General Discussion Triathlon Talk » Bulging Disc: End of Triathlon Career?? Rss Feed  
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2010-01-06 7:10 PM

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Subject: Bulging Disc: End of Triathlon Career??

So I have a bulging disc that came from a Crossfit lifting injury about 3 months ago.

It didn't hurt too bad so I just kept training through it...I figured it would just heal in time but I had no idea it would still be bothering me this much later.

Now when I run it flares up and hurts more (4 on a 1-10 pain scale).  It's not too bad and I can live with it but I'm afraid that I'll make it worse.  The more people I talk to about this condition the more it sounds like this is something I'll deal with my whole life!?  Uhg!  I can't accept that...surely this can be healed, right?

I've been going to Chiropractor for a few weeks...seems to help some.  He told me to stop running altogether for about 6 weeks at a minimum...which is fine this time of year.  I'm just worried that it won't heal and that Triathon training will make it worse.  Is there actually a way to heal it or at least train with it?  I'm supposed to do my first 70.3 this year...is that crazy given this injury?

I'm 28, 5'11', 200lbs (headed to 175)...I'm too young for what some are calling a life long injury!!?

Just looking for some hope!

Thanks!



2010-01-06 7:23 PM
in reply to: #2599051

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Subject: RE: Bulging Disc: End of Triathlon Career??

I should also add that I've started doing a lot of core work hoping this will help...

2010-01-06 7:27 PM
in reply to: #2599051

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Subject: RE: Bulging Disc: End of Triathlon Career??
I doubt its the end....I would rest up though and maybe put the 70.3 off for next year. Get stuck into some core work etc before it gives out all together.

I am 5 months into recovery of a "full on rupture" of the disk in lower back and still have hope to get back on the bike and my running shoes back on.  Like you I kept training with mild symptoms, unaware it was a buldge, completed two 70.3's with in 2 months and a an off road Tri...then blew it completely.

Best to spend a few months recovering and then get back into it rather than carry on and only get one season in! Tough to stop, but long term you will be better off.

Heaps of other posts on here regarding this type of injury.
2010-01-06 7:53 PM
in reply to: #2599051

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Royal(PITA)
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Subject: RE: Bulging Disc: End of Triathlon Career??

I had a fully herniated disc-to the point that the neurosurg.  couldn't see the nreve root on my mri.  Had disc surgery 10 years ago.  I've been doing tri's for 3 years, headed into my 4th season.  I did chiro, it gave trmporary results for a short time.  I still go to the chiro periodically, just less and less cause I'm finding that keeping up with core work and regular focus on mh yip flexors with foam roller/ use of the sticl I'm good.

2010-01-06 7:58 PM
in reply to: #2599153

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Subject: RE: Bulging Disc: End of Triathlon Career??
QueenZipp - 2010-01-07 12:53 PM

I had a fully herniated disc-to the point that the neurosurg.  couldn't see the nreve root on my mri.  Had disc surgery 10 years ago.  I've been doing tri's for 3 years, headed into my 4th season.  I did chiro, it gave trmporary results for a short time.  I still go to the chiro periodically, just less and less cause I'm finding that keeping up with core work and regular focus on mh yip flexors with foam roller/ use of the sticl I'm good.



What sugery did you have?
2010-01-06 7:59 PM
in reply to: #2599051

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Subject: RE: Bulging Disc: End of Triathlon Career??
I had 2 herniated discs L4 L5, had foot drop and had to have surgery within 10 days of the incident.

I've done tris for 7 years and have done two Ironmans. My back only bothers me 3-5 days a year. When I was over weight and out of shape my back hurt every day after my surgery.


2010-01-06 8:16 PM
in reply to: #2599051

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Subject: RE: Bulging Disc: End of Triathlon Career??

This is encouraging.  I'm hearing some common themes after reading these replies and looking through the other posts about this...here's my self diagnosis/treatment...let me know if I'm off

1) Lose weight

2) Focus on strengthening core and stretch

3) Work on correcting forward pelvic tilt

4) Rest for 6 weeks (No Running/Cycling but maybe some conservative swimming)

5) After resting then ease back in: adding Bike First, Run-Walk, Run

My hope is that since the pain is not TOO bad and it's been going on for 3 months that it is a moderate bulge and if I follow these steps then I might still be able to do some events late in the year.

I'm encouraged to hear this is something that can be resolved.  If you google it or ask around it seems like everyone is hopeless about it.  I guess they're probably fat, old and not very proactive about it.

Hoping for the best...

any other advice is GREATLY appreciated!

2010-01-06 9:00 PM
in reply to: #2599051

Subject: RE: Bulging Disc: End of Triathlon Career??

If the chiropractor has any sense, he/she will give you stuff to do to strengthen and rehab the injury site so that you can get back to normal activity. He shouldn't just adjust you, send you away for 6 weeks and have you come back every few weeks for another adjustments. This is why I am wary of chiropractors. I'd want a solution, not just bandaid after bandaid. If the chiro will not help you in this matter, I'd see another specialist.

2010-01-06 9:40 PM
in reply to: #2599308

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Subject: RE: Bulging Disc: End of Triathlon Career??
wurkit_gurl - 2010-01-07 2:00 PM

If the chiropractor has any sense, he/she will give you stuff to do to strengthen and rehab the injury site so that you can get back to normal activity. He shouldn't just adjust you, send you away for 6 weeks and have you come back every few weeks for another adjustments. This is why I am wary of chiropractors. I'd want a solution, not just bandaid after bandaid. If the chiro will not help you in this matter, I'd see another specialist.



Agree, I'd stear clear of the Chiro. I went to an Osteo, 2 days after mine blew out, thinking mine was bad sciatica, after two sessions to "free up" my back and glutes my calf locked up for 5 days and my entire leg went numb one night.  Sports Doc said no Chiro or Osteo under any circumstance. I reckon he did more damage to the already damaged disc.  Physio, Accupuncture, massage and work on flexibility.
2010-01-07 12:13 AM
in reply to: #2599051

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Subject: RE: Bulging Disc: End of Triathlon Career??

^^^^Agreed. L5-S1 partial diskectomy about 12 years ago. I also herniated C5-6 and C6-7 but didn't have surgery on those.

Core work is key. The stronger your core the less stress on your spine. Be careful with stretching. While stretching is extremely important and I highly recommend it... make sure the stretching exercises you do are not going to put unwanted stress on your already bulging disk. You need to speak to your doctor or PT and find out what movements are safe for you as well as what range of motion.

All is not lost. Even if you do go bananas and fully rupture your disk there is ample evidence that you'll be able to recover and continue enjoying triathlon. I'm not saying that there won't be lifelong affects from the damaged back... but life goes on... and so do triathletes.

2010-01-07 4:07 PM
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Subject: RE: Bulging Disc: End of Triathlon Career??
If your bulge is in your neck you can buy a "over the door neck traction kit". It has helped me with my bulge (between my c5 and c6). I use it 2 to 3 tmes a day for 15 to 20 minutes. According to my Chiro your chiro should NOT be adjusting your neck if thats where the problem is. He adjusts the middle of my back and massages the neck area. Also he has started A.R.T therapy.
I find now (7 weeks since it blew out) I can ride my bike (but not in arrow position). I can now run/walk combo (3/2 min) on my treadmill. Treadmill has alot more cushion then sidewalks.
Hope this helps


2010-01-07 5:19 PM
in reply to: #2599051

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Subject: RE: Bulging Disc: End of Triathlon Career??
I got a bulging disk from doing deadlifts in may of my junior year of high school.  I was able to play football my senior year after a summer of PT and traction.  It still bothered me into my freshman year of college--but I'm sure that playing football didn't help that any. 
2010-01-08 3:44 PM
in reply to: #2599051

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Subject: RE: Bulging Disc: End of Triathlon Career??
My, oh my. Misinformation certainly does travel well.

I have posted some of this information here previously but will address this topic again, hopefully for the benefit of those suffering from back problems.


How could you have posted this information previously if you are a new user with total of one post?

Folks like me shared what worked for me and tried to encourage OP  that their condition may not mean no triathlons in their future.

2010-01-08 8:30 PM
in reply to: #2599051


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Subject: RE: Bulging Disc: End of Triathlon Career??
Hi Kathy - I tried to post under my previous username, SteveF, but couldn't log in. This was the new name "given me." Anyway, I tried to go back to find the threads that specifically dealt with this topic so that I could link them but couldn't find them within the past year... not that it matters all that much since the point is the same.

I totally recognize that people make attempts to share their experiences - particularly when it comes to health related issues.

The problem, and I'll limit this to disc injuries although I'm sure that the MDs here will agree that it occurs with other issues as well, is that it is extremely easy to confuse similar - but different - diagnoses.

For example, I often have patients who come to me with a simple disc bulge and remark about their wife's cousin's brother-in-law who has a disc injury and, well, HE had to have surgery. I have to bend over backwards to reaffirm that THEIR problem is not the same "disc injury" that he has and that they will not be requiring surgical intervention.

It is important for patients, with any diagnosis, to make sure that they are comparing apples to apples so that they get the best information possible.

Steve
2010-01-08 9:34 PM
in reply to: #2599051

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Subject: RE: Bulging Disc: End of Triathlon Career??
Nope. Not the end of the triathlon career. At all.

Case in point....2001 had a herniated, then ruptured L4. After huge machinations, finally got to a surgeon that fixed me. Several HIM's and countless marathons later, I'm cool.

That being said, go to someone that can assess the structural integrity of the spine first.  PCP's will want to give you muscle relaxants, tis cheapest, they're incented by insurance co's.  PT's will make you do core work and hope. Chrios will want to adjust you, because that's what they do. Acupuncturists will want to stick you, because, that's, well, what they do. But who's the impartial, balanced judge in the picture?  Find one.  I went to the smartest one I could find (a neurosurgeon) that operated on 5% of the people he consulted with. Best. Decision. Ever.  He made the right call.

And .re Chiros...two almost killed me. They tried to manipulate me when that clearly (in hindsight) wasn't gonna solve the problem....but I didn't know better, I trusted.  They shouldn't have attempted the stuff they did without the benefit of an x-ray or MRI, but they did.  Now, I ask myself why would I let someone manipulate my spine without knowing if their solution was appropriate for my problem? I'm smarter now, wouldn't go near 'em.
2010-01-09 1:19 PM
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Subject: RE: Bulging Disc: End of Triathlon Career??
TriTardy,

Yes, there is hope.  I had two discs bulge and herniate in my neck back in 2007 (there is a difference between the two) that hurt like hell - curled up in a ball for a few weeks in pain.  Yes, a few weeks in pain because the specialists thought it was a torn muscle in my shoulder, drug seeking and add in a low tolerance for pain.  The goofiness and pain cleared up once I had an MRI, the right doctor and meds for the pain.

The MRI photos of my neck showed 2 discs in my neck that looked liked perfect mushrooms where my disks used to be.

I know your question is about being able to compete in triathlons but I would ask if you had an MRI - I don't see one mentioned in your post.

Get an MRI.

The MD that I had - a neck specialist in the area stated that if I do the physical therapy he prescribed for me that I would have a 70% chance of full recovery - if not I would most likely have to get surgery.  He stated that I could go back to doing what I was doing before the injury - funny because that's how I got injured in the first place (rock climbing - I had a rock wall in my bedroom).  He also said that I have degenerative disk disease which may have contributed to the injury - another topic all together.

It was my physical therapist prescribed by my MD that actually pulled it all together for me with exercises to get strength back - the whole physical therapy process took about 3 months at about 2-3 sessions a week.

There are certain things that my MD and PT have told me not to do such as pushing or pulling in certain body positions which will put stress on the disks.

I am injury free since 2007 but I know that I have to take it easy when my neck tells me I'm over doing it - I use a neck friendly pillow, a neck relaxer, ice packs on my neck, etc.

I would get an MRI and figure out what caused the injury or what will re-injure the discs and then decide if you want to take the risks related to that movement or body position.

I could write a minor thesis on this topic here but I would ask your MD what the deal is with your bulging disks are, can they heal (yes - sort of), can you do triathlons, etc.  He or she should be having this conversation with you while he looks at your MRI's.

I just reread your thread for the 4th time and it appears that you really need to find a couch and stay there until you get this sorted out with the MD, the MD is the only qualified person that I know that can prescribe the route to recovery via either physical therapy or chiropractic, or surgery (you will find out the difference between a bulge and a herniation if you continue to exercise without knowing what's going on in there).

Good luck.

Oh and if anyone ever tells you not to second-guess "arm-chair quarterback" your doctor feel free to herniate their discs with extreme prejudice.
 



Edited by jamesj7373 2010-01-09 1:31 PM


2010-01-09 6:52 PM
in reply to: #2604341

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Subject: RE: Bulging Disc: End of Triathlon Career??
rkreuser - 2010-01-09 2:34 PM Nope. Not the end of the triathlon career. At all.

Case in point....2001 had a herniated, then ruptured L4. After huge machinations, finally got to a surgeon that fixed me. Several HIM's and countless marathons later, I'm cool.

Rick, what surgery did you have?

My specialist seem intent on fusion, but I hear a lot of success stories from discectomy?

Cheers
2010-01-12 2:20 PM
in reply to: #2605325

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Subject: RE: Bulging Disc: End of Triathlon Career??
to the O.P. - I agree with the statement/question "What did your doctor say?"  I would not necessarily follow the advice of a bunch of folks you've never met, aren't licensed in the practice in any type of medicine and have not performed any type of exam.  That being said, their experiences are valuable to you so you can sort of gauge what to expect.  I was actually going to start a similar thread, as just 5 days ago I injured myself shoveling snow.  The diagnosis I received was "back strain" and "probable bulging disc".  No X-Ray was done because I am improving over where I was just this weekend.  I have some medicine to take and PT exercises involving stretching.  I am anxious to hit the pavement again, but right now walking, sitting, standing - all painful - but nothing like it was on Friday so I have hope.  From what I recall from my experience in work comp cases - bulging discs etc are permanent, but my doctor told me - you can be completely symptom/pain free as well. 

On a good note, she told me I was not allowed to shovel any more snow.  Laughing 

ps - I am only 38, overweight, but not incredibly so - in that my injury is not weight related.  Listen to your body, and your doctor.  Good luck.
2010-01-13 5:13 PM
in reply to: #2599165

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Subject: RE: Bulging Disc: End of Triathlon Career??
KathyG - 2010-01-06 5:59 PM I had 2 herniated discs L4 L5, had foot drop and had to have surgery within 10 days of the incident.

I've done tris for 7 years and have done two Ironmans. My back only bothers me 3-5 days a year. When I was over weight and out of shape my back hurt every day after my surgery.


My wife had a herniated disc from a yoga class a few years ago.  Also osteoarthritis in her lumbar spine.  She was miserable.  She now does half irons and marathons.

Main thing she did was...

Lose weight (60 lbs, in her case).

As with KathyG, it only occasionally bothers her these days.

(Not to say the OP's case is in any way the same, just to say not to say "never" with this injury.)
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