toe is still numb and ankle flexion is still about 50%. I am going to a 500 foot place tomorrow to see how it feels, Cant lay down to many turns there without ending up in the lodge:D so it should be pretty safe. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest scloyes Posted March 5, 2005 Report Share Posted March 5, 2005 Bobby, I have had six injections and only two of them worked for any extended period of time. Stretching and strengthening are extremely important, but your condition sounds like it might be more serious and may require a major remedy. My father-in-law developed the same symptoms twenty years ago, before advances had been made in lower back treatments. In any event, I have some great docs for you to consult with if you are interested. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
slopetool Posted March 5, 2005 Report Share Posted March 5, 2005 um, cannabis is good for back pain. And maybe you could get a "legal" prescription. sorry to open up that can of worms. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bobby Buggs Posted March 5, 2005 Author Report Share Posted March 5, 2005 Interested?? sure, Steve send me your # and I will call you buggs@evilsports.com Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pat Donnelly Posted March 7, 2005 Report Share Posted March 7, 2005 http://www.spineuniverse.com/displayarticle.php/article605.html Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mellow Yellow Posted March 7, 2005 Report Share Posted March 7, 2005 My L4 and L5 are shot... woke up one day.. literally couldn't stand up straight. Took about 2 months to get back to the point of being able to stand straight without stretching first. Stretching... Yoga.... strengthen your abdominals and wear a support brace when you ride... by doing the above... I rarely have a "bad" day.... consider surgery a last ditch solution. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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