Herniated Disc Exercises

[lilblitz]

wouldn't "pumping the discs compress the jelly more and make it come out, that doesn't make sense

[rchirodoc]

@lilblitz No - you're thinking of a ruptured disc. With a herniated disc, the wall is still intact but the inner fibers are torn. The jelly will not leak out of a herniated disc.

[lilblitz]

@rchirodoc Thanks for the response, my chiro seems to think its slight I did it a week ago and haven't felt my ass cheek since it seems to be getting better I am nursing it pretty well, i intend to build up my lower back muscles which are disproportionate to my muscula upper back, any idea of the prognosis for this kind of thing I'm a 29 year old male, I box and work out i cant wait to get active again but I dont want to cause long term damage

[rchirodoc]

@lilblitz Well, you're young and it sounds like you're in good physical shape otherwise, so I don't see why it won't heal completely. Especially if it's just a mild disc bulge. However, numbness usually takes longer to respond, so just be patient with it.

[lilblitz]

@rchirodoc I was thinking to swim for a few weeks rather than any kind of weights hoping by that time it will be ok, today I had a weird pain in my foot like someone stuck a hot needle in my toe it was surprisingly painful, I'm getting to the age when I'm regretting rolling my eyes when older people used to say "take it easy you will be sorry later" anyhow thanks for the advise keep up the good work doc

[lilblitz]

Tell you what this trampoline thing is doing something I feel sensation coming and going in my right butt cheek just started after I sent the last post

[gnortonshores]

Very informative video. Will the trampoline exercise help to strengthen the muscles in the neck too?

[rchirodoc]

@gnortonshores Yes, that exercise improves all of the small postural muscles that surround the entire spine, all the way from the base of the skull down to the pelvis.

[gnortonshores]

Hello,

I have a weak upper back muscle that is sore and one of my chiropractic adjustments will not hold. Will the trampoline exercise help to strengthen that area? I haven't used or exercised that muscle for a long time and want to get it stronger.

[rchirodoc]

@gnortonshores Yes - what the trampoline exercise does is it works the smaller muscles that surround the spine and helps you maintain a proper balance. That will help you hold your adjustment better.

[steckleinjr]

i've been told exercises need to be tightly taylored to each individual---as they can hurt you or not help you. do you believe that each case varies in terms of muscular imbalance?

[rchirodoc]

@steckleinjr The degree of imbalance will vary, but we all have the same muscles, and in most cases, the same muscles will go weak in any individual with a specific condition. A person's response to the same exercise may be different, but pretty much everyone starts with the same set of exercises usually.

[2010vasilisa]

Thank you for your response. I am a little confused now though.

According to Mayo clinic herniated disk and ruptured are the same thing

Quote from their website - " One cause of back pain is a herniated disk, sometimes called a slipped disk or a ruptured disk."

Are you referring to the same rupture as they do?

[rchirodoc]

@2010vasilisa No, they are not the same thing. They are different stages of the same problem. When a disc is first injured, a few layers within the wall of the disc will be damaged, but the wall is not completely torn through. This is called a Bulging Disc. When more layers of the wall are torn (about 50% of the layers), but the wall is still not torn through completely, this is a herniated disc. When the wall tears through completely and the fluid within the disc seeps outside of the disc

[rchirodoc]

@2010vasilisa that is a ruptured disc.

[2010vasilisa]

hi, i was wondering if lateral herniation (L-4/L-5) can be helped.

I was told it usually requires surgery.

[rchirodoc]

@2010vasilisa It doesn't matter if the disc is herniated laterally, posteriorly or even anteriorly - it can still heal in most cases.

The only type of herniated disc that can NOT heal without surgery is a ruptured disc.

[pelemone]

It works! I was in a lot of pain for almost a year. I can walk again!

[rchirodoc]

@pelemone That's awesome! I'm glad to hear you're doing so well.

[kulitjanl12]

Hi..Dr..i want to ask something about the herniation because i have it.Iam only 21 yrs.old and have spinal disc herniation(L3-L4,L4-L5, AND L5-S1)iam about to undergo for disectomy on feb.20 bec.the physical therapy was not successful.thier's no improvement after all.What can you recommend for me?is it safe to undergo disectomy to alleviate the pain?

[rchirodoc]

My goodness, you have a lot going on for only being 21! Yes, at your age the discectomy should be safe, but you have to realize that the problem could return even after surgery. You will need to go through therapy again, and you need a program of exercises, etc. that you will do on a daily basis to maintain your strength, even after you've been released from PT again.

[rchirodoc]

If you want to learn more about what you can do after the surgery, I would recommend that you sign up for my free eCourse. You can learn about it by visiting my website (which is mentioned in the video you watched), scroll to the bottom of the screen and click the button that says "Bulging Disc Resources." You'll see where you can sign up for it on the left side of the screen on that page.

[GreenAmigos]

Is it ok to exercise whilst there is still muscle weakness? How come the muscle weakness takes longer to go away than the pain?

Thanks.

[rchirodoc]

Yes, you can exercise with muscle weakness - in fact, that's the point of it. You'll lose strength over time because of the nerve pressure, and that takes some time to build up again which is why it takes longer than pain relief usually.

[livedoen4]

My abs muscles have all but gone away due to a L5-S1 herniation. I have a belly now and need to work it but I don't want to cause any more damage. When I sneeze I brings me to my knees...

[rchirodoc]

This is a real issue, because traditional abdominal exercises are the worst for your condition. You definitely want to avoid sit ups, but crunches aren't as bad as long as the low back stays flat on the ground.

Also, you need to avoid any of the exercises that require rotation of the waist (like some of the gym equipment would have you do).

A better option is balancing exercises, which work the core muscles without a lot of flexion and rotation.

[rchirodoc]

A good example of that would be for you to be on your hands and knees, straighten one leg & then straighten the opposite arm (so you're balancing yourself on one knee & the opposite hand). Hold for 5 seconds and then alternate. I would do 10 times on each side.

This exercise helps balance, but is also amazing for core strengthening as well as the buttock and legs.

[ashleysmith10022]

Thanks for the advice this kind of thing should be supported more I think ...the government could pay you to give online advice to anyone in the world.

thanks again.

[rchirodoc]

Thank you!

[ashleysmith10022]

Hi, I herniated a disc somewhere low in my spine I am still waiting for my MRI scan. Its been three weeks and although the pain has drastically reduced ( not dissappeared ) I still have a slight numbness in my left foot/toes and alot of strength loss in that leg and foot. Should I be worried and what activities should I avoid ....I can still cycle (just about anyway) and walking is very difficult. Your video looks very good but the marching one is hard because of my floppy left foot.

[rchirodoc]

Hi there! Well, you haven't had the problem for very long, so I'm not sure that you should be worried yet. The numbness and loss of strength are from the nerve having pressure on it from the disc.

Once you have your MRI results you'll know more, because they need to see how severe it is before any recommendations can be made.

In general, though, you want to avoid any activity that involves bending and twisting your low back at the same time.

[rchirodoc]

Also, you don't want to do any of the exercises that would be dangerous for you - you're correct about the trampoline - it may be great for the back, but not so good if you can't support yourself on it.

[mrsinghnyc]

Hey doc, got a question. I have two herniated discs between L4 L5 and L5 S1. Its been almost 2 years. I still have some symptoms, but not as bad as in the beginning. I want to start lifing weights, not go crazy, but do some moderate lifting. I want to do bicep curls and some bench pressing. Would it be beneficial for me to wear a weight lifting belt?

[rchirodoc]

Hello! Yes, I would definitely wear a weight lifting belt if you're going to do that. I wouldn't do any dead lifts or anything like that, even with the belt. As long as you have good form with your exercises, and avoid a lot of bending and rotation at the waist, you should be fine. If you're even the slightest bit worried that you may hurt yourself, it would be best to work with a personal trainer just for a couple of times to make sure you are doing the exercises with good form.

[CheerMonkey12953]

okay thank you!

[CheerMonkey12953]

i just herniated disk l4-l5 and i love to cheer! if i do the exercises u and my pt show do u think i can cheer again? i am 11

[rchirodoc]

Hi there! You're very young, so I can't see a reason why you wouldn't heal well and be able to get back to cheering.

[CheerMonkey12953]

thanks! one other question for the past couple of days my ankle was swollen then i put ice and it was lil better is this common or should i go to my pediutrison and see

[rchirodoc]

You probably just sprained your ankle. Just keep icing it - it should be fine.  If it isn't better in a week, then see your doctor.

[johnbr59]

herniated disc at 11? are you sure?

[bmxunknown]

well the pain seems like it is starting to settle down but i seen a specialist, he said i can bike, but if i my back hurts stop. and i was raelly hard on my bike on biking and after a couple of days it hit me.

and i wasnt doing any stretches at that time either. but now im doing them, core exercises , and crunches. and the pain seems like it is starting to go down to almost nothing. i think im going to get accupunture soon, and massage if that doesnt work.

but thanks for info.

[bmxunknown]

im 16 and have a herniated disk l4 l5.

i was pain free for a while but the pain is coming back again..

i doc said i could bike again and i did, how long will it take for the pain to go away.

it is not alot of pain,

its not comforable though.

will the pain go away soon, or should i go to my doctor, ?

[rchirodoc]

Hey - if the pain is coming back, that means that it wasn't corrected properly the first time. You may want to visit your doctor, but at your age you may not need to.

If you go to my website, I have a free e-course that you can sign up for that will give you a lot of good information for relief, but also complete healing (so the pain doesn't return).

Just go to my website, and at the bottom of the page you will see a link that says "Bulging Disc Resources" - you can sign up there.

[bmxunknown]

also, for the exersice that will complete healing? will that actually work? or should i ask my doctor about it first?

[rchirodoc]

Hi there! My recommendations work for a herniated disc as well. You're really young, so you would respond really well to the treatments I recommend, and I see no reason why you couldn't get back to skateboarding and wrestling.