Home Forums Hunting & Shooting Hunter's Campfire Herniated Disc in lower back

To those of you that have had a herniated disc in your lower back. How many needed surgery and how many got better without the surgery? How long did it take to get back to somewhat normal activity? Thanks

It will eventually get better without surgery, but even with surgery it will never be the same.

I recommend ozone gas injections. They do not degrade the bone like steroid injections do.

I just walk around like a caveman, aint no way I’m letting a doc do surgery on my spine

Seek a facet medial RF ablation

Not sure about surgery, but there is a thing called a Nadachair that does work for some relief.

Been there, done that- - - - -about 20 years ago. I had a disc out just above my waist that was causing loss of feeling in my right leg, and a calcium deposit impinging on a nerve just below my shoulder blades. Surgery was done on both locations at the same time. Scraping the calcium deposit away was more painful and less effective than the disc surgery was. Neither procedure put me back to 100%- - - -it just made the pain manageable, and stopped the loss of function in my leg. Standing upright, sitting, or driving my car for extended periods of time is no problem. Even a slight amount of bending at the waist for more than a couple of minutes causes a lot of pain. My doc says that at my age, 76, the only option for any relief is physical therapy, since Obamacare has dercreed that he's not even allowed to do diagnostic testing, let alone reccomend any more surgery. Tylenol is my friend, at least until it starts messing with my liver functions!

Like many on this forum, I've suffered severe back injuries.
Fortunately, I recovered without surgery.
It's a long story, but by God's grace I hope that you will likewise recover.

Quick answer, do not get the surgery.

Everybody's body is different and will either mend or worsen differently.

In 2002 I ruptured my L4/L5 disc, and herniated the L3/L4, and L5/S1. I needed surgery on the L4/5, but the neurosurgeon opted to leave the others alone, at least for the time being.

20 years on, my quality of life is good, but the back is not back to 100%. Never will be. In fact, it remains fairly 'fragile' and prone to episodes of extreme local pain, and nerve pain down the leg to the foot. I'm careful how I approach anything physical.

My best advice would be to seek a trustworthy neurosurgeon, and keep your fingers crossed that whatever he recommends will work for you.

Most people get results that significantly improve their quality of life, but there are no guarantees.

That's kind of good advice too. But I will add, don't get the surgery until you really need it.

When I needed it, I was eating opioid pain killers like M&M's, and needed crutches to move around. Could not find a comfortable position at all.

Several years ago I herniated discs in my lower back L4/L5, fortunately the spine surgeon was in no rush to operate. He sent me for physical therapy which included traction, I made a full recovery and have no trouble since.

Had 2, L4-5 and L5-S1. Injury from lifting a boat battery. I felt both of them go. Felt like getting popped on my back with a rubber band. Woke up the next morning with searing sciatica down my leg. Triued a medrol dose pack that only made thinbgs worse. exactly 30 days after the injury, I had surgery. Microdiskectomies on each. That's sort of like arthoscopic surgery where the make a small incisioin just above your ass crack and go in and shave away the herniated part, but leave with an intact disc. I was back at work in a week and havedn't had many problems since. That was 15 yeara ago.

Herniated discs are a mechanical problems that are best solved with a mechnical solution.

I hope it gets well. It’s a wonder I don’t have a fuuucked up back from all the pipe I’ve carried up ladders and across ditches.

Don't listen to a bunch of old codgers about back problems. Find the best back specialist in your area, they will help you decide if you need surgery. I was in terrible pain from herniated disc's in my lower back. When it got to where I couldn't walk without a cane, or stand straight, because of tremendous pain, and couldn't feel my foot. I had surgery. It actually took almost a year to get back on track physically. One thing I know for positive, without a shadow of doubt. Without the surgery, I wouldn't be able to enjoy the lifestyle I lead today. The other thing I know for a fact, if you are overweight, and carry a tool shed over you dick, your back will hurt, if not today, tomorrow! The down side. I have pulled the scar tissue from the surgery, back packing once, and cutting firewood a couple times. Sure it's not perfect but it beats the hell out of being crippled because of fear and ignorance. Back to my opening statement, maybe you shouldn't listen to me. But your doctor you should listen too! I was 59 when I had the surgery, 72 this September. Bill

All I can say is good luck.

No idea how bad yours is. Mine is just "bulging" along with moderate to severe arthritic stenosis in the bones above and below it.

Have had the shots a couple of times, worked wonders for 6 months, good for another 6, then back to what has become "normal". Was going to look into the radio wave ablation stuff, then the car went in the creek, and in the meantime my friend who had it done and recommended the procedure said his wore off rather quickly and he's not sure he'd do it again.

Back and core strengthening exercises are your friend. And anti-inflammatories if you can tolerate them. Kidney doc took me off of them, so it's 1000mg of turmeric 2x a day now and a tylenol now and again, then something stronger when really needed.

Long, long time ago I realized there will be no more pain free days.

OH well, most days it beats looking up at the dirt above.

That sucks, MM. Sorry to hear.

I watched a friend of mine go from a strong, tough ironworker to a bridge tender over that pain and ultimately, surgery.

Have had a bad back all my life. Had herniated disc’s several times where I couldn’t even lift my legs to get out of bed. Never had surgery and only had to go out at work for 3 weeks. I’ve had over 10 steroid cortisone injections. I’ve just learned to live with it and like Slumlord said walk like a caveman. I’ve worked with several that have had multiple back surgeries and still have a bad back, 2 have went on permanent disability. My back doctor said he could go in a fuse my lower back together but I probably couldn’t bend down to tie my shoes when he was done.

In my case, T12-L1 laminectomy when I was 22, I was so happy to be going to surgery. I had a ruptured disc, cracked vertebrae and a calcium deposit pushing on my spinal chord. Today, 38 years later, I will say it was a success. I now have 5 bulging discs in my lower back with severe stenosis in a couple of them. I’m able to live with it with some Tylenol and being careful. Good luck, Dave

I've been through the gamut of back problems for over 30 years. Blew a disc in the gym squatting when I was 25. Dealt with pain on and off till my early 40's when it became unbearable and had surgery. Helped immediately and wish I had done it years before, but healthcare is a joke as far as advising patients.

If you'll notice in any professional sport such as MLB, most times when players rupture discs, they are in surgery ASAP. They want them back on the field ASAP and surgery usually is the fastest route; they don't have time to pay them for years of recovery.

Blew another disc L4/L5 about 4 years ago. This time was different with most of the pain down the hip, leg and foot. Sciatica. Went to the best surgeon around who said he could empathize because he was going through the exact same thing from a running injury. After consultation, he said he recommended against surgery. 33% it would get better, 33% it wouldn't improve, 33% it may get even worse. He told me one of his patients was a college volleyball star with the same injury and he advised her the same. She insisted on trying it, but it actually got worse. PT concentrated on posterior strengthening exercises for rehab; hamstrings, glutes, back.

I've been a gym rat for close to 40 years. We never did any "big lifts" except for squats, bench etc... mostly a bodybuilding routine. Straight legged Deads were common, but the posterior chain strength was not a priority. Never did Dead Lifts or wanted to. Big regret and mistake and if I had it to do over, dead lifts would be a staple.


During my self-supervised rehab, I read a lot about posterior chain strengthening exercises and started slowly introducing them into my routine. Romanian Dead Lifts, Trap Bar Dead Lifts, Goblet Squats, Rear Leg Elevated Bulgarian Split Squats, Reverse Hyper-Extensions, etc... Still in pain and injured, I started really light. It's been about 2 years, but now my back is better than it has been since my first injury at the age of 25. Completely transformed at this point.

I'm dead lifting 400 pounds with the trap bar and the spine isn't even an issue

You might want to consider using an inversion table. Just do it right and don’t go to extremes with it.