13/08/2025
The Herniation Finish Line
Many people can pinpoint the exact moment their disc herniated.
That fall. That lift. That awkward bend.
Others can’t quite name the moment — just a weekend when they overdid it.
The truth is, those moments are rarely the start of the injury. They’re the final step. The instant the disc finally crosses the finish line after a long, unseen marathon.
A herniation usually doesn’t burst onto the scene. It creeps.
The nucleus pulposus noses its way between the layers of the annulus — not in seconds, but over weeks, months, or even years.
I used to believe my back “blew out” because I was careless one day, deadlifting too much when I was already tired. I beat myself up: If only I’d been more careful.
Now I know the truth: my disc had probably been herniating for a long time. That lift was simply the tape at the end of the race. It was going to happen sooner or later.
So if you’ve had your own “finish line moment,” remember — it wasn’t one bad step. It was a journey your disc had been on for a while. And knowing that can make recovery feel a little lighter.
