Thread: Exercise With Disc Prolapse

fusion? jeeesus! restricted movement now T2?

Originally Posted by gruntjc

fusion? jeeesus! restricted movement now T2?

Yes, a little. It really hasn't been too much of a drama in itself, but I did lose some balance. I tend to fall over if I'm not careful, which made for playing football somewhat of an issue. :) The balance issue is the main reason I can't do traditional squats, can only be in a Smith machine.

Originally Posted by BODY DOC

Hi Jason, disc prolapses are certainly not fun.

Discs don't like flexion, i.e. bending forward, particularly when combined with load or twisting movements. When they're acutely inflamed, they don't like anything at all!

In terms of weights, you could still do exercises where your back is supported, so light leg press (and I mean light), bench work (chest, tricpes, dumbbell rows - lock in your core and maintain excellent form), lat pulldown (light again), preacher curls, anything where you're not bending your back. This also means avoiding lifting heavy weights from the rack, etc, so machines may be a good choice.

Cardio - hit the water. Hydrotherapy is your best bet, as it will take the pressure off of your disc. Get your pulse up and keep it up for 30-45 mins. Don't use the recumbent bike, as this places your lumbar spine in a state of flexion which discs don't like. Use a normal stationary bike, put the seat up and don't lean forward. Again, lock in your core when cycling.

Other exercises - You need to be doing some corrective work for the disc - so McKenzie exercises from a Physio, as well as some coaching on training your core is essential.

Avoid - squats, deads and seated rows - these will absolutely flare your back up.

Medication - ask your doctor for some anti-inflammatories (which I would imagine you already have). Failing that, Voltaren Rapid from the chemist will do the job, just ask the pharmacist for advice before taking it, particularly if you are on other meds.

Let us know how you progress, but keeping your weight down is really important when it comes to discogenic low back pain. Manage your diet. If you need dietary advice, post it up here for the gang to provide feedback.

BD

Hey Doc, what do you reckon of gravity inversion table therapy? I am talking about the ones you can use at home and cost ~$150. I just found out from an acquaintance that he also had L5/S1 prolapse and has been suffering from it for 2 years now. Last week he started using a home gravity inversion table and completely swears by it. He said that within this one week of use the sciatic nerve pain has virtually ceased.

I am thinking of purchasing one of them off eBay and doing a few minutes a day, would love you to shed some light on this!

Traction therapy is certainly a treatment used for disc lesions. The concept is that by tractioning the verterbrae, you create negative intradiscal pressure (i.e. a vacuum) that pulls bulging disc material back into place. I would not recommend more than 5-10 mins to start with and then build up to about 15 mins. Follwing this, DO NOT sit or bend your spine forward. Do corrective extension exercises (McKenzie) or lay on your belly with a pillow under your chest to place the spine in extension. I used to use inversion boots, (not sure where you get them these days), and found them briliant for low back pain, but not so crash hot for headaches!

Short answer - if you haven't had traction therapy in the past it's well worth a go.

Keep us updated.

BD

Always helpful, thank you :)