Bulging disc in my back.

[gazgolf1]

Found out yesterday that I have a stage 2 bulge in a disc in my lower back and shitloads of pain from that disc pressing on a nerve. :(
Its worst at night and first thing in the morning, the pain has been so bad that I'm struggling to walk to the dunny for that first pleasurable morning pee.
Has anyone else suffered this and can give me some advice on how to live with it re exercises etc.
I start physio next week and really want to fix this as best I can and get back on the course.....and peeing pain free. ;)

[Diggaboy1]

Yes a mate of mine had it , his is the assistant Pro at Kooyonga in Adelaide. Give him a call. Ask for Matt Deans. 088443 6162

[Eag's]

Found out yesterday that I have a stage 2 bulge in a disc in my lower back and shitloads of pain from that disc pressing on a nerve. :(
Its worst at night and first thing in the morning, the pain has been so bad that I'm struggling to walk to the dunny for that first pleasurable morning pee.
Has anyone else suffered this and can give me some advice on how to live with it re exercises etc.
I start physio next week and really want to fix this as best I can and get back on the course.....and peeing pain free. ;)

Bummer mate, let me know if the problem persists after you get physio and I will put you in contact with one of the best back surgeons in the country.
Hopefully in your case just physio will resolve the problem.

[razaar]

Feldenkrais exercises are great for a bad back, they are very gentle and their effect lasts for about 8 hours. I have been doing them religiosly for 20 years and swear by them. There are thousands of exercises designed by the Feldenkrais Institute of America, a search on the Net should give you a foundation of what it is.

[razaar]

http://www.create-a-healthy-flexible-body.com/feldenkrais-pelvic-clock.html

Gentle Pelvic exercises by means of an imaginary clock.

Changing the lumbar curve.

Lie on your back, draw up your knees, and place your feet on the ground a comfortable distance apart, approx. in line with your hips. Imagine a clock dial painted on your pelvis. Now imagine a small dial on the back of the head, the centre of the dial will be the point of greatest pressure where the head rests on the ground.
Breathing normally shift the weight of the pelvis around the pelvic clock , clock wise for 25 repetitions, rest and 25 reps anti clockwise. Note how the weight also moves on the head clock during each rep. Rest and feel the back arch get lower to the floor.

Do this exercise again, but this time have the right leg extended straight along the floor. Clockwise 25 reps & anticlockwise 25 reps. Change to the left leg extended and repeat exercise.

As above, only this time have right leg folded over the left leg and then the left over the right leg.

Feel the lower ab muscles sharing in the movements.

Repeat the first exercise and relax feeling how low the back arch is to the floor. The arch will be high off the floor when you first start because of muscle tension along the spine. Without the tension the arch will drop towards the floor.

[just]

When you are better pilates is supposed to be excellent. I, however, go to the doctor for shitloads of painkillers and shove them in my gob whenever I have a bulging disc.

[gazgolf1]

Thanks gents some good stuff here.

[Jarro]

Gaz, you're clearly not having sex in the correct positions.

You need to get the good mrs gaz to straddle you while you lie flat on your back ..... this will take pressure off the bulging disc, but add pressure to the other bulge.

If this doesn't work, try doggie ..... it's not gonna help your back but it's the only way to fly 8)

[dhills2]

I have had 2 bulging discs in my lower back for 18 mths. Voltaren Rapid 25s get me through golf. Might be worthwhile taking a rest from everything for 4 weeks while you get going with the physio (at least this will give you a true indication of whether physio is starting to work). I was in the exact same position or slightly worse than you about 3 months back when I started physio & I was on painkillers 24/7 then. Now I'm off painkillers altogether except for the odd early morning round.

My advice... make sure you do the exercises your physio gives you EVERY day, rest (ie. don't strain at all - this includes correct sleeping & sitting positions whether it be at home, at work or in the car) & personally I also find that remedial massage once or twice a week helps. After it gets a bit better you can start pilates, swimming & anything else that is going to help with core strength without putting any strain on the disc.

Cortisone or similar & surgery may be mentioned down the track but I wouldn't think about it at this stage!! There are plenty of reasons NOT to have either of these treatments (not that cortisone is actually a treatment).

You will hear a million pieces of advice & they probably all work for different people - so you will need to figure out over time what is working for you. Other than physio & massage the only other person I'd consider seeing is the GP for stronger painkillers if necessary & a back specialist (surgeon) if you just want someone to talk you through all your options - I have been told that they won't consider surgery unless you are losing sensation in your leg (assuming it's like mine & pressing on the sciatic nerve). In some areas there might be a big waiting list to see a good specialist so you may want to consider making an appointment for 3-5 months ahead & then cancelling later on if you decide you don't need to see them.

[dhills2]

...Jarro actually makes a valid point

[Ned]

Drink more alcohol!:smt030 :smt023

Then do a dc68 and .............. :smt078

And after all that has failed you could seek professional :smt100

[zigwah]

I have bulging discs in my back L4/L5 and another can't remember which one it is.

How did you find out you have bulging disc, MRI or Xray?

I have had this problem for 6 years, it was one of the reasons i was discharged from the defence force, I know what you are talking about when you mention the pain, i am currently taking 60mg of morphine for the pain, and it only dulls it, you still get the stabbing pain no matter what you do.

You can try and strengthen your core muscles, but that wouldn't be my first port of call, and wasn't. If i was you i would try and see a neurosurgeon asap, because if it is something serious, like he might think the disc may burst, then your looking at a lapenectomy, which is where they go in via key hole surgery, )no more horror stories of massive scars in your back for this) they slice off the offending bulge and away you go good as gold in a few months. apparently, i never had this done, mine was a little more complicated.

So don't kid yourself get it seen to by a professional not just a GP, try and avoid morphine it sux the big one.

Try things like ice packs for the pain, ice on ice off ,10 mins and keep going, if its just inflamed you may help it, the longer it is sore is when you switch to heat, after it is chronic, crossed fingers you don't get there,.

Drugs like panadene forte and difluconac (voltaren) will eat your guts away after a while, if you see a pain management guy he may suggest a muscle relaxant like baclofen, i had god success with this.

That's all i have for the moment but if you want specific questions answered, fire away.

[gazgolf1]

How did you find out you have bulging disc, MRI or Xray?
.

I had a CT scan.

Jeez it seems like there are lots of people worse off than me.

Thanks for all the advice, I will see how the physio goes next week. :)

[3oneday]

I found post #8 most helpful ;)

[gazgolf1]

Actually the disc is bulging toward my spine so boning in that fashion would probably drive the disc into my spinal cord crippling me in the process.....thanks. ;)

[zigwah]

Mate, do yourself a favour and get an MRI done, it's a pain to get one done in the public system but if you have insurance or can afford it it's about 500 clams.

CT scan and MRI are like Hitting into a net and hitting Into a net with a launch monitor.

TRust me, i'm not joking when i say get an MRI.

[zigwah]

Mine are towards the spine as well, good luck mate.

[Courty]

I have a prolapsed L5/S1 and facet joint degeneration (the reason behind my funny golf stance/ posture). 3 years ago it was that bad I couldn't walk for 9 weeks. In the end I had an epidural cortisone injection to help solve the problem. It fixed the sciatica and things went (mostly) back to normal. I re-aggravated it again just before the champs last year, although nowhere near as bad as 3 years ago.

I've found that even the really, really strong drugs don't do much to relieve the pain. The only thing that worked for me was a nerve-blocker called Endep.

I've been doing some Pilates of late, but I'm hesitant to push it too much until the disc bulge is resolved properly.

This is not a problem to take lightly, Gaz. Get a referral to a spinal specialist asap.

I'm actually coming to Brisbane in a few weeks to see the bloke who fixed Gorden Tallis' neck. From what I understand from initial discussions, it appears that surgery may be the only option this time. The disc is just too far gone.

[Jarro]

Bloody hell ... OzGolf is full of cripples !!! :shock:

[zigwah]

If you want the best in the business google prof jeffery rosenfeld

[perci]

It wasn't caused by that S&T crap was it Gaz? Hope it comes good quick mate!

[Jarro]

I think it was caused from Gaz's outrageously wild and eratic golf swing !!

[gazgolf1]

It was caused by 20 yrs of lugging crap in and out of vans, shopping centres, high rise office buildings etc.

[zigwah]

It was caused by 20 yrs of lugging crap in and out of vans, shopping centres, high rise office buildings etc.

So if it is a cumulative effect, physio doesn't make sense as your first port of call. does that make sense?

[zigwah]

Sounds to me it may already be chronic, and if your like most men, it has been niggling for a while and you have done nothing for it, if that's the case forget the ice and go heat. cheers

[matthew_garry_webb]

As Zigwah says, I too have a 2 bulged discs L5/S1 also from stupid defence doctors telling me that it was just muscular till they eventually sent me for a MRI to confirm. I get attacks probably once a year but *touch wood* since exercising more and stretching properly, have not had an attack in 2 years. Listen to your physio. They know what they are doing and I went to an awesome sports physio who gradually got the muscles around the bulge working again.

[zigwah]

That's the thing garry, gaz should push for an MRI to confirm diagnosis, then take it from there?

Because he doesn't want it to rupture, not saying it will by any means but it a good course of action.

[grandmasterb]

Back related problems here as well :(

I cracked my L4 and C2 many moons ago but it was the constant beating my body took from such a young age (first motorbike at 4, racing karts at 7, moto cross from 13 etc) it wasn't until i was involved in a race accident with one of my brothers that we found out we have Scheuermann's disease :(

My other brother had 3 discs replaced a few years ago and he hasn't swung a golf club since (was a scratch golfer for over 10years) and i was heading down the same path.

I have good days and bad but more so the later and it does effect the the time spent at the course. All i can say is dont rush back playing even if you think your ok.

Seek all medical advice you can and make sure you get a 100% confirmation of what the problem is. I've had fantastic results with the osteo more so than the physio but always make sure i stick with the core exercises.

Walking the beach (soft sand) is great for building the core, swimming (no impact) and if your able as wanky as it is yoga (increase strength and flexibility)

Electric therapy is a waist IMO as is hyrdo therapy but might work for you.

Best of luck with it, i know what its like living in constant pain and discomfort and i wouldn't wish it on my worst enemy!!!

[zigwah]

Back related problems here as well :(

I cracked my L4 and C2 many moons ago but it was the constant beating my body took from such a young age (first motorbike at 4, racing karts at 7, moto cross from 13 etc) it wasn't until i was involved in a race accident with one of my brothers that we found out we have Scheuermann's disease :(

My other brother had 3 discs replaced a few years ago and he hasn't swung a golf club since (was a scratch golfer for over 10years) and i was heading down the same path.

I have good days and bad but more so the later and it does effect the the time spent at the course. All i can say is dont rush back playing even if you think your ok.

Seek all medical advice you can and make sure you get a 100% confirmation of what the problem is. I've had fantastic results with the osteo more so than the physio but always make sure i stick with the core exercises.

Walking the beach (soft sand) is great for building the core, swimming (no impact) and if your able as wanky as it is yoga (increase strength and flexibility)

Electric therapy is a waist IMO as is hyrdo therapy but might work for you.

Best of luck with it, i know what its like living in constant pain and discomfort and i wouldn't wish it on my worst enemy!!!

Good advice there

[grandmasterb]

Also if you have poor posture (slouch) then its going to put more strain on the spine. I've got one of these: http://www.posturepole.com.au/ and as silly as it sounds it does make a huge difference.

Other little things are how you sit in your car when driving, infront of the computer when your on Ozgolf.net and on the couch watching the pros. Lower back support is the key ;)

[markTHEblake]

crikey - my back has been stuffed in 3 places, neck, about t9, and around the hips and have been in constant pain for about 20 years. When i get out of bed in the morning i can barely move for about 10 mins, and i am constantly stretching and cracking everything all day trying to relieve it.

But gee, i got nothing on you cripples. I'll take an aspirin and move on.

[grandmasterb]

crikey - my back has been stuffed in 3 places, neck, about t9, and around the hips and have been in constant pain for about 20 years. When i get out of bed in the morning i can barely move for about 10 mins, and i am constantly stretching and cracking everything all day trying to relieve it.

But gee, i got nothing on you cripples. I'll take an aspirin and move on.

There was a point there a few years ago that i used to have to crawl to the shower in the mornings cause i couldn't move.

The troubling thing is im only 25 :?

[markTHEblake]

My back is a stupid thing. about once a year or so i will get an episode where it feels like i have a knife in my back. Last time it happened i couldnt even lie down in bed, it would take about 10 mins of adjusting with pillows to find a position.

It lasts about 2 weeks. However, I could swing a golf club fine, yet it killed me to put the ball on a tee, and get it out of the hole.

[Ned]

Bloody hell ... OzGolf is full of cripples !!! :shock:

Follow posts 8 and 11 and you surely cant go right !!!!!!