Degenerative disc disease and muscle atrophy

[Hesoprimaltho]

Hey guys,
Anyone out there lifting around degenerative disc disease? Last March I had massive pain and inflammation through my left lat and trap that forced me to stop lifting and eventually atrophied my left tricep quite a bit (left arm circumference now 1.25 inch smaller than my right) and has gone into my left pec as well... Haven't lifted at all since then and am now experiencing some pain issues in my lower back and occassionally left glute/quad... doc has said it's DDD and referred me to a chiro in April... Anyway I've lost so much weight and muscle since last year from not lifting and diet/mentality being shit, id really like to get back to a gym and probably use the test e, bold, and tbol I've been holding since before all of this, despite the pain everywhere online says strength training is vital but doc seems unknowledgeable and advises waiting to speak w chiro.... Anyone else out there dealing with similar and have recommendations for what lifts will be beneficial / what to avoid (besides squat/dead/crunches, of course).... Get no pump at all on left tricep and muscle feels soft, definitely has weakened... Concerned if I start cycling again any gains will be uneven and result in massive assymetry even if I pound on the left harder to avoid it? Sorry about the essay, appreciate any feedback guys...

 

[MrBombastic]

What you’re describing happened to me. I had a cervical disc replacement and it fixed it. You’ve either got cervical myelopathy from one or more discs in your neck, or a brachial plexus injury.
Get to a neurologist ASAP, because the longer the weakness/motor deficit goes untreated, the more likely it is to be permanent.

https://www.coloradospineinstitute.com/conditions/cervical-myelopathy/

 

[Mac11wildcat]

You have DDD and all your PCP did was refer you to a chiro...?

find a new fucking doctor and get a referral to a specialist...yesterday. This can be VERY serious, and if not appropriately treated can result in spinal fusions. You don’t want that. Take charge on your own, find a specialist, and get the convo going IRL, not on a forum.

 

[MindlessWork]

You have DDD and all your PCP did was refer you to a chiro...?

find a new fucking doctor and get a referral to a specialist...yesterday. This can be VERY serious, and if not appropriately treated can result in spinal fusions. You don’t want that. Take charge on your own, find a specialist, and get the convo going IRL, not on a forum.

I have early stage DDD in my lower back diagnosed a few days ago and I will be seeing a specialist my doc referred me to and not a damn quack chiro. Your back is nothing to be trifled with!

 

[Hesoprimaltho]

Thanks all, and yeah I thought that seemed more than just a bit negligent, set up appt w a new doc to hopefully get referral earlier today.

 

[Drew dude]

Thanks all, and yeah I thought that seemed more than just a bit negligent, set up appt w a new doc to hopefully get referral earlier today.

I know thisbisbold but invest in a back roller. A really hard one. I have ddd and used to have my girlfriend literally jump up and down on my back every single day. Since I've gotten the back roller it's been years since I've needed her to do that.

 

[Drew dude]

What you’re describing happened to me. I had a cervical disc replacement and it fixed it. You’ve either got cervical myelopathy from one or more discs in your neck, or a brachial plexus injury.
Get to a neurologist ASAP, because the longer the weakness/motor deficit goes untreated, the more likely it is to be permanent.

https://www.coloradospineinstitute.com/conditions/cervical-myelopathy/

You actually got an ADR? Where did you have the surgery done at if you dont mind me asking? Only a few places in the world to get that done at. And what model of disc did you get? I'll be needing one (or 2) soon and I'm trying to gather as much info as I can before I make the decision on which doctor and which disc.

 

[MrBombastic]

You actually got an ADR? Where did you have the surgery done at if you dont mind me asking? Only a few places in the world to get that done at. And what model of disc did you get? I'll be needing one (or 2) soon and I'm trying to gather as much info as I can before I make the decision on which doctor and which disc.

I got three(!) Pro-Disc C’s put in two years ago.
The Mobi-C was too small (apparently I have vertebrae like soup cans).
You do NOT want a fusion, the ADR is the way to go.
I have full range of motion, pain is gone, 100% strength recovery, and couldn’t be happier with the results.
There is a rock star doctor who specializes in this, and has done more of them than probably any Dr in the US. He did mine and, with his blessing, I was fully healed *and back in the gym* in 8 weeks.
I will PM you the practice’s info.
If anyone wants me to post it openly, I will.

 

[MrBombastic]

You actually got an ADR? Where did you have the surgery done at if you dont mind me asking? Only a few places in the world to get that done at. And what model of disc did you get? I'll be needing one (or 2) soon and I'm trying to gather as much info as I can before I make the decision on which doctor and which disc.

I’ll also say that while you’re right that a few years ago, there were only a few places I. The world, ADR’s have become much more common the past few years. I PM’ed you the surgeon’s info.

 

[MadBret]

I recently had a double laminectomy and fusion done in my neck for the same kind of thing you are describing but it was my right arm that was affected.

First my tricep and then my bicep atrophied. I didn't take care of it for probably 5 years.

The good news is, my muscles seem to be responding, albeit, definitely still smaller at this point.

I've lost some range of motion in my neck but not nearly as much as I thought I would have. I get a feeling that it needs to crack sometimes but am unable to get it to crack because of the loss of movement but it's better than it was before the surgery and eventually feels alright.

Get some x-rays and mri's done of your neck. You likely need surgery.

 

[MrBombastic]

I recently had a double laminectomy and fusion done in my neck for the same kind of thing you are describing but it was my right arm that was affected.

First my tricep and then my bicep atrophied. I didn't take care of it for probably 5 years.

The good news is, my muscles seem to be responding, albeit, definitely still smaller at this point.

I've lost some range of motion in my neck but not nearly as much as I thought I would have. I get a feeling that it needs to crack sometimes but am unable to get it to crack because of the loss of movement but it's better than it was before the surgery and eventually feels alright.

Get some x-rays and mri's done of your neck. You likely need surgery.

It took about a year for me to get to a strength recovery level I would say was 95%, and another year to get that extra 5% back. I believe that working out helped immensely as far as the nerves getting stimulated toward recovery.
Keep at it, it improves over years.

 

[Drew dude]

I got three(!) Pro-Disc C’s put in two years ago.
The Mobi-C was too small (apparently I have vertebrae like soup cans).
You do NOT want a fusion, the ADR is the way to go.
I have full range of motion, pain is gone, 100% strength recovery, and couldn’t be happier with the results.
There is a rock star doctor who specializes in this, and has done more of them than probably any Dr in the US. He did mine and, with his blessing, I was fully healed *and back in the gym* in 8 weeks.
I will PM you the practice’s info.
If anyone wants me to post it openly, I will.

Are all your ADR's in your neck or do you have any in your lumbar region? Pretty sure I have some herniated discs in my neck as well, but luckily there is almost no nerve impingement. My lumbar spine on the other hand feels wrecked. Cant stand or sit for long periods of time with laying down and using my back roller that I literally carry with me everywhere I go. I'm part of several facebook groups that revolve around ADR'S and people suffering from ddd. From what I've seen the success rate is much higher for cervical disc ADR's than lumbar ADR's. In fact, lumbar ADR's appear to have a success rate not much better than spinal fusion. Lots of people get it done, then they complain about it hurting more than before the surgery. There are success stories also but it seem to be a 60/40 split with success being the 60.

 

[MrBombastic]

Are all your ADR's in your neck or do you have any in your lumbar region? Pretty sure I have some herniated discs in my neck as well, but luckily there is almost no nerve impingement. My lumbar spine on the other hand feels wrecked. Cant stand or sit for long periods of time with laying down and using my back roller that I literally carry with me everywhere I go. I'm part of several facebook groups that revolve around ADR'S and people suffering from ddd. From what I've seen the success rate is much higher for cervical disc ADR's than lumbar ADR's. In fact, lumbar ADR's appear to have a success rate not much better than spinal fusion. Lots of people get it done, then they complain about it hurting more than before the surgery. There are success stories also but it seem to be a 60/40 split with success being the 60.

Mine are all cervical. You’re right, the cervical results seem to be better than the lumbar.
Although my understanding is that the lumbar ADR is still superior to the lumbar fusion.
I think I have some good information on some range-of-motion sparing surgical
alternatives to lumbar fusion somewhere. I’ll see if I can find it tomorrow.

 

[MadBret]

I had work done on my low back, also. More recently than my neck, in fact. Lucky for me, I didn't need a fusion but I did have 8 vertebras that had either laminectomy or double laminectomies done. I feel way better than before surgery but my doctor didn't fix everything. I too, have DDD and my low back is still pretty fucked up but so much better than it was. My doc was like, "I can't guarantee you won't need more surgery down the road, but I also can't guarantee that you will." Fucking knock on wood.