I am 25 yrs old and was diagnosed with severe degenerative disk disease at the age of 23. I was a gymnast for 14yrs. I began at age 6 and had to quit because of back pain at the age of 20. I finally saw a spine surgeon at 23 and he said that the ddd was from repetive movements in gymnastic for so many years. I did everything from therapy to shots and finally after 2 yrs of those methods not working I underwent an l4-s1 spinal fusion with titanium screws and rods. I only decided to do this after I had started losing complete feeling of my leg and had bladder control problems and could no longer walk without a cane. I am now 4 months out of surgery and I am having alot of heaviness in my back when I get up from laying on my back. I am also still having bladder problems but my doc. Says this is from the nerve damage and has put me on lyrica for bladder prob. And for the nerve pain. I have been in physical therapy for 2 weeks now. The doc. And therapist said the heaviness is just my weak muscles being overused. Is it possible that the heaviness is just my muscles and will heal with time or is it something I should be concerned about? And will the lyrica help my bladder control problem?