Went to gisburn forrest today, 75 minute drive, 2 miles into ride my lower back is screaming in pain. couldnt get back on bike and shuffled my way back to car park. Mates drove me home ( After finishing their loop) lol. I think ive slipped a disc but can walk ok if standing up straight, lots of pain if bending. anybody else done this and how long laid up for. Cheers.

I did a couple of discs in riding in a trial. Was ok for the rest of the day but in the morning i was in tears. Had to crawl to the bathroom and pee in the shower as I couldn’t stand up. Was off work for 2 weeks and didn’t ride for almost 6 months. Lots of private physio too. Nhs would do it but take too long to sort anything out.

Hope you have a speedy recovery as I know how much it can hurt.

No bike for 6 months would kill me. Not looking forward to morning. cheers.

you might have a back muscle in “spasm”. I had it so bad once I couldn’t get off the floor (not until some morphine anyway).

If it is a slipped disc, you have my sympathies. I did two in last year at the same time (in a somewhat extreme case), and spent two weeks in hospital after waking up one morning unable to move. Once home, I visited the physio about 12 twelve times over the following 8 months.

The care was wonderful, but the pain was excruciating. The best thing that can be said is that I now understand what happens in my back and what I can do to minimise the pain as well the risk of further problems.

Be careful, though, and IMO, do NOT bother with a quackopractor.

Been there, done that. With mine I had no pain in my back but the sciatic nerve killed! (bulging disc presses against the nerve). Took 4 months or so of physio work to sort it out. Get thee to a docs for a diagnosis.

Yes, absolutely, but I was lucky (touch wood) in that it was the muscles around the disc rather than the disc itself that caused all the pain.

Get yourself down to a specialist to get it scanned; then things like the plank and various stretches to strengthen and relax the necessary muscles.

I don’t think I have slipped a disc, but I get really bad lower back pain! I can’t touch the pain with my fingers when it’s there. It’s only when I bend over past 90 deg.

What do you think. I’m off to a chiropractor or osteopath. What the difference?

IF it is a disc (could be spasm alone) high chance will resolve on its own +/- physio within 2-3 months.

If not settling at that stage consider GP referral to neuro/ortho spinal surgeon.

Physio/staying active once easier will help, especially core work etc.

Lots of back pain/’sciatica’ sufferers find pilates very helpful for what it’s worth…

Ah joy!

I slipped a disc 18 months ago and it was agony to start with. Getting the docs to actually jump into action was the hardest bit – thank goodness for private medical cover.

As it happens, at the same time as suffering, I was working on a project with some pain specialists and they were really helpful – certainly advising against surgery – I remember that very clearly. They did raise an eyebrow when they saw the MRI, though…

that’ll be my spinal cord being squashed by the disc, then. 🙁

For me, very regular (like up to once a week at one point) visits to the local (and very good) osteopath made a huge difference and I would say I’m nearly repaired now. Certainly suffered no issues having spent the last week in Morzine, anyway. 🙂

Rachel

What do you think. I’m off to a chiropractor or osteopath. What the difference?

neither, go and get refered to a physio. I burst a disc and made the mistake of going to a chiropractor before I had the MRI, who made it worse.

I slipped my disc this year in Feb. I was squatting in the gym on the smith machine and when I stood up my right leg straightened and the load went through my back, very painful and pins a needles.
I have never had problems with my back so I looked at every option, as above dont bother with chiropractor or even an osteopath. Find a good physio who will firstly diagnose you, various tests can be done to ascertain what disc is pressing on a nerve.
Dont do what I did and after 2 months went back to biking as the joint is open in the hip and the position you are in on the bike alleviates the nerve but temporarily. Once you stop biking a couple of days later the back is killing.
It will take time if it is indeed a slipped disc, I am just getting back to normal and im an extremely active person, I still have reduced flexibility in my right hamstring but will sort itself out in time.
Take anti inflammatries, maybe voltorol gel and rest it mate.

Forgot to say, I had problems standing up initially and then it eased. I couldnt bend backwards as the disc pressed on the nerve. Bending forwards was fine but not all the way down.

Thanks for the replys folks, im of to the docs in the morning, well phoning for appointment at 8.20. I hope its just muscle. i cant feel a disc poking out or have any numbness in my legs, just really bad pain when bending. going to be exspensive being off work. I have realised now though at 49 im not super human and am infact falling apart. LOL Also all friends and family advising your too old for that sort of thing…….yawn.

You won’t feel anything poking out 🙂

Best of luck, I wouldn’t wish that pain on anyone

You wont feel anything poking out because half of your spine and a shed load of muscles are in the way. Get a referral to a physio and follow their advice and you’ll be fine and dandy in no time.

I’ve been recovering from a herniated (/ruptured/slipped) lowermost disc since November/December 2010. Lots of pain, as the protruding part is pressing on my left sciatic nerve. Lots of lying, standing and walking. Sitting and driving were agony to begin with but I can now drive for a couple of hours pain-free. Work made me a stand-up desk which has meant I have been able to keep working, thankfully. I’ve had an MRI scan and an epidural steroid injection in the last 4 months and things are improving steadily. If you can only go NHS, like me, then you will need bucket-loads of patience. I’ve found the 12-hour ibuprofen capsules good. Get to the docs pronto and good luck.

You have my sympaties as well!
I’m in the same boat, suffer from muscle ‘spasms’ which are very painful. I went to a chiropractor first (waste of money in my case) then to a Osteopath who has been very good.

Now going to a weekly Pilates class which I think is beginning to show results (not a quick fix), my core feels stronger and the last episode has felt less intense.

Keep moving, go to the docs and Osteopath. Stretching and core work once the pain has died down. Hope you feel better soon.

Yes several times – it hurts, doesn’t it.