21 replies to this topic

[LiLCanada]

I just completed physical therapy and checked in with the doctor today. Well he finally sent me for an x-ray. It showed my L-4 was tweaked probably about 60* to the left. One disk lower has calcification (sp?) and another by the tailbone looked like it wanted to form but barely did. Also one disk there is barely anything left. I know probably none of you are doctors but what ya think. Pretty bummed about the whole thing to be honest.

[catadrioptic]

Sorry to hear about that bro. The tailbone problem is a common problem in people it usually doesnt affect them alot. The calcification is usually due to an injury. I would be very careful doing any movements that stress the lower back as you can sometimes develop Spinal stenosis (
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Spinal_stenosis ) Which is painful and debilitating.

[\SHINE/]

Not sure about the lower back but I know of a guy that jus had surgery to fix spinal stenosis in the neck at c5 and c6, (laser surgery) where they go in and open back up the area that is closing in on the spine.
He seems to be regaining strength back now after the surgery.
From what I here there among the best for dealing with spine injury and problems.

http://www.centralfloridaspine.com/index.html

[Grunt76]

I think if you take good care of your back, make sure to regenerate your soft tissue and are very careful about not injuring your lower back you can still have a long and productive carreer as a strength athlete.

[ajdos]

What movements cause you pain?

[LiLCanada]

I have a real high pain tolerance. I dont do squats any more. Back exercises I do light weight high reps just to be careful. I'm sore after working out but I deal with it. Sitting at work or standing for long time is the worst. Pain comes and goes.

[ruffneck]

I would personally find a very good chiropractor for the L4 that is out of line. Not just any one you need to research them and find one that is into sports injuries. If he uses the right technique he can straighten you back out. The ones with the calcification is like mentioned before from a prior injury that has regenerated or fused on its on. If you have not been having any pain from it before now then that is probably not where your pain is coming from now. I would definitely see a chiropractor before thinking of surgery. Do alot of stretching of the hamstrings and I would not do alot of heavy lifting that puts pressure on the low back.

[LiLCanada]

My primary doctor is a doctor for local professional sport teams. I was told by him and the PT to avoid the chiropractor. I've been stretching my hamstrings a lot lately. The have me building up the very small muscles, forget what they are called, that run up and down by the spine. Surgery does scare me bc if they mess up I'm paralyzed. I've told the family if I cant drive and my dick doesn't work they may as well pull the plug on me. Those are the two best things in life I enjoy. I've also been advised I am too young to consider surgery. I've always had lower back pain but the more weight I cut the worse it has got. I've been cutting weight, naturally, since last january. I got put on some meds that put 80 lbs on me and laid up for awhile. I've cut about 100 lbs since last january with just a decent form of eating. I've been trying to get back into all of this. I'm going to see what hgh does for me. It seemed to help last time so we shall see. I'm working out 2x per week doing light weight. The sitting bothers me the most. I sit at a desk at work and then for school. I'm on the 20 yr plan for school haha. I want to cut about another 50 lbs but dont know if that is even possible with my bone structure and muscle mass.

[Grunt76]

My primary doctor is a doctor for local professional sport teams. I was told by him and the PT to avoid the chiropractor. I've been stretching my hamstrings a lot lately. The have me building up the very small muscles, forget what they are called, that run up and down by the spine. Surgery does scare me bc if they mess up I'm paralyzed. I've told the family if I cant drive and my dick doesn't work they may as well pull the plug on me. Those are the two best things in life I enjoy. I've also been advised I am too young to consider surgery. I've always had lower back pain but the more weight I cut the worse it has got. I've been cutting weight, naturally, since last january. I got put on some meds that put 80 lbs on me and laid up for awhile. I've cut about 100 lbs since last january with just a decent form of eating. I've been trying to get back into all of this. I'm going to see what hgh does for me. It seemed to help last time so we shall see. I'm working out 2x per week doing light weight. The sitting bothers me the most. I sit at a desk at work and then for school. I'm on the 20 yr plan for school haha. I want to cut about another 50 lbs but dont know if that is even possible with my bone structure and muscle mass.

It seems they put you on the right track: stretching the hammies and strengthening the spinal erectors.

Try this, I have a feeling you will love it:

Attached Files

•  Reverse_Hyper_on_ball.bmp   26.23K   11 downloads

[LiLCanada]

Almost all the workouts are done on a ball. I have one that I push with one arm with rubber band while on ball with the foot lifted off ground. its the same foot as the hand I'm pushing with. Also have another one where I lay on my stomach on the ball and lift arm and the opposite leg and hold for 3 min. I have to do 40 each side. Looks ridiculous but works and is pretty hard. I do rows and lat pull downs with rubber band and then do it again with 60 lbs of weight. I'm in there working out non stop for 90 min. The other 30 I'm getting heat and ultra sound in begining and end I get soft tissue massage and ice.

[Grunt76]

Almost all the workouts are done on a ball. I have one that I push with one arm with rubber band while on ball with the foot lifted off ground. its the same foot as the hand I'm pushing with. Also have another one where I lay on my stomach on the ball and lift arm and the opposite leg and hold for 3 min. I have to do 40 each side. Looks ridiculous but works and is pretty hard. I do rows and lat pull downs with rubber band and then do it again with 60 lbs of weight. I'm in there working out non stop for 90 min. The other 30 I'm getting heat and ultra sound in begining and end I get soft tissue massage and ice.

Do mine as well. You can really stretch where you get the squeeze in your back. You will love this I promise.

[LiLCanada]

You don't push your legs down at all do you? I'm assuming you just let your legs drop and then lift them up, correct?

[Grunt76]

You don't push your legs down at all do you? I'm assuming you just let your legs drop and then lift them up, correct?

Exactly. In the beginning stages of the post-injury therapy this is more of a stretch than an actual exercise. Due to being on top of a ball, the stretch has some particular dynamics that mate well to the shape of the spine, resulting in negative pressure between each vertebrae.

After you've done it for a while and operate essentially pain-free, put a dumbell between your feet and increase resistance. You don't need much weight. A 20lb will create quite a bit of resistance and 45lb is a pretty big weight on this.

[LiLCanada]

Well since I've been gone for awhile I figuire I'd post an update. I went and saw whats suppose to be one of the best surgeons in the states, no personality at all go figuire. He sent me to his PT and did that and had more x-rays and MRI's done. It appears that I have a disk that is almost gone, one vertabrae didnt form all the way and another suffered serious trama. I go back and see him a week from this coming monday to find out more.

[Grunt76]

Well since I've been gone for awhile I figuire I'd post an update. I went and saw whats suppose to be one of the best surgeons in the states, no personality at all go figuire. He sent me to his PT and did that and had more x-rays and MRI's done. It appears that I have a disk that is almost gone, one vertabrae didnt form all the way and another suffered serious trama. I go back and see him a week from this coming monday to find out more.

He might suggest cutting you open, or maybe not. Yours is a case where I feel you cannot improve through surgery and only regenerative medicine will do anything for you.

Did you try my exercise BTW?