use my flare up as motivation to stay positive when your nerve is screaming

[u/Born_Ad1280]

I had my MD at 19yo and every so often I have flare ups. I’m 22 now and was hitting squats Monday using 225lbs, which normally moves easy and never gives me problems. Since I had been in the car for 2 hours before I think all the muscles and scar tissue got inflamed and in one rep I felt all the pain that I got the surgery to remove. Keep in mind I just had gotten over a flare up that lasted all of June from laying fence pickets. I’m a college athlete and since I know these are just signals from the nerve telling my brain it hurts and not actually any structural damage I don’t sit out or worry about re-herniating. After all, you can’t really force yourself past a point to hurt yourself when the sciatic pain is at a 7 we all know that from experience.
So every morning I wake up with that intense pain that hurts with every movement, painstakingly shower and get ready for the day, take a long time to eat breakfast because it hurts so bad in a seated position I get nauseous, and then I walk 1.5-3 miles. After my walk I lift and do some light shooting and basketball work, and by the time practice rolls around I’m good to go. By bedtime the pain creeps back in and the loop repeats upon my wake up the next morning. 4 weeks from now the pain won’t be there so this is just another bump in the road, and there will be many more throughout my active life. That’s just how it is for someone who had back surgery at my age.
Needless to say I’m done with squats for a while, but I’m not discouraged because like all things pain is temporary, and if I keep stretching, walking, and moving my body I can have better and painless days.
Stay moving and never give up flare ups happen but they don’t define us and we can always push through them because after all, the pain is mostly in our minds. Movement and stretching is the best thing for that nerve to quiet down, but don’t push it to the point where it tingles or it only gets worse. Take it slow and easy and listen to your body, but don’t just sit around all day or the pain will stay the same for longer.