Question
Hello,
Recently I've had a ST scan done and it showed L5 S1 posterior disc protrusion. I am 25 years old and injured myself around 6 months ago, while practicing back bending in contortion. It caused sciatica, which has been treated with acupuncture. Now it doesn't really hurt, only if I try to backbend in the same way. So it really affects my training. Is it possible to reverse it? I mean the real treatment, so the disc would slide back into it's place, not like painkillers or muscle relaxers which only mask the problem. ( I took those already) And can I continue with my contortion training? Or it would make the disc bulge even more? The advice would be really appreciated. Thank you

Answer
Dear Jasmine,

Disc injuries are permanent. When a disc is bulging or protruding, it is because the annular fibers that make up the outside of the disc are stretched or torn. The disc is a non-vascular material, meaning that it doesn't heal very well... and if it does heal, it takes a long long long time.

You can try some lumbar traction.  This helps sometime to reduce a protrusion, at least temporarily. You can also do spinal manipulation.

If you continue, however, to do the things that injured your lumbar discs in the first place, you can expect to re-injure yourself.

Good Luck Jasmine.

Keith Biggs, DC
http://www.eastmesachiropractor.com