Anyone ever fully recovered from this? Scrounge is not happening haha. I'm suffering from l5 s1 disk herniation and I'm totally immobilized. Anyone? Am I done gathering wood haha?
Herniated disk
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Sorry to hear that. I had surgery when I was 26 for the partial removal of my L5 due to a large herniation that happened on the job site. I was told that my life would change forever and it did. My mountaineering ambitions had to change as well as my employment. It all worked out in the end though. Instead of doing multi day alpine climbing trips with large packs I shifted more energy towards day trips up winter waterfalls which felt like traction at the end of the day! Changed the tool belt and the ski industry for a new line of work. I process my wood one round at a time and leave the big stuff for the strong backs out there. I use proper form when lifting and have enjoyed splitting wood with the aid of a splitter. Patience will be your best friend and an mri will truly tell you where you stand. Rushing recovery will not work. Good luck, it will get better.
I don't know about fully recovered but you may be able to do wood again. I have lower back problems too and have to limit how much I do at one time, like two or three hours, one or two days a week. It is the constant bending over that will get me as much as the lifting. But slowly I get her done. Wishing the best for your recovery and being able to process wood again. 
Sorry to hear about your back. Consider it a promotion to supervisor of wood acquisition for family. It's about getting out into woods with family, as much as getting wood.
I buy some blocked wood each year, and split and stack at my pace. Outings with family add a few more cords but that's gravy.
I buy some blocked wood each year, and split and stack at my pace. Outings with family add a few more cords but that's gravy.
I am sorry to hear that happened to you, but can relate my experience and hopefully it well help you!
I ruptured my L5-S1 in the Summer of 2007 lifting at work, and even had "footdrop" which means it was pressing on the nerve so when I walked my left foot kind of went "clump, clump". Had an MRI and they even showed me the images; the report that was written sounded a lot worse than what the images were showing, but it still wasn't a good thing to have! I was going to an orthopedic doctor for rehab and he damn near killed me; he had me on 15 different exercise machines doing all kind of things and while I was looking good physically I was in terrible pain! I then found a physical therapist who helped me tremendously, and he even said "you can work out and lift weights for 30 years, but if you aren't addressing the problem you won't get better!", and he had me do the "McKenzie" pushups, 200 a day, divided into 3 sessions a day. I layed flat on my stomach, put my arms out in front of me like Superman, not all the way out but pretty far, and did a pushup where I only lifted the top of my body from the waist up, from the waist down stayed on the floor. When he saw this was not causing me pain. he would have me lay on the table in his office, and actually strapped me down which put even more pressure on my back while I did them. Well, on the 8th day, I did some at home, sat down to eat supper, and felt a strange "feeling" right in the middle, right on the disk-I had never felt that before, and it hurt just for a few seconds then felt better, and I am convinced that it was the "jelly" as he called it going back into the disc...it hurt coming out, so it had to hurt slightly going back in. I regained all of the proper function of my foot, the footdrop was gone, and that like I said was over 7 years ago. He told me if I ever felt like I did something back there, just bang out 50 pushups and it should help, and to do some here and there as "maintainence", and I do. Also, if you do them, when you raise up inhale, hold it for a few seconds, exhale and lower yourself down; this makes you hold the stretch a bit and also puts some pressure on the disc.
I have had other issues since then, groin, hip issues, a "sports hernia" which is an umbrella term meaning "inflammed muscles and tendons" on my lower left side, but I can't say that I have had any more issues due to the L5-S1 so THERE IS HOPE FOR YOU TOO
! I scrounge wood, do shipping/receiving at age 54, and while I have my aches and pains I think that it is more from age and repetitive stress than anything else. It DOES change your life, your way of thinking, you have to squat and lift with your knees and keep your back straight (look up as you lift, that helps), but life does go on and you CAN do things like firewood and such, you just have to do them a bit differently but YOU CAN DO THEM! I know things look grim now, but hang in there, rest, but check out McKenzie pushups on Google and find a physical therapist that believes in them and can help you with them. I wish you the best of luck, a good recovery, and will keep you in my prayers, and PLEASE keep us updated on how you are doing! But promise me that you'll find a p.t. and talk about the McKenzie pushups
All the best,
PA. Woodsman
I ruptured my L5-S1 in the Summer of 2007 lifting at work, and even had "footdrop" which means it was pressing on the nerve so when I walked my left foot kind of went "clump, clump". Had an MRI and they even showed me the images; the report that was written sounded a lot worse than what the images were showing, but it still wasn't a good thing to have! I was going to an orthopedic doctor for rehab and he damn near killed me; he had me on 15 different exercise machines doing all kind of things and while I was looking good physically I was in terrible pain! I then found a physical therapist who helped me tremendously, and he even said "you can work out and lift weights for 30 years, but if you aren't addressing the problem you won't get better!", and he had me do the "McKenzie" pushups, 200 a day, divided into 3 sessions a day. I layed flat on my stomach, put my arms out in front of me like Superman, not all the way out but pretty far, and did a pushup where I only lifted the top of my body from the waist up, from the waist down stayed on the floor. When he saw this was not causing me pain. he would have me lay on the table in his office, and actually strapped me down which put even more pressure on my back while I did them. Well, on the 8th day, I did some at home, sat down to eat supper, and felt a strange "feeling" right in the middle, right on the disk-I had never felt that before, and it hurt just for a few seconds then felt better, and I am convinced that it was the "jelly" as he called it going back into the disc...it hurt coming out, so it had to hurt slightly going back in. I regained all of the proper function of my foot, the footdrop was gone, and that like I said was over 7 years ago. He told me if I ever felt like I did something back there, just bang out 50 pushups and it should help, and to do some here and there as "maintainence", and I do. Also, if you do them, when you raise up inhale, hold it for a few seconds, exhale and lower yourself down; this makes you hold the stretch a bit and also puts some pressure on the disc.
I have had other issues since then, groin, hip issues, a "sports hernia" which is an umbrella term meaning "inflammed muscles and tendons" on my lower left side, but I can't say that I have had any more issues due to the L5-S1 so THERE IS HOPE FOR YOU TOO
! I scrounge wood, do shipping/receiving at age 54, and while I have my aches and pains I think that it is more from age and repetitive stress than anything else. It DOES change your life, your way of thinking, you have to squat and lift with your knees and keep your back straight (look up as you lift, that helps), but life does go on and you CAN do things like firewood and such, you just have to do them a bit differently but YOU CAN DO THEM! I know things look grim now, but hang in there, rest, but check out McKenzie pushups on Google and find a physical therapist that believes in them and can help you with them. I wish you the best of luck, a good recovery, and will keep you in my prayers, and PLEASE keep us updated on how you are doing! But promise me that you'll find a p.t. and talk about the McKenzie pushupsAll the best,
PA. Woodsman
Dhide371,
I feel your pain. I had the same problem for over 15 years. In 2008 I had a fusion of L5 S1 surgery. Was up walking in less than 4 hrs hurting like hell
Out of hospital in 3 days. My doctor told me the more I used it the stronger it would get. A day later our furnace went out and so I had to have the heat exchanger replaced. To get to the furnace I have to move a bunch of storage boxes to get to the furnace, mind you this was in the basement (10 stairs). Moving slowly I did get everything moved. It hurt but didn't bring me to my knees like I thought it would. So, as of today I can do anything I want. If I get to hurting I stop for a day or so and then all is back to normal. My advice.........KEEP USING IT and bear the pain for awhile. (drugs) It does get betterThanks guys! Going in tomorrow for an epidural, I have already taken 2 weeks off of work and surprisingly am itching to get back. I understand my life will change a little but I will take it as it comes. Surfing and recently wood splitting are 2 of my favorite things to do along with anything around the house. Which are all back! PT is going to be my new surfing and wood splitting for the next few months. And PA Woodsman my current PT is a young buck dead set on getting me healthy. He's so into his job he uses the Mckenzie method a lot! I'm in good hands. I was against any injection or anything of the sort but I drive for a living and I need to get back to it. Pay checks don't grow on trees.
In 1993 I had pain in my lower left leg and was referred to a neurosurgeon who advised conservative treatment. He explained they were just learning that what looks terrible on an MRI isn't always what causes the pain. I was fine for 11 years.
In 2004 I had another episode. I saw another neurosurgeon who again advised conservative treatment. I spent a day in the ER on heavy painkillers, which caused my muscles to relax enough that the disk material shifted just enough to relieve the nerve root compression that was causing the extreme sciatica I was suffering. Nothing since then.
Just last night I was carrying the dogs out on the porch to do their business and slipped and fell on the ice. My first thought was my back, but all I have is a few bruises.
Sometimes surgery is the right course. Sometimes it isn't. Ask lots of questions of your doc and don't be afraid to go for second and third opinions.
+1+1 on that danimal1968. Get at least two docs diagnoses. Walking a lot can really help with Sciatica.
It is such a frustrating injury All it is is your disk pushing on a nerve Apparently 90% of people have some sort of disk damage by age 30! But those who suffer are the ones who's disks go back towards the sciatic nerve.... Little bugger. Looking forward to being healthy again. Thanks again for the help.
All it is is your disk pushing on a nerve Apparently 90% of people have some sort of disk damage by age 30! But those who suffer are the ones who's disks go back towards the sciatic nerve.... Little bugger. Looking forward to being healthy again. Thanks again for the help.Glad to hear that! Give it time and take it slow, do the exercises, and you will get better. Good luck to ya!
It is such a frustrating injury
Yes, I forget what percentage of the population it is, but most people over the age of 40 I believe it was would show some sort of disc herniation if you did an MRI on them, but they have no symptoms or pain....weird....
I have a degenerated disk in my lower back, and I often experienced back muscle spasms after working wood. A friend of mine gave me a tip about something he wears called a decompression belt. It is like a back brace, but you can connect an air pump up to it and inflate it. This lifts and separates the disks under it and takes the pressure off the disks.
You can google Dr Ho or others that have them. Some do not recommend them because they are not a real fix for the problem, and that is true. I only wear mine when I am actively working, and take it off after so as not to make the muscles dependent on it. It does help me when I am lifting.
You can google Dr Ho or others that have them. Some do not recommend them because they are not a real fix for the problem, and that is true. I only wear mine when I am actively working, and take it off after so as not to make the muscles dependent on it. It does help me when I am lifting.
As one of my neurosurgeons explained to me, the reason for this is that a nerve root compression goes from zero to drop-you-to-your-knees painful with just a very slight shifting of the bulging/ruptured/extruded disc. In my case, simply being knocked out with Dilaudid for the better part of a day allowed the muscles in the lower back and pelvic region to relax enough that the disc was no longer compressing the nerve root (which is what causes the pain) even after the painkillers wore off.
It is not the herniation or even the extrusion or sequestration (the terms for when the inner disc material actually separates from the disc itself) that causes the incredible pain. It is when the disc material compresses a nerve root, typically the sciatic nerve if you are talking about a lower back disc problem, that the pain comes. In my case, when I have had the pain it feels like someone has stuck a knife in my outer thigh just above the knee and it is the kind of pain that literally just sucks the life right out of you.
If you have never had surgery, get an inversion table. I swear by them. 3 herniated discs. I passed on surgery and did therapy and that helped a little. Granted i wasnt doing the exercises near as much as I was supposed to do.
Was in the condition I could not hardly walk. Go to store and I had to get in a store scooter. Hated that. I got an inversion table. Used it a bout a month Usually about 2 or 3 times a day. Sometimes not at all. Within a month I could walk mostly pain free. 3 months later my inversion table has become a clothes hangar. I am pain free for the most part. My back is sore sometimes and I do not have the flexibility I should but that is because I do not do my exercises and sit in a chair too much.
Was in the condition I could not hardly walk. Go to store and I had to get in a store scooter. Hated that. I got an inversion table. Used it a bout a month Usually about 2 or 3 times a day. Sometimes not at all. Within a month I could walk mostly pain free. 3 months later my inversion table has become a clothes hangar. I am pain free for the most part. My back is sore sometimes and I do not have the flexibility I should but that is because I do not do my exercises and sit in a chair too much.
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http://www.amazon.com/Ironman-Gravity-4000-Inversion-Table/dp/B000VSKAI8
Btw, these tables take getting used to. So suck it up and deal with it. First few times you might only be able to tolerate lesser angles and for short periods. Just stick with it. Just keep using it until you get used to steeper angles. First few times I used it I could barely handle small angles back and only a brief time. Now I can hang completely upside down for 10 minutes.
PS- Also ask your doctor or therapist about them. Especially if you have had surgery. My therapist recommended it to me. I am so glad she did.
http://www.amazon.com/Ironman-Gravity-4000-Inversion-Table/dp/B000VSKAI8
Btw, these tables take getting used to. So suck it up and deal with it. First few times you might only be able to tolerate lesser angles and for short periods. Just stick with it. Just keep using it until you get used to steeper angles. First few times I used it I could barely handle small angles back and only a brief time. Now I can hang completely upside down for 10 minutes.
PS- Also ask your doctor or therapist about them. Especially if you have had surgery. My therapist recommended it to me. I am so glad she did.
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pss- Most and by most I mean 99% of the people out there use awful form when picking things up. Squat. Use your legs. It really works and prevents blowing out discs. Also if you go to pick up something off the ground, either squat or hold on to something and stick one leg straight back as you bend over.
Bending over is the WORST thing for discs. toe touches? Awful. Do not do them.
Bending over is the WORST thing for discs. toe touches? Awful. Do not do them.
LOL I was dropped one day by bending over to pick up a dime! The pain was horrible. I agree proper form is key. Ill also add that when there is nothing around to grab onto when I bend I will sometimes just brace myself on my opposite knee if Im picking something up one handed. I also have an inversion table and like the relief it gives me. I need to keep telling myself to work on strengthening my core muscles prior to wood gathering season so that is my next goal coming up.
+1 for the inversion table. I have a Teeter Hang-Up and it's phenomenal. It took me a long time to realize that if I had some kind of injury, that I should be doing things differently. Duh. So working on all the mechanical systems takes the focus off the one system I seem to be abusing and gets the load balanced and the injury fades to inconsequential.
The more work I do in that fashion, the more work I CAN do. I'm 56 now and I have gear I bought 9 years ago I couldn't hardly move. If I perform due diligence I can pick it up and walk 50 yards with no problem.
Small caution on the inversion table. My usual philosophy is that if one is good, fifty will cure me. Ten minute sessions were working so well that I started watching whole TV shows upside down. That kind of didn't exactly work...
But your TV remote will work upside down!
The more work I do in that fashion, the more work I CAN do. I'm 56 now and I have gear I bought 9 years ago I couldn't hardly move. If I perform due diligence I can pick it up and walk 50 yards with no problem.
Small caution on the inversion table. My usual philosophy is that if one is good, fifty will cure me. Ten minute sessions were working so well that I started watching whole TV shows upside down. That kind of didn't exactly work...
But your TV remote will work upside down!
Yes, since I had my injury everything is picked up by squatting, pulling the item close to your body, looking up a little, and I had read once that it was a good idea to inhale and pull your core muscles in, but not sure about that part. But yes, squat, get the item as close to you as possible and go straight up!
Hope you are doing better, I Herniated a disk last year, the moment it happened I was lifting a piece of concrete awkwardly. Felt like a hot knife going into my back. After that I had heavy burning sensation going down through my groin, something about a nerve the Doc said.....Anyway my back was raw and so messed up I thought I would never be able to load the Big rounds into my furnace again...lo and behold a year later and I am back to lifting heavy things awkwardly again...LOL...it gets better, be patient....
Back in 96 I was loading a canoe on the back of my truck, something I have done 1000s of times. Squatted down, grabbed canoe and lifted. Felt a burn down the back of my left leg. Thought I pulled a hamstring. Well within a week or so I still had the burn and started noticing foot drop and loss of sensation. Could not get rid of the pain, it hurt all of the time, didn't matter if I was standing, sitting, laying down. Pain was always there. Had an MRI which found I ruptured the disk at L2. Neuro-Doc gave me 3 choices, do nothing, long term bed rest talking months-year, or have surgery. I opted for surgery. I remember waking up after the surgery, not feeling any pain, wiggling my toes and said I'm good. Haven't had any disk related pain since. Good luck.
L5-S1, C6 & C7 last MRI I had.
Tried it all, all the injections, blocks, acupuncture, traction, chiropractor, blah, blah, blah.
A good chiropractor or better yet a DO. DOs adjust differently and I feel better and safer.
My family doc is s DO, so I get adjusted whenever I go in, which is maybe once a year, so not much help.
After years, I have just learned to live with it, and when it gets real unbearable, Percocets while not killing the pain, make it kind of bearable.
I found the more I don't think of it, the less it bothers me.
Just gotta live with it.
Getting fused limits mobility, and ends up weakening any adjacent joints above & below, causing even more disc & vertebrae problems.
I'll wait till I can take it anymore, which will be a while yet.
Tried it all, all the injections, blocks, acupuncture, traction, chiropractor, blah, blah, blah.
A good chiropractor or better yet a DO. DOs adjust differently and I feel better and safer.
My family doc is s DO, so I get adjusted whenever I go in, which is maybe once a year, so not much help.
After years, I have just learned to live with it, and when it gets real unbearable, Percocets while not killing the pain, make it kind of bearable.
I found the more I don't think of it, the less it bothers me.
Just gotta live with it.
Getting fused limits mobility, and ends up weakening any adjacent joints above & below, causing even more disc & vertebrae problems.
I'll wait till I can take it anymore, which will be a while yet.
Damn Hog, all this AND a hernia too? It's like you've been hit by a truck!
And after he hit you we got whacked too, but man, that's more than your share there buddy!
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