Long story short...I hope :-)

I had bulging discs at L4/L5 and L5/S1 in 2002...after losing a lot of weight. Both eventually ruptured in 2006. This ultimately resulted in a laminectomy/discectomy in 2007. Unfortunately, I gained back the weight plus some- sound familiar?

One of my ultimate goals has been to run a 5K and then work up from there. I have 1 under my belt now and LOVED it.

About 4 months ago I started having the same symptoms as I did back in 2002. Back pain, numb toes and side of legs. Went to PCP thinking (hoping) it was nothing. Turns out I was wrong! I have 2 bulging discs...same place...impinging the left nerve root.

He's sending me to a spinal surgeon and we'll go from there. In the meantime, he's instructed me not to run and absolutely "no pounding" on my body whatsoever. I get it and am adhering to his advice...which is difficult because I was scheduled to do a 5K tonight. He recommended cycling and swimming which I'm not a huge fan of either.

Does anybody have similar experience? Any tips on running that won't "pound" my body?

Wow, I know the feeling. I have 14 ruptured discs in my spine (just had a three level repair in my neck this past Valentine's Day. I have thoracic radiculopathy which causes shooting pains around my mid back and into my lower rib cage. Four times a year I get spinal epidurals in my lower back to sooth sciatica. Some of it is genetic, but most of it was caused by my weight. I have also had both knees replaced...........my body does not want to hold me up anymore. I am short and almost as much around as I am tall. So, here's what a doctor told me about seven years ago, when I told him I was following along with a kickboxing video to get some exercise......he said to knock it off because the impact was not good for my spine or my joints at my age and weight. So even now, I have to focus on strength training and exercises I can follow from a chair to avoid more damage. I do have a walking video that I do in the house, but it is more endurance than bounce. I wish you good luck in finding a pace that works for you.

Long story short...I hope :-)

I had bulging discs at L4/L5 and L5/S1 in 2002...after losing a lot of weight. Both eventually ruptured in 2006. This ultimately resulted in a laminectomy/discectomy in 2007. Unfortunately' date=' I gained back the weight plus some- sound familiar?

One of my ultimate goals has been to run a 5K and then work up from there. I have 1 under my belt now and LOVED it.

About 4 months ago I started having the same symptoms as I did back in 2002. Back pain, numb toes and side of legs. Went to PCP thinking (hoping) it was nothing. Turns out I was wrong! I have 2 bulging discs...same place...impinging the left nerve root.

He's sending me to a spinal surgeon and we'll go from there. In the meantime, he's instructed me not to run and absolutely "no pounding" on my body whatsoever. I get it and am adhering to his advice...which is difficult because I was scheduled to do a 5K tonight. He recommended cycling and swimming which I'm not a huge fan of either.

Does anybody have similar experience? Any tips on running that won't "pound" my body?[/quote']

Don't run! Follow his orders and until you see the specialist don't do anything to aggregate it. I had a 3 level spinal fusion 6 years ago, and while I am too overnight to run right now, my back feels better than it did in my 20s. Can you try learning to speed walk? I have heard of people speed walking faster than some can run.

Thanks y'all! I'm so sorry to hear about your Back issues...makes mine seem so insignificant!

I'm just so frustrated that now that I'm able to run (except the back issues) I can't run! I'm sure you get it. I have an appt with the back surgeon in a couple of weeks. Prayers and happy thoughts appreciated!