training post disc injury

[dok]

Apologies if this is the wrong forum, but I'm wondering if any of yall have experience training after rupturing a cervical disc.

I just had an MRI done and told I had two (ruptured discs), and to be honest, i'm flat out depressed lol. Don't really want to stop training because of this shit. I'm on steroids, muscle relaxants and pain meds, and will of course be taking it easy as long as the doc says.

But I'm wonderin if any of yall have made it through such injuries, or know of anyone who has.

thanks.

any precautions, advice, training tips, therapy tips, anythin at all would be appreciated

 

[jyd233]

4 herniated discs in my neck. 2 bulging in my lower back. no spinal cord or nerve damage, so after a 3 month break im back at it. (bjj)

ive been doing alot of back excersices to strengthen it, and it is really working out well for me. ie. swimming, pullups. i would never deadlift or squat.

 

[dok]

damn man, props
I really hope it works out well for you, and that you may continue training for many years

do you do any stretches? any particular warmups?
I'll be looking into strengthening exercises once my doc says i can exercise again
wish there was a pool near me

 

[jjmuaythaiguy]

Apologies if this is the wrong forum, but I'm wondering if any of yall have experience training after rupturing a cervical disc.

I just had an MRI done and told I had two (ruptured discs), and to be honest, i'm flat out depressed lol. Don't really want to stop training because of this shit. I'm on steroids, muscle relaxants and pain meds, and will of course be taking it easy as long as the doc says.

But I'm wonderin if any of yall have made it through such injuries, or know of anyone who has.

thanks.

any precautions, advice, training tips, therapy tips, anythin at all would be appreciated

I had a nagging back injury that was finally diagnosed as herniated discs, there is actually a really, really good old thread on it but instead of saying "search" I will share.

Like I said, since October of 2005, I had on again and off again sharp pains in my lower back. My doctor sent me to rehab thinking that it was muscles. I actually rolled with sherdog moderator, Mirada and Roger Gracie in London with the bad back, I also trained Jason Mayhem Miller for his fight prior to that and rolled with Jake Shields prior to his Rumble on the Rock win. I also rolled with sherdog member Naskwon14g in Paris.

Finally upon my return from my eurotrip I went back to the doctor and she finally sent me for a mri which revealed L5, L4, L3 herniated disc.

I rehabbed and did not roll for three months. I am just coming back. Just do whatever the professional rehab and doctor says. Do NOT roll, lift weights or anything load bearing (take out the trash etc.) I finally am going back to the academy and do back exercises and stretching before and after.

Take care and best of luck in your recovery.

 

[EclipsedAgent]

Took me a while to try to do anything really physical

2 major breaks 2 cracks and of course slipped discs.. just look at the x-rays

 

[dok]

I had a nagging back injury that was finally diagnosed as herniated discs, there is actually a really, really good old thread on it but instead of saying "search" I will share.

Like I said, since October of 2005, I had on again and off again sharp pains in my lower back. My doctor sent me to rehab thinking that it was muscles. I actually rolled with sherdog moderator, Mirada and Roger Gracie in London with the bad back, I also trained Jason Mayhem Miller for his fight prior to that and rolled with Jake Shields prior to his Rumble on the Rock win. I also rolled with sherdog member Naskwon14g in Paris.

Finally upon my return from my eurotrip I went back to the doctor and she finally sent me for a mri which revealed L5, L4, L3 herniated disc.

I rehabbed and did not roll for three months. I am just coming back. Just do whatever the professional rehab and doctor says. Do NOT roll, lift weights or anything load bearing (take out the trash etc.) I finally am going back to the academy and do back exercises and stretching before and after.

Take care and best of luck in your recovery.

wow man, welcome back. 3 months, at this point, seems like a small eternity. Has this affected your standup? Are you still able to spar with contact? I suppose its not a perfect parralel - personally I'm worried about getting my head jarred (my ruptures being in the C-spine).

Thanks for sharing, and I really hope things go smoothly for you from hereon.

Took me a while to try to do anything really physical

2 major breaks 2 cracks and of course slipped discs.. just look at the x-rays

h*ly shit.
best of luck with your recovery... - how is it going?

 

[jyd233]

yeah actually some tips that have helped me. ICE ICE ICE ICE, whenever you feel ANYTHING. also WAAAAAAAAAARM UP ALOOOOOOT.

i kept having to stop rolling early from pain , then one day my instructor made me warm up longer than everyone else. and that day i rolled more than i ever have.

and the one i really hate. if its a bad day, just don't go. you really don't want to, but just take the day off grappling. spend some time with the fam.

 

[irishbjj]

I herniated (ruptured) C5-6 and C6-7. I did this back in august while rolling. The jelly from disc C5-6 pressed up against my nerve causing back spasms and my right thumb to go numb. I lost alot of power in my right arm as well. The pain from the spasms would make me pace my living room floor all night.

Surgery was recomended, but that is the last option(i roll with my orthopedic too.) i did physical therapy and by the fifth visit i had the feeling back in my thumb. what helped was the traction. the firat time i was hooked up to the traction it was like sex. i set up a homemade traction system and i was rolling again by oct. I do have muscle atrophy in my right arm. the brightside is i can sink the rnc with my right arm easier now.( I really should not be rolling yet) sorry about any grammar errs i am working while typing

 

[Zankou]

How did you people get these injuries (looking to avoid them ...)

 

[jjmuaythaiguy]

Not really doing any stand up muay thai sparring right now. Too early. I am back lifting weights at the gym with full support at all times and no full load exercises (i.e. squats, dead lifts, bent over rows). I am rolling lightly and really warm up before and after and still doing my rehab exercises which helps.

Anyway, here are some really good threads that may help you out.

http://www.sherdog.net/forums/showthread.php?t=428703&highlight=bulging+disc

http://www.sherdog.net/forums/showthread.php?t=437431&highlight=bulging+disc

http://www.sherdog.net/forums/showthread.php?t=377597&highlight=bulging+disc

http://www.sherdog.net/forums/showthread.php?t=440106&highlight=bulging+disc

 

[bunnyclaws]

Wow, great thread. Having a similar issue with a bulging disc and concerned about having to give up Judo. Thanks to everyone for sharing their information.

 

[EclipsedAgent]

h*ly shit.
best of luck with your recovery... - how is it going?

This injury was a while back now, but I am 98% .. Doubt i'll ever be 100%.. so can't say that LOL.. Recovery was harsh, mentally was the hardest.

Physically I'll always be in pain, esp when temp changes come along.. when the real cold weather comes for the first time of the seasaon my muscles really tense up.. Active stretching helps alot.. laying on my back too long hurts it.. So yeah.. you learn to live with it like any other injury, but I train 3 days a week now in BJJ and train every once in a while in Kenpo (previously I was doing Kenpo 3 days a week until I started BJj). Before that I did some standup in boxing.. .. and I can tell you.. BJJ has helped the recovery IMMENSLY .. Because those muscles around the rods actually strentgthen

 

[EclipsedAgent]

How did you people get these injuries (looking to avoid them ...)

Snowboarding.. LOL

 

[Zankou]

Wow. What specifically did you do snowboarding (I board myself).

 

[jyd233]

How did you people get these injuries (looking to avoid them ...)

im sort of tall and my family just has back problems. i have (used to be worse) scolyosis, and that little bit of crookedness just makes my back act in crazy ways. sometimes just normal running or lifting can affect it big time. that's why im all switched over to swimming and body weight exercises.

(jiu jitsu can cause some bad flare ups of back pain, but i really do enjoy it too much to stop)


also from my experience, muscle relaxants cure spasms and chiropracters do not. also physical therapists and chiropracters are very similar, except physical therapists are on your side. (im very anti chriopracter after all the bad shit i've had happen to me)

 

[dok]

yeah actually some tips that have helped me. ICE ICE ICE ICE, whenever you feel ANYTHING. also WAAAAAAAAAARM UP ALOOOOOOT.

i kept having to stop rolling early from pain , then one day my instructor made me warm up longer than everyone else. and that day i rolled more than i ever have.

and the one i really hate. if its a bad day, just don't go. you really don't want to, but just take the day off grappling. spend some time with the fam.

Thanks man, that sounds like good advice. I'm thinking of icing up regularly during my recovering. Do you use heat? like in a ice/heat/ice kind of sequence?

I've been prettybad about warming up, I'm sure that didnt help me. I have a shitty work schedule so I'd often arrive to train after the rest had done their warmups. From here on out, my ass is going to be 20 minutes early.

I herniated (ruptured) C5-6 and C6-7. I did this back in august while rolling. The jelly from disc C5-6 pressed up against my nerve causing back spasms and my right thumb to go numb. I lost alot of power in my right arm as well. The pain from the spasms would make me pace my living room floor all night.

Surgery was recomended, but that is the last option(i roll with my orthopedic too.) i did physical therapy and by the fifth visit i had the feeling back in my thumb. what helped was the traction. the firat time i was hooked up to the traction it was like sex. i set up a homemade traction system and i was rolling again by oct. I do have muscle atrophy in my right arm. the brightside is i can sink the rnc with my right arm easier now.( I really should not be rolling yet) sorry about any grammar errs i am working while typing

Damn bro, thats rough. Thanks a lot for sharing. I definitely don't like the thought of muscle atrophy. Please do take care of yourself.
Speaking of surgery - I know its a last option regardless but have you come across the procedure thats discussed in this thread

http://judoforum.com/index.php?showtopic=14771&st=25
(hope its ok to link to outside forums)

(I didnt contribute to it, I just came across it searching the web). It seems like a minimally invasive procedure, and is at least much better than fusion. From what I can tell at least. The thread is actually fairly interesting, a good amount of medical literature is gathered together there.

Not really doing any stand up muay thai sparring right now. Too early. I am back lifting weights at the gym with full support at all times and no full load exercises (i.e. squats, dead lifts, bent over rows). I am rolling lightly and really warm up before and after and still doing my rehab exercises which helps.

Anyway, here are some really good threads that may help you out.

Glad to hear you're back lifting. Do you think stronger back/neck muscles could help prevent future such injuries? I haven't even spoken with a rehab yet, doc's told me to "be lazy" until the end of next week. Thanks for those links!

How did you people get these injuries (looking to avoid them ...)

lousy luck, and carelessness. I'm not 100% sure, but I think it was a combination of a can-opener (yes... a can opener), and landing badly after some shoulder toss (I'm not a judoka, far from it... we were just being taught some techniques in an MMA setting). That, and ignoring my body longer than I should have.

I should probably point out, I'm fairly new to grappling. A more experienced grappler probably wouldnt be subject to the exact same injuries I sustained.

This injury was a while back now, but I am 98% .. Doubt i'll ever be 100%.. so can't say that LOL.. Recovery was harsh, mentally was the hardest.

hells yaeh man. 98% is beautiful. Really glad to hear you're recovering. I snowboard too, had planned to go this season but looks like that might be on hold.

Physically I'll always be in pain, esp when temp changes come along.. when the real cold weather comes for the first time of the seasaon my muscles really tense up.. Active stretching helps alot.. laying on my back too long hurts it.. So yeah.. you learn to live with it like any other injury, but I train 3 days a week now in BJJ and train every once in a while in Kenpo (previously I was doing Kenpo 3 days a week until I started BJj). Before that I did some standup in boxing.. .. and I can tell you.. BJJ has helped the recovery IMMENSLY .. Because those muscles around the rods actually strentgthen

Interesting. Everything I"ve heard says that BJJ is rough on teh back/neck - but what you say makes sense. I'm going to strengthen those muscles constitently before starting up BJJ training, and build them from tehre.

Do you still Box?

Thank you so much to everyone, again, for contributin... for real for real. I'm headed out to do some 40 oz curls (the only lifting I'm allowed, I think) and to meditate on this last week. peace n luv.

 

[irishbjj]

Thanks man, that sounds like good advice. I'm thinking of icing up regularly during my recovering. Do you use heat? like in a ice/heat/ice kind of sequence?

I've been prettybad about warming up, I'm sure that didnt help me. I have a shitty work schedule so I'd often arrive to train after the rest had done their warmups. From here on out, my ass is going to be 20 minutes early.



Damn bro, thats rough. Thanks a lot for sharing. I definitely don't like the thought of muscle atrophy. Please do take care of yourself.
Speaking of surgery - I know its a last option regardless but have you come across the procedure thats discussed in this thread

http://judoforum.com/index.php?showtopic=14771&st=25
(hope its ok to link to outside forums)

(I didnt contribute to it, I just came across it searching the web). It seems like a minimally invasive procedure, and is at least much better than fusion. From what I can tell at least. The thread is actually fairly interesting, a good amount of medical literature is gathered together there.



Glad to hear you're back lifting. Do you think stronger back/neck muscles could help prevent future such injuries? I haven't even spoken with a rehab yet, doc's told me to "be lazy" until the end of next week. Thanks for those links!



lousy luck, and carelessness. I'm not 100% sure, but I think it was a combination of a can-opener (yes... a can opener), and landing badly after some shoulder toss (I'm not a judoka, far from it... we were just being taught some techniques in an MMA setting). That, and ignoring my body longer than I should have.

I should probably point out, I'm fairly new to grappling. A more experienced grappler probably wouldnt be subject to the exact same injuries I sustained.



hells yaeh man. 98% is beautiful. Really glad to hear you're recovering. I snowboard too, had planned to go this season but looks like that might be on hold.



Interesting. Everything I"ve heard says that BJJ is rough on teh back/neck - but what you say makes sense. I'm going to strengthen those muscles constitently before starting up BJJ training, and build them from tehre.

Do you still Box?

Thank you so much to everyone, again, for contributin... for real for real. I'm headed out to do some 40 oz curls (the only lifting I'm allowed, I think) and to meditate on this last week. peace n luv.

thanks for the link on that procedure. does not seem that evasive.

 

[EclipsedAgent]

Wow. What specifically did you do snowboarding (I board myself).

Northstar Super Pipe.. Failed inverted 720.. actually broke twice.. LOL.. First time cracked on the edge (they think this was the T1 / T2 injuries) second landed on my head on the super pipe (18ft) they believe that is what made me damn near bit off my tongue, gave me a concusion (blacked out pretty good) and shattered the T4 / T5 (T3 was untouched, hence the 2 breaks)..

Yes, I still snowboard.. i stay away from the park alittle.. although last year I pusted a rodeo off a pretty nice top.. still think I going to stay away this year since I also have a baby on the way due next month.

 

[EclipsedAgent]

hells yaeh man. 98% is beautiful. Really glad to hear you're recovering. I snowboard too, had planned to go this season but looks like that might be on hold.

I plan on going once or twice this season, just because i like getting up to the mountain and experiencing the elevation changes (I live at sea level).

Interesting. Everything I"ve heard says that BJJ is rough on teh back/neck - but what you say makes sense. I'm going to strengthen those muscles constitently before starting up BJJ training, and build them from tehre.

Do you still Box?

Yes, BJJ is rough on your C and L vertbrea and my injures luckly were T1 - T5 basicly.. being thoratic it didn't effect too much other then mobility. I do believe I have a pinch in my lumbar but it hasn't been bad and does affect anything (this was pre rolling)

As for strengthening your back.. be sure to also just stretch your back before rolling.. it's VERY VERY important.. VERY

As for boxing, I don't go to a specific training class anymore, but I do work MMA standup with my trainer who used to train alot in Muay Thai and is a Ed Parker trained Kenpo Black Belt (He got his Belt in Parkers Backyard / Garage).

You'll be fine just remember YOUR LIMITS and respect them..

 

[jjmuaythaiguy]

Thanks man, that sounds like good advice. I'm thinking of icing up regularly during my recovering. Do you use heat? like in a ice/heat/ice kind of sequence?

I've been prettybad about warming up, I'm sure that didnt help me. I have a shitty work schedule so I'd often arrive to train after the rest had done their warmups. From here on out, my ass is going to be 20 minutes early.



Damn bro, thats rough. Thanks a lot for sharing. I definitely don't like the thought of muscle atrophy. Please do take care of yourself.
Speaking of surgery - I know its a last option regardless but have you come across the procedure thats discussed in this thread

http://judoforum.com/index.php?showtopic=14771&st=25
(hope its ok to link to outside forums)

(I didnt contribute to it, I just came across it searching the web). It seems like a minimally invasive procedure, and is at least much better than fusion. From what I can tell at least. The thread is actually fairly interesting, a good amount of medical literature is gathered together there.



Glad to hear you're back lifting. Do you think stronger back/neck muscles could help prevent future such injuries? I haven't even spoken with a rehab yet, doc's told me to "be lazy" until the end of next week. Thanks for those links!



lousy luck, and carelessness. I'm not 100% sure, but I think it was a combination of a can-opener (yes... a can opener), and landing badly after some shoulder toss (I'm not a judoka, far from it... we were just being taught some techniques in an MMA setting). That, and ignoring my body longer than I should have.

I should probably point out, I'm fairly new to grappling. A more experienced grappler probably wouldnt be subject to the exact same injuries I sustained.



hells yaeh man. 98% is beautiful. Really glad to hear you're recovering. I snowboard too, had planned to go this season but looks like that might be on hold.



Interesting. Everything I"ve heard says that BJJ is rough on teh back/neck - but what you say makes sense. I'm going to strengthen those muscles constitently before starting up BJJ training, and build them from tehre.

Do you still Box?

Thank you so much to everyone, again, for contributin... for real for real. I'm headed out to do some 40 oz curls (the only lifting I'm allowed, I think) and to meditate on this last week. peace n luv.

As far as strengthening exercises, I can tell you that your doctor will probably say specific exercises for strengthening specific muscles and neck that you can do and for your specific exercises. My rehab guy gave me some great exercises. My back doctor wants me to swim but I just have not gotten around to it yet. Plus she just evaluated me and gave my rehab team new ideas for me to strengthen the little tiny back muscles between the spine and nerves. Wednesday I get that in my next rehab session. Nothing wrong with being "lazy" when you are have serious injuries and pains. Do a extra set of 40oz curls for me. Take care.