I have a C5/6 disc herniation & no surgery. Still training & coaching but always watching out for headlocks, neck cranks and guillotines. Sometimes badly executed RNC can put me out of commission for a couple of days. Took a while to recover but it's been years now. More recently one of my purple belts had his C5/6/7? fused and he's back training. Neck and shoulder pains and tingling in arm/fingers have gone. Doesn't seem to restrict his movements but he has been to rehab. I guess you won't be able to play an aggressive game without exposing your neck to more damage so perhaps you might want to re-evaluate your future game based on your condition with your coach. All the best

I underwent spinal fusion surgery on my L4 and L5 - 9 months ago. I just received my purple belt 2 weeks ago. Do what the doctor says and do it right and you will be fine. My back hasn’t felt this good since I was in my 20’s.

Herniated discs in lower back (14 years ago) and neck (3-4 years ago) here. I am still affected by both on a daily basis. Jiu Jitsu is possible, but you have to redesign your training and life to work around it. Lot of focus on correct posture in everything you do, which in itself is not a bad thing anyway. No more inverted guard, wrestling without a straight back or being stacked in triangles :D

I had four herniations in my lumbar spine. Had a microdiscectomy for one the blew out two years ago. I still train but limited in mobility due to all the nerve damage. My left leg is still a mess because of it. Just happy to teach and train. Always had neck herniations as well. Surgery is not going to happen so I just make sure to watch my neck and maintain it. I find that icing my neck and back every morning, afternoon and night have really helped. I also do the Wim Hof method. Especially the cold (ice bath) immersion. Helps keep my body moving. Hope you find relief and a way to continue training.

Thanks for responding and the advice. Did you have surgery? The Neurosurgeon said whatever I do my back is permanently damaged so the pain will come back every now and again once I’m healed. I going to introduce Yoga and Pilates as part of my training regime once I am healed, which will of course take some time away from the mats but I think in the long run it will help with my strength and posture and keep me on the mat long term. Happy rolling. Osss!

I did not have surgery, they said it would be a hit or miss anyway, and there was a good chance it could even make it worse over time. What has helped me tremendously is core and mobility training as well as a hardcore focus on correct posture in everything I do, on and off the mats.

Hi, I’ve just been diagnosed with 2 (yes 2!) herniated discs in my c-5/c-6 and c-6/c-7. My Neurosurgeon has advised I wait it out for another 6 weeks as there’s a chance I could recover without surgery. With or without surgery I am really concerned I’ll never be able to train BJJ again or at least the way I did before. My jiu jitsu is not amazing of course, but I love it like all of you and can’t imagine life without it. I know I’m in the right place when I say that. I’m an aggressive player and I want to train hard they way I did before when I’m recovered. I know recovery might be a long road (a year or more possibly). Has anyone had the same injury and have gone back to training at a decent level? Please be honest! Thank you

At 26 I broke the Atlas in my neck and almost died it took ten years to get medical approval to fight.. Came back to Kick box, fight MMA and grapple professionally .. At 55 had a compression fracture of C-4 herniating the disks above and below while diving for a heel hook at a Pro Show. competed a month later (big mistake) took a few months off and rehabbed while still training but working around it and am doing pretty good right now,, Refused surgery on both but I attacked rehab like my life depended on it

The Atlas!?!?? wow....normally is lethal. and then You came back competing...so inspiring.

One of my team mates also had surgery on the lumber for a herniated disc and says rolling actually helps to keep his back feel loose and flexible. But I wonder if it’s the same for injuries to the neck? Only time will tell I suppose. Thank you so much for responding. I appreciate it. May you continue to roll pain and injury free as long as possible. Osss!

I have the same injury as you as well as herniated discs in my Lumbar spine. Luckily and Unluckily I did have to take time off the Mats after the first of the year but that was mostly due to the COVID-19 Lockdown situation but it was well needed in my case. Prior to the Lockdown I still trained but would occasionally get tingling/numbness in hands and arm when neck was pinched in 'bad' situations. I still get tingling In my hands/arms but nothing like when I first injured it. I do a lot of stretching of my neck. I read your post about Yoga and will definitely say incorporating that will be extremely beneficial however, take not of Christians advice and pay attention to your posture and positioning. I had to modify many techniques/postures for Yoga solely because my head/neck can't be in specific positions. In addition, you can still roll but I would highly recommend letting your training partners know beforehand to be careful with you neck. And in those instances you do get caught up don't be afraid to tap. I am getting ready to get back on the mats after a brief stint away due to a recent relocation. I would also ensure that you work with your Neurosurgeon and let them know of your situation and what the sport means to you. Don't be afraid to talk to them. My new Neurosurgeon had me utilize various conservative methods before even recommending surgery to include injections, RFA, as well as Rehab/Physical Therapy. I would definitely try those before jumping straight into surgery. The best thing you can do is just stay informed and do what works for you. My Neurosurgeon has said that at some point I will have to have surgery as there is probably no way around it but says that following recovery there isn't any reason to NOT get back on the mats and is extremely supportive of my plans to resume training when that time comes. He has only stated that I will most likely have to make modifications to my training plans with regards to takedowns, competitions, etc. Just follow the advice of your Dr. and don't put yourself in a negative mindset. That was honestly the hardest thing for me, when fusion on my neck was initially brought up by another Dr. I felt like it was all over, especially since at that point I had already dealt with the Lumbar herniation for 10 years. The first Dr. told me I wouldn't be able to do anything and I almost believed him till I began reaching out to others that had similar issues and doing my own individual research. My NEW Neurosurgeon is very confident that even with a Disc Replacement as opposed to fusion I will be fine to resume just with limitations as previously stated. Keep the FAITH, RECOVER, and BE SMART with your injuries. Sorry for such a long post just wanted to let you know that you are not alone and give you pointers into what I have done. Take care!

I have Met and had lot of Bjj practitioners / teammate whit those kind of problems. With the proper treatment (bot surgical and non-surgical) and some adaptations in rolling/training all of them are back on the mat and, in some case, in competition. Be Optimistic about that. (Personally I suffered a lot of vertebrae spondylolistheis and again with the right therapy I m still here hitting the mat)

At 26 I broke the Atlas in my neck and almost died it took ten years to get medical approval to fight.. Came back to Kick box, fight MMA and grapple professionally .. At 55 had a compression fracture of C-4 herniating the disks above and below while diving for a heel hook at a Pro Show. competed a month later (big mistake) took a few months off and rehabbed while still training but working around it and am doing pretty good right now,, Refused surgery on both but I attacked rehab like my life depended on it

L5/S1 for me. Rolling keeps me loose as well. I'm 20 years on from my original diagnosis and my back is as healthy as any other body part (which is a very low bar at this point). Rehab and baby the injury as much as possible and tap early and often

Two severely herniated disks in the neck. It was during my purple belt / mma years. They did put a lot of pressure on the nerves to the point that I experienced tingle or complete lack of sensitivity in thumb, pinky and fourth finger of the left hand, plus several episodes of mild paralysis of the left arm and painful electrical shock travelling from the neck to the left hand. Did tons of reha and treatments but did not help enough. After a more severe episode of paralysis of the arm I gave up and got surgery, fancy prostethic replacements for the disks, no fusion. Left arm is still affected (triceps partially atrophic and stuff like that) but all in all six months after surgery I could train like never before. Neck mobility is still better than before surgery altough I'm fighting postural problems that might or might not be related. Long story short, there's life (and jiu-jitsu and training) after surgery. Sure thing though, you'll have to keep an eye on it and don't forget postural exercises and therapy and whatsoever.

Two severely herniated disks in the neck. It was during my purple belt / mma years. They did put a lot of pressure on the nerves to the point that I experienced tingle or complete lack of sensitivity in thumb, pinky and fourth finger of the left hand, plus several episodes of mild paralysis of the left arm and painful electrical shock travelling from the neck to the left hand. Did tons of reha and treatments but did not help enough. After a more severe episode of paralysis of the arm I gave up and got surgery, fancy prostethic replacements for the disks, no fusion. Left arm is still affected (triceps partially atrophic and stuff like that) but all in all six months after surgery I could train like never before. Neck mobility is still better than before surgery altough I'm fighting postural problems that might or might not be related. Long story short, there's life (and jiu-jitsu and training) after surgery. Sure thing though, you'll have to keep an eye on it and don't forget postural exercises and therapy and whatsoever.

I train with 2 in my neck, I do traction everyday, I recommend it for all grapplers even if they don't have neck troubles to do neck traction with all the stress we put our necks under with pressure passing, and getting stacked. Maintenance is always the best course.

Yes! I do this as well. I also use and inversion table to decompress my spine at home. It really helps.

Herniated discs in lower back (14 years ago) and neck (3-4 years ago) here. I am still affected by both on a daily basis. Jiu Jitsu is possible, but you have to redesign your training and life to work around it. Lot of focus on correct posture in everything you do, which in itself is not a bad thing anyway. No more inverted guard, wrestling without a straight back or being stacked in triangles :D