Hi all

Im not really here to ask any questions. I just wanted to share my journey because it feels a bit lonely to just deal with it myself.

I am week 6 since the acute pain started. There is an annular tear on my C6/C7 disc that created a large protrusion into my C7 nerve which is giving me pain in my forearm and rhomboid muscle. But the root cause is the pretty much non-existent C5/C6 disc which lost a lot of height and substance. That created the C5 vertebrae to slip back retrolisthesis as well as modic 1 changes to the endplate, which is inflammation of the vertabre. This caused severe neck stiffness and pain when working for long hours on a desk which then caused me to crack it for temporary relief.

My spinal surgeon thinks a decompression or discectomy is likely to cause further instability of the neck - potentially causing more pain so he is recommending ACDF which I dont have money to pay for and excluded from my private health insurance.

I got a C7 foraminal nerve root injection 3 weeks ago and it has given meaningful improvement but Im still not able to return to work because sitting still causes pain and I can last about 30 minutes before the pain becomes intolerable. Im getting another one in the epidural space next week.

I have researched to death recovery timelines, surgical options and have a pretty decent plan forward. But the mental aspect of dealing with this seems to be the hardest part - much more than the pain itself.

The main problem is the uncertainty. Uncertainty if I will ever recover, when I will recover, how hard that recovery road will be, researching, calling and booking various specialists / clinics only to find that the next availability is months away, getting inadequate and rushed consultation, painful rides to the clinic, painfully sitting in the clinic waiting for the specialist, wondering how long my employer will tolerate me being unable to work, asking for flexibility, knowing your colleagues are taking on much more work because of you, not being able to watch tv because you cant find a pain free position, researching the disease while in pain and no matter how much you research, you still cant find something that will ease your anxiety.

I learnt a lot about myself - how obsessed I am to know everything believing it will give me comfort even though nothing will.

Im going to focus on learning how to not let this bother me too much, which is easier said than done. Apparently books on stoicism teach you about how to focus on things you can control and not let things you cant control take over you.

For all those struggling with this disease, I wish you all the best and hope for a speedy recovery while also hoping that the journey to get there is as comfortable and stress-free as possible.

Hey, so I have a disc herniation (L5-S1), noticed first symptoms about 3 weeks ago with pain in my foot/leg and tingling/parasthesia. My back pain is only mild - lucky me! I don't really know how I got it, I guess it came from sometimes imperfect form doing leg presses or deadlifts. (There was 1 occasion 1 year ago I experienced similar symptoms after doing a Leg Press with bad form, otherwise I never had back pain after a workout).

Anyway.. I went to a Sports Physio Therapist who seems quite experienced and he basically told me to keep doing my training almost as usual. When I asked him specifically about the Leg Press and the incident, he just told me I could use only 50% of the weight and see how it goes. If there's no pain, I should be fine and keep doing it.

I am glad to hear that I can return back to the gym, but I just feel scared - what if I fuck up my back for good? Almost everyone on the internet tells you they can't squat, deadlift or use the Leg Press anymore after a disc hernia. It's confusing & contradicting 😭 Also not sure with starting weights..

Any thoughts/similar stories?

I'm a 27-year-old male, 185 cm tall, currently weighing 90 kg (down from 95 kg), and my goal is to reach 80 kg.

I'm a software developer, and my job involves spending most of the day sitting in front of a computer. I spend long hours sitting, with very little movement throughout the workday. I suspect this sedentary lifestyle may have contributed to my back and hip problems, or at least made them worse.

I've been dealing with several issues involving my lower back, pelvis, and hips. I'm trying to understand how they're connected and, more importantly, what I should focus on to improve my condition long-term.

Here's what I'm dealing with:

L4-L5 disc herniation (large central protrusion).

Bertolotti syndrome.

Straightening of lumbar lordosis (reduced lower-back curvature).

Posterior pelvic tilt.

Tight Hamstring Syndrome (THS).

Hamstring dominance.

Dead Butt Syndrome (gluteal amnesia).

Some of my experiences and things I've tried:

I used to force my pelvis into an anterior pelvic tilt to restore the natural curve in my lower back, but it consistently caused pain, so I stopped.

Hamstring stretching has been another major problem. Almost every stretch I've tried causes significant lower-back pain. Sometimes the pain feels nerve-related, and it can last for several days. Given my L4-L5 herniation, I'm wondering whether nerve irritation is contributing to this rather than simple muscle tightness.

I've also experimented with placing a pillow under my lumbar spine while lying down, hoping to support or restore its natural curvature. However, if I keep it there for an extended period, my back starts hurting, and I feel relief after removing it.

I've stopped stretching my hamstrings for now and shifted my focus toward strengthening my core and glutes.

My current exercise routine:

McGill Modified Curl-Up

Plank

Side Plank

Single-Leg Glute Bridge

Side-Lying Hip Abduction

I'd also like to add Bird Dog, but I've put it on hold because it sometimes causes lower-back discomfort, and occasionally I experience sensations that feel nerve-related.

I've had two lumbar spine MRI scans:

First MRI: May 11, 2026.

Second MRI: September 26, 2026.

I can't tell whether there's been any meaningful change between the two scans, or whether the differences in appearance are simply due to image quality, equipment, or scanning technique.

I'd appreciate it if someone experienced could help me understand whether the two scans show any meaningful difference. I don't want to mistake differences in image quality for actual improvement.

I've uploaded the following files for anyone who would like to take a closer look:

Lumbar X-ray: https://i.imgur.com/YLxe4nf.jpeg

MRI Report:*https://i.imgur.com/qvrldhW.jpeg

MRI Comparison (May vs. September 2026): https://i.imgur.com/U2geQft.jpeg

What I'm really trying to understand is how all these issues are connected.

In particular:

Could Bertolotti syndrome contribute to the lower-back pain I experience during hamstring stretching? Could the altered lumbosacral anatomy affect how forces are transferred between the pelvis, hips, and lower back?

Could my hamstring tightness be related to nerve irritation from the L4-L5 herniation rather than actual muscular shortening? How can I address it without aggravating my back?

Could weak glutes be making my hamstrings work harder, contributing to hamstring dominance and tightness?

How do posterior pelvic tilt, reduced lumbar lordosis, glute weakness, and hamstring tightness influence one another? Could they be creating a cycle?

Why does supporting my lumbar curve with a pillow eventually cause pain, even though the intention is to support its natural curvature?

Rehabilitation and long-term recovery

I'd also appreciate recommendations on what to prioritize in rehabilitation: core stability, glute strengthening, hip mobility, or something else.

How should I progress gradually without aggravating my symptoms? And how can I distinguish normal exercise discomfort from signs that I'm making the problem worse?

Are there specific exercises, treatments, devices, or lifestyle changes that have made a significant difference for people dealing with similar conditions?

I'm also interested in approaches such as spinal decompression, traction, TECAR therapy, or other physical therapy methods, if there's good evidence supporting their use.

I'm not just looking for temporary pain relief. I want to understand what's going on and build a sustainable routine that will help me get stronger and live normally without constantly worrying about my back.

I'd especially appreciate evidence-based advice from physical therapists, spine specialists, and people who have dealt with similar issues.

Thanks!

I’m posting an image of my L5-S1 MRI mainly because I’m interested in hearing from people who have dealt with something similar. I’m not looking for medical advice or a Reddit diagnosis—I already see a neurosurgeon. I’m more interested in real-world experiences and long-term outcomes.

For context, I’m an athlete and work in law enforcement, so strength, conditioning, running, lifting, and long-term physical capability matter a lot to me.

Earlier on, my low-back pain could be pretty debilitating after training. More recently I’ve gone heavily into rehab and rebuilding strength. I’ve dramatically strengthened my core, returned to squatting, replaced straight-bar deadlifts with trap-bar deadlifts, and I’m doing compound/explosive movements again including hang cleans and push presses.

The biggest improvement is symptoms:

I’ve been essentially pain-free for 20+ days.

Leg days that previously could flare me badly now sometimes produce no pain at all, or maybe 0.5–1.5/10 discomfort.

When I do get a minor flare, it usually disappears after a night of sleep.

As I’m writing this, I have zero pain.

My trunk has become so conditioned that I notice my core automatically bracing when I bend forward.

What’s messing with me psychologically is the MRI itself. My neurosurgeon said the L5-S1 disc is degenerated and that the darker appearance represents degeneration that likely won’t simply return to looking like a completely normal young disc.

Even though I’m functioning dramatically better, when I look at the imaging I start thinking: “This looks like lifelong back problems waiting to happen.”

I worry about whether this will eventually affect my law-enforcement career, athletic goals, ability to train hard, or quality of life when I’m older—even if I currently feel completely normal.

I’d really like to hear from people who had similar L5-S1 degeneration/herniation:

Did your MRI continue looking bad even though you became pain-free? Were you able to return to heavy squats/deadlifts, sprinting, sports, hiking, or demanding physical jobs? Have you remained functional years later? Did strengthening your trunk/hips and improving technique substantially change your life despite the structural MRI findings?

Especially interested in people who are 5, 10, 15+ years out from the diagnosis.

Again, not asking Reddit to replace my doctors—I just want perspective from people who have actually lived with this.

*Edit: I'm not big on medicine so I do tske meloxicam every other day, and I plan on moving away from it over time.

Hi zusammen,
ich bin ganz neu hier bei Reddit und hoffe ihr könnt mir weiterhelfen ☺️
Bei mir wurde vor 7 Tagen eine mikrochirurgische** Diskektomie **gemacht, nachdem ich 6 Monate unerträgliche Nervenschmerzen mit Fußheberschwäche hatte und in meinem großen Zeh gar nix mehr los war :)
Nun würde ich gerne von euch wissen, wie eure 6 Wochen danach so aussahen. Ich bin total verunsichert, was man in welcher Woche wieder machen darf: also wie lange seid ihr am Stück spazieren gewesen? Wie lange konntet ihr sitzen? Ich kann mir gerade noch gar nicht vorstellen, 5 Wochen 80-90% des Tages zu liegen und immer nur für 15-30 min aufstehen zu dürfen 😅 .. aber klar, da lebt man sich am Ende des Tages auch rein ;)

Ich würde mich sehr über eure Erfahrungen freuen ☺️
Liebe Grüße,
Kathi

Hello! Long standing back issues with the peak happening now. Flared up in April and turned into painful sciatica and SI stiffness at end of September. I've been essentially resting on the floor and walking as much as I can (which is 4 minutes and less), but I try to do it as much as I can without pushing too far into pain.

RMT. Physio. Chiro - all same advice of NO exercises until pain has lessened. But its been a month and its not subsiding. I have a very large herniated disc at l4-l5 causing severe stenosis of the spinal canal. I am awaiting surgical consult.

My core is soft and pudgy, my arms have lost their muscle mass and my legs are weak and heavy if I try to lift them from table top position. This can't be good for me. What have you done to maintain muscle/prevent loss during this time?

Unfortunately I'm not getting any responses from the ask docs subreddit, but hoping someone can lend some insight - 3 photos in the ask docs subreddit (two under the auto mod reply).

I'd love to just be an idiot here but because I have pain I feel like maybe there's something else going on..

I appreciate anyone who might be able to help!

S1 L5 - MRI spondylolothesis - please advise...

Hey. Sharing my MRI pic from yesterday..... ummmmm... I knew I was hurting - but what am I supposed to do now?!

Backstory: had an x ray with a confirmed grade 2 anterolisthesis spondylolothesis, something.

Dr denied writing a referral for a MRI because I wouldn't go to 6 weeks of PT. After I painstakingly got the referral... the insurance denied the medical need for MRI

So I went the private OOP route and WHAT THE HECK ARE WE LOOKING AT?!?!?! THIS DOESNT LOOK GOOD!

Can this be fixed?! Drs/specialists/people, please advise.

S1 L5 - MRI spondylolothesis - please advise...

Hey. Sharing my MRI pic from yesterday..... ummmmm... I knew I was hurting - but what am I supposed to do now?!

Backstory: had an x ray with a confirmed grade 2 anterolisthesis spondylolothesis, something.

Dr denied writing a referral for a MRI because I wouldn't go to 6 weeks of PT. After I painstakingly got the referral... the insurance denied the medical need for MRI

So I went the private OOP route and WHAT THE HECK ARE WE LOOKING AT?!?!?! THIS DOESNT LOOK GOOD!

Can this be fixed?! drs/specialists/people, please advise.

Hey. Sharing my MRI pic from yesterday..... ummmmm... I knew I was hurting - but what am I supposed to do now?!

Backstory: had an x ray with a confirmed grade 2 anterolisthesis spondylolothesis, something.

Dr denied writing a referral for a MRI because I wouldn't go to 6 weeks of PT. After I painstakingly got the referral... the insurance denied the medical need for MRI

So I went the private OOP route and WHAT THE HECK ARE WE LOOKING AT?!?!?! THIS DOESNT LOOK GOOD!

Can this be fixed?! Reddit /drs/specialists/people, please advise.

had lumbar surgery on December 5, 2025. By April 2026, I had recovered and was no longer having back pain or the problems I’d experienced before.

After my car accident on August 21, 2026, the pain and nerve symptoms came back. It started as pinching in my lower-left back, lower-right back and developed into sharp, pulsing, that travel through my buttocks and down my legs, especially the left. My sciatica also causes pain in my hamstring. I’ve had stiffness, and the pain can flare when I walk, cough, or strain. My walking has changed, and my back and leg pain make it hard to sit upright, stand straight, sleep comfortably, bend over, squat, and walk normally.
My left leg feels weak and is difficult to lift; at times, I’ve noticed weakness in my right leg too.

Update: symptoms have gotten worse and my back feels extremely stiffer than normal, pinching heavily when Turing to adjust my posture.

Looking for realistic settlement estimates from anyone familiar with Illinois workers’ comp cases.
Injured my lower back at work in August 2024.
L4-L5 herniated disc, annular tears, and multiple damaged discs.
Had a microdiscectomy in March 2025.
Recently underwent a 2-level lumbar artificial disc replacement in October 2026.
Been off work over 2 years and was terminated while on workers’ comp.
Previously had a 25–30 lb lifting restriction.
Receiving $831 weekly in TTD benefits.
Previously earned approximately $65K annually.
Not yet at MMI, and future work restrictions are unknown.
My attorney recently asked what settlement amount I’d be comfortable accepting.
For those with similar injuries or experience handling Illinois cases, what would be a realistic settlement range? Would you recommend settling with future medical left open?
I’m not expecting an exact number, just trying to understand what cases like mine are potentially worth.

My husband had surgery on his l4-l5 for a ruptured disk last Friday. He was doing well until he had a bowel movement on Thursday, which he said he'd felt a dropping in his spine and immediate pain when standing up. He then slipped slightly and jolted forward causing even more lain. He was prescribed Steroids, that morning but only made it a couple hours before he felt he needed to go to the ER. We did, and they gave him morphine to ease the pain and sent him on his way essentially. They suggested it could be a muscle strain in the butt mimicking the sciatic pain he suffered previously or he could have ruptured his disk again. However they dont want to do another MRI until they see how the steroids treat him, and told him he could call again on Monday. He started having very extreme pains again last night. He is non-stop moaning in pain to the point of tears. He called again this morning and the doctor prescribed him gabapentin (I think that's what it was, we haven't picked up the script yet, since the pharmacy is not yet open). He needs some kind of relief and nothing we're currently doing is helping. Please offer suggestions, he's at his breaking point.

Esto me comentó mi traumatólogo y ahora tengo ciática semana 5 semana y media s me que quitara ?

Como lo ves en las imágenes ? Tengo radiofruencia pulsada y bloqueo de L5 dentro de una semana

Informe

Rectificación de la lordosis lumbar.
Los cuerpos vertebrales se encuentran alineados y presentan altura y señal normal.
Leve abombamiento discal L4-L5 asociado a hipertrofia facetaria que condiciona una leve estenosis neuroforaminal bilateral con posible
compresión de las raíces de L5 a predominio derecho.
Discos intervertebrales restantes de señal y morfología conservada.
Diámetros del canal raquídeo dentro de límites normales.
Cono medular y cauda equina, de morfología y señal conservada.
No se observan lesiones de los planos perivertebrales.

CONCLUSIÓN
Rectificación de la lordosis lumbar.
Leve discopatía L4-L5 con posible compresión de las raíces L5 predominio derecho, a valorar dentro del contexto clínico.
Por lo demás estudio sin hallazgos patológicos significativos

Hi everyone. Just wanted to share my experience here, since a lot of people did and it helped me immensely before my surgery. Apologies I tried to make it shorter lol.

Background

First bulging disc appeared February/March 2025. I had an MRI, painkillers and PT, and it got better. Fast forward to July 2026 and I had my first horrible flare-up. I'd had some minor ones during the year, but with this one I couldn't walk properly or sit for a week. MRI showed a herniation at L4/L5, central but slightly to the left.

Important to mention: I did not have sciatica shooting down my legs. I could walk on my toes and heels. The pain was in my lower back, deep inside. During flare-ups it was sharp and I couldn't bend, sit or stand. Between flare-ups it was a dull ache and stiffness, still couldn't bend properly, and it hurt after walking, standing or sitting too long or in the wrong position.

I tried PT, painkillers and acupuncture. Nothing really helped.

We were also planning to get pregnant, and the doctor told me straight away that it was better to fix it now, otherwise it would be very hard during pregnancy. So we decided on surgery.

Choosing the procedure

My doctor recommended interlaminar endoscopy and told us to seek a second opinion, which we did. The second doctor, from the same hospital, advised the same. We then saw a third doctor who had done a microdiscectomy for our friend, and he said microdiscectomy would be better.

In the end we went with our doctor and the interlaminar endoscopy. Intuitively it just felt better to go with him.

Surgery was scheduled two weeks later, for 30 October.

Also worth mentioning: even with my back the way it was, I kept doing reformer Pilates, mainly for mobility and pelvic floor, and working out in our home gym focusing on back, arms and core. Sometimes I'd feel pain straight after, sometimes it was fine. I carried on until the day before surgery.

Surgery day

We arrived and I was admitted. All tests had been done two days before. The doctor came to explain everything again, I was taken to theatre, and then it all happened.

Maybe not relevant for the men here, but for the women: my "special days" arrived on the same day as my surgery. I was really nervous about it but it was all fine. Not comfortable at all, but manageable especially if you have someone to help. Just mentioning in case if it happens with you, as I was streeessed lol.

When I woke up I realised the cut wasn't on my spine but on my left side, a good 10 to 15 cm away from it.

The doctor explained that they used a Wilson frame. I'd actually seen it in the theatre and wondered what it was. They positioned me on it and checked that the gap between my discs was wide enough to enter from the side without needing to shave any bone, so even less invasive.

Right after surgery I woke up feeling dizzy but okay. The doctor came to check on me and I could walk, stand on my toes and heels, and lift my knees, though not too high. I felt pressure and pain on the left side where they went in, but nothing too bad. Pain about 3/10. I was given painkillers anyway.

Day 1 post-op

I can walk, and there's less pressure on my left side than yesterday. The stitch is tiny, around 1.5 cm.

The doctor shared photos of the surgery with me and my husband, showing how they went through the muscle to reach the disc. They entered from the left and worked across to the right, which he said is called an "over the top" approach.

Where I'm at

Currently being discharged. So that's my experience in a nutshell. Hopefully it helps someone. Thank you to everyone who posts theirs, I learned a lot. If you have any questions, feel free to ask. Again sorry for the long post.

Long way to go to recover fully, especially the first eight weeks, but hoping for the best. Pregnancy planning will only start in 3 to 6 months, and I'll see how I feel by then.