I'm going to give you the short version. Back in 2007, I had an MRI done and found I had two bulging discs in my lower back (can't remember the vertebrae numbers). It was discomforting, but it eventually went away (I really didn't do much for it other than stretching...it wasn't very severe). Fast forward to last weekend. All of a sudden, the pain is back. Not sure what I might have done to aggravate it. Stretching helps it, but sitting down for long periods of time bothers it. I've been doing light lifting that doesn't involve my back directly (light bench press, pull ups, push ups, decline flys, etc). I'm starting to wonder if I should just stop lifting all together for a while. It's VERY hard for me, since I have a slight addiction to it. I'm not a bodybuilder or anything, but I feel really lazy if I don't lift, and it just bugs me. However, my back is more important. Am I truly at risk doing light lifting that doesn't involve my back? I know you guys aren't doctors, but sometimes I like to hear other people's experiences (usually who are in my situation or know someone who is).
I'm not one of them To be fair, it's not my doctor, but the PA I really don't care for, and it's often difficult to get in to see the actual doctor on short notice. I'll just setup an appointment for whenever he can get me in I suppose. Never thought of the inversion table. I had to google it, though, to be honest
I don't trust it. Too much that could go wrong. Does it often? Probably not. I do know people have had issues become more severe through a poor/accidental adjustment. What kind of back problems do you have, Ben?
Too much can go wrong with meat doctors also, not just bone doctors. Once, in between contests we were doing some light lifting and I really hosed my back. I was crawling that night and couldn't walk for 2+ days afterwards. One of my buddies is a chiropracter. I went to see him and soon as I was able. He had me squared away in a couple of months and I eventually went on to set a national deadlift record. Never could have done that without the doc. He saved my lifting career, such as it was LOL .
Lower disc. Like you it comes and goes. Adjustment coupled with stim really works. I wasn't a believer until I got hooked up with the right chiro. First two I saw were real quacks.
With a very brief background in athletic training, kinesiology and what not.... stretching will help as long as you can do it.. while i think the back cracker doctor should not be considered a cure, it will only alleviate the pain, or possibly help with alignment in non-severe cases to strengthen muscles, it might help, it might not... i would say get the opinion of a dr. you trust, but do not let anyone tell you that surgery is a must until you feel it is, the back is nothing to play with, physical therapy could also help somewhat... this is all not knowing the severity of your case..... if you still wanna lift, alter your exercises to reduce the stress on the back, possibly machines with pulley systems or resistance focused exercises, though i know it isnt the same gratification as throwing the weights around.
Matt, I've been living with 2 bulged discs in my lower back (belt line) for over 10 years now. I can flex the muscles around that area and make it hurt. I know it's there and I don't do things to piss it off. Every now and again I'll do something really stupid and be in severe pain for several days. After my MRI 10 years ago, the next step was physical therapy which was a joke but what did make sense was strengthening your core which will support the lower back better. If I were you, I wouldn't stop lifting but I'd modify my lifting to adjust to any pain you may have. Work your core hard in every way that allows it. It's the best you can do for your bulged discs right now. They don't just "go away". Most times they are not aggravated but it's when they are is when you feel them. My doc wanted to give me those shots that numb the area and I said hell no, that would make me feel invincible and I'll do something stupid like lift a tractor off the ground to turn it....yeah, that left me in pain for several days. I said as long as I feel the pain, I know what I can and cannot do. I live with it and that's all you can do short of surgery. Chiro's can't fix bulged discs. I had one adjustment that about floored me when the table was stood up and my weight beared back on my lower back. No thank you.
What Rob said times 2. I've had 2 in my back also for 10 years and what Rob said was exactly what transpired in my case to this day.
Yup. Gotta get a good one. I've been through my share of them when I moved. Now that I'm back, my back is loving life again. Had probably a dozen or so direct referrals to him this year alone and they've all praised his work. Find a good one and you'll never question the practice again.
