Jimmy's Down!

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Originally Posted by Tuckerman

Meet with the back dr yesterday. He showed me how I have lost some motor function in my left foot. He says microscopic discectomy I said I'd like to try cortisone injection first so he sending me to a pain clinic. He said deadlifts were the worse movement in the gym which leads me to believe he's not really for me. He said I will never be able to do deadlifts, squats, burpees, box jumps again. He suggested sit ups for core strength, sit ups are for abs which is only a small part of the core as far as I know.

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Was working out with a college kid whose hip surgeon told him he'd never row competitively again. He's doing better today than he was pre-surgury. Another woman who I see regularly had this surgery to cut a wedge of her femor out to straighten her knee (among other issues). Doc told her the best case scenario is that shed be able to walk a 1/4 mile pain free. She's back to playing rec league hockey at 45.

Sounds like your back dock doesn't work with athletes and is trying to get you back to walking up stairs and sitting in front of the tv. Id find someone else.

I would agree with him that you should avoid traditional deadlifts and back squats for a long long time if not indefinitely. I think you'll find that a mix of single leg deadlifts, trap bar deadlifts, rear foot elevated split squats etc will make you functionally stronger than the traditional lifts anyways. I'll ask the guys at mbsc if they know of any good trainers or pts in your area.

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Originally Posted by neufox47

I'll ask the guys at mbsc if they know of any good trainers or pts in your area.

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I'll probably be going down to N. Andover for PT. Know any good back Drs?

Sorry, no help there.

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where is the herniation, sounds like a L5-S1?

Good call not going right to the surgery. Surgeons always want to operate, it's what they do....the fact he was saying that so soon after an injury, before you had tried cortisone shot and rest, should be a red flag. I've never had a DR tell me to consider surgery first, they always explain it's a last resort.

Cortisone has about a 50% success rate. It worked for me (twice) It's not a cure-all, but can help get you out of pain and moving around sooner

it's going to just take time to see how the negative neuropathy improves. My first back injury (L4-L5-S1) a few years ago I had my whole R Glut shut down for about 4 months before it started coming back online, I also had "foot drop" and weakness in my calf muscle. I understand how scary it is to be faced with this situation, and alot of time the Drs aren't very helpful about explaining what is happening to you or what to expect in the coming months. (cuz they just don't know) just keep your head up and take care of yourself as these things will usually improve on their own.

Ps. you're going to want to give up those deadlifts and start doing this:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QitgZ5gnK-o
:biggrin:

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Originally Posted by Tuckerman

Know any good back Drs?

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Dr. Abdu at Dartmouth is probably one of the best spine surgeons in the NE at least in NH anyway.

I agree though, Try rehab and cortisone first. spinal extension exercises, traction, core strength.

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Originally Posted by Tuckerman

Would HGH help?

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Missed this. Definitely would during PT :biggrin:. GOod luck convincing your doc though.

After reading this I'm going to get the diskectomy. It seems like the fastest way back.

http://www.bostonglobe.com/sports/20...PmM/story.html

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Originally Posted by Tuckerman

After reading this I'm going to get the diskectomy. It seems like the fastest way back.

http://www.bostonglobe.com/sports/20...PmM/story.html

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IDK, get a bunch more info if you're considering it....

Make sure you're not getting the older, and generally out-date diskectomy. the modern procedure is done using endoscopic Diskectomy (Laprscopic surgery) which is minimally invasive with only a tiny incision involved. Scar tissue can be a big culprit in causing continued problems. It really should be a last resort if you continued to have nerve issues, (negative, positive neuropathy, Radiculopathy etc ) after appropriate time off.

Furthermore, Rushing back to do fuckin' cross-fit shouldn't be your number one priority. You're not a pro football player... your quality of life moving forward should be your most pressing concern. If I was your PT or DR I would completely forbid you from doing cross-fit for the rest of your life. That shit is terrible for your back and I have tons of friends that have hurt their lower back doing it.

I herniated L5 -S1 and it took me 9 months to get back to a pain free life thru PT, manipulation, mild exercise and a lot of pool time. In fact, every injury (collar bone, shoulders, rotator cuff, lower back) seem to respond well to swimming and pool exercises over a period of time. I wouldn't rush into the surgery since it sounds like this happened in the past week or so, way too soon to jump onto an operating table. over time that herniation should shrink and take the pressure off the nerves. I had success with the cortizone shot a year later after I healed up and reaggravated it.

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Originally Posted by Moeghoul

I wouldn't rush into the surgery since it sounds like this happened in the past week or so, way too soon to jump onto an operating table.

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...and his symptoms don't sound that severe.

seconded on the pool time. I've had great relief and success pulling traction in the pool using 10lbs weights on each ankle and a life jacket to keep me afloat. as well as just walking around in the water

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Originally Posted by neufox47

A good manual physical therapist who works with athletes. Can't remember where you are in NH, but Dr. Pallof works out of MBSC in Andover, Ma.

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MBSC does not accept insurance any other suggestions?

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Originally Posted by Tuckerman

MBSC does not accept insurance any other suggestions?

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Ask your insurance if they will reimburse you. IE, you pay $70 out of pocket and your insurance give you $50 back (this is what I did). It ended up being cheaper than going through a normal PT (first visit at a "normal PT place" they hit me with a $250 assessment fee which insurance covered $70 of). All I did was send the receipts in for each visit and they sent me a check.

That a no from Harvard Pilgrim. Maybe I should ditch the HMO pay a little more and get the ppo.

MBSC recommended http://www.fitzgeraldpt.com/

http://bretcontreras.com/youll-never...-biomechanics/

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Thanks man its encouraging.

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Originally Posted by neufox47

http://bretcontreras.com/youll-never...-biomechanics/

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Ya, good article. I completely agree with it in principal.

When my injury happened last july I had a lot of people telling me I should take the season off from skiing and stay in VT, and honestly I was a little offended and pissed. first, I had months to heal still and they obviously didn't know me well, or how important skiing was to me and my wellbeing. By November I was on the road to recovery and itching to go ski, albeit slowly and cautiously. I'm convinced skiing helped me heal and regain strength.

My comments above about Tuck never doing Crossfit again were directed less towards the smooth, deliberate, motions of isotonic lifting and more towards crossfit's peer-pressure culture and some of the exercises that are involved in CF. I just believe having friends and competitors cheering you on while throwing your back around awkwardly lifting heavy shit off the floor is a recipe for disaster IMHO.

In hindsight I'd never recommend someone stops doing what they love, just to modify your exercise routine and avoid any lifting that could aggravate your injury.

hope you're doing well and healing fast, Tuck!

go to bikram yoga and have the fat instructor who never shuts up scream that if it hurts that means it's doing more for you.

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Originally Posted by My Pet Powder Goat

Y
My comments above about Tuck never doing Crossfit again were directed less towards smooth, deliberate, isotonic lifting and more towards the peer-pressure culture and some of the exercises that are involved doing Crossfit. I just believe having friends and competitors cheering you on while throwing your back around lifting heavy shit off the floor is a recipe for disaster IMHO.

hope you're doing well and healing fast, Tuck!

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I do my wods solo at the local fitness center at lunch when the place is pretty empty. The only motivation I have is my workout log and maybe a little of the comments section of the crossfit main site.

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Originally Posted by Tuckerman

I do my wods solo at the local fitness center at lunch when the place is pretty empty. The only motivation I have is my workout log and maybe a little of the comments section of the crossfit main site.

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10-4. my comments are, as often is the case, speculative and often wrong :biggrin:

...just my friends here in VT do them in classes, and everyone pushes each other so hard that I think sometimes people "over do it"

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Originally Posted by My Pet Powder Goat

10-4. my comments are, as often is the case, speculative and often wrong :biggrin:

...just my friends here in VT do them in classes, and everyone pushes each other so hard that I think sometimes people "over do it"

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Crossfit boards are loaded with injuries. A lot of them serious. It is a sport, more than training for a sport.

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Originally Posted by My Pet Powder Goat

I'm convinced skiing helped me heal and regain strength.
...

In hindsight I'd never recommend someone stops doing what they love, just to modify your exercise routine and avoid any lifting that could aggravate your injury.

hope you're doing well and healing fast, Tuck!

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Couldn't relate more to those words. First time I broke my back, while living in Santa Cruz, I came out of traction with paralysis on my left side. Gimped hard and scared shitless at the prospect of not doing much for the rest of my life. 18 months later, I skied Squaw and decided skiing would force me to regain the motor control I'd lost.
I moved back to the mountains and got it all back, plus some.

Yo Tuck!

Just wondering how you're doing?



here's hoping it's already in your rear-view...

Had the operation on 7/16 and I'm still out of work and gimping around. My post op is in the morning. I guess I'm getting better but it's frustrating seeing bike and running season pass by. I think i'll be good to go for ski season so that's a plus.

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Heal fast man! Hope it all works out for you

Hey, dude, best of luck and good healing!

Glad to hear. You'll be back in action in no time.

I feel fine and ready to get after it again, I have a lot of catching up to do. Just waiting for the green light from Dr and PT.

Awesome! take it slow, dude. you only have one back!

looking forward to discussing your treatment and operation in more detail at the Sox game.

If I get one more incident I'm going under the knife. I still have issues a year later ( some lack of sensation in my foot and calf, mobility issues and tightness in my hip etc) I would love to feel whole again.

best of luck!

Got the green light to go to the gym with some restrictions. Still no mtn biking or running.

First day back in the gym since my disk herniation. I have lost 8 lbs and 50% of my strength in 8 weeks. Its been 5 weeks since my operation. agggggghghghghghgh Im super frustrated.

Sounds pretty similar to what happened to me after foot surgery. Dropped ~10 lbs in 8 weeks and lost lots of strength. It will come back, I've hit several all-time lifting PRs recently. Ease back into things and don't do anything stupid. Push too hard now and re-fuck your back and you could be on the DL for a long time.

^^^Time heals...

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Originally Posted by Tuckerman

First day back in the gym since my disk herniation. I have lost 8 lbs and 50% of my strength in 8 weeks. Its been 5 weeks since my operation. agggggghghghghghgh Im super frustrated.

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Don't reinjure yourself and you'll be stronger than you ever were in 6 months or less. Extended time off for people who have been consistent in lifting virtually always results in strength gains.

Another green light to start lifting again deads, overhead ........ but at only 50% and no jumping and lifting in the same day in case something goes wrong they want to know what did it. Thing is I did not tell them my 1 rep max and I'm kind of nervous to go in and bang out a bunch of deadlifts at 225.

Played 6 holes of Frisbee golf last night and that kind of irritated my back a bit. Just for a few mins after tee off.

I've been doing this every day or two the last couple of weeks, and I have to say that my low back pain has gotten WAY better. I had a pretty good stretching routine going already, but the foam roller and lacrosse ball stuff has been awesome/painful. I highly recommend adding it into your routine.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=FSSDLDhbacc#t=18

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Originally Posted by Tuckerman

Another green light to start lifting again deads, overhead ........ but at only 50% and no jumping and lifting in the same day in case something goes wrong they want to know what did it. Thing is I did not tell them my 1 rep max and I'm kind of nervous to go in and bang out a bunch of deadlifts at 225.

Played 6 holes of Frisbee golf last night and that kind of irritated my back a bit. Just for a few mins after tee off.

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Make sure to loosen up your hips and thoracic spine before you do anything active, it will *hopefully* prevent unessesary twisting at the lumbar.

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PT says I'm recovered. They said to go ahead and try to max out if it feels good and come back for one last visit in two weeks. Fitzgerald Physical Therapy in Woburn did/does a great job.

I'd train for 6-9 weeks before going for a max. Who cares what you max now, you are down in strength. My recommendation for DL 3 weeks of 3x8 stepping up each set unless it feels bad, 1 week each in order of 3x7,6,5 except do AMRAP on the third set, 1 week each in order of 3x6,4,3, except do AMRAP on the second set. That would give you nine weeks of DL, setting you up for a 1RM test in November. Listen to your body.