Backpacking with Back Injury?

[HvyBeams]

I had a large herniation of my disk at the L5-S1. IMO, it is best to have a MRI, and see what exactly is going on. Especially, if you are having pain down your leg, or hip pain. If the pain is relieved by standing that is an indication that the disk is herniated and hitting the sciatic nerve. My pain was so bad I couldn't laugh, because laughing somehow caused the disk to hit the nerve.

I spent too much money on a chiropractor, but in the end, she obviously could not resolve the issue. I skipped the shots, and had surgery at my Doctor's recommendation. That was 7 years ago when I was 31 years old, and it was the best thing I ever did. I have no pain and no issues. Since my surgery, I have ran over a thousand miles, lifted, backpacked, and still do the same job. If you wait too long you may have ghost pain as mentioned above, or you may be on disability for the rest of your life. Good luck!

 

[Shrek]

My experience is similar to HvyBeams , no pain and could do most of what I could do before I was injured. I can certainly do more than I could when I was working with the injury. If you are healthy and young the recovery is reasonably short. I was not allowed to return to work for 8 weeks but I was ready to go in 4 weeks. My second surgery was harder because they were cutting scar tissue away from the nerve. I was under for over 5 hours and it really knocked me back. The back was fine in 4 weeks again but I was still weak and tired feeling for at least 6 weeks. I was older and the surgery much longer the second time. Like I said earlier , I would of had my first surgery much sooner knowing what I do now. Probably 3 1/2 years sooner.