Help: Herniated disk! Has anyone else had one?

Goal_Seeker_1988

Here's what happened... I started doin Jillian Michaels Body Revolution a few weeks into it while doin the cardio move runner's man I ended up landing on my left leg the wrong way... I thought I had hurt my hip... I paused for a few and finished my workout... Yada yada yada, a few weeks later the pain extended from my lower back the whole way down to my knee and into my foot... That's when I finally decided to go to the chriopractor. He did an xray and said it was a swollen disk told me not to workout and to stick with walking. He didn't want me to work but he couldn't give me an excuse to be off of work for a certain amount of time...

I continued with the pain for another week until I could get an appointment with my doctor... Bit of a quack if you ask me... He's a PA (physican assisant, not sure if or when I will ever get to see my real doctor) And he's not much older than me... He prescribed me prednisone but no pain relievers... Told me to take tylenor for the pain... Before hand I was taking 4 ibuprofen every 4 hours for the pain...

Two days after seeking medical treatment from him I ended up goin to the ER in extreme pain knowing I was in dire need of pain pills... They were able to get my MRI done 7 hours earlier than scheduled... It was scheduled that same day for 4pm they got me in @ 9am... After the results were in the came back and told me I have a large central herniation L4/5 causing focal stenosis with straightening of lordosis... They had me to be on strick bed rest for 3 days... Along with no work... I am scheduled to go back to work tonight I have next to no pain. I will be taking my pain killers with me in case I need them... I work as a CNA however, working night shift is really not that hard on me... I get to sit most of the night out and I get help while working with the residents...

I am currently waiting to hear from the neuologist about an appointment... I am really hoping to find some answers as far as what I can and can not be doing. Currently everyone has mixed opioions... My chriopractor says walking short distances... The ER wanted continued bed rest and my doctor gave me a paper with some stretching and talked bout physical theraphy... But he told me not to come back for my back that basically he can't do anything more for me @ this point in time until I see the neuologist whenever that may be...

My question: How long until I may return to weight training? I really wanna start exercising again but I am afraid! Also, how long does it take to get over something like this? What if anything should I be doing? Any advice??? Please and thank you in advance.

nannabannana

The long and short of it for me. After having several surgeries for other problems. I began to have that the worst pain of my life and crawling along my floors at night begging GOD to take me home because of the SCIATIC nerve damage of L4L5 sending excruciating pain to me. Finally I did see a neurologist...Plain and simple , he said stay on the floor with this pain or have surgery. I was frightened to death of back surgery in 1983 they didn't do to much , or I had never heard of it. I did not have it until GOD assured me that I would be fine. Within 1 hr of the surgery I was on my feet walking the halls of the hospital.
The one thing the Dr told me was to never lift more than 20 lbs. ever again. By GOD'S grace, I am still living a full life. I walk, I jump on a 36" trampoline, I dance(even the ZUMBA), I hiked mts for yrs., I do the treadmill, I do a cardio glide ( that one does hurt) so I don't do it as often, I swim, Ido squats, etc. but the HEAVY LIFTING is the one that gets me every time.
I would wait until you see the NEUROLOGIST..that is his specialty..Chiropractic worsened my pain..other PHD's had no incline ..
This is not an answer as to what you may do for now, but the weights might injure yourself more. Please wait until you see the NEUROLOGIST. Another opinion they are far more advanced now on pain management today than in 1983, but I was INJURED more from the other Drs. who promised and did nothing for me. They only took the money..IF you do not like my post pls feel free to delete it, but from one woman to another please take care of your body first then see what the Neurologist suggest. I will be praying for you. After the surgery he had me do 1/4 mil walk in am and pm for 1 week, thenupped it from there until I healed completely. P.S. My grandaughter is 24 and that is the same mesage I would give to her.

Goal_Seeker_1988

Thank you nannabannana for replying. I hope to be able to over come this. Yes, the pain had me screaming a pleaing to GOD asking him why... Last Tuesday the pain was so bad I tried to wrap a cord around my neck to just end it. Maybe he will suggest surgery they say it is microscopic surgery now days... I am just really hopin that by June I can go back to my life of working out in the mornings after I get home from the work.