Need Advice regarding an L5-S1 disc injury

[JB1981]

Hi Mark,

I got my MRI results back from a deadlifting injury and I wanted to know if I could get some advice.

Basically, I have a moderate sized right paracentral to lateral disc protrusion at L5-S1. I have been lifting with this injury - benching, pressing and doing other assistance exercises. I have stopped squatting, deadlifting.

What do you believe is the best way for me to heal this? I am seeing a chiropractor weekly.

[Mark Rippetoe]

What are your current symptoms?

[JB1981]

Currently, I have mild pain in my lower back/sacrem region. When I first got the injury I could hardly walk or even take a shit, the lower back pain was so severe.

I went from being almost unable to walk to resuming my SS routine in about two weeks. I am not in any terrible pain. I am very functional actually, but I cannot lift heavy w/ squats and deads.

When I reach a certain weight with these two exercises, the stress is simply too much.

About 3-4 weeks into the injury, I have resumed benching and pressing heavy (for me). I've made pretty damn good progress after getting chiro adjustments and icing.



I had to cut the presses short the other day because the weight was too much on my lower back. I can certainly lift weight, I just have to know my limits right now. Do you believe it would be good for me to stay off the back for a few weeks and see what happens from there?

[TravisRussellDC]

The best way to heal? Time.

The natural history of a disc herniation (protrusion and extrusion, but not sequestration) is that the patient will be pain free in about 8 months with no treatment what so ever. Now, being pain free does not mean that everything goes back to normal and the joint complex returns to 100% function. It just means that the body has found a way to compensate and work around an injury to get you out of pain.

Chiropractic has been shown to speed up the time necessary for a patient to become pain free following a disc herniation, as well as return function, range of motion, and flexibility to the joint complex.

My approach to rehab is simple,
1) get the patient out of pain in a static position
2) increase pain free range of motion, first passive then active
3) load the patient through his/her range of motion

What are the recommendations from your Chiropractor?

[Mark Rippetoe]

I second Travis's advice. Move it, stretch your hamstrings, deadlift with light weights and high reps, and be patient. It will heal eventually, but it will heal better and faster the more you move it.