herniated disc

[valeriedl]

I was wondering if anyone here has had a herniated disc and what you did for it?

I've had back problems for years. I think if you can name it I've probley done it for the pain - streatches, therapy, heat, ice etc... no help there. I've seen a chiropractor (which has helped some) but it's usually back after a month.

I've taken several different pain killers and even injections in my back. But for some reason pain killers just do absoluty nothing for me? I've been given muscle relaxers and all they do is knock me out and I sleep for hours and when I wake up I still hurt.

My calf has also constantly been numb for over a year, sort of feels like it's asleep.

In about the last 2 weeks when I've started walking around, even if it's only for 15 minutes, my hips and calfs will start killing me. I went to the grocery store on Mon for about a half an hour and could barely move when I got home.

I went to the dr on Wed and he told me that it sounds like I might have lumbar radiculitis. I've done some reading up on it and from what I can tell it's just a fancy word for a herniated disc.

He gave me steroids to take and so far after 3 days of being on them I don't notice any difference at all. I go back to see him in 2 weeks. He said that I may need to have a CAT scan (can't have an MRI) to see what might be going on.

I'm just hoping I won't need surgery. Has anyone had surgery for it? What was it like?

Thanks!

 

[lottalead]

why can't you have mri?
my wife has had 3 herniated discs and 2 surgeries and is better but not a hell of a lot

 

[valeriedl]

I can't have an MRI because I have a VNS implant for my epilepsy that has metal in in.

 

[lottalead]

you have checked to find out?
i have a lot of titanium in my face and thought i could not but it was ok
i think metals in the vns are much different though---coppers and such

 

[Nakamova]

I just talked to a friend who has a herniated disc. He's just started something called the McKenzie Treatment. It's a series of exercises/stretches that are supposed to help pull the disk back into alignment. You can read about it here: http://www.spine-health.com/wellness/exercise/pain-relief-mckenzie-treatment and here http://www.livestrong.com/article/215321-mckenzie-exercises-after-a-herniated-disc/

 

[valeriedl]

All my dr's, espically my neuro who put in the VNS, told me that I can't have an MRI lottalead.

I'll check out the websites Nakamova. I've tried stretches for my back before but it didn't do any help, I'll see what these do though. Thanks.

 

[seizing more]

artificial discs

I had a back problem for 30+yrs, 10 yrs ago I was fitted with 2 artificial discs in my lumbar spine.The surgery was hard and the recovery long, however I am to this day back pain free, I have full range of motion, no more sciatic pain, I can walk miles at a time where before i couldn't, I ride a bicycle 8 to 10miles a day, this since I can't drive due to my seizures. I am very happy with my outcome after my 2nd back surgery, the 1st was in the late 70's and pretty barberic. I was in a medical study and the 2nd person to get 2 artifial discs here in California, my surgeon is top notch and 1 of the best in the country, my surgery was cutting edge and I was part of the study that got the FDA to approve these implants. It's been an amazing journey.........

 

[valeriedl]

I had a back problem for 30+yrs, 10 yrs ago I was fitted with 2 artificial discs in my lumbar spine.The surgery was hard and the recovery long, however I am to this day back pain free, I have full range of motion, no more sciatic pain, I can walk miles at a time where before i couldn't, I ride a bicycle 8 to 10miles a day, this since I can't drive due to my seizures. I am very happy with my outcome after my 2nd back surgery, the 1st was in the late 70's and pretty barberic. I was in a medical study and the 2nd person to get 2 artifial discs here in California, my surgeon is top notch and 1 of the best in the country, my surgery was cutting edge and I was part of the study that got the FDA to approve these implants. It's been an amazing journey.........

I've been looking into something similar to this, it's called XLIF surgery. I live near Pittsburgh, Pa and called UPMC about it. I read on their website that they do this, I'm still waiting for a call back (of course)

They replace the part between the vertebrae which has been worn away with some sort of tube that is filled with some sort of gel (if I understood it right) so it will stop the verebrae from rubbing together and pinching the nerves, which is what causes the pain.

What I was reading sounds like you are out of the hospital within a day or two and the recovery time is about a month.