L5 herniation

[Ryan]

Hey guys. I have been struggling for a couple months with what seems to me to be an L5 herniation. I recently became certified through the ACSM as a personal trainer and am going through my CSCS study course to become a strength and conditioning coach, so I've gotten better acquainted with anatomy and human movement than I ever thought I would be. All that to say that through my studies, I've come to a 99% positive conclusion that it's an L5 herniation, with a hail-mary of a chance that it's an SI joint issue (but the chances of that are slim). I've conducted a bunch of general physical marker tests (straight leg raise test, etc.) and they all come back positive for L5 displacement.

So, my question to you all really just has to do with whether it's advisable to continue training before I've seen a sports ortho or if I should stop pulling and squatting until I get evaluated? Benching doesnt seem to aggravate the issue and my bench numbers arent suffering either, so no plans to curtail that.

Also, the pain isn't an issue because no matter what it feels like (and it doesnt radiate or present anywhere else, no numbness, etc), I can and have trained through it so I'm not sure whether that means I'm doing more harm training or not.

Doctors will usually give the most conservative approach to athletes, so I thought I'd ask other athletes first who know my sport w/o the clinical baggage clouding their judgment. lol

Thanks in advance guys (and possibly girls).

-Ryan

[dbunch]

My high level answer

What is the risk of aggravating the injury or of causing permanent damage by continuing to lift?

I love lifting but in the final analysis it is just a hobby and I will not risk hurting myself to the point that my overall quality of life suffers or that my ability to earn a living is affected.

Not a direct answer to your question – but maybe helpful in the over decision making process.

[osu122975]

Ryan,
Sorry to hear this. What about talking to your chiropractor? What's his advice?

I wish I knew what to tell you. I think it's a good idea to seek several opinions from multiple sources from differing backgrounds.

[Ryan]

May 17, 2016 13:54:17 GMT -5 osu122975 said:

Ryan,
Sorry to hear this. What about talking to your chiropractor? What's his advice?

I wish I knew what to tell you. I think it's a good idea to seek several opinions from multiple sources from differing backgrounds.

Yea Eric, that was my thinking too. I remember that the last time I was at the chiro, he mentioned after looking at my xrays that along with some cervical disc degeneration (which doesnt affect my training), I had a compressed L5 as well with some beginning signs of bulging. This was 4-5 months ago and is another reason why I'm fairly confident it's the L5 that's causing me more problems now, but I plan to check in with the chiro again and re-start treatment along with seeing an ortho.

I do need to find a sport-focused chiro though because most times, they dont even know what powerlifting is, let alone the mechanics of the lifts and how your body manages all the forces over time.

Problem is this stuff is SO d@mn expensive.....

I sometimes joke with people that the sport itself is pretty cheap to be involved in- it's the aftercare that will break the bank. lol

[osu122975]

I said something about you to my chiropractor yesterday. He said if it really is an L5 herniation, get an MRI to make sure. He said you should be able to rehab it using chiropractics. He had 2 discs giving him issues and rehabbed it over 4 months. That's why he became a chiropractor after that. He said you should not deadlift or squat or anything that will aggravate it or cause it to get worse. You can actually heal it.

And by the way, he was a PL who actually stayed with Louie Simmons at his house before WSBB moved to its current location. The first gym had holes in the floor and it was before Louie started implemented conjugate training. He also trained with Steve Wilson and Dave Waddington here in Sandusky. He was a 165'er and I believe pulled 685. His squat was pretty good too.

[Ryan]

Thanks Eric. Really appreciate you mentioning that to the chiro for me. I've been laying off all the lower back/posterior chain stuff for a few weeks now, trying to limit my arch when benching, etc.

I'm going on vaca week after next, but plan to get some chiro treatment when I return.

Thanks again.