slipped disks

Sup homies, Ive had recurring back pain for the past few years which culminated with a total muscle lock-up on the fire line last summer which prevented me from being able to rise up from touching my toes. I finally manned up and got an MRI.

The results ain't so good, and ain't so bad. Basically I have 4 slipped disks in the lumbar region and early onset arthritis in each of the disks inflaming the muscles on my left side. This makes sense because I am goofy footed in all board sports. It just sucks because every time i tell someone this they say the obvious that "im too young for back problems at 23" which makes me want to punch them in the face because I ALREADY KNOW THIS.

A family chiropractor (and good friend) thinks this is mostly because of a combination of my history of skateboarding at a young age (jumping down 14 stairs, handrails the whole 9 yards), my profession (being a wildland firefighter) and the fact that until about a year or two ago i thought stretching and yoga was for total F@gs (obviously my opinion has changed).

Long story short, I decided to axe skateboarding (because I need firefighting for money and can't axe that yet) from my life which is really starting to get to me on flat days. I did this after a year of saying "**** it" and skating anyway, which almost always resulted in a painful "lockup" situation a day or two after even a short session. I can still surf and live with relative ease as long as i do my stretching routine 3 times a day but I wanted to start rehabing myself so i can skate again in a few years and not just be some total yoga-hippie-surfer-douche (I ****ING LOVE SLAYER DAMNIT I NEED TO SKATE).

Any of you guys have similar experiences, advice, or know a good physical therapist specializing in surfing and skateboard injuries in the Seattle/ NYC area? Ive ran through about 3 PT's and a host of other "specialists" and they just give me the same core strengthening exercises I have been doing for years, and obviously aren't helping my case.

Much appreciation and hope yall are scoring something.

 

thanks for the advice homies! Im currently on a surf trip and i heard about some dude called the "surfing chiropractor" in santa cruz. I don't think ill let him do an adjustment, but his card says hell give you a consultation, adjustment, xrays, and workout routine for $20. Worth a shot. Kidrock, the PNW waters ARE very therapeutic. I think lap swimming sounds like a good idea too. Im pretty fit, below 10% body fat and work out daily so i don't think its a muscular problem. Got a couple foam rollers, a tennis ball, and this thing called the theracane which is ****ing awesome. Im just pissed because every specialist I go to keeps telling me this injury is only going to get worse not better, and I refuse to believe that there is nothing proactive I can do to recover my back when alot of athletes completely break their back, are immobilized and after a few months of PT get back in the saddle. Im not saying im Travis Pastrana but I refuse to believe my situation is hopeless like most western Doc's would have me believe. One even gave me the opinion that I need to "quit surfing, skateboarding, firefighting, get a real job and live a sedentary life free of traveling or I would be a gimp at 45". What a ****ing idiot.