Never get medical advice about your running from a Doctor who is not a runner. Ever. Always go to a Doctor who is a runner. I seriously doubt the PhD you saw was a runner. Most non-running PhD's have a knee jerk reaction to issues like this. I have had two bulging disks in my back for the past 10 years. With proper recovery you can run again, you just need the right Doc.

Disk degeneration is different than disk herniation. In disk herniation, the disk bulges, often reversibly, due to inflammation or irritation. Disk degeneration is due to small tears and leaking of the disk. This makes the disk weaker and makes it lose some of its ability to act as a shock absorber, which results in more tears, more leaking, and so forth. In the end, the disk can collapse. Part of the whole process is stenosis of the vertebra surrounding the disk (basically calcium deposits/outgrowths) that can fuse the vertebra and/or pinch nerves.

Tortoise, how much you can do depends upon how advanced the process is. If caught early enough, you can do much to reverse the process. My suggestion would be to go see an osteopathic physician who specializes in OMT (Osteopathic Manipulative Therapy) or NMM (Neuro-Muscular Manipulation). You can find one close to you by following this link:

http://www.osteopathic.org/directory.cfm[/URL" target="_blank">

Hope this is helpful. Good Luck!
~J

I am 27 and have been dx with degenerative disc disease (DDD) and also have a herniated disc in L4-L5. I have also run 15 marathons, the last one being Disney's Goofy Challenge in January.

For me, working out in the gym and strengthening my core has helped me tremendously. It is important to listen to you body, though. There were times when I thought I was never going to run again after being diagnosed. You have to find the right doctor who is willing to work with you. Not all doctors understand runners and how our minds' work!

I am currently side-lined having just had reconstructive surgery on my foot and ankle... I'll be back though. I signed up for the Goofy Challenge next year!

Good Luck!