u/jesaphine

Hi there! I would love to hear from athletes who have had an endoscopic microdiscectomy. I am curious about your journey and healing, and whether you made it back to previous ability levels at your sport.

I (36F) am an aerialist (trapeze & lyra). I grew up doing gymnastics, and am still into acrobatics as well.

I have had lower back issues for about 6 years. It would come and go for the first 4 years. Then about 2 years I agitated it in a way that I never fully recovered from. One year ago I finally got sent for an MRI and found that I have a 1cm bulged/herniated disc at L4-L5. I tried PT last year without success.
I agitated my back in a new way about 3 months ago. Stupidly, I pushed through aerial training in prep for a performance instead of handling the issue. About 6 weeks ago it REALLY escalated to an extreme. I can barely stand up straight, cannot arch my back at all, and obviously can’t go to my aerial classes. I am scheduled with a new PT this week.
I had an epidural steroid injection that did not help. In my follow up, I was told that I am a candidate for endoscopic microdiscectomy. I have been looking up information about this procedure all week.
I would love to hear from any athletes who have had this done. Are you back to where you were before injuries? How was the process? What was your timeline?
I am really eager to fix this and just want to get back to my hobbies that I love. I have spent my whole life being very flexible and active, and it has been scary to lose so much movement so quickly. Not to mention, how it has impacted general walking, sitting, standing up, moving in general.
Thanks for any info you can share! I really appreciate it.

Hey there! I am recreational aerialist (close to 10 years) that currently takes static trapeze and lyra classes, and even more currently, having my life ruined by a lumbar disc bulge. Curious to hear from aerialists with disc issues and how/if they solved them.

I (36F) have a 1cm disc bulge or herniation between L4-L5. It has been a recurring problem area for 6 years, but from 2020-2024 I just knew it as lower back pain on my right side. It would always resolve after a few days. (To my knowledge, aerial was actually not a trigger for it at that time, rather carrying heavy items sometimes.)

In 2024, I agitated my right lower back in a way that it never fully recovered from. This time the trigger was a duo lyra move that probably put too much weight on a finicky spot. (It didn’t occur to me until after of course.) It didn’t stop me from going to classes, but I lost back balance completely among several other back bendy skills. I did occasionally seek out chiropractic treatment at that time (and had also occasionally seen chiros for this issue in the previous years.)

In early 2025 I worked on a few acts for student showcases, and this really seemed to escalate the issue. A friend in the circus community recommended her chiropractor in spring 2025. This chiro was the first to tell me I needed an MRI in order to know what we were treating. (Imagine that!) Finally, 5 years into this, we find out it’s a L4-L5 disc bulge. She referred me to spine specialists/orthopedic doctors who then put me in physical therapy. I didn’t feel much improvement from the PT, and it was quite expensive so I stopped going after 6-7 weeks.

With no issues actually solved, this February I did a duo move that again seemed to further agitate my back, but, strangely, after 6 years of right sided symptoms, the symptoms all seemed to move to the left! Along with being primarily left sided, I now have pain in my left butt (glute?) which was something I never had previously on the right. I stupidly continued through it in hopes it would resolve itself in time. It has not, and has really escalated in the past 6 weeks. Any form of “extension” (vs flexion) is painful. I cannot arch my back, sit to stand hurts, walking hurts, even lifting my legs at certain angles hurts. It is terrifying.

I have obviously been skipping my classes. I am trying to see doctors about it l, but my appointments are all weeks apart with not much happening to remedy the situation in between.

I had an epidural steroid injection almost 2 weeks ago in hopes of calming inflammation by my nerves, but sadly nothing has improved. I do have PT scheduled but not till next week. (I have been trying to bump this up ever since scheduling it.)

This morning I had a telehealth follow up to the injection, and they mentioned the possibility of an endoscopic microdiscectomy.

Has anyone had anything like this? How long did it keep you out of the air? I’m so bummed for all the time I’ve already missed and for all the time it sounds like I will continue to miss.

I grew up doing gymnastics and turned to circus as an adult. I have never had such limited mobility as I do currently and honestly, it is scary.

I just want to be back to my regular level of aerial and acrobatic movement.

Sorry for the ramble. Thank you.