Re: Herniated Disc

I have the same L5-S1 herniation. I have been through physical therapy
twice. Once for three visits (and without a diagnosis of a herniated
disc). And then after a new doctor, I went through physical therapy
for a couple months after being diagnosed with the herniation by an
MRI. Before being prescribed with physical therapy, I saw a sports
medicine surgeon guy. He said there were 3 options: physical therapy;
cortizone shots; and surgery.

I just read in the latest Oprah's "O" magazine (it's my wife's
subscription, I swear) that studies have shown no real difference
between folks who've had surgery and those who went through physical
therapy.

Physical therapy is all about stretching and strengthening your core
muscles. After therapy, you need to keep up the excercise. Yoga works
like physcial therapy.

But through all my troubles (and my continued excercise) I still
managed to throw out my back last week while carrying my 3 year old
son (36lbs). It was real bad for a couple days. Then it was so-so. Now
I'm doing better. I missed a week of work. My buddy Jethro recommended
this book: http://www.amazon.com/Healing-Back-Pain-Mind-Body-Connection/dp/0446392308
.. He says that his back has been "Trouble Free Since '93!" He must
own stock in the book sales, what with the way he recommends it.

I got a copy from Amazon for less than $7 after shipping.

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