Can you cure big herniated lumbar disc without surgery?

Yoga Discussion General Yoga
#1

I have sooooo many questions about this herniated disc i have, but for now i want to concentrate on this one question…

Can i cure/treat my herniated disc with asana practice?

Hi I hurt myself this march 2012… low back pain, left hamstring extreme tightness, symptoms of left sciatica down left leg. The pain/discomfort is always there. I treat my pain with an herbal remedy from my local store. Its basically an anti-inflamatory.

I am VERY SLOWLY getting better. Definitely alot better since march but i fear my healing has not been getting better in the last month or two.

It is very hard for me to do some asanas that used to simple. Basically folding forward with straight legs AND hips squared

VERY HARD ASANAS FOR ME :
dandasana
pachimotonasana
triang mukhaikapada pachimotonasana
marichiyasana A
kurmasana/suptakurmasana (not too bad)
halasana
karnapindasana
cat position (in cat and cow)
pidgeon on left side ( i know my left piriformis is definitely tight also )

SURPRISINGLY COMFORTABLE ASANAS that dont bother me
Janusirsasana a,b,c ( C version i could even do well on bad side even when my injury was new)
Marichiyasana B,D
baddha konasana
upavishta konasana
backbends feel good for my injury
and my favorite pose now is padmasana legs elevated on bolsters while lying on belly.
childs pose is not as easy as it used to be but i can get in it fully when warmed up.

So last week i had an MRI and my spine doctor said i have a BIG posterior herniation in my L5/L4 or L5/S1. causing pressure on my spinal nerves bothering my left side. He recomended a simple outpatient surgery that honestly sounded simple, low risk, and he said i am a good candidate for it being a health active 26 year old male.

Normally, i would never do this surgery but he did sound convincing and he did say something that really scared me… he said that if we waited 12-18months the nerve damage could be permanent.

So can i cure this with asana? some people recomended pilates, iyengar and bikram yoga to me?

and on a side note, i do have another question… ashtanga is my home practice but i also practice other styles and regularly do restorative practices also. I am wondering how far(if at all) should i push myself in forward folds with straight legs… I definitely stop when i feel pain… but i do take myself out of the comfort zone once or twice a week, is this ok?

some interesting fun facts. my pachimotonasana is SIGNIFICANTLY better when i extend the left leg out further than the right
*Janusirsanana C was/is ALOT better than A or B version.
*when i do take my pachimotonasana out of my comfort zone my back is bend side ways… kinda like my spine is curving to the left with left hip raised up and right-side down… i always thought i was straight but my friend took a picture and showed me.

i have pictures and mris if any of you find this interesting i would just be happy to talk about this with you more.

thank you so much.

#2

I so feel your pain! I too have large L5-S1 herniation, left greater than right, with nerve impingement.(along with L3-4 and L4-5) Numbness currently down my left leg to big toe. I am also a candidate for surgery, but with the blessing of my MD I’m exploring other avenues. I was told he could not with any certainty tell me before going in he would do. i.e. fusion vs. discectomy. I’ve had 7 injections with only mild relief. Here is what I know, or have learned:

-Stop all seated forward bends. They are the worst for sciatica. Paschimottanasana is a no-no.
-Elevate hips by sitting on a folded blanket while in Baddha Konasana
-Standing forward bends, not past 90 degrees. Bend knees or use a block to rest fingers.
-If pigeon is difficult, try the reclined version, placing ankle over knee, bringing knees in
to chest. My PT suggested using a noodle (like the ones used in a pool, but cut to about 12-18 inches) under lumbar area as you do this. This forces you to take the stretch where it is supposed to be which is the piriformis and not the back.

  • My PT also gave me a set of golf balls to roll over (the butt cheeks) before doing the above. Can you say OUCH! But, VERY effective. PM me and I’ll share how to easily make them.
    -Big mistake people make is to concentrate too much on core strengthening to the exclusion of all else. Until your symptoms subside, proceed slowly with core strengthening. Strengthening the core too much can cause an imbalance with back muscles and be counter productive for healing.
    -Don’t forget the Multifidis along the spine. Balancing table is good for this. For those with back issues, their multifidis is very weak. A good book is, “The Multifidis Back Pain Solution” by Jim Johnson, PT
    -Supta Padangusthasana does wonders. Where is your leg that is raised? Is the knee bent? The leg should remain straight with only a “micro” bend in the knee to keep from hyperextension. If your hamstrings are flexible, you will be able to raise the leg to 90. If not, this is where you begin! What is important here is to keep the leg straight to get the hamstring stretch. Don’t compromise the pose trying to get the leg to 90 with a bent knee.
  • Backbends “usually” therapeutic for posterior bulging disc, but be careful! Notice I said usually. There are so many factors that play into this, so check with your Dr. Jamming the tailbone, not engaging the quads, and not lifting the spine off the pelvis can further harm. Gentle backbends in the beginning like Sphinx, baby cobra are good.
    Back muscles need to be strengthened, and some lengthened, core needs to strengthened, hamstrings need to lengthen and hips have to be able to move. Sounds daunting, I know. It is a slow process and very methodical.
    -Astanga practice is physically demanding and I personally would refrain from practicing it. A more gentle therapeutic practice will serve you better. You said child’s pose is difficult? Try it lying over a bolster. Very nice and much easier. Most need to put an additional pillow on the bolster to raise the torso up.

Anyway, you have many options that may give you some relief, not forgetting acupuncture and massage. And before succumbing to surgery, ask about going to some PT sessions. Usually they want you out of pain before therapy, so they usually will try a cortisone injection in lumbar spine.

Hope some of this helps!

#3

Hi, it’s my understanding that herniated discs can fix themselves, especially if you are younger (<30), but probably not doing anything that hurts and generally giving things a rest are the best thing for it. Traction as well (hanging by your arms, or even by your legs).

I herniated two discs in my neck several years ago (C5/C6) and fully recovered after about 2 months of absolute rest. Good luck!

#4

The short answer is that asana doesn’t “cure” anything at all. It is a sliver of a larger protocol (yoga) that when done properly can support the body’s own innate healing process.

Many of the things you cite are contraindicated for herniation in the lumbar spine. This has been mentioned by one of my peers above.

The protocol for addressing herniation requires traction, not an ashtanga practice. Ergo you can either try the healing on your own, try it through the surgical proceedure, or try it in conjunction with a therapeutically trained yoga teacher. If said teacher only can teach you asana then that is an asana teacher, not a yoga teacher.

I do not advocate surgical thingies as the invasion tends to universally lead to scar tissue. However I do support whatever my students choose when they are well informed. Certainly the body has a greater propensity for healing when it is younger.

As for the potential “permanent” nerve damage I cannot speak to that. If that is the western medical opinion across the board, then so be it. I never offer medical advice nor should anything I offer be perceived as or confused with such advice.

That having been said, I’ve seen some very amazing things through a dedicated, well intentioned, properly crafted, robust Yoga practice. But it is not a path of immediate gratification. It takes time and stick-to-it-iveness.

#5

[QUOTE=InnerAthlete;77164]The short answer is that asana doesn’t “cure” anything at all. It is a sliver of a larger protocol (yoga) that when done properly can support the body’s own innate healing process.

Many of the things you cite are contraindicated for herniation in the lumbar spine. This has been mentioned by one of my peers above.

The protocol for addressing herniation requires traction, not an ashtanga practice. Ergo you can either try the healing on your own, try it through the surgical proceedure, or try it in conjunction with a therapeutically trained yoga teacher. If said teacher only can teach you asana then that is an asana teacher, not a yoga teacher.

I do not advocate surgical thingies as the invasion tends to universally lead to scar tissue. However I do support whatever my students choose when they are well informed. Certainly the body has a greater propensity for healing when it is younger.

As for the potential “permanent” nerve damage I cannot speak to that. If that is the western medical opinion across the board, then so be it. I never offer medical advice nor should anything I offer be perceived as or confused with such advice.

That having been said, I’ve seen some very amazing things through a dedicated, well intentioned, properly crafted, robust Yoga practice. But it is not a path of immediate gratification. It takes time and stick-to-it-iveness.[/QUOTE]

golf clap.

Here’s the jist.

Clean. Nutriitionaly charge the blood - positively. And perform the intergral 8 limbed hatha yoga.

This is the best means to remedy health problems.

Amen.

#6

[QUOTE=pinoyvegasyogi420;77086]I have sooooo many questions about this herniated disc i have, but for now i want to concentrate on this one question…

Can i cure/treat my herniated disc with asana practice?

.[/QUOTE]

yes

but yogasana is but a aspsect of hatha yoga.

#7

whut falls under hatha yoga?

Mantra
asana

kumbhaka
mudra
bandha
dharana
dhyana

etc…

#8

We must ascertain

whut is the is cause of this disk problem?

I know . . . but I’m waiting. So tell me.

#9

Pinoyvegasyogi,
There are four grades of degenerative progression of disc related problems. Herniated disc comes under the grade three. The doctors and; therapist with scientific background agree that grade three and grade four degenerative disc diseases need surgical intervention. There is no cure for the same. However, most medical systems (including Yoga, Ayurveda as alternative systems of medicines) are beneficial in management of the same.
Moreover, it is fact that the most diseases are not curable. However, the same can be managed successfully to the extent the person becomes functional and maintains quality of life. That is why probably it is said that prevention is better than cure.
God Bless you!

[QUOTE=pinoyvegasyogi420;77086]I have sooooo many questions about this herniated disc i have, but for now i want to concentrate on this one question…

Can i cure/treat my herniated disc with asana practice?

Hi I hurt myself this march 2012… low back pain, left hamstring extreme tightness, symptoms of left sciatica down left leg. The pain/discomfort is always there. I treat my pain with an herbal remedy from my local store. Its basically an anti-inflamatory.

I am VERY SLOWLY getting better. Definitely alot better since march but i fear my healing has not been getting better in the last month or two.

It is very hard for me to do some asanas that used to simple. Basically folding forward with straight legs AND hips squared

VERY HARD ASANAS FOR ME :
dandasana
pachimotonasana
triang mukhaikapada pachimotonasana
marichiyasana A
kurmasana/suptakurmasana (not too bad)
halasana
karnapindasana
cat position (in cat and cow)
pidgeon on left side ( i know my left piriformis is definitely tight also )

SURPRISINGLY COMFORTABLE ASANAS that dont bother me
Janusirsasana a,b,c ( C version i could even do well on bad side even when my injury was new)
Marichiyasana B,D
baddha konasana
upavishta konasana
backbends feel good for my injury
and my favorite pose now is padmasana legs elevated on bolsters while lying on belly.
childs pose is not as easy as it used to be but i can get in it fully when warmed up.

So last week i had an MRI and my spine doctor said i have a BIG posterior herniation in my L5/L4 or L5/S1. causing pressure on my spinal nerves bothering my left side. He recomended a simple outpatient surgery that honestly sounded simple, low risk, and he said i am a good candidate for it being a health active 26 year old male.

Normally, i would never do this surgery but he did sound convincing and he did say something that really scared me… he said that if we waited 12-18months the nerve damage could be permanent.

So can i cure this with asana? some people recomended pilates, iyengar and bikram yoga to me?

and on a side note, i do have another question… ashtanga is my home practice but i also practice other styles and regularly do restorative practices also. I am wondering how far(if at all) should i push myself in forward folds with straight legs… I definitely stop when i feel pain… but i do take myself out of the comfort zone once or twice a week, is this ok?

some interesting fun facts. my pachimotonasana is SIGNIFICANTLY better when i extend the left leg out further than the right
*Janusirsanana C was/is ALOT better than A or B version.
*when i do take my pachimotonasana out of my comfort zone my back is bend side ways… kinda like my spine is curving to the left with left hip raised up and right-side down… i always thought i was straight but my friend took a picture and showed me.

i have pictures and mris if any of you find this interesting i would just be happy to talk about this with you more.

thank you so much.[/QUOTE]

#10

yep, you can heal your own body if given right conditions.
start gentle - i would focus on the re-oganisation of how your using your lower back as apposed to going for any strong yoga/asana practices. Check out “feldenkrais” - its amazing.
and be gentle - go for gentle yoga, yin yoga and restorative forms. heat can help but i would say avoid bikram for now.
boost magnesium so muscles can relax more easily.

good luck

#11

[QUOTE=fuzz;77387]yep, you can heal your own body if given right conditions.
start gentle - i would focus on the re-oganisation of how your using your lower back as apposed to going for any strong yoga/asana practices. Check out “feldenkrais” - its amazing.
and be gentle - go for gentle yoga, yin yoga and restorative forms. heat can help but i would say avoid bikram for now.
boost magnesium so muscles can relax more easily.

good luck[/QUOTE]

Fuzz,
Whatever you wrote I believe will also lead management of the herniated disc, not cure of the same. It is good to encourage the person suffering from such a disorder and is ok in principle.
I agree with you on potentiality of Yoga and Chinese Medicine. Yet, there is difference between cure and management of the a disease.
There is also a gap between potentiality of a thing(s) and menifested available outcomes or specifically, what is the truth that applies to the most after systematic observation and experiments (in reference to herniated disc).
I believe that the person suffering from herniated disc, if looking for solution of the problem in Yoga, the best Yoga style that may benefit him/her is Iyernger Yoga by B.K.S. Iyenger.

#12

I cured my disc prolapse through Yoga. As said by Gordon (gordon you are very serious yoga practitioner for sure) , it takes time and you should be patient and keep listening your body response while experimenting different posture. Props help here especially ropes and tables so that you can bring proper curvature of your back. As per my experience you can get rid of pain because of following change brought by yoga.

  1. It brings normal curvature of your back
  2. You develop supporting muscles (front and back) so that load does not come directly on backbone
  3. you create new tissues and cells on the wounded area
    it took me almost a year to fix myself completely and that how I started my yoga studio so that other can take advantage. Yoga is truly amazing.
#13

I agree with InnerAthlete. With time, Yoga can do some amazing things through a properly crafted and well-intentioned practice.

Most herniated disks heal naturally all on their own, especially if we refrain from doings things that aggravate the injury.

#14

Hi Pinoy friend,
All I can tell you is to be EXTREMELY careful, and if I were you, i would stop all form of intense flow of Asanas immediately. I had a L5/S1 disc herniation and ignored MDs advices to get an operation after 6 months of pain and struggle with injections and corticoides treatments. I hoped to be able to cure it with massaging, proper stretching, basic yoga poses (extracted for the excellent book Asana Pranayama Mudra Bandha by Satyananda) and proper diet, pranayama etc…

Unfortunately, because I have chronic scoliosis, the hernia was too far out and one day, I found myself paralysed in the street, unable to stand or walk, after a week of insomnia and crying over my condition I surrendered and finally accepted the operation. Thanks G… I did it, the second I woke up from the surgery the pain was gone and it never came back. (1 1/2 year now).

Things have changed though, I lost a lot in flexibility, I have pains in other parts of my body, I work with very gentle yoga asanas and pilates now and I am doing fine as long as I stick to it, but it’s a lifetime matter, I will deal with back pain and other parts of the body stiffness for ever (you can check my other messages on this forum). But nothing can be worse than the pain I experienced because I waited too long.

So make sure you see the best docs and IF you really need to get surgery, please do it with the best surgeon near you.

Best of luck with that

Peace

#15

Herniated Disc Pain Relief and Treatments Guide.

[B]Herniated discs are a major cause of disability in people under 45.[/B]
I am one of those people.
For the past 3 years I suffer L5S1 disc hernia, the most common type of hernia.
But each case is slightly different and that makes it very difficult to treat.
In my case I also have hyperlordosis, scoliosis and spina bifida.
I have been trying countless treatments and supposed cures. I was often left in disappointment but fortunately found some sources of relief.
I’m not a doctor, just a student with lots of experience with a mother which is a doctor.
At this time, despite my efforts, I have reached a point where I need surgery.
But if I have had the experience and the knowledge I have now I could have avoided this complicated situation for sure.
[B]That’s why I made a PDF with my experience and everything I’ve investigated and used to relieve my pain over the years.
[/B]
[B]I offer this guide for FREE to those who ask me by mail to this address.
dibujantesautocadrb@gmail.com
[/B]
Since my insurance does not cover this type of operation I’m asking for help through the IndieGoGo platform. Through a donation you can get the PDF, [B]“Herniated Disc Pain Relief and Treatments Guide”.[/B] Through this platform I will also answer any questions you may have about the subject.

If you share this link, make a donation or just give it a like on facebook or tweeter you’d be helping me greatly.
w w w(dot)indiegogo(dot)com/herniatesdiscrelief

There I explain who I am and where I come from, watch it if you can and share it if you like it.