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Playing Recreational Softball with Herniated Disc Leg Pain

Knee, ankle and finger injuries are far more common among recreational softball players than back or neck injuries, but many of the upper body movements required for softball – bending, twisting, running, sliding, jumping, sudden explosive movement – can contribute to spinal injury. One extremely debilitating symptom for even the most casual softball player is herniated disc leg pain.

How would you develop herniated disc leg pain? Extruding disc material seeps into the spinal canal and irritates, or impinges, a nerve root that innervates the buttocks or leg. A herniated disc can develop from sudden strenuous movement, repetitive strain on the intervertebral discs (as with swinging a softball bat or bending to field a ground ball) or as a natural result of the aging process.

If you begin to experience unexplained, lingering hamstring tightness, or sharp pain that radiates through the buttocks and down the leg to the foot, here is a set of guidelines to follow:

• Get a proper diagnosis and clearance from a doctor before participating in any strenuous physical activity
• Work with an athletic trainer to develop a pre-game stretching routine geared toward your specific symptoms
• Stop playing if the pain suddenly becomes worse
• Apply ice to the affected area as soon as possible after the game
• Don’t overdo it – know your physical limitations and respect them

Click Here to see how you can get your life back in 5 days

Herniated disc leg pain usually fades over time, and the symptoms can be treated using stretching exercises, pain medication, behavior modification or rest. If chronic leg or back pain prevents you from pursuing your passion for softball even after weeks or months of conservative treatment, your doctor might suggest surgery as an option. In that case, consider Laser Spine Institute (LSI) as an alternative to traditional open back surgery. Contact Laser Spine Institute today to learn how a minimally invasive, outpatient procedure can help you rediscover a life without herniated disc leg pain.

Please note: Laser Spine Institute currently does not perform endoscopic procedures on the thoracic spine.