HELP. HERNIATED L5 S1 DISK

hurt my lower back a year ago, just bending over to pick up a towel. I did very intense physical training (resistance training, weight training, plyometric traning, heavy bag traiining, you name it , i did it) . I did spinal decompression last month. And i had a CT scan done 1 week ago and the doctor told me i have a herniated disk, slight hernation L5 S1. Its been a year and its not healed yet, I am trying to play professional hockey and I have to get this fixed. Joe sakic had a herniated disk and had surgery and he will be fine, but my doctor told me that if i do surgery that i can become paralyzed, i just don't understand. What should i do, should i continue to lift lights weights? i can lift light weights and it dosen't make my back worse just light weights, but i will do anything to get my back to 100 percent. Because if i can't at least try my best at a shot in the pros, i will be a pesimistic ******* for the rest of my life

[gassenti]

Hi Christopher392,
I had a similar situation.  However, my disc was herniated and compressing the nerve root at the time.  Same area as yours.  I have had surgery already...didn't work, but most of them do work.  I know that any surgery to the spinal area carries a risk, but the type of surgery you are talking about, the risk is minimal.  You need to get a second opinion.  In the meantime, you should not be doing weight training as this compresses the disc further and could cause more damage that you really do not want.  You could consider Pilates...I know, thats a female thing.  NOT SO!  You need to build up your core muscles without further damaging that area.  This is not to say that you will never be able to weight train again.  After my surgery I was back to doing light weight training within 2 months.  If things hadn't gone south, I would be now back to full strength.  So don't be pessimistic.  That never helps in any case.