Been having back problems, Had MRI showed a herinated disk L5S1.Now I have to see a back DR. I Hope there is more option than having surgery. I want that to be my last option, was just wondering if any of you have any advice on this subject or ever had this problem. This is really messing up my deer season. Thanks guys and gals.
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Been there seen that. I had a ct milogram (due to metal particals in my eye,I couldnt have the MRI). I ended up taking steroid shots in between the disc to releive the tingling in my right leg. As they injected the steroid I felt imeidiate releif. I had 4 rounds of shots and am fine now. However I had to quit the heavey lifting and such. And I am only 39. Wish you luck. And hope you can avoid surgery.
TeddyS
I had the shots, the oral steriods, the physical therapy, then the surgery when I was 27. Now at 40 I still have good and bad days. I wish you the best.
Thanks for responding, I am only 44 its a heck of thing to get down in your back. I heard the shots are pretty painful but I think they would be better than surgery.
I injured my back when I was 20 year old. I had a CT scan and they told me I had a slight herniation. The neuro surgeon told me when I couldn't feel my leg or couldn't hold my bladder to call him back. Well, it never really got that bad but the pain was unbearable. After 20 years of work rehab, PT, more diagnostic tests, rest, chiropractic, accupuncture, etc, it finally got so bad they were carting me off the the emergency room in an ambulance every so often because I couldn't move for days.
I finally saw a neurosurgeon that understod what was going on and had me get a milogram. That's where they inject dye into your spinal column and then CT scan it looking for blocked nerves. Well, they found one that was completely pinched off. I opted for the surgery because I felt I had no recourse. The surgeon found that the herniation had squirted out in a fine stream and wrapped itself around the nerve. That's why it looked mild. It took him 2 hours and 45 minutes to complete the surgery when it was normally a 20 minute procedure. After two weeks I was walking three miles a day and was in NO PAIN (no meds either). I felt great and was feeling like I was finally going to get my life back. After 30 days the doctor wanted me to begin PT (physical terrorism). On day two I had the worst pain down my leg that I had ever experienced. The terrorists told me to suck it up and that it was part of the healing process. Well, it just got worse. A year and a half later I had a fusion of my L5S1. That's where they removed the disc and installed titanium screws and rods to hold the vertebrae until the little cage of bone marrow turned to bone and fused the bones together. The best part was that it was the lowest disc on my back so I didn't lose too much flexibility. The surgeon told me the jelly filling in the disc was no longer in the disc but swimming around outside of it rubbing on the nerve. That did some nerve damage that is not getting any better. It has never been the same as it was after the first surgery. Like someone else mentioned, I have my good days and my bad days. That was after 20 years of chronic pain though.
I really feel that with the methods today for surgery and the frequency they do them this is the way to go from the beginning. If you don't heal within 8-12 weeks the doctor told me they never will and you will be plagued with pain until it is surgically repaired. I believe him because my son had the same problem as me at 16 years old. He did the PT, didn't do a thing. We did the cortisone shot thing under x-ray, he didn't like them at all, and they didn't help one bit. He finally had the surgery, lumbar laminectomy/discetomy, and he is fine. That was two years ago.
I wish I could have opted for surgery back when I was 20. They now have these surgeries where they do it orthoscopically and you are out and walking within hours. Only a few hospitals do this but it might be worth some investigation.
There are some other things you can also do but you can email me for the particulars if interested.
Ive had back surgery. The doctor gave me some stretching excercises to do everyday. If I do them it makes a big difference. Still have to be very careful of what I lift, but just as important is how I lift. Its just something you learn to live with. Some days are better than Other. I know what u mean about age, Im 44 and had surgery when I was 26. Sometimes u just have to say no when someone asks u to do something that will aggravate your injury. But if u dont u will pay the price. Good Luck
I have had lower back problems since my early 30's . After years of treatment from medical doctors,injecting, prescribing meds and over the counter anti-inflammatory drugs I took it upon myself to research naturopathic remedies.A few years ago I became aware of Gonstead Chiropractors,who have a more medical training and are anti-chemical drugs.I have had incredible results as have others I have sent their way.There are many vitamins and minerals along with stretching (backwards )and excercising your core muscles(strong abs =strong back)that will help you tremendously.(Excercising of course cannot be started until you relax the problem at hand) Anything natural is well worth a try! We put way too many unnessecary chemicals into our bodies,under the advice that it will help us-when indeed- they are slowly poisening us with their toxicity and creating other problems. Well, in closing, as I climb down off my soap box,e-mail me if you'ld like any furthur info.
Regards,
Mary
I had a spinal fusion with internal fixation from L4 - S1 back in 1993 and if I could do it over I wouldn't have surgery. I had a slipped vertebra ( they were basically sitting half on each other instead of directly on each other) and the disc in the L5-S1 area burst. Seems most people I talk to with this type of thing say the same thing, IVE HAD NOTHING BUT TROUBLE SINCE THE SURGURY. I just had a milogram 4 weeks ago because of constant pain in my back hip and legs and progressive weakness in my leg also jut to have the DR tell me there is nothing they can do because the hardware and fusion are solid. They say this is normal degeneration above and below the fusion site causing the problem that compounded with normal nerve passage narrowing(also normal due to this surgery) and the scar tissue aggravating the nerves (guess what .. also normal). So yeah sometimes the surgery can and does help, regular meds won't touch any nerve pain and nerve blocks only last 2 maybe 3 days for me but everyone is different there also. Unless you are really into SEVERE Pain(probably the worst you'll ever feel)don't ever allow them to do a disc o gram (put a needle the size of a pen refill between the vertebrae into the dick and pump 100 psi of air in(they do this to see where your pain is located .. Like I didn't know) I'm not trying to scare you away from this type of treatment just want you to know what MAY be in store, I think if the DRs had told me everything instead of conviently leaving things out I may have chosen a different path of help, feel free to email if you need to ask anything else i can give you the neg. points because ive had nothing but problems while im sure others can give you good points. Also remember the profession you have choosen, lifting limitations and any other limitations arent something that go with being a taxidermist (probally why I have so many problems LOL) but in reading everyons reply to your post it really looks like everyone with any back problems has at least that limitation. Hope you can fix it without surgery, do what you can to make that your last choice.
I cracked my fifth lumbar 25 years ago. The doctors said I would have problems with it the rest of my life. I havn't had any back problems since I recovered.
I had the samething. I had surgery two weeks a go my Dr. told me I would not be able to do anything for 4 weeks no hunting or working not to drive as well no driving for 4 weeks is very hard, can not put on your socks or shoes by yourself. I am on a wheight limit of 4 # can't pour milk do to the weight of it. The Dr. told me I had to live with the pain or have the surgery HAD THE SURGERY. Hang in there it will get better (I have no more pain in back or in my legs now).
Randy
The stretching excercises really work, and I know someone that bought one of these contraptions that hang you upside down by the ankles. I thought it was a waiste of money, but a 65 yr old man when from the bed unable to move to working in the christmas tree farm in no time. The thing works and only set him back $350 or so !
I am off work with the same problem. That same L5. The Sciatic nerve in my right leg screams constantly unless I am flat on my back with my legs up. The Chiropractor helps me out in every joint but this one. They cannot fix a herniated disk. Therefore, my bone and joint Dr. has me on Motrin and Skelaxin and I am going every other day to therapy. The shots are next, then surgery the last step if needed. Yes, I feel you're pain also. I went hunting yesterday, opening day, and spent 90% of the day on my back in the woods. I got that out of my system fast. I was there so my son could hunt, and I gutted it out, and paid for it heavily. I cannot set or stand for more than 45 seconds before the leg cramps and screams. I feel better by the end of the day, but in the morning, it is square one all over again. At 47 and wondering, what the future is going to be. It is prime time for work to come in, and I cannot do any of it. I have a cape in the pickle right now going on 4 days that I need to shave. However, getting healthy is goal one right now. Good luck and let me know how you make out.
Look it up on the net, an all natural holistic medication.
after yrs. of chiropractic treatment with short term relief doctors telling me of degeneration in the spine bulging discs and medicines that didnt work i tried traumeel. the stuff works, a month supply is cheaper than one visit to the doc. by far. good luck
Thanks a lot, you all have give me a lot to consider. will keep you posted.
I doctored with Chiropractors for apprx. 10 years before getting a MRI that showed the rupture. Neurosurgeons (3) said they could not correct & 4 Drs. told me to retrain(I was & still am an underground coal miner! 54yrs old)so I went to a rehabilitation center for 3 weeks. Here they taught me how to do things correctly & isolated the movements that would "put me down". the biggest thing I got from them was a book wrote by a New Zealander named Robin Mackensie (SPELLING?)titled "treat your own back" I do these exercises every day (2ce)& really watch what & how I do things & have not missed work since 1993. I ahve given this book to so many peale that I don't know where it is now BUT HIS SYSTEM WORKED FOR MY PROBLEM. I also will hang & slowly rotate my hips & work my waste forward & back ward to "make room" for the nerve. Hope this helps & you can find the book. Got to stick with it though, you can't do it untill you feel better then quit or the problem will come back quickly.
2 years age at age 28 I was changing my fish tank water and caught my back in almost a bent position. I toughed it out and then progressively got worse. Went to a chiroparctor who sent me to a neurologist. since I had never been sick or had a reason to have exrays, I had no idea that I had a malformation in my spine. You have two small bones at the base of your spine, and one of mine never formed, which never caused me any problems untill I jacked around and did something I should never have done with the 5 gallon bucket of water. Well I have since had the lumbar injections which at $1,500 a shot did absolutely nothing. Am now about to have a milogram to see what surgery can help or fix the problem. Neurologist said not to pick anything up over 20 lbs because at this point, it could paralyse me if I do it just right. so I feel your pain.