I posted this on your other post, not realizing that you had a double post. It was removed and then returned to the forums.
So I am copying and pasting from the other post you made.
No apology needed for a long post. You gave great information in it so that you can get input about your problem.
First let me say this. You are playing with fire in combining all kinds of different treatments for a herniated disc, but you did not say who diagnosed you with the the herniated disc.
You are also very lucky that the chiropractor didn't make your herniated disc worse. I have seen that happen so many times, it's scary to think that you have been getting that kind of treatment.
Your chiropractors advise to do nothing but in exercise is terrible advise and you should disregard every bit of that advise and stop seeing the chiropractor ASAP.
It is vitally necessary to strengthen your core muscles right away, but the problem is, you are not doing it under the guidance of an experienced physical therapist that is knowledgeable on the proper exercises to do with spine problems. If you do the wrong exercises you will further damage your disc and create more problems in your spine.
Your GP gave you one huge boat load of medication for your pain, far more than you should have gotten.
Your uncle is also 100% wrong in his advise on what you should be doing as well.
Under no circumstances should you be playing hockey right now, with or without some kind of stabilizing belt. You may feel 100%, but it is highly doubtful that your disc has fully healed.
You need to see a spine specialist, either an orthopedic surgeon who specializes in spines or a neurosurgeon who specializes in spines only.
They will be the only ones that properly diagnose your spine problem, determine if the only problem you have is a herniated disc and be able to determine why your disc herniated.
Don't be afraid with the title surgeon beside the spine specialist's name. They are the only doctors that are really qualified to diagnose and treat you. A good spine surgeon will try all conservative treatments first, before even the mention of any kind of spine surgery.
In your case, being an athelete, and your age, I would suggest that you see a sports medicine orthopedic surgeon that specializes in spines for evaluation and treetment.
They will be the best type of spine surgeon for you to see.
If you want to be 100% healed and not take a chance getting worse, then it's time you make a quick decision and head off to a spine surgeon right away.
If you continue as you are doing, you will not only not be 100%, but you run an extremely high risk of further damage to your spine, and never being that 100% that you want to be.
If you do not treat the herniated disc properly with proper diagnosis and treatment, you will not let it heal properly, it will always be a problem for you, continue to herniated and eventually be a useless disc that will require major spine surgery.
Good luck and I hope you take my advise and get to the ortho spine surgeon ASAP
Fran
