so i think i have a herniated disk

[Mr I]

thing about chairs etc.. its that you can still hunch etc.. its all about you keeping your head back, back straight etc..

Only way you can do that is on an incline, try that in an upright position and your neck kills

[Mr I]

So I'm seeing a chiro tomoz, spoke on the phone and she said she had two techniques; distraction and pumpin that can get the disk back in its right place, well see

[Mr I]

So I saw the chiro today, she clived popped and says I likely have some disk degeneration. She says I must now modify my weightlifting, disks naturally degenerate and the process will be speeded by heavy weight training. I always treat what docs say with a lil scepticism but I'm slightly concerned here. Now I never really lifted that heavyso I'm trying to figure how to modify my training cos I sure ain't giving up the weights. I figure; leg press at far as 90 degree so I don't lift/curve/compress my lower spine, this would replace squat, I love shoulder press but I figure behind the neck, stood and bolt upright presses are out but I could do them on incline slightly and therefor reduce the compression of the spine, other than strict form I don't see what changes I can do without compromising my gains

[bald one]

Terry Chimes is a great Chiro in London, and since a disc is a ligamentous tissue, if or when it heals will be 7 to 9 months...

[dog.bite]

Mr I, disc degeneration happens to all of us, but some quicker than others. I have spent 15 years in the Army and it seems to speed things up a bit and did you know that it can also be genetics, possibly runs in the family. I have had a disectomy and then a fusion of my L-4&5 and L-5 S-1. It began with pain in my buttocks and then it eventually moved down the back of my leg and on to my foot. The pain was very bad. I saw physical therapy, orthopedics, chiropractors, and anesthesiologist...you find that most of them tell you the answer lies within their specialty. The orthopedists: you need surgery. Chiropractors: you need adjustment. Anesthesiologist: you need spinal corticoid steroid injections and pain meds. Physical Therapists: you need to do exercises and stretching. In the end all the noninvasive stuff didn't work and I started with a discectomy to cut away the disc that was pushing against my nerves...that didn't work and finally I went with a fusion. I can tell you that I am now that I am almost pain free. I have issues every now and then, but nothing like it used to be. My recommendation to you is to try everything under the sun before surgery, because there's no going back after they put instrumentation in your back. I even looked into disc replacement, but was told I was not a candidate. Anyway, I am over a year post op and began lifting again and I feel pretty good and happy that I chose to do the surgery.

[bald one]

I am glad to hear you are getting your function back. You bring up some good points about genetics, body type is inherited along with diet and many other things.
All injury to the body is an acumulation of physical, chemicle, and emotional stress. These stresses also pile up over the years. but surgery should be last.
The numbers from my malpractice company are for loss of function(drop foot, incontinance) 65% of back surgeries have to be repeated. 90% done for pain only have to be done again in 3-5 years.
So now that you have two less joints to bare weight it is even more important to get the others adjusted, preventing more imbalance. Massage and stretching are great before. Training is good after. but alignment is first, form and function have a direct relationship. also only 12% of nerves can transmit a pain signal. so relying on that doesnt work well.
my 2 cents

[Mr I]

Thanks for the input guys; by way of an update, matters have in my view improved some and this is what I have done;

1) No deads from the floor - still do bent rows but not every week, once every two weeks or so. I plan on resuming deads but dorian style, only down to shins and back
2) no back squats, other than smith machine. More interested in leg press and hacks, again like dorian says, no need for back squats
3) stretching; regular stretching of the hams and upper thigh seems to really release some tension and stop those pains I was getting
4) cardio, not sure why but the more cardio I do the better it seems to get
5) I make sure I especially stretch hams and thighs and lower back after any shoulder press workout etc that will put pressure there.
6) saw a physio and they said there's nothing unusual about bulging disks, loads a people with them that don't know they have them and only know about them if they are aggravated.

I'm working on the basis that if I can keep the area mobile, I can encourage them to hydrate themselves better and heal.

I've slacked off on the chiroprator because I though we'd taken it as far as we could there and was bored of paying for 5 minutes work where she did the same thing every time. It did work to an extent I feel and I will go back now and then for an adjustment, but no more than once a month.

What I do need to do now is to get physio more regularly.

I have also bought a pilates ball which I haven't blown up yet. They say that you should sit on one five minutes a night bouncing up and down and this effectively pumps the disks to take up fluid and create mobility. I sure as hell ain't doing that at the gym in front of everyone so I got one for home.

So I have already see improvement and need to continue to work it. If ever I feel it tighten after a workout I rub either ibuprofen gel or biofreeze gel o there and it seems to stave it off.

the one thing I kinda know is that if I took some deca it would probably be pain free but I don't want to do that I'd rather fix up the route cause.

[dog.bite]

Mr I, sounds like you're headed in the right direction.