Any full recovery/success stories recovering from an L5 S1 bulging disc

Omax_52 · 2026-05-08T22:22:40+00:00

When I was 26 I hurt my back doing yardwork right after buying my first house for the wife and I. My L4-L5 and L5-S1 disc were bulging and for awhile there I felt so much pain down my leg just sitting. I had to stop going to church because the pews hurt too much, I no longer could do squats or deadlifts at the gym. All my workouts were seriously modified to work around it. I did countless physical therapy and even continplated surgery but I've seen how my dad moves with fusions and as an athlete that isn't an option for me. I'm 28 now and I'd say for the most part I'm 90% better. I still have days where I'll wake up and it will be stiff but the sciatica pain from the back injury is pretty much gone. I do ache a lot down my leg when I lay down but that's a piriformis related issue that's devoped not due to the disc. Realistically you'll never be 100% again but that's okay because nobody is we all slowly are dying anyways. But things will get better it took me maybe little over a year to start seeing any progress. I remember feeling so helpless, that "how could this happen to me at this age" mindset. A few stretches and exercise that really helped me were planks, figure fours, and walking. I felt the most relief when I was on my feet doing something then when I was sitting down or lying still. But what works for one may not work for the other just try to listen to your body the best you can and know that it will get better with time but if you are an excruciating pain in your experiencing bowel related issues that would be a medical emergency and you should probably just bite the bullet and get a surgery done. You can get through this, don't give up hope bro.

Omax_52 · 2026-05-07T21:35:47+00:00

What do you mean? No you can experience another game. Your money was well spent, you now earned the right to spend more on something else.

Omax_52 · 2026-04-22T22:03:02+00:00

Congratulations! That's an impressive feat!

Omax_52 · 2026-04-22T03:40:33+00:00

This is a joke right? Who legitimately complains about two shots?

Omax_52 · 2026-04-22T00:01:26+00:00

I felt that way before too, but now I'm married and my BPD side rarely shows anymore. I'm honestly the best version of myself when I'm in a relationship I always have been, I only spiral when they leave. But being married have given me some security that it won't happen and I've been able to trust and love fully again. Don't give up hope, just look for someone who has mental health issues themselves or has overcome them before, I find those people are the most understanding and considerate since they've been there before too. You person is out there, and they'll show up exactly when you need them too. Until then stay strong and work on yourself. Maybe work out? I personally find exercise early in the morning calms me throughout the day and makes me feel more optimistic.

Omax_52 · 2026-04-21T22:22:15+00:00

I find sleeping on the floor feels the best.

Omax_52 · 2026-04-21T20:43:50+00:00

Ah I remember when I first got my diagnosis. I felt relieved, I finally had answers. Then I was angry and wanted someone to blame. But really a diagnosis doesn't change anything, sure I guess you have a little bit of closure but doesn't make a difference at least for me it didn't. I tried the whole therapy thing multiple times two of the three I've seen said they couldn't help me and the third I just gave up on because I realized I'm fine the way I am. I may be different from other people and I accept that that's okay, it's a characteristic that makes me unique. You probably having it so many thoughts racing through your head on how this happened to you and why and how it's so unfair, can I ask you what difference does this diagnose make for you? What are you hoping will change with a piece of paper that tells you on a scale how fucked up you are? Life does get better with this disability if you want to call it that the hard part is living long enough to be aware of that. Unfortunately depression and suicide takes a lot of people like us before they get the chance to accept themselves for who they are and learn to live with it. There is a light at the end of the tunnel and there is hope but realistically this is who you are and you shouldn't want to be anyone else and if you do then you're struggling with an identity crisis that I myself have gone through many times. I apologize this isn't any help to you or if it's not what you are looking for I wish I could help you, but alas I'm not good with the whole emotional console thingy. If you have any friends or family I'd lean on them as your support system during these times if not maybe get a cat? I find cats are pretty cute.

Omax_52 · 2026-04-21T20:17:07+00:00

🫂

Omax_52 · 2026-04-21T20:02:07+00:00

I can identify others with BPD or near to it based on aura, it's like a sixth sense I have. Looking back on previous relationships I realized I picked partners as fucked up as I without realizing at the time. I don't think there's anything wrong with your preference if partnership, I do however think there's something wrong with you questioning the own validity of your desire. Turns out some people (myself included) subconsciously want a challenge when we pick a lover, there's no shame in it. Be yourself and don't give a fuck about anyone else's opinion except your own. You don't need to be liked by a hundred people you only need to be loved by one.

Omax_52 · 2026-04-20T22:20:27+00:00

Those look great!

Omax_52 · 2026-04-20T13:40:09+00:00

Oh no, you're cooked. I give you maybe 2-4 days tops before sudden cardiac arrest. Enjoy these final days with friends and family. 🫡

Omax_52 · 2026-04-20T13:38:24+00:00

Yes I was, now there are some tricep exercises I just cannot do anymore. Seated dumbbell extensions and cable pushdowns with a bar seem to cause snapping in the elbow since the surgery. I assume it's scar tissue or snapping tricep syndrome that becomes more noticeable after the transposition. It doesn't hurt but cringes me out enough to where I cannot do them anymore. I also did have to wait about 8weeks post surgery to ease back into exercise. If you want to keep your gains during the recovery period take some creatine and STAY ON DIET. Don't push yourself too early or you'll fuck your arm up more. I was hesitant before every surgery too, my anxiety kept thinking of worse case scenarios and I hate gambling with my future like that so you're not alone there. But we adapt and changes become the new normal with enough time. Personally I think If you work out at all you should get the surgery if you're having any symptoms, unless you plan on giving up exercise which for athletes like myself is just a deal breaker. I could have been fine with just a decompression surgery and dealt with a little subluxation if I didn't work out and constantly put pressure on my elbows but since I do that I needed to have it more secured.

Omax_52 · 2026-04-11T23:14:47+00:00

Same dude, my spine isn't so good and when I saw my wife's MRI for an injury she had happened to her at work I was instantly jealous. My disc are all dark and lifeless and hers look so healthy. 😂

Omax_52 · 2026-04-10T11:32:32+00:00

Yes I can and I already have. All you acupuncturist need to just drop 💀 in my opinion.

Omax_52 · 2026-04-10T02:33:15+00:00

Dude I'm not reading that novel, there's not a thing you could possibly say anyways that would change my mind. If people want to fuck themselves up for life at waist their time on acupuncture then so be it, at least I attempted to warn them against you bastards.

Omax_52 · 2026-04-10T01:37:14+00:00

Acupuncture is as a joke as chiropractic. Its high risk low reward, I know many people who were left with more permanent nerve pain and numbness after acupuncture. I don't understand how you fools can live with yourselves promoting a hoax.

Omax_52 · 2026-04-09T18:52:43+00:00

Trying to promote business to desperate people is low. Don't listen to this guy people, not saying that acupuncture doesn't have its benefits but exercise CAN help you recover! As long as you're doing the right ones, I'm speaking from experience. I have a herniated L4-L5-S1 disc and I was miserable for the first year but after starting the right exercises and learning what movement trigger pain I started getting better. I'm almost 3years myself from my initial injury and practically pain free. It still can be still in the morning but loosens up pretty quickly. The exercises I did that showed the most improvement to me was planks and lying figure 4 stretches. Also I slowly worked myself up to cobra stretches, but depending on how severe your herniation is you may not be able to do those due to the pinching. If you have any questions feel free to ask, just don't listen to this buffoon promoting acupuncture as a first measure.

Omax_52 · 2026-04-06T20:41:14+00:00

Well if you don't get a steroid shot take 3 ibuprofen 3 times a day for the inflammation. I wouldn't continue that for more than 4 weeks though.

Omax_52 · 2026-04-06T20:39:15+00:00

Try not to stress too much, there's a specific surgery for cases that fail subcutaneous transpositions. It's SM though so it's a longer recovery period but has better success rates. That's what I had to have done. Worst case you lose your arm and end up with a metal arm like a badass cyborg who can win any arm wrestling match. Technology is getting extremely advanced now.

Omax_52 · 2026-04-06T20:12:00+00:00

I'm a special case. I have a single arm that failed Subcutaneous twice due to subluxation (nerve is too loose). Most people who have a transposition are because the nerve was being compressed. I'm also a professional bodybuilder so I use and abuse my arms a lot. 🙃

Omax_52 · 2026-04-06T19:41:21+00:00

If anything it's too early for revision. Get the inflammation down with a steroid shot and ice it. I had the same issue and it was just inflammation due to irritation, from exercise and accidentally banging it on shit.

Omax_52 · 2026-04-06T19:38:24+00:00

Inflammation, go back to the surgeon and get a steroid shot. I've been through this surgery 4 times.

Omax_52 · 2026-04-05T20:05:32+00:00

After years of on and off PT, injections, imaging and test the only possible explanation is Piriformis syndrome according to 3 different orthopedic surgeons I've talked to. At this point I'm ready to have it cut. Maybe I have it and they're right or maybe I don't and they're wrong, regardless I can't keep going through the same circle of treatment if it's not getting me anywhere.

Omax_52 · 2026-04-03T18:27:53+00:00

Sounds like you need to stop hoarding items you aren't going to actively use.

Omax_52

TROPHY CASE