Hello, community!

As you all have or are experiencing pain. I want to share my current recovery timeline of what my back has been doing. I want to encourage the need for Physical Therapy during this time. I'm 28m with a disc herniation at L5-S1, which has been causing many issues.

Timeline

August 2020

• I just finished moving back with my parents from college. I moved most items by myself.
• Symptoms: I started to have pain in my left buttocks which felt like a pulled muscle
• Mobility: I was able to walk & run a long distance. I could lift heavier items, but I knew something was wrong with the pain.

September 2020

• I knew that the pain was lasting longer than expected. Therefore I knew some injury had occurred.
• Symptoms: My pain spread towards my hamstring, which gave me the assumption that I had sciatica
• Mobility: I was able to walk for a long distance, but I had a slight limp when I would walk. I was able to lift heavy items.

October 2020

• Scheduled an appointment with a Physician, which lead to being seen by a physical therapist. After evaluation, an MRI was recommended to see what was causing pain down my leg.
• Remedy: Weekly visits with a general chiropractor
• Symptoms: My pain spread towards my foot, causing a numbing feeling. I was able to sit for a long period of time. Standing started to get hard. The numbing feeling went from the left abductor to the back of the knee. There was some numbing at the heel.
• Mobility: I was able to walk at a slow pace. Running was stopped. I would feel pain standing up.

November 2020

• Early MRI showed a bulge Disc at L4-L5 and a disc herniation at L5-S1. I bought a Fitbit to help keep track of my daily walking. I was told to see a neurologist determine the plan of action.
• Remedy: Weekly visits with a general chiropractor
• Symptoms: My pain was all over my hamstring and calf. I could not flex to certain positions, and sleeping was hard.
• Mobility: I was able to walk slowly, and it was getting harder to stand. Foot drop would occur with I was walking for longer than 30 min. I could not sleep on my back anymore and needed to sleep in a side position.

December 2020

• I got COVID and had to delay seeing a neurologist.
• Remedy: I visited the Chiropractor a couple of times but was very limited since I had COVID.
• Mobility: I could walk with limitation but I can sit as I pleased, but standing and laying down for long periods of time was uncomfortable.

January 2021

• I decided to look for alternative methods of care to help deal with the pain. I found a community acupuncturist to help with the healing process. I visited a neurologist who recommended that I avoid surgery and shots. He kept saying, "You're young. It should heal on its own."
  • I felt discouraged since it was a speedy office visit with no solution.
• Remedy: Weekly visits with a general chiropractor and acupuncturist.
• Mobility: My walking became very limited (3,000 steps a day max). I started to have a crooked back as while as a side bend. This was due to the overcompensation in the hips. I would normally walk 70% in the morning, but by 3 pm, I would not walk as much.

February

• Sleeping became harder and would wake up around 3 AM with pain in my hip and down my left leg. I decided to look for alternative methods of care to help deal with the pain.
• Remedy: Weekly visits with a general chiropractor and acupuncturist.
• Mobility: My walking became very limited (2,000 steps a day max). I have a crooked back (hunched over) while a side bend (My left hip is up while I leaned to the right). I would normally walk 70% in the morning, but by 3 pm, I would not walk as much.

March 2021

• I went to see a new chiropractor who specialized in Dry Needling. I attended 3 expensive sessions, which didn't show any good results.
• Remedy: Weekly visits with a Sports chiropractor and Dry needling acupuncturist. I was given Gabapentin 300MG & Ibuprofen 800MG to take to sleep.
• Mobility: My walking was minimal (2,000 steps a day max). I have a crooked back (hunched over) while a side bend (My left hip is up while I leaned to the right). In the morning, I would be able to walk 60% normally, but by 3 pm, I would not walk as much.

April 2021

• I decided to stop paying for $120 sessions for dry needling and visit a new Physical Therapist. At my first visit, I was unable to walk up straight and could not lift my left leg from a lying position. I learned that many YouTube videos I was watching to help relieve the pain were bad for my back.
• Remedy: Bi-weekly visits with a Physical Therapist. I would take Gabapentin 300MG & Ibuprofen 800MG to take to sleep daily. I bought some new shoes with more cushion and a high arch (Nike Air Max & ASICS GEL-Venture 7). I bought a new desk chair to also help with my position.
• Mobility: My walking was minimal (2,000 steps a day max). I have a crooked back (hunched over) while a side bend (My left hip is up while I leaned to the right). In the morning, I would normally walk 50%, but by 3 pm, I would not walk as much.

May 2021

• After a month of PT, I was able to get some mobility back in my hips and learn what was causing me more pain. However, my PT decided that it would be best to get the Cortozone Shot to help loosen the spine to improve mobility.
• Remedy: Bi-weekly visits with a Physical Therapist. I would take Gabapentin 300MG & Ibuprofen 800MG to take to sleep every other day. I realized that if I emphasize my back while having my belly out, I could relieve some tension on my back and increase my walking for longer in the evening.
• Mobility: At the end of the month, I was able to walk for longer distances (3,000 steps). Sitting hurts if I don't have a cushion to sit on, and I would need something to lean on if I'm standing for more than 3 min in a stationary position.

June 2021

• I started to feel my left calf twitch for one whole day, which was alarming. However, I was able to stationary cycle for 30 min with little to no pain. The previous numbing feeling went from the left abductor to the back of the knee came back. I wonder if it's a sign that the disc herniation has shifted back to the previous position from October. Which could be a sign of recovering? I did get the cortisone shot, but I still feel the same as at the end of May.
• Remedy: Bi-weekly visits with a Physical Therapist. I stopped taking Gabapentin 300MG & Ibuprofen 800MG.
• Mobility: I can walk a moderate distance (4,000 steps) and later in the day. I have limited plantar dorsal flexion on my left leg. I am unable to tiptoe on my left foot without the assistance of the right foot. Sitting hurts if I don't have a cushion to sit on, and I would need something to lean on if I'm standing for more than 5 min in a stationary position.

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I currently hoping to keep working with a physical therapist to help keep improving mobility. We've both agreed that I was around 10% when I first went to seek treatment, but now I'm at 60%. I'm hoping to get to 80% in July and become more independent. Please let me know if you have any questions or recommendations about my experience.