News Bulldogs star hoping to avoid surgery on long-term injury

[Jackson_1994]

Bulldogs star hoping to avoid surgery on long-term injury
The Sydney Morning Herald

Canterbury star Viliame Kikau will need to manage the back issue that threatened to sideline him last weekend for the rest of his career but is hopeful he can avoid surgery.

Kikau was in doubt for the opening-round clash win against St George Illawarra but managed to get through 78 minutes of football. The premiership-winning forward said managing the back issue was an ongoing issue.

“It’s a bit of an old back injury that has been hanging around for a few years now, it comes and goes,” Kikau said.

“It’s actually a bulging disc on my lower back, L4 and L5 disc, right on my lumbar spine at the bottom.

“I had it a few years ago when I started playing back in Penrith, so it’s been an ongoing thing.

“Sometimes it gets treated by the doctor, I get a needle in the preseason because I don’t really play footy then. It’s just about managing myself and looking after it well, obviously with my recovery after games like this.”

The Bulldogs had made contingency plans for the Dragons game in case Kikau was a late scratching, but the Fijian forward was determined to play.

“My thought process from the start of the week, I told the coaches that I was going to play,” he said.

“I didn’t want any doubt lingering around the team to disturb the boys’ preparation. I was sweet through the week, I just had to be comfortable at training.

“It’s just all about looking after it. I have a fair few games under my belt now, I’m not 21 again like I used to be, I’m turning 30 this year, so I have to look after my body well.

“It’s been good, it pulled up a bit sore during pre-season. Credit to our physio team, they worked really well around the clock trying to get me back on the field. I was happy to get the amount of minutes that I got.”

Asked if surgery may be required to rectify the issue, Kikau said: “I’m hoping that is not going to be [required].

“I’m not thinking about that option at all. The onus is on me, I need to be on top of it with how I recover and look after myself when I’m not training.

“Hopefully, I can still play week in, week out, with the boys … I can only control what I can control at the moment.”

 

[CrittaMagic69]

Great, another one.

 

[ElMagicElMasri]

lol….

 

[BankstownBulldog]

“Hopefully, I can still play week in, week out, with the boys … I can only control what I can control at the moment.”

Geez, that doesn’t sound good

 

[GA45]

This doesn’t sound good at all. Those calling for him to play less mins may be onto something.

Let’s hope some of the kids like Spinks are ready when Kiks is done.

 

[Dog-Treat]

Ohh harden up kiks every arab has a broken back

 

[bcmf]

A bulging disc flairs up, but yeh he’s right he needs to manage it. I’ve also never seen or heard of anyone whose had the surgery and it actually worked

 

[Bulldog_4_Life]

We really need to nail the development of Todd, Underhill, Spinks, Marshall etc, with Kikau having a chronic back issue, and Mann getting older.

 

[Novdoggie]

Why come out and tell all your opposition of your injuries?? Keep it in house, manage it, shut up and get on with it. It obviously is manageable and he isn't retiring or anything like that so he is good to go unless we are told otherwise. I'll tell you now when some players are out injured, the club tells a bullshit story of where the injury is so the actual injury area isn't advertised to opposition and exposed. Be smarter ffs!!!

 

[Turvey Chip and Chase]

He needs to be given spells in the game. He too important to risk 80 mins every week

 

[beastwood89]

If he’s had it since his days at the panthers, sound positive that he’s on top of it and managing it well.


Sent from my iPhone using The Kennel mobile app

 

[Stargate44]

Wants to be carefull with this one???

Bulging discs and herniations at the lower back are most common at the L4–L5 segment or at the level. The L4–L5 is located at your beltline. It is responsible for 95% bending or twisting movements involving your waist. Because they perform load-bearing functions, which support the upper bodies, this segment is the most heavily loaded. Because of the excess stress it is subject to, the L4–L5 section is often a site for spinal disc bulges. This article will explain the L4–L5 spinal segment in detail. It will help you to understand your condition and how you can recover without having to undergo surgery or inject any drugs.


A common reason for chronic and acute lower back pain (backaches), is the L4–L5 spinal segment. A L4-L5 bulge in the disc can cause sciatic-like symptoms by impinging nerves running down the legs. A pinched nerve can be caused by a slipped disc. A L4–L5 disc bulge (or slip-disc) in the L4-L5 region can cause severe health issues such as impotence and reproduction issues. It can also lead to infertility, loss or control of the bowel or bladder, paralysis in one or both of your legs, and even death. A pinched nerve can occur at the L4–L5 levels due to bone-spurs (spondylosis), or ligament thickening (“hypertrophy of ligamentum flavum”).

 

[Dog-Treat]

If he’s had it since his days at the panthers, sound positive that he’s on top of it and managing it well.


Sent from my iPhone using The Kennel mobile app

Your onto something there. Makes sense I guess you sir are a smart man

 

[Disposable Hero]

He needs to be given spells in the game. He too important to risk 80 mins every week

Problem is with the bulging disc once you start to cool down it gets worse, its easier to keep goingbwhile its warmed up.

 

[CrittaMagic69]

Problem is with the bulging disc once you start to cool down it gets worse, its easier to keep goingbwhile its warmed up.

It's true, my bulging dick flares up regularly but it's manageable once I warm it up.

 

[beastwood89]

Problem is with the bulging disc once you start to cool down it gets worse, its easier to keep goingbwhile its warmed up.

I can 100% vouch and confirm this. I have a bulging disc l4 l5 abutting the nerve. The sciatica pain is wild, common sciatica usually only affects one leg at a time in my case it affects both on flare ups the numbness tingling in my feet is the big one besides the shooting pain down the legs and in the buttock. Who ever tells you to rest and lay in bed is absolutely wrong my flare up’s last longer if I’m not active and pushing through the pain. You need to stay moving and doing some form of exercise. But obviously being cautious.


Sent from my iPhone using The Kennel mobile app

 

[InGusWeTrust]

If he’s had it since his days at the panthers, sound positive that he’s on top of it and managing it well.


Sent from my iPhone using The Kennel mobile app

Exactly. Nothing story if he’s been dealing with it that long. Doesn’t seem to stop him from being a beast. Like he said he’s almost 30 anyway, so probably only has a few years of footy left. Hopefully he can still be effective for that long, but if not there’s always someone else to take the spot.

 

[Moedogg]

Bit of Kava after the game should make it right..

 

[Bulldog1966]

Exactly. Nothing story if he’s been dealing with it that long. Doesn’t seem to stop him from being a beast. Like he said he’s almost 30 anyway, so probably only has a few years of footy left. Hopefully he can still be effective for that long, but if not there’s always someone else to take the spot.

Yep, not much to see here, some will get their "drama" on though because it's how they thrive lol

 

[Aristidiz]

Exactly. Nothing story if he’s been dealing with it that long. Doesn’t seem to stop him from being a beast. Like he said he’s almost 30 anyway, so probably only has a few years of footy left. Hopefully he can still be effective for that long, but if not there’s always someone else to take the spot.

Yeah it's just a pain management injury. It can get worse though so he needs to make sure he recovers properly.

We are stacked with 2nd rowers atm, but none of those 2nd rowers bring what he brings on both sides of the field.