L5-S1 Disc Herniation Recovery - This Helped Me
After 10 months, I'm fully recovered from an L5-S1 disc bulge.
At my lowest, I tried everything: physio, exercises, books, new mattress, heating pads, massages, TENS device - you name it. I spent hours on this subreddit daily searching for help.
I know everyone’s journey is unique, but here's what helped me the most:
- Getting an MRI and a proper diagnosis from a neurosurgeon helped me mentally. Physio's were diagnosing incorrectly which became frustrating and resulted in more pain. Understanding what caused the pain helped me deal with it much better.
- Stopping all exercises (including those from Back Mechanic). They only aggravated my pain and delayed recovery.
- No physio visits. Their exercises really made things worse.
- Prioritizing rest— not bed rest, but listening to my body and taking it easy.
- Avoiding painful movements (twisting spine, incorrect bending etc).
- Walking regularly, which significantly eased my pain. I walked about 3x 30mins each day.
I realized that giving my body time to heal itself was crucial. PATIENCE is key! Recovery was slow, but with time, I started noticing the pain moving around and small improvements every day.
Wishing everyone a full recovery!
This is the link to my original post.