Priscilla Ribic has Herniated Disk

Very unfortunate! From what I have seen her technique is great, so maybe she can lift around her injury. Here's to her winning at the World Games!

She should take the decision of competing only after consulting the Doctor because it may have long term implications. It is better to take necessary precautions.

Tear it up, Priscilla!
You can win with a bad back too.
Suck it up and get gold.
"wolfie"

Hate to hear this. Priscilla is a great lifter.

Regina

I hate to hear of it.
Tom

It is not necessarily that big of a deal. It depends on the size of the fragment, where it is located with respect to nerve roots, and whether or not it is completey sequestered from the annulus. Lots of people have varying degrees of disk herniations and don't even know it. She may end up being fine.

She'll be fine unless its currently pinching nerve roots off. Every powerlifter I know has some sort of herniation or buldge. I have three buldging disc in my neck. Another 2mm and it will start to cause loss of mobility in my left arm. My spine is pulled straight in the lumbar, my sacrum is tipped up horizontally, there is almost no space between L5 ans S1. What about severe tendonitis, ACL damage, carpal tunnel, pec tears, scar tissue EVERYWHERE, ocular blood vessel damage, arthritis, umbilical herniation.... blah blah blah

This sport is not for the weak and the weary. Priscilla is tough and will learn to train around it and overcome adversity. We all do.

$50 says she still wins. Go get'em Priscilla!

Putt Houston.... now with Ridiculous BCWW

anyone who says "train around your injury" apparently has never had a real injury. btw, if its herniated, that means the fluid within the disc has penetrated the disc itself and is beginning to leak out...the chances of it not hitting all the nerves running through the back are slim. Although i wish her the best.

Obviously Priscilla should be careful and only compete if she really feels she can give it a go without hurting herself real bad.

She's one of the greatest powerlifters ever, male or female, and her accomplishments won't get hurt if she stays out of the World Games.

Being purely selfish here, all I care about is to have more of Priscilla Ribic. So her sitting out is not a big deal to me. I rather see her many times again.

this is the reason you have a ridiculous amount of BCWW.

heres my new sig.

Jesse Hernandez... equipped with more BOOOARGIOUS

Two words: Reverse Hyper.

It really depends on the degree of the injury, which levels are herniated and how severe. In 1994 I herniated my L5-S1 disc AND suffered a bilateral fracture of the pars at L5. The injury was pretty severe. After much rehab and treatment (non-surgical) I am still able to lift. I only compete bench only now and only because I do not want to risk further injury. But, I have been pretty active on the wrestling mat going up against top level high school kids and D1 college kids...so you can train, and compete, around an injury.

once again it completely depends on the injury, there are many back injuries that are lifelong and will not get better ever without surgery. And many times even with surgery. if the disc is truly herniated, the chance of healing it and continuing to compete at that level is very slim. vertebral discs do not have a blood supply and therefore do not heal, just harden.

I live with chronic pain to satisfy my passion for powerlifting, but that's not the point. I guess I should clarify and say you have the options of quitting or train smart and try and not further aggrevate the injury. Personally I just cope with it and stay involved in the sport I love. I can't see Priscilla throwing in her career just yet, so that's why I suggested to "train around it." With the various degrees of herniation I thought is was not that far off to say.

Putt

After 9 years of lifting, this is my first real injury, beyond the normal tweaks that go with this sport.  Been trying to convince myself for a year that it was a muscle issue, but this training cycle has zinged me good, so broke down and got an MRI.

The official report summary is:“L5-S1 disk herniation produces mild central canal stenosis with significant mass effect on the right S1 nerve root.  Mild bilateral neuroforaminal stenosis are present at this level as well.”

Its time for some major rehab and have to say that my StayActiv is helping a ton with the pain.

Thanks for those sent me some first hand experiences and their rehab suggestions (no surgery!). Good old Dan from Con-cret has hooked me up with a doc who does the Lordex system, started treatments this week and am very optimistic. Right now I am hoping to get through two more weeks of training and 9 successful attempts July 26th.

Priscilla

Best of luck in both your recovery and the meet, Priscilla.

Priscilla,

The large mass effect is somewhat concerning but this does not automatically mean your career is over. I always treat the patient and not the MRI. Let pain be your guide and consider seeing a sports spinal specialist regarding this. There is an excellent guy in Buffalo, NY who may be able to guide you to someone out west. Surgery may be a good long term option and this could extend your powerlifting days. Contact me through facebook or Fortified Iron if you need any info. Good luck

Mark "powerdoc" VanAlstyne, DC, PT

Right now I am hoping to get through two more weeks of training and 9 successful attempts July 26th.

Priscilla, are you still planning to do the PanAms, or is that up in the air?
We will miss you if you aren't going, but it would be perfectly understandable, of course.

bill & april

she's right about the Stay Activ... that stuff is Jesus Juice!

good luck P!

Get well!

Edward G. Dudley-Robey, M.D.
http://www.DoctorBench.com

Did anyone read the book of Dr. John E. Sarno - Healing Back Pain!? There is some interesting stuff there! He said that Herniated Disk is not so dangerous as the most of the Doctors thinks.
Between others injuries I also have back problems and disk damage in the lower spine area (who powerlifter hasn't ? ) , it's not herniated disk but also as Putt Houston says there is so little space between L5 and S1. The next step is maybe hernia? I'm 42 years so that means that this is for sure also the aging process of organism and bill for all this years of heavy lifting!
Please everybody who know anything more about back pain and disk problems to post it here! It would be of benefit to many of us! You can also mail me, any advise will be great! Thank You!
strongsin@hotmail.com

And very pretty...