DEGENERATIVE DISC DISEASE

[ALIF]

Yes! A lot! The more I played the more hurt. The less I played the less it hurt. However, the last several years it hurt all the time.

[klund12]

i have had a very bad disc herniation that crippled me for quite some time.

PT, stretching, resting back and forth. nothing helped.

Refused surgery.

Started lifting, squats and deadlifts. Back has never felt better.

If for some reason i dont train for a couple of months the back starts giving me issues, stiffness and pain.

As someone noted above, doing an MRI will show you some issues with your back, everyone has it.

I like these guys for training and pain information. as i can not post links google: pain in training site:barbellmedicine.com

[ALIF]

I squatted and dead lifted very heavy for many years. The last few years before my back surgery I squatted and dead lifted light to moderate weights. Squatting got to be too painful the last year before I had surgery. So did dead lifting. I just stopped. Sometimes strength training and physical therapy does not work. When there is a pinched nerve because there is no disc left, the only way to make it better is with the spinal fusion surgery.

[ALIF]

I’m not trying to say that you should have surgery or that is for everybody. What I’m saying is there comes to a point sometimes that it is not possible to be made better with therapy or working out. The only thing that will make people better sometimes is a fusion surgery to restore disc height and the foraminal arch to give the nerve root room to exit and not be pinched. That was my situation. It may not be yours. Just don’t be so naïve that you think that if you just work out more and do more therapy etc. that you will get better. This may not be the case at all. In fact, those things just made me hurt worse. I guess as a physician I’m always very concerned for my patients and I want them to have realistic expectations of their treatments. I just think it’s important to understand why certain treatments may or may not work based on your pathology.

[farmer]

I'm 69, about 10 years ago started having neck pain. MRI showed DDD. Reached the point where I had numbness and tingling down my arms, pain a pretty constant companion. Did every treatment, PT, chiro, nerve ablations, epidurals, every single thing to avoid the knife. When everything else failed, had c4-5 and c6-7 fused four years ago. Took care of the pain, but the lack of rotation took me from a 1-2 to maybe a 10. My quality of life has greatly improved, so it was worth it.

[ADAM HERRENBRUCK]

On 6/8/2008 at 8:11 PM, ELEME1210 said:

Thanks for the input.

 

BTW my doctor is a orthopedic surgeon (and considered to be one of the best in San Diego). He was the one that diagnosed me.

 

I will be going to another spine specialist to get a second opinion.

 

I have been doing acupuncture and light chiropractic for 4 months, but it only numbs the pain and symptoms temporarily... and eventually they come back.

 

I will be starting a physical therapy routine tomorrow and begin biking and swimming to replace weight training.

 

I will also be giving up golf for at least 6-12 more months... (NOOOOOOOO!!)

 

I'm still young and i will do whatever is in my power to try to lead a normal active life again.

 

Thanks for all the support.

 

Look in the classifieds in the next few days for my entire golf collection that will be on sale. (OUCH!)

Hey, 

 

Curious to hear an update on the status of your back? i'm 30 years old and have been dealing with the same thing for about 12 months now... were you able to recover and return to play?

 

thanks,

 

ADAM 

[rebel11]

I have it also.  2 Micro-discectomies.  1 at 21 and the other at 29.  I'm now 42 and still playing golf.  Does my back hurt after playing?  Yes.  But not the same type of hurt as having a herniation.  I got in better shape (lost weight) and that helped also.  But ultimately it's a balance.  If i play golf for 18 holes I"m sore for a day or 2.  But I'm still able to function.  Worst case scenario get yourself an "old man" swing if you need to. Don't give up the game. 

[getitdaily]

OP - do you take a nitric oxide inducing pre workout regularly?

[sonnygolf]

You won't pay attention to what I have to say but here goes anyway. Change to plant based diet and do some dry fasting. Yeah research the topics with an open mind. Time to learn the miracles of diet and fasting . I wish you the best 

[dlow206]

I was just diagnosed with this today, because i have been feeling numbness in my arm and shoulder, along with pain since yesterday. The doctor told me it was very early in terms of progression and that i can continue on with normal activities once this "flare up" gets better. He gave me Voltaren, which is an NSAID. He said I can continue playing golf, lifting weights, etc., just take it easy when flare ups occur. Sounds like i have a minor case. 

[Golfbeat]

I am not a doctor but as mentioned before, everybody with pain should at least read Dr. Sarno's book before deciding to seek treatment by a chiropractor, physical therapist or surgeon. Very often, there is no direct correlation between a so-called bad back and pain. Quite often, however,  there is a direct correlation between emotions and physical pain. For example, the body really likes to create pain when you have fear for something, even the fear of not being able to play golf.