Slipped Disc : My Journey to recovery

So I developed a slipped disc. This is the story of what happened, what I did, the options I faced and how I intend to heal myself over the next one year.

It started one evening. My neck locked. No, it wasn’t something in front that was attractive. My neck refused to move in any direction, no matter what I did. I regretfully informed my host and left early on a flight back home.

Remember, I still thought I was fine. It was a neck crick, or so I thought.

So I worked, cycled, lifted things for the next few days. Then things snapped. I could not move, turn, laugh, cough, smile, or even wince in pain.

Steroid. Surgeon. Surgery stared me in the face.

But I figured I might as well start with bed rest and lots of ice. Dutifully, I iced my back between three and four hours a day. I started taking zinc and magnesium.

Essential minerals that help the body heal. Just for context, my D3 and B12 levels were fine.As I recovered, doctors requested a spine MRI.

I figured if I was doing an MRI, I might as well do the full Monty and get a full body scan.

So I spent close to two hours inside an MRI machine. I know most people hate it. I meditated and fell asleep. Even the noise did not bother me.

The report came.

It turned out to be a slipped disc in the L-4 and L5. Everything else, thankfully, was fine.

Many asked, how can this happen to you? The honest truth is that my back has always been weak. While I built leg, arms and shoulder muscles, I would skip the core.

But a useful lesson was learnt.

No one is infallible. It is my intention to avoid the 3S’s. I have an excellent physiotherapist, who has advised exercise. Lots of rest and lots of exercise. I have done a few sessions of electric stimulation which relaxes the muscles, releasing the pain.

I will update what happens next and as soon as there are meaningful milestones.

Reach out to me on twitter @rbawri Instagram @riteshbawriofficial and YouTube at www.youtube.com/breatheagain