Wendy,
I too have had lower back/disc/sciatic problems. I?m 46 now. When I was 27 I had surgery (laminectomy-discectomy) for a bulging disc at L4/L5. I?ve recently been diagnosed with another major bulge on the disc between L5/S1. It?s been there for years I know because I?ve had frequent sciatic flare-ups. So, I?m scheduled for surgery on August 3rd to remove the bulge. My docs and physical therapists have said essentially the same thing about running and my back/disc problems. ?Although running doesn?t help it, it isn?t the cause of it. If you feel good doing it, continue.? In fact, the doc that is going to perform the upcoming surgery said that being in good physical condition over the years has probably kept me from experiencing more pain. I?m sure that, like me, the non-runners in your life try to convince you that the constant pounding of running is to root of your problems. But running has not caused any of my disc/sciatic problems.

Dan

I had a herniated L3L4 disc - it was a nightmare - the pain was insane - as I am sure you are aware. My doctor encouraged me to try everything possible before surgery. two things helped me more than anything:
1) Yoga (in a heated room with an instructor)
2) Book - titled - Back Rx by Vijay Vad

Good luck

wendycity - i've always heard you should let pain be your guide. i managed to run a fair amount of long runs and halfs with similar issues (see below) - did that provoke current flareup? who knows...the doctor certainly doesn't seem to!!!

related question:

i'm currently dealing with the same thing - hernia at L5-S1 and deteriorated disc at L4-L5. ignored pain for months (kept running of course, but had to reduce) and finally saw a dr about 3 weeks ago. anti-infl. didn't work, now trying oral cortisone. started PT this week but it hurts me way more than running did!!! but the dr told me in no uncertain terms not to run for the forseeable future. this is annoying as running never actually hurt! the pain comes the next morning, but i haven't noticed it as being any different than any other morning.

i've been assigned to WALK, swim (which i know i won't do because i hate being indoors and swimming laps), or cycle. has anyone else tried to replace running with walking? how much do you try to do, and how fast? i've been trying to walk as far as i usually run (4-6 miles), and use my garmin to keep me speedy. the problem is, i actually hurt just the same afterwards as i do when i was running!

i'd appreciate any thoughts from anyone out there who's dealt with this... i told my PT that my eventual goal was to return to running and she said "why would you want to do that?"...i immediately thought that i was with the wrong PT...

but i'd like to avoid surgery - so i'm willing not to run for a while i guess...although the other day i ran up the street to catch up with a friend and it felt sooooooooooo gooooooooooooood...

deg

quote:<HR>Originally posted by deg:
has anyone else tried to replace running with walking? how much do you try to do, and how fast?<HR>

deg,
The recent flare-up that cause my current pain?which is resulting in surgery scheduled for August 3rd?happened at the end of April. I was already entered in the Indy Mini Marathon and had my airfare. I didn?t want to miss it. On the other hand running was still a bit painful that soon after the flare-up. I decided that I?d walk it with my sister. This sounds funny: Running that far isn?t a problem. But, I didn?t know if I could walk that far. So, a week before I flew out to Indy I went on a ten mile walk to see how it?d be. I walked it as hard as I could. I ended up going almost exactly half as fast as I?d run that distance and felt like I got just as much of a workout. Be advised thought! The muscles you use, and how you use them for walking is different than running. Then next day my legs we much more sore than if I would have run 10 miles.

quote:<HR>Originally posted by masrun:
6 weeks later, it has improved greatly but still have some weakness and numbness, especially in the foot. Anyway, the neuro-surgeon I went to basically said to keep running. Running was not the cause nor will running cause additional problems. You cannot do anymore damage to your back then has already been done by the herniation.<HR>

masrun,
The surgeon that?ll be doing my surgery is a neurosurgeon too. He said almost the same exact words to me that yours did. Others have also told me their docs say it too. But, try telling a non-running spouse that running has no bearing on your back condition. Flare-up and reoccurrences do happen?like littlewaywelt suggests. But, in my case, running has never ever caused a sciatic flare-up for me. I can always trace it back to incorrect bending, lifting, or twisting in awkward positions and not taking my back into consideration before I do it.

Dan

quote:<HR>Originally posted by ForceD:
masrun,
But, in my case, running has never ever caused a sciatic flare-up for me. I can always trace it back to incorrect bending, lifting, or twisting in awkward positions and not taking my back into consideration before I do it.

Dan<HR>

That's about my experience with it. I could run or bike a couple miles just fine but reach into the fridge for a pepsi the wrong way and I'd drop like a brick.

quote:<HR>Originally posted by WendyCity:
ACCKKKK!!! I cannot take this anymore!!!! I've been in so much pain the last three days that I've scheduled a second cortisone injection (even though the first one didn't work for more than 4 days.) I'm at my wit's end! <HR>

Well, if you're in that much pain and it hurts to run, me personally? I'd back up and punt. There are always races to be run. Fixing your back though... Don't get me wrong...I'll run through pain and injuries, but after 4-5 years of severe back pain, that's one of the few things I won't try to run through. Just my thoughts on it. Funny name btw. My dad grew up in Rockford and Oak Park.