Injuries....

Just right after the San Diego half marathon I was diagnosed with a small Posterocentral protusion at L5 S1.

What is a disc protrusion?

 Your back consists of a column of individual bones - or vertebrae - separated by small cushions - known as discs. These discs serve as shock-absorbing pads and are located between each vertebra.

When a disc is strained beyond its limit, the outer casing may bulge or rupture. The jelly-like inner substance can be squeezed or pushed out to the side or back and touch or put pressure on one of the spinal nerves. 

Symptoms of L5 S1 Disc Protrusion

The pressure on the lumbar spine nerves mentioned above causes pain that can be felt all the way down to the back of the leg. Most back pain does not need medical attention, but if you have back pain that includes weakness down the leg....... then you need to pay attention to it.

L5 S1 Disc Protrusion Treatment

Depending on how painful the L5 S1 disc protrusion is for you, there are a number of treatment options to give you some (at least temporary) relief.

• Physiotherapy - The treatment offered by physiotherapists helps you stretch and strengthen the muscles involved. This takes some pressure and thus some of the pain away and also makes the back more flexible and stable.


• Stand up and Move - If you sit too much in the same position you put a lot of pressure on the l5 s1 disc and this brings you the pain. If you work in an office, make sure you stand up and walk around every now and then. Make it a habit never to sit down for too long. When at home, do some appropriate physical exercises.

• Acupuncture - This is a scientifically accepted, very old alternative treatment method (using thin needles to stimulate energy points in the body) that can help relief the pain caused by a disc protrusion. Acupuncture is a very good option to release the pain temporarily.



•  Spinal Descompresion - This is a way of enlarging the space between the discs (by slowly separating the back bones) using technology. This method helps taking the pressure from the disc and even pulling it back in place, and thus reducing the protrusion.