Painstakingly Slow Progress from Back Recovery

[Dangerscouse]

Best of luck with the rehab Mike. It's not the same, but about nine years ago I had a bulging disc in my neck that manifested as an aggravated nerve in my outer shoulder blade (it felt like I constantly needed a massage but it did nothing to help).

It eventually after about three months of bad sleep and constant annoyance it got better all on its own but luckily it didn't stop me from rowing, but my point is that I haven't had a recurrence of the issue so hopefully if it's mid back it might be an isolated problem and not related to lower back issues. The fact that you can do other exercises suggests to me it's hopefully not as serious as you fear

[G-dub]

Worth a look. There are 3 books.

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B000FA5SGG/re ... TF8&btkr=1

[Cyclingman1]

Well, Mike, I may be the poster boy for back issues in the last year. But I wouldn't know if my experiences are relevant to what you are having. First, the back/spine is an amazingly complex system of vertebrae, nerves, & muscles that is constantly under stress. So many things can go wrong, especially in older people. Self diagnosis can be pretty iffy. I get the impression that you have not had a MRI. Where I live, one can go to a MRI clinic that will do a fairly inexpensive MRI, read it, and post the pictures and the result to you. You really need to know if you in fact have a herniated disc. Secondly, you indicate that the middle of the back is the problem area. Usually, herniated discs are from say L3 thru S1 - definitely lower back. Often herniated discs in that area also result in sciatica - nerve pain in butt and legs - but not necessarily. Herniated discs in middle of back may be a little different animal.

Regarding healing. A lot of back issues can resolve over time. It took about nine months after my microdiscectomy to stop having discomfort/pain. I did a little simple stretching that I looked up online. I tried PT and was most unimpressed. Just a waste of time and money. The worst aspect of all of that time was the inactivity - bed rest a good bit of that time - that was forced on me. It's hard to describe what that does to one's body - almost total shutdown. Over the last six/seven months, I've gradually gotten back some of my capability. I really don't have pain, although I get reminded that my back still has lingering issues. [Like Henry says, back problems never go away] Rowing is not really a problem. I do some weightlifting, but I'll never do another deadlift. Now I'm back on my road bike. That is what is going to get me back close to my former state.

Regarding your issue. I'm not sure if you have a disc problem. I say that you should not do anything that aggravates the situation. I think that you will get better over the next few months. If you can find back strengthening exercises that do not cause pain that would be good. I do a machine exercise where I lay back against adjustable tension.

[Dino]

My only words of advice are that just because it maybe feeling better doesn't mean it is better, only that the pain threshold has dropped below a certain point. E.g. your back might only have improved by 30% but this is enough to move the pain threshold down to 10% of what it started out as. Your back still has another 70% to go to full recovery but it feels so much better. This is the point you normally slack off the specific exercises you might have been given and try to go back to your normal routine... thus prolonging the full recovery and leading to re-occurrence. This is from bitter experience (many times over... I never learn! ).

Anything mid back for me is normally musculature related. As with most its lower back that does for me... its a recurring theme unfortunately - mostly related to Sacroiliac Joint and L4/L5 area. I have tried the whole range of osteopath, chiropractic, cranial osteopathy, mctimmoney chiropratic, physiotherapy and physio + acupuncture / osteopathy + acupuncture. When its really bad and goes into spasm, then I normally get some treatment from whoever can fit me in urgently for maybe 3 sessions, this is basically to unlock my back and get the movement back to the point where I can actually move around again without being in screaming agony!. Continuing treatment is then diminishing returns I find after this.

Good luck in your recovery.

[mdpfirrman]

Thanks all. I really appreciate it. A big part of the frustration was I seemed to be backtracking a bit.

The day after posting this, my glands were extremely swollen. Yesterday, my paces dropped back to the slow (but not slowest) paces that I had been doing. I've had enough muscle and bone issues to know (pretty sure) it's spinal, not muscular. I wish it were muscular. Sometimes when I stretch it does self adjust and feels better. After going to a chiropractor 6 or 8 visits before my move, he finally was able to adjust it and give me some relief.

That's why I'm pretty sure it's disc related. It's like 10% of the original injury pain and not impacting anything in my life except rowing.

@Jim - I'm really elated to hear your progress! The fact that you're back to road biking is amazing! You've been through a lot. Much more than me with your recent back injury!

Also, if anyone reads this that is concerned about rowing. Overall, I can't say enough about rowing for back health. My chronic neck injury used to ache terribly on road trips more than a half hour. Now, I can go several hours without any pain. Also, my core is much stronger, helping my lower back. Immensely so. So if any newer person reads this and assumes that the rower is bad for the back, my overall experience has been just the opposite. This is just me whining about not being able to race and push the limits for now, the (what little) competitor in me coming out and wanting to put the peddle to the metal and not having the ability to do so.

[Cyclingman1]

@Jim - I'm really elated to hear your progress! The fact that you're back to road biking is amazing! You've been through a lot. Much more than me with your recent back injury!

When we subject our bodies to constant stress over years, eventually, something is going to give way. And backs are right at the top of the list. Fortunately, we generally get past immediate problems with smart rest and exercise over time. Now, I'm in recovery mode from a really debilitating situation. Being a long time athlete, it is very hard to not keep pressing with every little success. I'm hoping that I hold up.

This last week I had a couple of rowing times better than any in the last 1.5 yrs. 2K: 7:17.2 @1:49.3 and 5K: 18:55.2 @1:53.5. Wasn't at all sure I would ever get to such times. I think I mentioned that road cycling is going to be the ticket for me. I've had a lot of hard, hilly rides over the last 6 weeks, none over 35 miles. It is making a difference. I guess I consider myself lucky to have gotten to this point.

Best of luck Mike with your health.

[mdpfirrman]

@Jim - I'm really elated to hear your progress! The fact that you're back to road biking is amazing! You've been through a lot. Much more than me with your recent back injury!

When we subject our bodies to constant stress over years, eventually, something is going to give way. And backs are right at the top of the list. Fortunately, we generally get past immediate problems with smart rest and exercise over time. Now, I'm in recovery mode from a really debilitating situation. Being a long time athlete, it is very hard to not keep pressing with every little success. I'm hoping that I hold up.

This last week I had a couple of rowing times better than any in the last 1.5 yrs. 2K: 7:17.2 @1:49.3 and 5K: 18:55.2 @1:53.5. Wasn't at all sure I would ever get to such times. I think I mentioned that road cycling is going to be the ticket for me. I've had a lot of hard, hilly rides over the last 6 weeks, none over 35 miles. It is making a difference. I guess I consider myself lucky to have gotten to this point.

Best of luck Mike with your health.

Jim -- that's some impressive stuff getting back from how injured your back was! Ironic you mention cycling. I moved from Cincinnati to Tucson just a few months ago. I've been seriously considering getting a road bike. I would have never considered one in Cincinnati. Knew too many cyclists hit. Cincy is not a bike friendly town from a driver standpoint at all. Tucson is. Some of the best cycling in the US. Especially where I live, North of the city near the Mountains. Not sure where to begin though or how much I'd have to spend, etc. I wouldn't even know how to change a tire if I had a flat. I'll likely sign up for some group rides and see if I like it.

[Cyclingman1]

I've been seriously considering getting a road bike. Not sure where to begin though or how much I'd have to spend, etc. I wouldn't even know how to change a tire if I had a flat. I'll likely sign up for some group rides and see if I like it.

Mike, I imagine that Tucson has some great bike shops. Do a little research and try a couple. Tell them you are a novice and need help from A to Z: picking a bike, picking accessories [shoes/cleats, helmet, computer, bike bag, etc], how to fix a flat. If they can't do that, move on. Don't let anyone sell you a $5K bike - you don't need it now. Maybe $1K might do it. Find some rides with different pace levels. A lot of group rides get taken over by Tour de France wannabes. Group riding is fun, but all it takes is one sloppy move and someone is going to get hurt. A lot to know about riding safely in a group, as well as riding a bike period. There is a whole lot more to it than using an erg. The fitness benefits are immense. I've seen countless people thru the years go from back-of-the-packers to svelte racing types rather quickly.

[mdpfirrman]

I've been seriously considering getting a road bike. Not sure where to begin though or how much I'd have to spend, etc. I wouldn't even know how to change a tire if I had a flat. I'll likely sign up for some group rides and see if I like it.

Mike, I imagine that Tucson has some great bike shops. Do a little research and try a couple. Tell them you are a novice and need help from A to Z: picking a bike, picking accessories [shoes/cleats, helmet, computer, bike bag, etc], how to fix a flat. If they can't do that, move on. Don't let anyone sell you a $5K bike - you don't need it now. Maybe $1K might do it. Find some rides with different pace levels. A lot of group rides get taken over by Tour de France wannabes. Group riding is fun, but all it takes is one sloppy move and someone is going to get hurt. A lot to know about riding safely in a group, as well as riding a bike period. There is a whole lot more to it than using an erg. The fitness benefits are immense. I've seen countless people thru the years go from back-of-the-packers to svelte racing types rather quickly.

Thanks Jim, great advice. Don't worry, I wouldn't spend 5K on a bike or the wife would kill me! Yeah, I'm thinking $1000 or below. Not looking to set the world on fire, just get out and enjoy the beauty around here. It's amazing. Might wait for closer to Fall as it's just starting to get really hot (though we don't get quite as hot in the higher elevation around here).