I hurt my back two months ago on a fire scene, I'm a firefighter. We wear heavy gear and do a lot of twisting and carrying equipment. I woke up the next morning in pain that got progressively worse. Went to worker's comp doc and then my doc and got on meds. Two days later it got to the point I couldn't put enough pressure on my back to stand up even to urinate. I crawled into the back yard and later had to use a bottle. Went to ER and got another series of shots and stronger meds. Had MRI showing severely herniated disc at L5 S1. Went to neurosurgeon and got approved for anterior fusion surgery. I started physical therapy soon after my initial diagnosis and fast forward to now, two months later, and I am close to going back to work and will not be getting surgery at this time. I got off meds as soon as possible, oxycodone, gabapentin, steroids, strong anti inflammatory and started a cocktail of vitamins along with a cleaner diet and bone broth protein. A list for those interested: B-12, B-6, Joint Support which is (glucosamine, chondroitin, msm), omega complex, Vitamin C, GNC mega men sport multi-v, magnesium, alpha lipoic acid, magnesium, papaya enzyme plus. I was researching healing discs for the last two months and these vitamins and the bone broth kept coming up and anyone reading this feel free to research it yourself. I also started some core and back / glute strengthening exercises on my own at the gym. Search Athlean X on RU-vid and you will find a personal trainer who is also a physical therapist with many exercises for dealing with this issue. Highly recommend. I was depressed, angry and almost ready to have surgery but I believe our bodies are capable of doing amazing things. I also beieve that the disc will create new nucleus material if you change bad habits and exercise. DO NOT use NICOTINE! I quit dipping tobacco immediately as this severly restricts any healing your body is trying to do. I will never dip again. This was a wakeup call! Good luck to everyone and just give it time. Everyone that says they can't take time off to heal, they have to go to work. Guess what? You're going to take time off whether you want to or not, trust me. Reach out to loved ones, take a loan, whatever, let your body heal or you may not be able to work at ALL!
Thanks for the information on the vitamins, I am a Massage Therapist and believe our bodies can heal themselves so long as we care for our bodies. Having said that I've had a Cervical Fusion as well as a Lumbar surgery in the last 2 years that has left me permanently disabled. I have chronic pain 24-7 however I don't take narcotic, nerve medication ect. I'm always searching for natural ways to feel better so thanks for sharing your story.
@@Smitty_76 Thank you Stefan, one things for certain I will always have some degree of pain or discomfort and relying on pain doctors and pharmacist to provide me relief and the hassle that goes along with it just wasn't worth it. I haven't totally figured it out but right now I rely on Epsom salt baths, cannabis cream and a strong desire to not be disabled 😀 Take Care and Happy New Year!!!
Came upon this at a good time. There was no incident that occurred but on the 30th of December I noticed a nagging feeling in my left hip/glute. Fast forward a few days and I could almost not walk at all. Been to the doctor twice and a specialist. Had an MRI done last week and am still waiting for the results. I’ve been dealing with extreme muscle and nerve pain in my left leg. Haven’t been to work since the 2nd of January. Hoping for answers and recovery soon...
I am so screwed. 48 and so far I lost my right eye to injury at 5, epilepsy diagnosis at 11, knee injury 17 skiing, injury to back at 26 causing twisted spine - had a seizure while driving a car-flipped SUV, loss of hair at 30, right foot reconstruction at 40 motorcycle wreck, torn right shoulder labrum 41, left shoulder labrum tear 42, herniated L5 from fall on escalator 44, undefined neck injury causing nerve damage in left arm 45, second herniated disc L6 from simply jumping from a step stool 46, today after months of Pilates and body work trying to rebuild body core I have aggravated a lower disc yet again trying to lift a heavy rock for my neighbor. Sitting here on a ice pack now scared and depressed. My doctor told me 2 months ago Epilepsy meds will probably kill me before I reach 75 if I can't find a new medication with less side effects or consider brain surgery. Nothing is fixed everything I listed affects me daily. I think this is where depression can set in and life becomes less interesting. I also 20 lbs overweight. Please whoever reads this work hard to care for your body. Don't be stupid like me and think it will go away or be too afraid to ask for help. Dr. Mandell is right, you have to change your brain. I'm gonna try harder to get better because there are people who love me. Man do I have a lot of work to do.
I herniated or bulged a disc couple years ago. Made my left leg and ass in severe pain. It lasted for about 3 Months. Couple days ago it happened again except now it my right leg and 100 times worse pain. I might have to have surgery this time. Have to work and no insurance.. you can't set around or you'll lose everything you have then still be in pain. Whoever goes through this.. I feel your pain.. You're not alone!!!
Jody Hi..Hope you're doing Great I am at the same condition as you were, what did you do?How are you now? Could you please help me?I exteremly need you help..thank you so much in advance.
Mate! I think I’m where you are... I can’t stop work, no insurance either... This video doesn’t address how to heal herniated discs, but rather how to get well... How the fuck do you get the disc piece to stop pushing on my nerve and giving me constant massive electric shocks and make me walk like a fucken duck... I got hit in the thigh yesterday with a cupboard door, didn’t even feel it... We are watching the wrong video...
@@Hirokiji I have herniated disks. Surgery is the only longterm fix but is very risky. Number one thing you have to avoid is inflammation which means you have to do a couple things. Diet is crucial proably number one thing. Eat anti-inflammatory foods supplemts and minerals that is the best thing to do better than any drug it eont yeal you but it will help dramatically also strengthen the core and stretch and yoga
Hello Dr. Allen. I respect you for helping patients like me, suffering from lumbar herniated disc. After watching your videos getting confidence. thanks a lot !
In July 1996 I was rear ended by a semi tanker carrying 40,000 lbs in tank. I, in my 2 Door car at a stop. I have “ few herniated disks in neck, multiple in back, a big one in secrum with 2 spinal cord injuries, all muscles on top of each other where they’re not supposed to be..,” C5 & C6 paralyze me flare ups. Before wreck, I was hyper & professional gymnast & believe in miracles. I needed to hear this video. I’m not giving up after all these years. Thank you for you video. I would Greatly Appreciate any reply comments if you have any for me. Thank you, Deborah
i love you doctor Mandell. found ur videos last year, and your videos really help me overcome my panic attack and depression. now i'm having slip disc 😰😬 i will recover soon 😊 thank you so much for this video
I can't possibly be the first to say it: your videos are life saving. I am so grateful for your channel. I just turned 30 and am facing what I believe is a bulging disc in my neck (c6, I believe) from poor posture over the course of my life. I'm doing the work to stretch and strengthen and retrain my body to be in alignment - and praying this will heal quickly.
I love you Dr. Mandell! You are the best! You are very knowledgable and share you knowledge for free. Got bless you! Stay healthy! All the best for you and your family!
I couldn't find the particular video I saw, but for 4 years I've suffered with low back pain. DX arthritis (I'm 41y), spondyliosis, herniated disc (minor), tightened piriformis, sciatica, hamstring over-tightening, and labral tear. Chiropractor, spine Dr, hip Dr, NCS/EMG (negative-this was crazy), neurosurgeon, PT twice, and 2 epidurals with absolutely no relief. I literally didn't sleep a full night in 3.5yrs. Not to mention I spent over $7,000 that I'll never get back amd still have bills to pay. Refused narcotics bc of history of alcoholism (sober 8 years Yay!). I started taking Naproxen twice a day and watch a couple of your videos on spine and sciatica esp ones that I can do while sitting in my office chair. I'm blessed to say that my life has changed! I try to do at least a couple stretches for the piriformis and low back for sure. Because I'm not in constant pain I can get up and move around more and i feel like I'm gaining strenhth back in those areas. I've gotten lumbar support for my chair and back brace for my upper back but could use a video for neck and shoulders. Still having some tightness and pain in that area. Thank you for following your calling. God bless you richly. Rachel
Thank you for posting your videos Doc. I'm a pain clinic patient with two TBIs under my belt and my memory is just terrible. I am so happy to have found you and all your videos. I've subscribed. Get this, I totally forgot about RU-vid until my sixteen year old reminded me! Thank you for your help!!
Thank you Doctor.. I believe on wah u say.. Now am ready to treat my C5-C6-C7 without surgery. Strong 💪 please upload more video about what exercises to do bout C5-C6-C7
@@bravo8208 yea, only one thing sometime those video's are good but they can mash up your brains. I just seen another video where he spoke and say they cannot heal on their own unless you do surgery... He is a good doctor with good advices but now he confuse the hell out of me now.
Thank you Dr for this very helpful video. Your words of reassurance are comforting. Seven weeks in to a prolapsed L5/S1 and I'm healing using all the techniques you speak about. I'm looking forward to being pain free soon.
Truly outstanding. Your insight, sound advice and the caring manner in which you present this material, is a powerful tool that empowers and brings brings hope to your viewers. Well done...thank you!
DebI have been suffering from bulging disc for a few years now and your videos are very helpful I tried doing some of the excercise and I have seen result,thank you much for your informative videos
Just tucking my chin in as you showed @5:25 took away a lot of discomfort. As you mentioned, it takes 21 days to retrain the body. Clearly this is what's causing my particular problem. At least I know what I can do now you make it feel better.
Thank you. ive came off of all meds except pain. my doc perscribes vit d. im changing my diet n taking vit c but still got more to work on in my lifestyle.
Thank you Dr Mandell this has been very helpful to me.. I had foot surgery in January of this year and wearing a boot for a couple of weeks caused some shifting to take place in my back. I was in so much discomfort until I went to an orthopedic Dr. long story short I had an MRI done they diagnosed it as a herniated disc. (L5)....I'm going to try the exercises you referred on another video. Thank you
Thanks doctor ! I also have a very efficient way to get rid of the back pain ,and its turmeric tea ,I have bulging disk and I'm drinking turmeric tea every day and ! I can feel the difference in pain level ! Turmeric reduce inflammation in the body so it helps a lot . If anyone wants to use turmeric please don't use it too much cause it also has side effect for your body . ( you can google recommended dosage )
I hurt my back 4 years ago , it is a workers comp case so I'm limited to approved treatment , this includes pain killers and operations, I did none . I refused to believe my back could not heal it self , I walked into a decompression office and watched their video on back problems and good and bad treatments . funny thing , it was exactly what I instinctively thought. but my workers comp would not pay for decompression , bad statistical feed back. the insurance companies use a blanket solution for a variety of different issues. and the state sets guidelines on treatment the same way . . win some loos some solution .The doctors have to navigate around the bull in an attempt to treat people . some don't care most do . mine tried telling me pain killers along with an injection where the way to go ,. I said no. I decided after 3.5 years of being in pain, investigative searching was what I'll do . What I learned was the discs need movement to heal also need nutrition and decompression , that came from every credible sores repetitively. I confronted my doctor about the risk of pain killers making it worse , he replied that's not true at all , he insisted on it . I don't believe him for 5 minuets. Its seam if you don't know there should be pain your going to hurt your self worse . like when you go to the dentist then try to eat later , you'll chew your own mouth off . so I tried self decompression., I held my body with my hands grasped to two high back chairs , letting my legs and feet dangle . I did this for 4 weeks and after the 3 I started walking up straight again then the pain slowly started to suppress . no pain killers ever . then I started swinging my legs side to side back and forth and in circular motion . in addition I would bounce my arms like to snap my back straight wile my legs dangled ,. this caused cracking little by little every time . . at the same time I slowly changed my diet , eating more healthier foods. I bought only unprepared foods . also paid more attention to how I lifted ,walked sat and slept . I spent 3.5 years in crazy pain with the threat of operations ,injections and meds when it was that easy . I can now sit for more then 15 minuets , drive much longer , stand straight up , put my shoes on ,wash my feet . pick up the cat, . this was my case , you may be week or over wait to do this so find out how to looses the pounds safely . then get a real good doctor you can trust , don't just starve your self , that will make you sick . find an honest doctor , use your comin sense trust only reputable sores. such as universities web sits . and get the info from multiple places to compare
"for an L4 Bulge: #1do not sit or bend over! #2 lay right on your stomach to counter the bulge, or 'prone out' #3 get an inversion table as fast as you can #4 nutrition, (intensive therapy joint support and vitamins) #5 chiropractor..." (absolutely no sitting or bending over, whatsoever!) (I'm fourteen days out and it seems to be working)(scary?)
Just found out i have a herniated disc on l5 as well as 3 bulging discs on my neck. Im tired of taking meds. Since im only 26 The doc told me this is my only solution: PT and Gym.
My doc told me to stop going to the gym for a while ;(. I think it really stems from the core problems. People with strong cores almost never have lower back problems.
+doctor mandrel, doc my disc fractured. and I'd lodged into my sciatic nerve and has my left leg has paralysis and now my feet hurt it's so hard to walk I'm in severe pain all the time! meds don't help! I take gabapentin 600x2 2x day some type of muscle relaxer 3x day 800 Motrin and Tylenol codeine 4 as needed which is always! I want and need my life back, I used to be active and now I'm lucky if I can get to the bathroom
You should see your local doctor so he can prescribe you with medication but don't rely on it. I suggest you see a physical therapist, chirocpractor, and massage therapist also. Once you start feeling relieve pain, you have start strengthen your core. Your last option should be surgery if nothing helps your agony pain.
I love these videos they're so informational things that we take for granted sometimes just to be comfortable I know I did it thank you I'm changing the way that I exercise the way that I walk I have a compressed vertebrae and I'm doing the exercises and just the last couple days that you showed me and already feel better so thank you and God bless you
Doc you are a GENIUS! .............I wanted to ask. I cry every morning for pain in my neck that goes straight down my right arm and tingles pins& needles. I got Mri and was Told severe formal stenosis............My question is you say on your video to hang the neck over the table for 3 minutes can i do if for 10 minutes? Is longer better? Thanks doc serious nobody here can help me just keep giving me pain meds thanks
Hi Joe, hanging your head back can possibly irritate the neck region if your having severe arthritis or stenosis. Bringing your head more forward with superior traction as in a over the door traction unit may be more beneficial. Speak to your doc.
Joe Mole Oh doc one other thing i bought this neck brace that you pump it. I wanted to ask is that a good thing for a bulge disc also and should i use it a lot thanks
motivationaldoc OMG Thank you so much after following your advice for a few days i feel better! Today is a great day for me i have not felt like this in almost a year NO PILLS! Thank you so much! You need your own TV show! If i hit powerball get ready! GOD BLESS YOU DOCTOR FOR HELPING ME!
how the lumbar radiculopathy is reduced only by exercises keeping in mind the cramps,weight bearing and postural maintenance and ample walking that needed to be done and taking the disc back into place and reduce tension simultaneously? How would you approach the patient ? What is the basic approach in phsiotherapy practise?
You forgot thiracuc. I have a T7/8 and L4/5 right now. The lumbar injection is not working. Waiting for the thoracic. I want my life back. Caused by fall.
Can someone please help me I have herniated disc’s in my cervical spine I can’t bend my neck down can’t do basic things!!!! Can’t do strength exercises obviously cannot tolerate anti inflammatory drugs how do I reduce inflammation!!! I’m scared please help more hands tingling and numb and horrible neck pain 🙏🙏🙏
Hello Doctor Mandell. I've seen multiple web sites saying that infra red light therapy helps curing bulging and herniated discs, plus several others saying that it doesn't help because the light rays can't go that deep and reach the discs. What's your opinion on this? Thank you very much for doing all these very informative videos, many of them helped me manage and reduce neck and low back pain significantly!
Interesting... my therapist never mentioned vitamin c for my cursed herniated S1-L5. I need to look through my diet and see if I truly get the 1000mg daily. However, the MckKenzie exercise, core strengthening (in my case erector spinae) and quit lifting heavy weights that caused my issue is what I was told to do.
Thank you so much for taking the time to give us this information. I'm a hairdresser and have arthritis of hands back , neck. my neck and shoulder muscles are so tight they are like bricks I have headaches migraine tingling in arms and hands. I'm misrable I'm on pain medication and not coping very well. please help. thank you. D .
Main problem is constant elevation of arms. That's causing nerves and upper trap muscles to constrict and shorten. Must take more breaks, or at least try not to keep the arms elevated too long at a time
hi doc.i had lower back pain due to slight protrusion on right l4-l5 disc for while.and was managing the pain with core exercise pritty well.but in two month ago i woke up one morning with right leg pain.i knew straightaway it was sciatica.i have been doing your exercise for 3 weeks but no improvement.so what else coul it be? please help
Hello Dr, Your videos are truly amazing. Impressed with your knowledge. I have low back pain and starts from left side, since last 3 years. occasionally I am starting feeling that on right side as well, but it goes away if I rest more. But top of that I started having tail bone pain and which got increased more and more in last couple months. I want to take advise from you, as its increasing only and not getting better. I have tried PT, acupuncture etc, but didnt help. I am sure you can suggest something which will surely trigger the recovery point. Appreciate your help.
Hi Doctor, thank you so much for your videos. They have been really enlightening. I have been battling with discogenic radiculopathy at L5/L5, L5/S1 for the past 10 months. The doctors i have seen have given me so much medication to help with the pains, however the sciatica has not stopped and the pains on my buttock/lower back have reduced slightly. Please how to I come to see you for proper treatment. I live in Nigeria and could come see you in the USA . I'll like to have your address please. Thank youu
Doctor, I have an annular tear in my L5-S1 and a bulging disc in my L4-L5 and dessiccation. Would you recommend I get stem cell treatment to fix these problems?
Hi. I have annural tear and disc dissemination at my l2-3 and l3-4. I’ve been in nightmare spontaneous symmetrical pain on my anterior thighs and knees for 19 months now. O was an athlete. Top top shape. Diet is perfection. And I’m still not healing. I have radicalupathy only. No back pain. I’ve taken no drugs that they’ve given me. I’ve tried only natural remedies bi spend hours in studio stretching breathing. I’m able to walk a bit in morning on treadmill until I can’t. I don’t work. I can barely take care of myself. Doctors are Idiots Tested me for everything under the sun. Yet it’s right there in my lumbar mri. Will it ever heal? Please help! And why did i get it at lumber 2-3 and only tadicular pain? The pain is off the charts like I’m being poisoned and tortured alive.
I was injured 2 months back and recently diagnosed with prolapsed disc in c5-c6 in mri report. I have pain in neck and back and can't sit for 1 hour. Can't sleep properly because of pain. I am given many pain killers but i feel they are not working much for me. I am using collar which giving little relief from neck pain. What exercises or therapy would you recommend for me? And would my disc heal back to normal or is it irreversible damage?
I have damaged my discs . I have flare ups with spasm and it’s very painful sometimes , and yes it can settle down eventually . But generally you will always have the degenerative disc , you need how to not aggravate it . Personally I’ve had periods of been well , but I still manage to aggravate mine again . Currently I’m crippled with a flare up - not much fun .
Inspirational Video, I have an Issue of Herniated disk ( the Space between the L5-S1 is too closed), I performed the Stretches which you have suggested and feeling better, Would like to ask you that Is the Leg Raises, Sit-up, Dead-lift and Squats are bed for us and what about the Sprint running or Stairs climbing , Appreciate if you Comment on suggested exercises.
Hi Dr. Mandell - my question is can I do that exercise where you lay on your stomach and arch my back to help bulges if I possible have lumbar stenosis ?
