What no runner wants to hear...

jamers3111

Welp, it happened. After 15+ years of running I have been told to stop running (for now). WHAT?! You want me to WHAT?!

What I thought was piriformis pain (which I have been suffering through since January) turns out to be two bulding discs, L4/L5. I have no idea how this happened. The doc said it could have been from my intense training schedule combined with sitting at desk. I have two races coming up but I'm not going to risk it. The doc and my PT said NO RUNNING, NO elliptical, and NO lifting weights, so I shall listen because I want to be back out there on the road. I don't care if I have to take 3-6 months off as long as I know I can get back out there.

I have turned to vinyasa (power) yoga to help strengthen my core to help my back. I have been doing yoga (Bikram and power) off and on since December 2011 and noticed an improvement in my running (pace went from 10min/mi to 8:50min/mi for 10K), so I will keep that in mind so that I don't get too down.

Have any of you had similar experiences? What other workouts could/should I do during this time?

CarsonRuns

I hate to hear this. The first thing I would do is seek an opinion from a specialist that is also a runner. If a doctor that is a runner says "don't run", then don't run. There are many physicians that will tell you that but they just don't understand it.

jamers3111

The doctor didn't really say much about it. My PT told me to stay away from any high-impact/hip-shifting workouts for the time being. She is pretty optimistic that if I do the exercises she recommends and concentrate on my posture that I should be back on the road in 2-3 mos.
I'm not going to lie... It doesn' hurt to run at the time, but afterwards I'm in a LOT of pain. The pain radiates up my back and down my left leg, which is why I thought it was my piriformis or sciatica. I was very wrong.

Carolyn_79

I had bulging discs which gave me a lot of problems a few years back. The pain was so bad that I really couldn't exercise. It was lower back for me and shooting pains down to my knees in both legs. It got better after a few months of just doing nothing but then would reoccur every so often. I went to a doctor that did spinal manipulation and that was very helpful for me. I really haven't had any issues in the past couple of years. Once in a while it'll ache and it seems to go away on it's own. Sorry I don't have any helpful suggestions but I really hope it's a quick recovery for you.

dorianaldyn

Sorry to hear that!

My dance teacher in college injured her back during childbirth and started doing Pilates... this was eons ago before anyone had ever heard of Pilates - but she said it helped her back a lot. Just something else to look into besides yoga (I love vinyasa yoga too).

Is swimming OK? Summer is the perfect time to get some swimming workouts in.

stepgeek

My heart goes out to you. There's nothing worse than being injured, especially when you're in the middle of training. I'm honestly not very much help in terms of what to do in regard t your injuries, but the responses you've received seem pretty wise.

Now as to the yoga, I 100% noticed an improvement in my running when I both practice and run in the same training period. My times drop significantly, so as you said, at least there's an up-side to all this. Hang in there and we're all here for you when you need the support.

trail_rnr

Get a second opinion from a sports med doc who "gets" running. This is coming from someone who ran for years with spinal problems (congenital; not caused by running) because running kept it from getting worse. You might need to temporarily stop or back off while you address the acute problem, but it shouldn't be a show stopper. There are many, many options for treatment (both "conventional" and alternative). Also, many, many people are walking around with bulging disks that are asymptomatic. It's very common and any good sports med doc will do what she/he can to get you back out there.

(FWIW, I was fused at L4-L5-S1 3+ years ago because I lost all feeling in my foot and I am running 50 milers completely pain free--just don't ask me to vacuum. Good GAWD that flares up my sciatica :noway: )

fasterandbetter

Welp, it happened. After 15+ years of running I have been told to stop running (for now). WHAT?! You want me to WHAT?!

What I thought was piriformis pain (which I have been suffering through since January) turns out to be two bulding discs, L4/L5. I have no idea how this happened. The doc said it could have been from my intense training schedule combined with sitting at desk. I have two races coming up but I'm not going to risk it. The doc and my PT said NO RUNNING, NO elliptical, and NO lifting weights, so I shall listen because I want to be back out there on the road. I don't care if I have to take 3-6 months off as long as I know I can get back out there.

I have turned to vinyasa (power) yoga to help strengthen my core to help my back. I have been doing yoga (Bikram and power) off and on since December 2011 and noticed an improvement in my running (pace went from 10min/mi to 8:50min/mi for 10K), so I will keep that in mind so that I don't get too down.

Have any of you had similar experiences? What other workouts could/should I do during this time?

I would recommend to see a sports medicine doctor, a bulging disc can become a serious a condition if not adequately treated.