Running after a ruptured disk... (Read 538 times)

So my lovely wife recently finished the C25k program, and ran her first 5k back in May. She kept running in June, and then started having some back pain. It got to the point where she couldn't get out of bed. Turns out it was a ruptured disk in her lower back (L4-L5, whatever the heck that means). The problem was that the rupture was pressing on the nerve that controlled her right foot, causing a condition known as "drop foot." She had surgery to alleviate the problem, and things are slowly coming around for her.

But.

She's getting a LOT of "you should give up running" from anyone/everyone who has an a$$#$%$3. Normally I would tell her that these folks are just plain uninformed, but this back thing was seriously messed up. The surgeon even suggested that an alternative workout might be better in the future.

Is there anyone out there that has ruptured a disk and come back to running? I'd appreciate your feedback!

Thanks!
Q

L4/L5 herniated disc here. I ruptured mine in September of 06'. Had misc. muscle weakness in my right leg, numbness, tingling etc.

I didn't have to have surgery, but there were times where I wanted surgery ... I feel for your wife. She has come a long way and it is a long and sometimes frustrating and depressing road.
I found an EXCELLENT physical therapist and had 6 months of twice weekly PT. She incorporated a lot of core strengthening exercises and yoga. After I started running again, I felt like I had 2 different sides and they were doing different things ... the left side ended up with some overuse injuries. I worked on strengthening the formerly weak and paralyzed muscles with the PT (particularly gluteus medius) and did Yoga to even out the strange feeling of having two sides.

I saw a spine specialist who is also a runner. He told me to keep the pounding down. I can run, but should only run 3 days a week. Cross train the remainder. Am I following that? Not that closely...

Almost 2 years out I feel great. The back is achy every now and then. After long periods of sitting, I feel like things need to 'crack" into place first. Then my back is achy and the numbness returns ever so slightly. But good stretching helps that.

I've run two Half marathons since the injury.
Best of luck for your wife!

When I saw this subject line, I pictured a disc rolling down the street on its edge with someone chasing after it.

Thanks for the replies, gang!

ZZ, it started the weekend of the Seaway Run, that's why she wasn't able to make the trip. We found out it was a ruptured disk later that following week. I'll check w/backroadrunner too.

Runnergabe, I appreciate the input. I've talked to my wife a bit more about what she wants to get back to doing, and while she isn't ruling running out completely, it's definitely low on the list. The crosstraining is where she wants to get back to being able to do. I'd love for her to get into running, but understand it's just not that big of a deal to her, whereas being able to workout in other forms (elliptical, swimming, biking) is.

watts, you are effing caRAZY!

and globule, go blow mud out yer trombone!

Quote from Runnergabe on 7/24/2008 at 2:41 PM:

I felt the same way, until recently. I was laying in the kiddie pool at the end of June with my kid, who while I looked the other way decided to dive bomb me and landed full force on the small of my back. Felt a sharp pain, laid still for awhile, then decided I was ok.

Fast forward a week, and noticed it was increasingly getting worse, and sitting really bothered me (I'm a paralegal and sit in front of a computer all day, so this was a problem). I went to a chiropractor I know & trust, and she says I have spondylolithesis, which apparently I already had but the trauma to my back caused the vertebrae to separate or whatever it does even further (which was the sharp pain I felt). Anyway, I've been seeing her 1 to 3 times a week since mid-July and it does feel better -- rather than my entire lower back being stiff & in pain, it's localized to the exact vertebra. Sitting still bothers me, but it's getting better and she gave me stretches to do to make it feel better, so that I don't have to keep seeing her.

That said, she suggested I stop running permanently. I had already been on a hiatus while I rehab a bad knee. I decided to wait until this back issue feels better and then I am slowly going to start running again, on a treadmill for awhile so I'm not pounding as much. We'll see how it goes. It is sore still - even walking I'm only good for a few miles. I went backpacking this weekend, did only 4 miles (we were with our 5-year old son) and the weight of the pack around my waist did a number on me so I don't think I'm up for running quite yet.

Crappy back injuries. Man. I can mess around with a sore knee, but I don't want to mess with a bad back! I never understood those folks who complained about their backs, but I sure do now. Just the thought of not being able to do the stuff I like to do, or doing it with pain, is horrifying!!!

I have a herniated disk at L5-S1. I probably injured it carrying computers around when I was about 20 or so. I didn't have it diagnosed until maybe a decade later, because every time it would act up and cause nasty back pain, I was between insurance. In fact, I didn't get a diagnosis until I was having major problems healing from a very minor knee surgery.

I've never had surgery for it, only physical therapy. In general, my biggest problem from it these days is that my right quad is weak and visibly smaller than my left. I have a hell of a time building any muscle on that side, and I've also had some knee problems in that leg which are probably related.

I switched from gym ratting to running while I was in physical therapy for it, and my orthopedist (Sports Med) told me that running was maybe not the best exercise for me, because it can aggravate the injury and cause back pain, and that I'd lose my right to come complaining to him when it hurts. But, he also pointed out that if I continued running, I'd still be better off than if I were sitting on the couch. So, I kept running.

To be honest, it seems to be mostly fine. It seems that I may be more prone to overuse injuries and that I may have to be more careful than average when I ramp up mileage (which I'm terrible about) - I've had some problems in that respect, but as long as I keep an eye on it, and take some time off when it gets fussy, it seems not to be a major hindrance.

I've had lower back problems since I was about 18years old. Damaged something playing ultimate frisbee and never has been the same since. Periodic lower back episodes where I literally had to crawl around the house. I've tried everything short of surgery.
About 10 years ago it was so painful I insisted on an MRI and it showed a bulging disc which some people call a ruptured disc. The doc told me it was operable but that the result might be better, it might be the same or it could make it worse!! His advice was to let it go, do the excercises the PT's prescribe and see what happens.
I'm now religious about doing core excercises. I haven't had an episode since then. Running doesn't aggravate my lower back problem at all - I believe it's actually beneficial.
Your wife's problem may be different but it IS possible to run with a similar condition. Check my log. I've been running 40 or 50 miles a week for over 15 years and I started running in my early 30's when my back was really getting bad. The episodes have gotten much, much less frequent and less severe as well.