Melly Mel's Log From Hell

[ROB581211]

We have the same issue. I'm severely herniated at L4 and L5 and moderately herniated at L3 and S1. 7 1/2 years ago I had surgery. I had a double Bi-lateral laminectomy ( a laminectomy at both levels L4 and L5 on the right and left side of the spine) and I had spinal stenosis removed at the same level. I was issue free for 6 years but in January of 2014 the pain started again. so now I have herniations from L3 through S1 and the stenosis is coming back. None of this is uncommon, especially for someone my age that pushed it their entire life. Another surgery is probably in my future but until then its just pain, I work around it.
And Rob, this is my cycle log but I don't care how long your post is. So to you or anyone participating here. I want you all to post whatever you think is relevant to whats going on here. If it's information that can help someone then post away. I'm sure there are others here that have the same physical issues I do. This lifestyle can be hard on your body and I imagine we either have or will have similar issues if your in it long enough. So please, if you think you have information can help someone, put it up.
Thanks Rob for that info.

Yours is much more advanced than mine. You are one tough guy still doing all that you do. I'm sure you've herd just about all the different types rehab and prevention techniques. I hope another surgery can be prevented for you. Awesome log though my friend. Keep killin it.

 

[Melly Mel from hell]

Yours is much more advanced than mine. You are one tough guy still doing all that you do. I'm sure you've herd just about all the different types rehab and prevention techniques. I hope another surgery can be prevented for you. Awesome log though my friend. Keep killin it.

I appreciate the compliment but honestly, for me, it's not about being tough. For three years prior to my surgery I was in horrible pain 24/7. I tried everything non-surgical I could. Between the pain and the pain medication I had no life. I'm a very active guy. I do a lot of outdoorsy activities but during those three years all I would do was work and lay around. I forced myself to get through my work day. I had to. I owned my own business and I had a family to feed and a mortgage to pay so not being able to work was not an option. I stand all day for work so by the time I got home all I could do was swallow my pills and get horizontal and I couldn't do any of the things I love to do and definately no gym. My surgery was very successful and my pain was totally gone. The herniations weren't fixed but the soft tissue and the bone that was impinging the 4 major nerves that was causing the pain was removed. My Dr. said I was too young to have a discectomy or a spinal fusion so his goal was to get me out of pain but not to correct the herniation problem because the procedures that needed to be done to fix the structural issues was too invasive for a man my age. Once you start cutting discs and fusing vertibrae the issue can domino so Dr.'s usually don't do that until you're older unless there's no other option. He told me in time the pain would start to return and I knew the two other disc had early signs of failing. I made up my mind then that I wouldn't ever let it take my life from me again. It's not about being tough, It's about the fact that I was a shell for three years and that's worse than being in pain.

 

[MindlessWork]

I appreciate the compliment but honestly, for me, it's not about being tough. For three years prior to my surgery I was in horrible pain 24/7. I tried everything non-surgical I could. Between the pain and the pain medication I had no life. I'm a very active guy. I do a lot of outdoorsy activities but during those three years all I would do was work and lay around. I forced myself to get through my work day. I had to. I owned my own business and I had a family to feed and a mortgage to pay so not being able to work was not an option. I stand all day for work so by the time I got home all I could do was swallow my pills and get horizontal and I couldn't do any of the things I love to do and definately no gym. My surgery was very successful and my pain was totally gone. The herniations weren't fixed but the soft tissue and the bone that was impinging the 4 major nerves that was causing the pain was removed. My Dr. said I was too young to have a discectomy or a spinal fusion so his goal was to get me out of pain but not to correct the herniation problem because the procedures that needed to be done to fix the structural issues was too invasive for a man my age. Once you start cutting discs and fusing vertibrae the issue can domino so Dr.'s usually don't do that until you're older unless there's no other option. He told me in time the pain would start to return and I knew the two other disc had early signs of failing. I made up my mind then that I wouldn't ever let it take my life from me again. It's not about being tough, It's about the fact that I was a shell for three years and that's worse than being in pain.

Respect.

That goes to show your true dedication in the face of adversity. You will only get stronger mentally as well as physically. I had been in a similar situation myself and I know where you are coming from.

 

[brutus79]

Alright I want to give a small bit of back ground of my injury before anything. I'm not 100% sure what caused it but I know the final draw was after a leg workout and I bent over to tie my shoelace and felt an intense pull in my lower back. Long and short of it I played it off for a few weeks and tried to tough it out. The pain kept getting worse and worse. So I went to my family Dr and he prescribed me tramadol for pain. Prednisone for the inflammation ( which was the only true relief as far meds go because it killed the disc swelling) and some muscle relaxers I believe it was generic flexural (waste of time). So then came the time for repair. I went to a chiropractor but wasn't the traditional kind he was certified in the form ART.

1. Active release techniques (ART) is a soft tissue system/movement-based technique developed and patented by P. Michael Leahy. It claims to treat problems with muscles, tendons, ligaments, fascia and nerves. There is little evidence to support its efficacy. The technique is advocated largely by chiropractors.
   Anyways. My disc inflammation was causing major muscle spasms which rotated my hips and spine out of line pretty bad. So the most effective things he taught me to do on my own was lay on my bed with my feet hanging off and push up with my arms while keeping my hips down. Almost like a push but without moving the lower half of your body. If you have a wife or significant other have them put pressure on your hips and lower back to make sure they don't raise when you push up on with your arms. This a decompression of spine stretch. I was told to perform between 10-20 pushes holding at the top for 3-5 seconds then do one where you hold at the top about a minute at the end. I had to do this 3x times a day. Since my hips and spine where out of whack I did another stretch where you use a doorway and put your feet on one side and use your forearm to brace yourself on the other side. Then you drop your hip down from left to right to right or vice versa depending on which way you are out of whack until you feel a few pops and cracks. I did both of these 3x times a day for months. and still do to this very day of something feels out of line. Again this was only the things I was able to do on my own at home. There was other things he did but I can duplicate that on my own.
   Now I did my own rehab. I was out of the gym for a good 6-8 weeks which was the longest I've been out since I started lifting. I made sure to do as many core related exercises that I could think of. A minimum of 30-45 mins a day. The biggest ones I focused on was all the different variations of planks while I was at home on free time. Then at the gym I used minimum weight and did a ton of lower back extensions at all angles. I did every types of abs workout you could think of. It took a while to be able to leg raises but they work your core in a great way. Bosu balls and foam rollers also are amazing for various types of relief and stretches. I focused on this for a good 3-5 months before I even attempted any kind of weight on any exercise. I know a lot of this seems very basic and general but if you stay true to it and put the same amount of effort you do into your other lifts it will change you for the better. This was very long winded but as general as I could put it. If you or anyone else has any detailed questions let me know. I've received so much help from guys here and I want to contribute as much as I can. I can even make a few videos of the 2 major stretches if need be. Your core is everything and should be as big of part of your workout as any other muscle group especially if your have back issues. It supports every movement you do. Again sorry for the long winded post I wanted to give the background of my injury as well as I believe it's best to know what I was trying to solve. Hope this can help a few guys out there.

Please post some videos. Good shit.

 

[brutus79]

We have the same issue. I'm severely herniated at L4 and L5 and moderately herniated at L3 and S1. 7 1/2 years ago I had surgery. I had a double Bi-lateral laminectomy ( a laminectomy at both levels L4 and L5 on the right and left side of the spine) and I had spinal stenosis removed at the same level. I was issue free for 6 years but in January of 2014 the pain started again. so now I have herniations from L3 through S1 and the stenosis is coming back. None of this is uncommon, especially for someone my age that pushed it their entire life. Another surgery is probably in my future but until then its just pain, I work around it.
And Rob, this is my cycle log but I don't care how long your post is. So to you or anyone participating here. I want you all to post whatever you think is relevant to whats going on here. If it's information that can help someone then post away. I'm sure there are others here that have the same physical issues I do. This lifestyle can be hard on your body and I imagine we either have or will have similar issues if your in it long enough. So please, if you think you have information can help someone, put it up.
Thanks Rob for that info.

Thank you for inspiration to get me through my next 100 training sessions.

 

[LittleIronMan]

I did my back in a couple of weeks ago, Well it keeps on happing when I play footie the bottom left side, So am staying away from footie forever me thinks, I shit you not, Its never gone wrong in the Gym trying to lift heavy weights, Twice it happened in the space of a month 1st time took a little over a week stop the real bad pain, This time though its been getting worst and I have not done the Gym In a couple of weeks, I can do the weights if I have some one to pass me them when I'm Sitting down, Its the bending down that kills me off picking them up, Taking the weights off the bar etc If am laying flat I can bench, I can do lat pull down just not the front row is it ?

 

[Melly Mel from hell]

Thank you for inspiration to get me through my next 100 training sessions.

I swear to you that for these first 3 days of this cycle log, anytime doing a workout if I started to falter or if I'm eating and I don't feel that I can finish, I've thought "Brutus is behind me on this and I don't want to disappoint him". I feel this way about all of you. You are all fueling me on this. I don't know why this cycle is so important to me. There's something spiritual moving in me for this one. I'm trying not to question it and just give it the respect and attention it needs and in the end if the importance becomes known then great and if not...thats fine too.

 

[brutus79]

I swear to you that for these first 3 days of this cycle log, anytime doing a workout if I started to falter or if I'm eating and I don't feel that I can finish, I've thought "Brutus is behind me on this and I don't want to disappoint him". I feel this way about all of you. You are all fueling me on this. I don't know why this cycle is so important to me. There's something spiritual moving in me for this one. I'm trying not to question it and just give it the respect and attention it needs and in the end if the importance becomes known then great and if not...thats fine too.

We are all behind you 100% Mel - learning about what you battle with every day has inspired me to fight through my own pain, to force feed myself- to be the warrior we need to be in order to fight this war. GET IT IN! EAT TILL YOU PUKE AND EAT THE PUKE!

 

[LittleIronMan]

GET IT IN! EAT TILL YOU PUKE AND EAT THE PUKE! THEN EAT THE PUKE NO WASTE !

FIXED !

 

[jaymaximus]

I gotta say just about everyone here motivates me (some more than others). Whether its eating, getting in that next workout, or getting past some personal sh*t, Meso and the folks here have made me step my game up.

Now I gotta go do something manly to make up for sounding gay saying that.
And keep getting it @Melly Mel from hell

 

[Melly Mel from hell]

Forgot to mention. The wife and I went on a 3 mile hike yesterday around one of the areas lakes. It's a beautiful place. Half of the hike is through the woods. They're left very natural and ungroomed and the other half is lakeside. The lake is full of water foul and vegetation. We saw a garter snake, a doe and her fawn, a juvenile groundhog, squirrel, ducks, crane, tons of blue heron, and other assorted birds.
All that vegetation you see is growing out of the lake. It's all water under that

And then we ran across this guy. He was 8-10 feet tall and made from vines. Very cool that someone took the time to do that in the middle of the woods.

 

[ROB581211]

Please post some videos. Good shit.

This a video of some dude on YouTube doing the stretch I still do almost everyday. He is doing it exactly the way I was told with the only difference being letting your feet hang off the edge of something like a couch or bed. My chiro stressed that being pretty important for some reason.

 

[heady muscle]

In late as usual. Good log Melly.

 

[heady muscle]

Forgot to mention. The wife and I went on a 3 mile hike yesterday around one of the areas lakes. It's a beautiful place. Half of the hike is through the woods. They're left very natural and ungroomed and the other half is lakeside. The lake is full of water foul and vegetation. We saw a garter snake, a doe and her fawn, a juvenile groundhog, squirrel, ducks, crane, tons of blue heron, and other assorted birds.View attachment 27851
All that vegetation you see is growing out of the lake. It's all water under that

And then we ran across this guy. He was 8-10 feet tall and made from vines. Very cool that someone took the time to do that in the middle of the woods.
View attachment 27853

where is this? The Vine Man is fucking coooooooool!

 

[Mr.B66]

You know Mel , i remember you were a little reluctant to start this log a while back, but wouldnt you know it, it's turning out to be very inspirational for all. You know im always whining about my sore beat up shoulders but after reading what you and a few others deal with on a daily basis, im done complaining like a school girl about my sore shoulders its time to man up and get it done.
Im so glad you started this log, ive gotten to learn more about you and i like what i see, you are obviously a solid brother.
Keep hittin it hard Mel you have all of meso behind you [emoji4]

 

[Melly Mel from hell]

I go to the gym 5 days a week and take two off. I don't take the same days off every week. I go by how I feel and I take them when my body says so. I've done 5 workouts in three days plus my 3 mile hike so today is off day number one. I'll most likely do Bi's & Tri's tomorrow and Legs on Monday and take Tuesday off and start week 2 on Wednesday as Wednesday was the start day of week one. I'm gonna just force feed the rest of the day and give my wife some time. God bless that woman. What ever I do she's right beside me and she's got my back. She's been cooking for me constantly and never complains. I think she's upset with Brutus because he's causing her more work, lol. She was totally grossed out about the spaghetti and meatball smoothie. She just shook her head and walked away. She's in the kitchen as we speak boiling potatoes, marinating a flank steak, making hulushki, and doing something with chicken thighs. I'm serious, she's going crazy in there. She loves to feed me. I talk to her about Meso and all the good brothers here. I don't think she totally gets it but she's happy that it makes me happy. I'll be logging arms tomorrow and I LOVE arm day.

 

[brutus79]

I go to the gym 5 days a week and take two off. I don't take the same days off every week. I go by how I feel and I take them when my body says so. I've done 5 workouts in three days plus my 3 mile hike so today is off day number one. I'll most likely do Bi's & Tri's tomorrow and Legs on Monday and take Tuesday off and start week 2 on Wednesday as Wednesday was the start day of week one. I'm gonna just force feed the rest of the day and give my wife some time. God bless that woman. What ever I do she's right beside me and she's got my back. She's been cooking for me constantly and never complains. I think she's upset with Brutus because he's causing her more work, lol. She was totally grossed out about the spaghetti and meatball smoothie. She just shook her head and walked away. She's in the kitchen as we speak boiling potatoes, marinating a flank steak, making hulushki, and doing something with chicken thighs. I'm serious, she's going crazy in there. She loves to feed me. I talk to her about Meso and all the good brothers here. I don't think she totally gets it but she's happy that it makes me happy. I'll be logging arms tomorrow and I LOVE arm day.

She got any hot sisters? Sounds like a keeper.

 

[Melly Mel from hell]

She got any hot sisters? Sounds like a keeper.

Actually she does have a hot sister but she's nowhere near the same. A bit stuck up. We've been together 4 and a half years and no matter what my deal is she's on board. She takes care of me. Accepts me for me and has never once tried to change anything about me. She just let's me run amuck. When someone gives you that freedom it makes you not want to disappoint them. She's 42. Looks 32. Totally hot and never says no. I'm very fortunate. I'm in love with my best friend. Sorry to get gooey but she's in this with me so to speak so...

 

[MindlessWork]

Good post so now go get pumped!

 

[MindlessWork]

I go to the gym 5 days a week and take two off. I don't take the same days off every week. I go by how I feel and I take them when my body says so. I've done 5 workouts in three days plus my 3 mile hike so today is off day number one. I'll most likely do Bi's & Tri's tomorrow and Legs on Monday and take Tuesday off and start week 2 on Wednesday as Wednesday was the start day of week one. I'm gonna just force feed the rest of the day and give my wife some time. God bless that woman. What ever I do she's right beside me and she's got my back. She's been cooking for me constantly and never complains. I think she's upset with Brutus because he's causing her more work, lol. She was totally grossed out about the spaghetti and meatball smoothie. She just shook her head and walked away. She's in the kitchen as we speak boiling potatoes, marinating a flank steak, making hulushki, and doing something with chicken thighs. I'm serious, she's going crazy in there. She loves to feed me. I talk to her about Meso and all the good brothers here. I don't think she totally gets it but she's happy that it makes me happy. I'll be logging arms tomorrow and I LOVE arm day.

Now get her to join us (if she wants to), lol