Question
Hello,
I fell down a flight of stairs a year ago and the end results are spondylolistsis L4 & L5 grade 2 slippage with lower lumbar spain as well as herniated disk L5 and ruptared disk S1. I seen doctors for a few months then ins stopped. I just started going back to chiropractor two months ago now that I have lost feeling in my right upper thigh, and now I just noticed mid back to tail bone is losing feeling as well. I have been off work now for three month due to the pain level getting worse. The list of pain and symptoms go on, but now that I'm home im not active. With this kind of injury what kind of activity can I do to stay in shape or to get fit? I can only stand to walk about two blocks and then back for a total of 4 blocks but then Im in bed for two days. Please help if you can. Thank You.  

Answer
Hello, Tanya,

First, understand that apart from tissue damage (ruptured disc), muscular contractions commonly accompany injuries and persist over time.  Such contractions cause disc herniations and nerve root compression that can't be relieved by skeletal adjustments -- but can be relieved by improving your muscular control to the point of being able to relax the muscles.

Your pain level getting worse is likely due to muscular contractions, since the tissue damage has already occurred and wouldn't get worse over time.  Same with losing sensation.

So I would suggest seeing a somatic education practitioner, who can assist you in the process of getting control of the muscular reactions to your injury.  List:  somatics.com/practitioners.htm (cut and paste into your browser).

If there is no one near enough, I would suggest working with somatic exercises, particularly the Cat Stretch program at somatics.com/page7.htm.  These exercises will help you recover, although surgery may be necessary for your L5-S1 disc rupture.

You can obtain free previews of the various programs at somatics.com/page7.htm.

with regard,
Lawrence Gold