Posts
24
Joined
4/1/2008
Location
USA
Edited Date/Time
1/27/2012 7:15pm
2 months ago I pulled some thing in my lower back and leg moving some furniture and soon the pain eased in my back but seemed to get worse in my leg. I was well enough to pop a few mild painkillers and golf one day in mild pain. A few days later my friend and I received these Helmet cams that we had been waiting forever for. I was not sure I was going to be able to ride with my leg pain but went anyway and actually loosened up quickly and was on pace. Well my bike broke on the largest jump on track and I cased it hard, bucking me onto my head and I laid there unable to move for a few seconds and then got helped to my feet. I honestly thought I was paralysed for a moment and then it all came back. I helped load the trailer and was really sore the next day and then worse the next and so on. I went to doctor and I requested MRI and x rays but he said x rays only and said I had a Hemi/pelvic sprain and possible dislocation. He sends me home with painkillers and a trip to therapy 3 times for 3 weeks . They stopped therapy because I was getting a lot worse and they were concerned. Well the pain is now worse than when I had shattered my feet and I went for MRI's. Turns out I have 2 bulging disks, 2 annular tears and my L3 has a horizontal crack all the way across along with lots of degeneration. The therapy was hurting me worse and my Ortho called me late from his home on a Saturday night to tell me no more therapy after he reviewed MRI and seemed worried. Very odd. Epidural and Cort. injections to come then surgery. The weird thing is I have very little pain in back but my left leg is killing me and is worse than anything I have felt and I have been through lots of injuries over the years. I can not stand or sit especially in a car only lie flat but for the first 2 weeks I could. Anyone have any experience with this scenario? I am 34 and am riding so well these days and planned on riding till the end of days. I was misdiagnosed at the start and hurt worse during physical therapy most likely.
First, bummer about the injury.
I have a bulging and degenerative disc and L5 and S1
Not that I know more than your ortho, but from all I have learned from others, doctors and online is that surgery on your back should be last resort. LAST resort. Unless your have persistent tingling, numbness or weakness, you should not be a surgical candidate.
Now, your ESI (Epidural Steroidal Injection) is a simple outpatient thing and is typically done in a series of three, a week or so apart. You will notice more and more relief after each procedure. These will really help.
Learn to work and strengthen your core muscles.
My back is still bad and some days are better than others.
The drugs help and I try to make a point of only "when needed"
For awhile I was taking a lot all the time, but the ESI eased that need as well as my fear of addiction.
Good luck
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I was in pain, and I mean real pain, for a long time before I went to doctor, because I hate doctors.
So I understand.
But be careful.
I was told straight up by my doctors and others with back issues that if your ortho starts talking surgery right out of the box, RUN!
Run to another opinion.
No matter what, get a 2nd opinion.
The meds help you relax and dull pain and in time, that helps the whole mess.
Then the ESI will also help
I know the pain sucks, but don't rush it and don't expect overnight relief.
I had microdiscectomy surgery and haven't had any pain since unless I do something stupid with my back, like lifting heavy items without using my legs. I couldn't sit in a chair at work or ride in a car the pain was so bad. Slept on a heating pad so much it left a mark on back. After surgery I did six weeks of rehab and started riding again shortly after with no pain. Don't wait long because permanent damage to the sciatic nerve starts around six months and you will always have the leg pain after that.
Here is a link with some good information that really helped me.
[url:1k8u1shg]http://www.spine-health.com/topics/surg/overview/lumbar/lumb03.html[/ur…]
First, bummer about the injury.
I have a bulging and degenerative disc and L5 and S1
Not that I know more than your ortho, but from all I have learned from others, doctors and online is that surgery on your back should be last resort. LAST resort. Unless your have persistent tingling, numbness or weakness, you should not be a surgical candidate.
Now, your ESI (Epidural Steroidal Injection) is a simple outpatient thing and is typically done in a series of three, a week or so apart. You will notice more and more relief after each procedure. These will really help.
Learn to work and strengthen your core muscles.
My back is still bad and some days are better than others.
The drugs help and I try to make a point of only "when needed"
For awhile I was taking a lot all the time, but the ESI eased that need as well as my fear of addiction.
Good luck[/quote:3v81yg9b]X2.What Dave said.I have the same deal.And the Epidurals will sometimes work for 5 months to a year for me.Of course they are merely a bandaid but I've been getting them for 4 years and I'm 45.I'm holding off on surgery as long as possible,hoping that with each year they gain more knowledge and technology.PT is very helpful.Keeping my core strong and stretching has helped me a lot along with ice after riding or strenuous workouts.Your situation sounds worse than mine of course.I have good days and bad but warming up properly and cooling down really helps.Good luck.
I gave the bones enough time to heal then went to a good chiropractor. I went about two times a week for three months. After the first visit I felt relief and magically got back my ability to burp. What a relief. Anyway, by the time I was going to the chiro I had already started riding some and quickly started back racing. I don't have much trouble from it now days at all.
Give it proper time to heal and make sure everything is straight and relieved and you'll be back on a bike in no time.
Agreed
The big red flags are tingling, numbness and weakness
I had microdiscectomy surgery and haven't had any pain since unless I do something stupid with my back, like lifting heavy items without using my legs. I couldn't sit in a chair at work or ride in a car the pain was so bad. Slept on a heating pad so much it left a mark on back. After surgery I did six weeks of rehab and started riding again shortly after with no pain. Don't wait long because permanent damage to the sciatic nerve starts around six months and you will always have the leg pain after that.
Here is a link with some good information that really helped me.
[url:3n1emxot]http://www.spine-health.com/topics/surg/overview/lumbar/lumb03.html[/ur…]
This was my experience also. While I agree that one should not "jump" into surgery, nothing helped my symptoms until I had surgery on L4/5, L5/S1. I wish I had done it sooner, as my back and leg pain were immediately better, though I do have some permanent nerve damage in my left leg. Get MRI's done. Get a discogram done. Get a second opinion.
Good luck and heal up quick!
Your annular tears and your L3 will heal up quik its the herniated and/or bulging discs you have to worry about. If its not yet degenerative you will be fine in no time. Surgery should be your very very very very last option, only 20% of all back surgerys are successfull after 2 years before the pain returns. surgery is not appropriate in cases where disc degeneration may not be the cause of pain. Alot of advances have been made over the past few years. The biggest being spinal decompression therapy. Its new so ask your Dr. about it and go online and do your reseach yourself. If you want I could IM you an online site that has a video explaining the whole procedure and the benefits of it. Its expensive and some Insurance co. wont cover it but it beats surgery and ESIs.
Another thing, it sounds like voodoo medicine but yoga does wonders for a bad back. It stregthens the midsection and the muscles around the spine.
Next time I tell you clowns I am a ortho, dont roast me.
Did they offer breakfast?
http://www.losethebackpain.com/sciatica_article.html
http://www.sportsinjuryclinic.net/cyber ... iatica.htm
http://www.spine-health.com/topics/cons ... rview.html
Exercises ,stretching ,stretching is what will remove the pain
if you have Sciactica nerve you can not sit .just stretching to remove the presser from the nerve. is about all you can do ...
Pit Row
I think Dave built these jumps back in the day, this could not have anything to do with back pain, could it? LOL
[img:3l8ewe0r]http://img150.imageshack.us/img150/6856/dania01triplesizedgk9.jpg[/img:…]
[img:3l8ewe0r]http://img150.imageshack.us/img150/6020/dania6du9.jpg[/img:3l8ewe0r]
Smacker, how is your pain now compared to before? Hope you are feeling better and everything works out.
Same guy who makes Seminole
Yea Greg has helped me out dozens of times at the track, good guy.
Smacker, how is your pain now compared to before? Hope you are feeling better and everything works out.[/quote:1208y92b]
I wanted to add my dad was living with back pain for years before he finally broke down and got the surgury. I think he was like Dave living with the pain and skeptical about all thats said about back surguries. Then after he retired the nerve got pinched to the point he was in alot of pain and could hardly walk normally and thats when he said its time. He was older, didn't have the responsibility to take care of the family anymore, lots of free time to recover, etc.
I am happy he got the surgury because my family has had to live with his complaining and moaning for years. I know I sound like an ass for saying that but it takes it toll on the family after awhile. My mom won't ever admit to it but I think she really pushed him to get it done so they could both move on.
Yea Greg has helped me out dozens of times at the track, good guy.[/quote:2zpn756m]
Excuse me, it's "Race Announcer Extraordinaire," Sir
Another thing, it sounds like voodoo medicine but yoga does wonders for a bad back. It stregthens the midsection and the muscles around the spine.
[/quote:1rl71mle]
+1
It has helped me immensely. Laying around and "babying" your back just makes it ache more. Strengthening and stretching is where it's at.
And a question...
Does anyone out there know anyone with an artificial disc, that is still riding?
still ride. broke a femur a few years later......(that sort of sucked , broke the neck off the end where it fits into hip) .then i broke my arm a few years later above the elbow.(no hardware....sucked.untill that one healed)
all i know...the older you get.......more it hurts when you slam the ground
here is a back hardware photo.(its upside down)
[img:23ud08no]http://www.chris.gomxracing.com/images/back.jpeg[/img:23ud08no]
You should go to France and see DV12's dr.
After hanging around a few of the more-well-known SCI injured riders, the R2R people, and doing some note-taking, I would say for sure......
Bad advice and bad test readings are very common, and advice is often very pessimistic and wrong. Only you can know for sure, so keep looking and don't listen to the first thing someone says. DV doesn't listen to the drs here for a good reason.
BTW, I think Jeff Alessi may have a vertebrae replaced, not sure.
Post a reply to: Broken back. Am I done?