Howdy everyone,

I have had a moderate disc bulge at my L5-S1 for approximately 20 years. I am very active and love to workout, pretty much an addiction. My back pain comes and goes and anytime I make any advancement in weight lifting (not even heavy weight), I reaggravate it.

I usually avoid back squats or deadlifts and if I do perform them its less than 100 lbs total. I'm starting to contemplate undergoing a microdiscectomy and I understand the risks and potentially long rehab. I'm 39yo, have 3 toddlers at home and I want to be more active (elk hunting w/50lb backpack etc) in the future.

A part of me is saying do it now while I have some youth left vs getting it done in my 50's/60's.

Any experience or recommendations? Thank you.

Is the pain solely in the low back, or is it traveling down into the leg?

Many people have disc bulges that are totally asymptomatic. The most likely mechanism for a disc bulge to cause pain is if it is compressing an exiting nerve root, which should cause pain in the distribution of that nerve root (in the lumbar spine, these involve the leg).

If you have a musculoskeletal problem, a disc operation is not going to fix the pain.

Thank you for the reply. Yes I have sciatica, mainly down my left leg and low back pain when it flares up but no paresthesias or neuropathy. Once again I just love to workout and be active, and anytime I feel like Im makjng gains my back flares up and Im 2 steps back again.

I've had two micro's at L5-S1. The first was after years of strain I put on my back with golf and snowboarding. I managed the bulges with injections, core work and stretching, but it eventually herniated when I sneezed one time. I really didn't have a choice at that point. Once I recovered, I got back into working out and being active. Unfortunately, i re-herniated the same disc about 2 years later and they had to go in and excise a bit more of the material. That was 10 years ago (I'm 45 now).

While I wish I never had to have the surgery, and there are certainly things like stiffness and soreness I have to mitigate, I'm fully back to regular activity. I golf, lift weights, etc. The only thing I stopped doing was running because the impact was too much and I would get too sore.

Happy to answer any questions.

People like to mention MRI not correlating to symptoms but sometimes they do. This procedure is not a big deal if you have to go down this road.

Have you tried PT or shots yet?

I had a microdiscectomy two years ago. I was active in CrossFit and had an injury at some point, I had pain down my right leg and it became unbearable, I was also engaged to a girl 8 years younger than me and it was having a significant mental affect on me.

I had the surgery and was down and out for 2 days, then not able to lift anything (like anything) for 30 days. That was a pain, you'd be surprised how much of an issue this is (work bag, groceries, trash, package deliveries, etc.). Also, no swinging a golf club for 6-9 months, which was not an issue for me.

I did rehab workouts for about 6 months with very light weight, then started my regular workouts. Two years later, I work out with a personal trainer twice a week and am squatting and deadlifting my heaviest weights of my life (405lb) with no issue.

I feel really great and would recommend the surgery to anyone with my symptoms and doctor recommendation.

Had one last January at L5 S1 at 40 years old. Same thing in my left leg all the way down. Even some tingling in left hip. After doing a lot of different things…I finally got an MRI and it was clear that it wasn't goin to relieve any pressure if that nerve unless it was cut off. I would say the tingling is not 100% gone but it is better. I'd like to get another mri to see what it looks like a year later. I'm still working out just trying to be a little better at not doing the things I know I shouldn't. I saw Dr Hilton in San Antonio.

I had one maybe 7-8 years ago when I was in my late 30s. I was suffering pretty constant pain and it was slowly worsening as time went on. Sitting down was the worst. I was significantly overweight at the time, but not morbidly obese.

After PT failed to help and cortisone shots having little effect, I decided for surgery and it was the best decision I ever made.

-Had surgery that morning and was walking around that afternoon pain-free. Recovery had absolutely zero effect on my life.
-Began running/exercising - was in marathon shape within a year and to this day I am doing Ultras and such.
-Lost 75lbs and have kept it off (my diet has improved as well obviously)
-Have never felt the slightest twinge of related pain since.

Not saying everyone should run to the knife, but I sure wish I had and not wasted several years of being in such pain.

I fought surgery for several years. Didn't want it or was scared something worse would happen. Finally had to get it due to herniation. Best decision I could've made. Surgery was a breeze. Instant pain relief.