So weightlifting has become a big part of my life. I went from lanky in college to noticeably built, and it was a complete game-changer for me across the board.
Then I hurt my back playing basketball. I could barely walk for a month, and as soon as I could I started experiencing crippling sciatica pain all the way down my leg to the ankle. I was forced out of the gym for months, and dropped 15lbs. I was traveling a lot for work and I'd heard the only cure is time, so stupidly I never saw a doctor until a couple months ago. She told me I'd herniated my L5-S1 disc, which was compressing the sciatic nerve. I started doing rehab, and things got significantly better. Then recently I was lifting in the gym, bent down to pick up some 25lb dumbbells, and when I tried to straighten back up I felt something give and then blinding pain. Turns out I further herniated the disc, even though I was lifting negligible weight and with good form.
My questions are basically this:
1) Do I have to choose between weightlifting and back/sciatica pain? I don't think I could have been much more careful in the gym. I completely cut out squats and deadlifts, and was mostly doing machines, but I still fucked myself up again.
2) Has anyone here ever had a similar injury and completely bounced back? Did you just rehab, or go the surgical route? I'm at my wits end with this shit...
Then I hurt my back playing basketball. I could barely walk for a month, and as soon as I could I started experiencing crippling sciatica pain all the way down my leg to the ankle. I was forced out of the gym for months, and dropped 15lbs. I was traveling a lot for work and I'd heard the only cure is time, so stupidly I never saw a doctor until a couple months ago. She told me I'd herniated my L5-S1 disc, which was compressing the sciatic nerve. I started doing rehab, and things got significantly better. Then recently I was lifting in the gym, bent down to pick up some 25lb dumbbells, and when I tried to straighten back up I felt something give and then blinding pain. Turns out I further herniated the disc, even though I was lifting negligible weight and with good form.
My questions are basically this:
1) Do I have to choose between weightlifting and back/sciatica pain? I don't think I could have been much more careful in the gym. I completely cut out squats and deadlifts, and was mostly doing machines, but I still fucked myself up again.
2) Has anyone here ever had a similar injury and completely bounced back? Did you just rehab, or go the surgical route? I'm at my wits end with this shit...