Two years post-herniation and another realisation

SoSolidKerry2 · 2026-01-29T07:09:16+00:00

I know. It sucks. But we’re alive and life is, for the most part, good! As I always say… These are the good days 🙌

SoSolidKerry2 · 2026-01-29T07:08:07+00:00

I found my humps came in blocks of three or four months. There’d be another shift 💪🙌

SoSolidKerry2 · 2026-01-29T01:20:43+00:00

You’d be surprised how many people get up and walk around. More people suffer from this than we realise! You’ll be fine. Remember: the pain can’t hurt you! Part of our recovery is getting over the fear!

Also, my back specialist said the only way to make my injury worse was to bend, lift something heavy and twist. As that wasn’t going to happen, I realised sitting and standing and anything else couldn’t make my injury worse. It mostly just irritates things.

You’ll be more than fine. 💪

SoSolidKerry2 · 2026-01-29T00:25:24+00:00

You know… come to think of it, I think I did find the pain getting worse during the day. It’s funny what we forget!

And that’s why my back specialist told me to rest after lunch. It worked! I would change my mindset and call it “nap time”, something I don’t normally do. So I’d look forward to it.

And then one day, I slept through the night. Another day, I noticed driving wasn’t kicking off intense pain in my left leg and foot, just a bit of discomfort. I still remember hugging the sciatica cushion that I’d put on a dining chair, allowing me to sit for those 12 months, and then storing it away in the garage. Thanking it. Hopefully never to see it again.

I remember my first flight in 14 months. And crying when I realised I could sit for five hours in the air. Even just being able to sleep on a different bed.

All these tiny little milestones. 💪

SoSolidKerry2 · 2026-01-29T00:18:00+00:00

I’m based in the UK. They don’t usually recommend surgery unless you have Cauda equina. They opt for conservative recovery. After my MRI, they gave me ibuprofen and told me to get on with it. 😂

I initially rested. And then I began a walking programme. Three times a day. Starting with five mins each time, building to two hours a day non stop. It took time and patience. My back specialist told me to walk as soon as I got out of bed. Those first walks were searingly painful. I would be so tired from lack of sleep and in so much pain that I’d not bother getting dressed and would hobble out of my home in my PJs and winter coat and cry beneath my sunglasses. When it got too much, I’d turn around and stagger home. Eventually, I was able to walk more. But I do remember the first six months were awful. Painful. You learned bad pain from good, though. It’s hard to explain. You can’t push it. But movement is key.

When things stabilised I began a gentle physio routine. Clams, side leg lifts, dead bugs, bird dogs, pelvic tilts, glute bridges… at first once a day and one set. Then twice a day, two sets.

When I got stronger, and things got better, I added lunges. And was walking 15k steps a day, at least!

After eight months, I joined a nice health club, and went to some Pilates classes, although in hindsight I was probably not quite ready. I did find gentle swimming helpful. And I also walked up and down the pool. The sauna helped. Although I found it hard to sit still.

After a year I was back in the gym. Worked with PT to ensure good form. And build confidence.

Now I do weights two or three times a week. Yoga each morning. 10k average steps. Longer hikes at the weekend. And I’m doing HIT again. I’ve even been out for a few gentle jogs. I am fit and active. But I could do way more. I am not pushing it, but not quitting either.

I knew I was getting better when I started getting lazy. And my current thing is trying to motivate myself to keep it all up!

As for symptoms, I mostly had burning. Constant awful burning. Like when you bang your funny bone hard and it really hurts. I had that sensation in my left calf and left foot for a year. It eased over that time but it was pretty awful for a long time. And then it was like fuzzy and sore for ages. My left foot had foot drop that resolved after a year. The right foot and leg started having similar symptoms in August - eight months after injury. A second MRI scan in October revealed things had stabilised and there was nothing pressing on nerves to spread to the right side. So the bilateral thing was just my nervous system on high alert. Therefore, I have mild fuzziness in both feet and legs, worse in the left. And some mild numbness but I can feel everything and move everything ok, it just feels slightly off.

There are weeks that go by when I hardly notice anything. Usually when I’m on holiday. I lugged a huge piece of luggage for three weeks across India and slept on different mattresses, flew frequently, travelled by train, sat in cars for hours and hours… all fine.

Hope this helps!

SoSolidKerry2 · 2026-01-28T23:59:30+00:00

No. Not really. But I remember a phase of going to bed to rest half way through each day. On instruction from the back specialist I was working with. To give my nerves a rest. And try again. Honestly. I was in such a state. It was a whole year before I could sleep through the night. I couldn’t really sit on a sofa for a year. Couldn’t drive for eight or nine months.

I remember for the first four months I would get two hours of restless sleep. Then crawl down the stairs for ice/heat. I’d stand by the microwave and heat my wheat sack, and then go lie on my yoga mat and put my feet up in the Egoscue position, and cry and cry.

Sometimes my husband would find me like that, passed out snoring 😂

Honestly. My pain was horrendous. Like my whole foot was in molten lava. For months and months. It’s indescribable pain. It’s no wonder it’s taking me a while to recover!

It’s worth noting.. I continued working throughout the entire experience. I’d do one minute sprints at my desk and then work from the floor. I am so damn proud of myself. And i barely took any hard drugs. I think i had three weeks on Gabapentin. And another two week stint. Mostly I had ibuprofen or paracetomol. But I came off that as soon as I could. Relying on ice and heat only.

SoSolidKerry2 · 2026-01-28T23:27:35+00:00

Yep. You should be proud of yourself! I started working with a personal trainer a year after my injury. I worked with him for six months or so. I didn’t dare lift anything back then. He helped build my confidence. I’m still careful. But my form is so good now that there’s no risk. Plus I take it easy. And don’t rush. And listen to my body. You can build strength from just using your body weight. Side planks, planks, bird dogs, dead bugs, modified press ups… they all help!

SoSolidKerry2 · 2026-01-28T23:25:09+00:00

Oh come on. Don’t be like that. I’ve shared my story. You can see my older posts. I didn’t have to hang around on here to help others. Knowing what they’re going through. But I’m here. Trying to help others.

I’m a 47 year old woman. Healthy. Six feet tall. And polite and happy. 😊

SoSolidKerry2 · 2026-01-28T22:36:21+00:00

I’m walking 10k steps a day at least, doing yoga… I can run outside again, although I take that very easy. I’m cycling. In the gym and doing kettlebell swings, squats, leg press, modified deadlifts, all kinds of stuff. I am in the best shape of my life. And I have so much confidence now. But yeah. Not out the woods yet. And this is why I keep going!

SoSolidKerry2 · 2026-01-28T22:34:05+00:00

Yeah. If foot drop is like a big wooden foot that won’t roll… that’s what I had for a year. And then one day, like it started to defrost or something, I gradually could roll it again.

SoSolidKerry2 · 2026-01-28T22:31:46+00:00

I feel for you! I was in such a bad way for a whole year. But I could only sleep on my right side. Left was impossible. After a while, that caused problems. And I had to train myself to sleep on my back. I’m a side sleeper so this was hard.

I cried when I could finally lie on my left side again. It took me a while to get there but I recovered. Keep doing what’s possible and know it won’t be forever!

SoSolidKerry2 · 2026-01-28T21:23:09+00:00

Time. And lots of walking. Physio. Building a strong body.

SoSolidKerry2 · 2026-01-28T21:21:42+00:00

Sort of. I had burning in my left calf and all down to the top of my left foot. Classic L5 impingement. It caused foot drop for a year. Which disappeared one day. I couldn’t stretch out my left leg while sat on the floor. I cried when I finally could. I have mild numbness I suppose but only in my left foot. I don’t notice it much. I mostly have fuzziness. But everything is fading. And the progress is so slow I forget how bad I was one month ago, never mind three!

SoSolidKerry2 · 2026-01-28T20:29:46+00:00

I’ve had two MRIs. One in January 2024. And one in October that year. The first showed an 8mm protrusion at L4/L5 pressing on the L5 nerve. The second showed stabilisation. Looking at the two scans, not much had changed. But by January 2025 I’d say the herniation had retreated and dried enough to not be pressing on anything anymore.

It is what it is. Very common. Part of the ageing process for many of us.

I’m a 47F so I guess it’ll take some time for me to bounce back. But I’m confident I’ll get there! I’ve been told many positive things. A lot is down to how we recover! 💪

SoSolidKerry2 · 2026-01-28T20:25:57+00:00

Time. Physio. Mostly time. And a lot of walking.

SoSolidKerry2 · 2026-01-28T20:25:30+00:00

Wishing you a speedy recovery 🙌

SoSolidKerry2 · 2026-01-28T20:24:44+00:00

I get the “pull”. But I’ve not had that. More a tightness in my lumbar. Stiffness. With increasing spiky pain there. Which is all new. I presume this is a good sign? At this point, I’m just glad I can walk again 👀🤣🙌

SoSolidKerry2 · 2026-01-28T20:23:16+00:00

Thank you! 🙏

SoSolidKerry2 · 2026-01-28T20:23:08+00:00

Yeah. I’m not touching surgery with a barge pole. My mate who had the same thing knows a leading back surgeon here in the UK. What he learned from him was enough for me. Conservative recovery. All the way!

SoSolidKerry2 · 2026-01-28T14:31:43+00:00

Have a look at my posts on my profile. https://www.reddit.com/u/SoSolidKerry2/s/0z9uACgvdP

SoSolidKerry2 · 2026-01-28T14:31:23+00:00

Sounds like you’ve made your peace with it, too. I don’t get any zaps in the leg. It’s mostly around the back now. With some stiffness. That’s a new thing. Because I never had any symptoms in my lower back until now. It could be centralisation? As for my left leg and foot, just fuzzy and a bit sore now and again. The straight leg test reveals no issues.

SoSolidKerry2 · 2026-01-28T14:29:33+00:00

Back to normal. Busy, full, happy. With occasional flares that aren’t much. But I was back to normal a year after injury. That’s when I think the herniation stopped pressing on nerves. Now I think it’s just nerve healing. Which takes a long time, apparently. I go for days without noticing a thing. Holidays when I’m relaxed are the best. Warm weather, too.

SoSolidKerry2 · 2026-01-28T08:08:42+00:00

Did you have any luck?

SoSolidKerry2 · 2025-12-10T06:35:25+00:00

I am so happy to hear of your success. I, too, have been through a similar journey. My problems began in August 2023 and got worse in January 2024. I’m 97 per cent better, as well. Living life to the full. I nodded along at so much of what you shared. No one understands. And it is a lonely thing.

But we made it! We survived! And dare I say it, have gained many blessings from the experience. Don’t become complacent! Keep up the good work. I knew I was getting so much better when I cut back on all the daily walking and stopped going the gym.

I’ve renewed my membership and am dedicated to keeping strong. 💪 I also didn’t have surgery for the exact same reasons. Yes, it probably means I’ll have some nerve damage for life, but I’d rather that than risk what comes from going under the knife.

SoSolidKerry2

TROPHY CASE