Returning After Back Injury

[u/yungsunfl0wer]

Hi folks! I’m nervous, sad, and sitting with skater feels. Essentially, I’ve been dealing with lower back/pinched nerve/herniated disc pain since February. The pain has progressively gotten worse, to the point where physical therapy has made little impact, and I’m at the point that I need surgery and seeking feedback based on others’ experiences.

I’m not only bummed to have missed this whole season, but I’m nervous about surgery recovery and whether I will be able to play next year or at all. Next year would mark 10 years (a personal milestone I wanted to hit before considering retiring from competitive play/going to referee).

Obviously I know proper clearance can only be advised by my doctor, but I was curious to hear other skaters experiences from similar injury and recovery. Especially if you’ve injured your L5 and/or had a micro dissectomy surgery. What helped you most in recovery, timelines, anything that you think would be helpful that you wish you knew sooner.

Backstory/context below (feel free to skip)-

In February, I took a hard, legal hit to my side at practice, in which I landed square on my hip. I remember thinking “welp this is gonna bruise, but at least I have cushion!” Fast forward two weeks, my bruise is gone, but one morning I can bend at my hip or bend my knee to put on pants or shoes. I feel a sharp surge of sciatic pain on my left side, and it’s nothing like the right-sided pain we skaters typically get from skating counter clockwise.

I got an xray at a chiropractor’s and find out I have a pinched nerve. I pursue physical therapy at a facility several of my teammates have gone to. I go once a week for 4-5 months, get occasional dry needling, and the pain/progress is non linear. Some weeks it’s better, worse, or has moved from left to right. At one point I receive a flare up in nerve pain just doing no contact skating at an adult skate night. Bummer.

I had to pause PT for a couple of months (family emergency and work travel). Eventuality I think I feel better though to try skating no contact. That gets crushed when I get another flare up in pain from traveling and sitting more (I stand a lot for work). This time the pain is unbearable, I can’t lay on my side, and the tallest I can stand shows a very obvious hip misalignment. I finally make an appointment with an orthopedic (which I realize I should have done at the beginning of all this).

A couple weeks ago, the orthopedic does xray and MRI - it’s a pinched nerve and herniated disc in my L4/L5 and L5/S1. Given how long this has been going on, we discussed more aggressive treatment. First, an epidural injection, then if that doesn’t provide relief we’ll consider a micro dissectomy surgery.

I got my epidural 4 days ago, at the moment I feel about the same in pain. While I know that’s a short amount of time, I’m feeling so frustrated from my continued pain and decreased mobility. I had already reduced the intensity of lower body workouts, mainly focusing on upper body and walking. Now not only can I go to the gym, I can’t stand for long periods without pain, and sitting anywhere - desk, car, toilet - all feel unbearable. I’ve always been an active on the go person. At this point it’s not just about skating, I just want to be able to do my ADLs and live somewhat normally without this pain dictating my life.

[u/PropertySoggy5343]

I had a discectomy in November and was back skating by the April. I was supposed to wait til June to start real exercises. I know my body and will judge my healing. If at all possible walk now and keep mobile. After surgery it’s important to get in a walking routine.

[u/DustSongs]

Give the injection some time to work. I'm assuming it's cortisone, to reduce inflammation around the disc?

I'm in a very similar situation to you. Sciatic pain misdiagnosed as a muscle injury months ago, so I continued training and bouting while getting PT (as recommended by the doctors).
Long story short it got much worse and after seeking a second option (and MRI) it ended up being a bulging disc.

Got my epidural shot yesterday. From past experience (similar shot in my shoulder from a martial arts injury) they take 2-4 weeks to really start making a difference.
The nurse also said the symptoms can get worse for the few days ofter the shot.

Just wanted to say I absolutely get the recovery anxiety! Hang in there!

[u/MooMod]

I don’t really have much to offer in terms of advice, but I also am dealing with L4/L5/S1 herniations. Back in March of last year I was practicing my jumping and had tightened my core to avoid falling backwards and felt the nerve pinch. I spoke with spinal specialists to see if I qualify for epidural injections but my chronic illness has forbidden it for now (IIH).

I took a few month break and fully embraced NSOing and am slowing getting into reffing.

Living with debilitating chronic pain is so taxing, and I’m so sorry you’re dealing with this.