Prolapsed discs

Hello Stu

This may help.

Background - I had a microdisectomy back in Jan 13 to fix my very painful sciatica running down my left leg. Up until recently recovery has gone according to plan except 6 weeks ago I lifted something moderately heavy with a twist and started to get pain in my back and down my leg again (Oh Nooooooo!!!).

I started taking Ibrobrufen and Codymol and researched Mckenzie teqhnique following a video/webinar delivered by Dr Suprin

McKenzie Institute® Webinar: Understanding Lower Back Pain and SciaticaI would google some of the Mckenzie exercises and stick to them for at least week, secondly I would also look at pelvic tilt exercises(PT). 

Otherwise seek out a physio who is trained in Mckenzie techniques not your average physio.

i was quite surprised to find by localising the pain in my back and then doing gentle strength exercises incl 'PT' I manged to fix myself after a short time.

Good luck

Hi Stuart, i had severe sciatica constant for about 18 months after having it for a couple of months here and there over many years before, i couldnt sit, couldnt stand, couldnt lay down, couldnt sleep, had trouble driving, couldnt look down, could walk but not the same as normal, constant pain from bum to foot, numbness, tingling feeling etc etc,

I was eventually sent for physio where the stretches they were giving me, like you, were actually making me worse even though they told me basically no pain, no gain. I couldnt do these stretches anymore and was seen by a specialist who finally sent me for an MRI scan on 22nd July this year and diagnosis was L5/S1 disc herniation with canal stenosis and right S1 root compression, basically large disc bulge. I was seen by the doctor straight away who put me down as urgent for the injections as they will not do surgery until everything else has been tried, thank god.

Anyway as soon as i saw the doctor who explained exactly what was wrong with me and that i was booked in for the injections 2 weeks later (31st August) i went straight home went on google and typed in best stretches for a large disc bulge. I came across a video on youtube with a man holding a model of a spine with a large red disc bulge sticking out and he explained that if you have pain down your right side which was what i had, then if you do gentle stretches leaning over to your left this actually opens up your spine and takes the pressure off the bulge, and viser verser for pain on the left. I also done 1 other stretch which is the standing lumber extension exercise which is basically leaning backwards while standing, I done these throughout the day every couple of hours or so and can now happily tell you i am basically pain free, apart from when i sneeze lol but not had a painkiller in weeks. As i was feeling alot better after just 1 week of doing this i spoke to the doctors who still wanted to speak to me about the injections, so i still went for the appointment but they was happy with how i was doing and said you can get better from this on your own and so i didnt even have the injection. I have been told to just carry on doing what im happy doing and if i feel any pain when doing certain exercises then to stop doing them!

Sorry i have gone on a bit but just wanted to explain how awful my life was with this, which i thought i was stuck with forever and let you know that you can get better, i know everyone is different but i would love to know if these stretches help other people in the same situation, it just seems strange as soon i started doing them i felt better after having this for so long, please try them and let me know how you get on please