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

Herniated disc l4/l5 in 1995. Repaired and played a round of golf 30 days player.

Indiana back center. Never a regret.

I’d get multiple opinions on surgery vs alternatives and let that be your guide.

When I was first injured, I was sent to Sports Medicine. Chiropractor twisted and pulled on my back. Got progressively worse. Finally an MRI was ordered.....the Chiro said "Oh s.hit! you need a neurosurgeon". The Sports Medicine was only aggravating my injury.

I was dx'd w/ an herniated disc L4/5 last January. Was placed on an exercise regimen emphasizing strengthening core and posterior chain muscles. Weights limited to 20 lbs w/ lots of reps, and balance and flexibility training. Great improvement. I can do long hikes and only very steep climbs aggravate. Taking a break and sitting for 2 minutes when back pain starts is the secret for me on long hikes. Exercises start in the morning and continue for 5 minutes/hour all day. I am very careful about posture, bending and lifting and have been able to continue enjoying life.

Good luck


mike r

I've had 4 surgeries, started with 2 disc and kept going, lower back is now fused completely. Surgeries were 2003, 2006, 2010, 2019 so there is somewhat of a pattern. Mine also effected my legs and at times I could just fall as one would give out. I'm far from 100% and probably always will be but better after each one. Recovery is the worse, very slow healing. I'm in the process of getting a spine stimulator inserted no, hopefully they get it done this year. Went through the trial a few weeks ago where the just insert the wire leads inside near the spine, it really did improve my legs and some in the back, trial has 2 wires and the install will have 4 leads. They'll put the stimulator device 2 centimeters under the skin in the love handle area and you can control it with a remote control as to where your pain is. They told me it works similar to a pace maker but for the spine.

I have a strong back and a weak mind.

^^^^^^^ This in spades^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^Surgery is just a temporary pause in pain ...................sometimes.

Use mine twice a day

Oh boy, we can hardly wait!

From what I learned about discs (after my back surgery 30 years ago). Discs have 14 rings around the outside of the nucleus. Do something stupid, you just popped a ring and you won't get it back. They pop from the inside out. The disc will bulge to the outside for a while (herniation) but will get better if you stop being stupid. Yes it can really hurt! Steroids work wonders here. Learn to lift correctly, therapy etc.

In the real old days they would trim the outside of the disc but that was cutting away on the good rings! Not a good idea. This led to the multiple surgery thing you always hear about.

Once you've done so much damage that you break all of those rings, the nucleus blows out and you probably need surgery. MRI will show it clearly. I had several MRI's and even I could see the difference between a bulging disc and one that blew up.

I was told the only way you could blow through all 14 rings at once is a car wreck.

Get several Doctor opinions!

Three cortisone shots in my lower back about 12 years ago. It's fine now.

They say lower back surgery is 1/3 get better, 1/3 stay the same, 1/3 get worse. Upper back, thoracic is suppose to be better.

I'ld recommend a program called starting strength. Make sure to get the form right, find a coach if you can. Your back may still hurt, but it will be stronger and that helps. And for the love of God, don't do sit-ups crunches and other bullshit like that.

Wife's had 8 back surgeries between the 3 sections. Shes not getting better but it's a degenitive thing.

If you can avoid surgery, do it.

OP here. Thanks, guys, for the information and well wishes. I do plan on avoiding surgery if at all possible. Had the MRI done, ordered by the ER MD. Damn near impossible to get an appointment with a back specialist around here, they are over a month out for appointments. Trying to stay active by walking as much as my back will allow and doing some gentle back stretches and therapy recommended by the Youtube physical therapists.

Thunder: While waiting for the Doc read "Fix Your Own Back" by Robin McKenzie. If nothing else you will have a more informed discussion with the Doc.

Great point. I quit doing crunches and sit ups as part of the recommendation from TNation. They are not good for your spine. Do Ab Roll-outs instead

If you’re young,stay away from the knife…

I didn’t read all this, but have had every kind of injury to back, HS ball, college ball, horse wrecks, 30 year steel worker. I had several blown disc’s and one inch bone spurs. I told 3 surgeon’s when I crawl in with my teeth, then you can cut on me. I had a great Dr. That kept me going for 13 years with adjustments. The remarkable thing is my whole back fused itself with calcium and bone spurs are nubs now, it all comes down to how tough you are, and do you want to be like all the guy’s you see getting cut on time after time.

Another great exercise for your back is Planks, put those abdominal muscles to work.