This question is for Coach.
I bulged my c6-c7 disc (not a huge one, 2-3mm) doing Jiu JItsu and heavy lifting. Looking to know what training I should pay attention to with this type of injury. The injury most likely occured from years of sleeping on my stomach, strength training with little to no mobility built in, MMA.
I have been seen by doctors and chiropractors and they have agreed that I should be exercising again paying attention to mobility and stretching and keeping the weights light. The pain level is very mild now and is not traveling into my arm. My neck gets sore from time to time but nothing too serious. My goal is to strengthen my muscles in my neck and increase my mobility so such a thing doesn't happen again and maybe at the same time start the healing process to try and be pain free.
I have lots of other issues such as super tight hamstrings where I can barely touch my knees in the pike position. I've been doing the stretches for several weeks and when I started I had pain in my left glute but that has gone away and I am able to go further into the stretch now.
I retired from Jiu Jitsu and will likely not lift weights until I am completely pain free for over a year and when I do it will be mild weights. My goal is to follow this program to the tee, I have been doing it 6 days per week, 4 being workout, 2 days being stretch days and Sunday being total rest. I am 39 and super tight, looking forward to the long term results of following this program.