Scar tissue question... Julie?

Willie · 02-12-2009, 12:57 PM

Recap: I herniated a disc over a year ago. I've rehabbed, had lots of steroids, and am feeling *pretty good*. The doctor has said I may continue rowing as much as I want. The only things I cannot do are over head pressing, conventional deadlifts, and heavy squatting.

This morning, on the water, I was in the pair with someone other than my usual partner, so the boat was not particularly set. We were doing racing pieces and my boat was moving well, for the most part (pairs are the hardest boat to row well). My partner called one last move, and we went... and I heard a "pop!" and my whole right leg went numb / tingly, just for a few seconds. the noise was pretty loud. I completely freaked out, stopped, and held myself together till we could get back on the dock. I knew that as soon as I stood up, I'd know if I was hurt. My measures of "hurt" are: standing (which caused immediate pain), lying on my back and putting my right leg up (heel to the ceiling), which I couldn't do when things were bad, and the McKenzie press-ups, which I also could not do when things were bad. Once I got back to the boathouse and could stretch, I found that all of these "measures" were fine. I felt no additional pain.

Showered, dressed, thought about taking some Ibuprofen but forgot in the morning rush of getting my classroom ready. And now, I feel just fine. I have no idea what that was, but I wonder if it wasn't some sort of scar tissue breaking up? I mean, I know that a lot of scar tissue has formed around my disc and sciatic nerve, and I know that I have some nerve damage, but I have no clue what happened this morning. Thoughts?

Bill2380 · 02-12-2009, 05:51 PM

Sounds right to uneducated me.

UConnJulie · 02-12-2009, 09:31 PM

I am sitting here with my heart up in my throat!!
I'm glad it turned out well ...

It could have been scar tissue, or it could have been a facet joint (zygopophyseal) that has been hung up (similar to cracking a knuckle) ... or perhaps a combination of both.

Proceed with caution ... just in case!

Willie · 02-12-2009, 10:10 PM

Update: It's been 13 hours. I don't feel any significant pain, anywhere. Something feels "different" but not painful. I have a PT appointment tomorrow at noon.

Willie · 02-13-2009, 10:03 AM

Update again: It's now been over 24 hours and nothing feels bad, just a little "off" (heh. Story of my life). No increased pain in my leg, butt, or low back. Some nagging aches, but they've been there for the few weeks we've been back on the water, so I'm (mostly) discounting them).

If I hadn't heard that horrible noise and felt the tingling right after, I would not think that anything was wrong, or different.

So, I guess that's good?
Hopefully I'll know more after noon, when I see the PT.

Thanks Bill and Julie, for weighing in.

UConnJulie · 02-13-2009, 10:57 AM

I'm glad that you are seeing the PT later ... good to get checked out.
Probably no harm done ...

Willie · 02-13-2009, 11:14 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by UConnJulie

I'm glad that you are seeing the PT later ... good to get checked out.
Probably no harm done ...

I think the harm done was largely to my psyche. I had no idea that bodies could make these horrible noises!

Bill2380 · 02-13-2009, 12:11 PM

My only point of reference here is a story a friend of my son's told me. About nine months after ACL surgery, he was at the shore and got clobbered by a wave. He heard his knee pop and was pretty sure that he'd hurt it again....except that it felt better than it had since surgery. His doc told him that it was scar tissue breaking up. a good thing. Hopefully your news is similar.

Willie · 02-13-2009, 05:08 PM

Update:
I am A-OK!
The PT checked me out in all sorts of ways. What was interesting, was that I haven't been twisted and contorted like that since before my last epidural... maybe April of 2008? And I remember wincing every time I moved to a new position. Today, she could not make me hurt. NOTHING. She test every possible thing she could, including my SI joint (and something else I cannot pronounce) and my hips. Everything was fine.

She figures the pop! that I heard must have been some ligament moving somewhere, or scar tissue breaking loose, or perhaps a hip or SI manipulation. In any case, not only am I relieved to hear that yesterday's incident is no major cause for concern, I'm thrilled that the PT says I've come such a long way in rehabbing my back! She said there was "a little extra space" back there, which has been true since we discovered the degenerating discs a few years ago. Other than that, nothing. Yahoo!

UConnJulie · 02-14-2009, 02:43 PM

Great news!!

tonester · 02-15-2009, 08:12 AM

Isn't it miraculous that our bodies are soooo fragile in terms of our always being one bad nerve movement (bending over to pick up a paper clip) away from doom and yet we are so capable of great feats. The intricacy of it all is nothing short of a miracle.

I'd like to buy our creators a drink

[edit]or maybe all the PT's out there

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