Bodybuilding w/ Herniated Disc Questions
I’ve been lifting since highschool (around 2016) and gotten very into body building, especially the last 5 or so years. About two years ago, though, I joined the Army, and during my Advanced Individual Training (where you learn your job in the Army) I herniated my L5-S1 disc in August 2024 doing back squats with a bar in the gym. I didn’t know that initially, and tried my best for over a year and a half to keep up with physical fitness as well as trying to find out what was wrong exactly with my back. Low and behold, a year and a half into my first duty station they FINALLY gave me an MRI and found that the disc was herniated and that I also had bilateral facet joint hypertrophy (bone growing in the joint) as well. During the time between initially hurting it and now, I’ve done my best but unfortunately have definitely re-injured it multiple times, always doing back squats, but always on a lower working weight when it happens (at the bottom of the squat within the first couple reps). Recently, about a month or so ago, I re-injured it again, and have started experiencing new symptoms, like sharp pain in my lower back when my right foot strikes the ground while walking, as well as pressure higher in my spine and burning. I’ve begun physical therapy 2-3 times a week for about a month now, but haven’t had any noticeable improvements in the pain in my back.
So I really would just like to ask for other people’s advice or opinions. Especially those with similar injuries or experiences; what worked for you? Did it get better? Are you still able to lift and pursue bodybuilding to the same extent? Lifting weights and bodybuilding are two things that are very important to me and I really would like to continue but I am finding it increasingly hard to keep going with how my back has been. Not saying I’m like Ronnie Coleman just pushing through workouts despite being hurt and ignoring the advice of my doctors, but with being in the Army it’s also impossible to not be physical most days (that’s just the job). I’ve been seen most of the time by different doctors, but both them and my physical therapist tell me to essentially “let pain be my guide.” But it’s very hard to know when and when not to do things, especially considering it’s like it hurts all the time. Any advice on this subject would be greatly appreciated.