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Climbing and a Herniated disk?
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Hamid Aghdaee
Sep 14, 2003, 8:27:33 AM9/14/03
to
Hi there,
I've had a L5/S1 Hernieted disk for about 7 months now...The pain is
sort of tolerable for normal life, but has anybody tried climbing on
it? Can I make it worse by climbing on it? I plan to climb easy cracks
for now. I really can't wait any longer...
Also if anyone has stories or advice/personal experience about this
injury, then I would be indebted to you if you could share it.
thanks a lot in advance.
-Hamid (from the Bay Area)
jg
Sep 14, 2003, 2:17:46 PM9/14/03
to
I have the same injury; over a year ago it started as a pain radiating down
my right leg. It was not too bad but you could definitely tell that
something was wrong, and it was starting to get worse. I have climbed for
over thirty years and I was worried that this might be an injury that would
put an end to to it. I went to the U. of Utah sports medicine clinic where
the disc compression was diagnosed. I wanted to avoid surgery if possible
so I did the physical therapy that they recommended and it has worked very
well for me. I was on Vioxx for several months to help with the pain and
inflammation. The physical therapy is focused around exercises that build
up core strength around the lower abdominal region, and also stretching of
the muscles in that region. This is something that I had always done, but
when the pain started I had backed off on this type of exercise, thinking
that it might be exacerbating an injury; you actually want to focus on this
type of exercise to keep the core region strong and support the spinal cord.
If you stay committed to the physical therapy and work hard at it you will
probably have a good outcome. Some things that I think have worked well for
me (specific to climbing) that you might want to try:
If you boulder, watch out for dropping down off boulder problems; the shock
to the spine is not good. I realize that this limits hard bouldering and if
that is the type of climbing that you are focused on you might have to think
about putting your energies into another type of climbing. Make sure that
you have a harness with a good wide waistband; hanging in a harness at
belays or taking falls will make my back hurt; try to limit the force that
the harness puts on the spine. Carrying a heavy pack downhill can put a lot
of stress on the spine; where I used to just go bombing downhill, now I go
slow and take deliberate steps. Use your injury as an excuse to get your
partner to carry all the gear; take along an X-ray of your crushed disc so
you can prove that you are not faking. I used to run a lot, and I still do
some running, but I also do lots of cycling. It gives you an aerobic
workout without the shock to the back. In fact, when my back was really
hurting the pain would go away while I was on the bike.
It has been over a year now and I have been doing lots of climbing
(sport and trad up to hard .11's); the back still hurts occasionally and I
am always aware that something is not quite right, but it is nothing that I
cann't live with. When this first happened to me I was really frightened
that it might put and end to the climbing, but my experience has been that
if you are committed and work hard at the physical therapy you will get to
the point that while it is a persistent injury that will always be with, you
will be able to climb hard without it being a big impediment. Good luck
with it. I hope this gives you some encouragement. Jim G.
"Hamid Aghdaee" <wom...@yahoo.com> wrote in message
news:f17e8d2b.03091...@posting.google.com...
my right leg. It was not too bad but you could definitely tell that
something was wrong, and it was starting to get worse. I have climbed for
over thirty years and I was worried that this might be an injury that would
put an end to to it. I went to the U. of Utah sports medicine clinic where
the disc compression was diagnosed. I wanted to avoid surgery if possible
so I did the physical therapy that they recommended and it has worked very
well for me. I was on Vioxx for several months to help with the pain and
inflammation. The physical therapy is focused around exercises that build
up core strength around the lower abdominal region, and also stretching of
the muscles in that region. This is something that I had always done, but
when the pain started I had backed off on this type of exercise, thinking
that it might be exacerbating an injury; you actually want to focus on this
type of exercise to keep the core region strong and support the spinal cord.
If you stay committed to the physical therapy and work hard at it you will
probably have a good outcome. Some things that I think have worked well for
me (specific to climbing) that you might want to try:
If you boulder, watch out for dropping down off boulder problems; the shock
to the spine is not good. I realize that this limits hard bouldering and if
that is the type of climbing that you are focused on you might have to think
about putting your energies into another type of climbing. Make sure that
you have a harness with a good wide waistband; hanging in a harness at
belays or taking falls will make my back hurt; try to limit the force that
the harness puts on the spine. Carrying a heavy pack downhill can put a lot
of stress on the spine; where I used to just go bombing downhill, now I go
slow and take deliberate steps. Use your injury as an excuse to get your
partner to carry all the gear; take along an X-ray of your crushed disc so
you can prove that you are not faking. I used to run a lot, and I still do
some running, but I also do lots of cycling. It gives you an aerobic
workout without the shock to the back. In fact, when my back was really
hurting the pain would go away while I was on the bike.
It has been over a year now and I have been doing lots of climbing
(sport and trad up to hard .11's); the back still hurts occasionally and I
am always aware that something is not quite right, but it is nothing that I
cann't live with. When this first happened to me I was really frightened
that it might put and end to the climbing, but my experience has been that
if you are committed and work hard at the physical therapy you will get to
the point that while it is a persistent injury that will always be with, you
will be able to climb hard without it being a big impediment. Good luck
with it. I hope this gives you some encouragement. Jim G.
"Hamid Aghdaee" <wom...@yahoo.com> wrote in message
news:f17e8d2b.03091...@posting.google.com...
The Rolphs
Sep 14, 2003, 6:18:23 PM9/14/03
to
I had an L4/L5 herniated disc. In my case, they went in and cleaned out
the disc material which was pressing on the spinal column but did not
freeze the vertabrae. I can climb fine now, but tend to be careful on
hard laybacks.
the disc material which was pressing on the spinal column but did not
freeze the vertabrae. I can climb fine now, but tend to be careful on
hard laybacks.
Good luck!
daveap
Sep 15, 2003, 8:27:22 AM9/15/03
to
I had the old L4/L5 problem for 5 or 6 years...........each year it got a
little worse, pain in legs and hips getting worse.
I finally got the MRI and it showed the disk bulge was bad enough for
surgury. During my whole ordeal, I was able to climb with not too much
pain: surgery scheduled Anyway, 3 days into a 2 1/2 week climbing trip,
I was on a difficult climb, straining all body parts. When I was lowered
and standing up, my left leg would go numb after 2 minutes. A long ride
home for re-scheduled surgery (thank God I got it moved up) was the end of
my 3 day trip.
little worse, pain in legs and hips getting worse.
I finally got the MRI and it showed the disk bulge was bad enough for
surgury. During my whole ordeal, I was able to climb with not too much
pain: surgery scheduled Anyway, 3 days into a 2 1/2 week climbing trip,
I was on a difficult climb, straining all body parts. When I was lowered
and standing up, my left leg would go numb after 2 minutes. A long ride
home for re-scheduled surgery (thank God I got it moved up) was the end of
my 3 day trip.
Some tipes:
Chiropractic "can" help.........sometimes mild traction can bring
herniation back in (get a good one!!!!)
Stretching: tight pelvic, hips and hamstrings can really make things
worse
email me if you want more info........unfortunately, I have tons more
information.
dave
Ygor
Sep 23, 2003, 12:03:17 PM9/23/03
to
I had a terrible bout with a herniated L5; my left leg totally seized up
throughout all the musculature in the *front* of my leg and knee (my
herniation is antirior). I drove myself to the ER and fell going in the
door and couldn't get up (if you ever want extra fast service at the ER,
fall down)
I have treated myself with swimming (1000yds crawl at least 4 days/week for
the last year), gravity boots for traction and lots of stomach crunches. I
also do back bridges but this is an experiment; no problems at this time. I
eat aspirin for mild discomfort and for thrombus (blood clot) prevention as
I am 50 and should be eating them anyway.
I am much better; reflexes in the leg pretty much normal and only occasional
radiculopathy (referred nerve pain). I am back climbing, belaying, etc.
I've taken a few short falls also with no bad results.
Good luck, get well soon,
r
throughout all the musculature in the *front* of my leg and knee (my
herniation is antirior). I drove myself to the ER and fell going in the
door and couldn't get up (if you ever want extra fast service at the ER,
fall down)
I have treated myself with swimming (1000yds crawl at least 4 days/week for
the last year), gravity boots for traction and lots of stomach crunches. I
also do back bridges but this is an experiment; no problems at this time. I
eat aspirin for mild discomfort and for thrombus (blood clot) prevention as
I am 50 and should be eating them anyway.
I am much better; reflexes in the leg pretty much normal and only occasional
radiculopathy (referred nerve pain). I am back climbing, belaying, etc.
I've taken a few short falls also with no bad results.
Good luck, get well soon,
r
"Hamid Aghdaee" <wom...@yahoo.com> wrote in message
news:f17e8d2b.03091...@posting.google.com...
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