herniated disc

[The Princess]

After a week of pain we found out my DH has a herniated disc. Can one give me any information they have. If they have had surgery or not. We were told by an orthopedic doctor to wait 2 weeks~if it gets worse call immediately otherwise he will see us then.

 

[msdznyduck]

Try Physical therapy before surgery. They can do wonders with some simple exercises.
Elaine

 

[Pooh67_68]

My husband is living with slipped discs and degenerative discs, when they really botter him he sees a Chiropractor other than that he won't go see a bone doctor. I think it is because he dosen't want to have sugery. Have you tried www.webmd.com just type in herniated disc.

 

[Kitty 34]

I went to physical therapy in November for my disc problem and it really helped!! I would definetly try that first. Good luck to your DH.

 

[Jenn Lynn]

I would try a Chiropractor before surgery.

 

[allicat]

I also have a herniated disc that is fragmented. I have slight pain pretty regularly but when it gets really bad I see a chiropractor.
Many Dr.'s will not recommend chiropractors but I sware by mine.

 

[artvandelay]

A little background info on me...

I have a herniated disk between L4 and L5 (both sides) and between L5 and S1 (both sides). It was so bad that I lost feeling in my left foot and complete foot drop. The doctor recomended surgery, but I didn't want to have it. Do not let an orthopedist operate on you. Go get a second opinion from a neurologist.

What I did was buy a book called Healing Back Pain, by Dr. John Sarno, MD. Reading this book cured me! I kid you not. You can find this book on Amazon. I have never had an operation on my back or physical therapy, and I have full use of both legs and no back pain. I went back to my doctor three weeks after his initial diagnosis of surgery and shocked him when I could stand on my toes w/o falling over.

 

[Chattyaholic]

I had a herniated disc about 3 or 4 years ago. I went to the chiropractor 3x weekly for 6 weeks and it didn't help at all, in fact it hurt worse after each "treatment." I stopped going and 2 weeks later it finally started to heal on its own. I did go to the orthopedic surgeon and had a myelogram done, he said it would probably eventually need surgery. But, I have gotten more active and I think that the regular exercise has strengthened my back. I'm not such a "couch potato" anymore, so I'm hoping it stays strong and I can avoid surgery.

 

[AZKathy]

I have been out of work since mid November with two herniated disks. I have done physical therapy, two MRI's, an epidural steroid injection, an EMG, and I am on lots of pain killers. I have finally been granted by workman's comp to allow the pain anesthesiologists to continue with my care. I am having another epidural steroid injection, followed by a facet joint injection. If those don't help, I will have a`discogram then an endoscopic laser discectomy. Currently, the neurosurgeon does not want to operate.

You can find info from www.spineuniverse.com and http://www.spine-health.com/topics/cd/d_difference/diff01.html

Good luck to your DH. If he starts to have bladder or bowel involvement, call your doc immediately. From what I have been told, it could take up to a year to start feeling normal again.

 

[jfulcer]

I had the disc between C4-C5 herniate (but I didn't know it). I just simply started loosing feeling in my hands, feet and legs. I wasn't in pain, I just couldn't feel anything. I could cut my foot and not know it.

Through the process, I went to the dr and got anti-inflamatories, and also did a stint at the chiropractor.

After it started effecting my walking and balance, I went to see a specialist and he did an MRI and found my disc had herniated into my spinal cord and was slowly pinching it off. He told me that I was too far along for physical therapy, brought in another doctor for a second opinion, and then offered to cancel his thanksgiving vacation to stay in Milwaukee to do my surgery he thought it was that important.

I had it done about 2 weeks later and would have to say that I'm 95% better. I still have some feeling loss in my hands, but everything else had gotten better.

So I am not sure I really have any 'advice' except to listen to what the doctors ask you to do, and don't be afraid to ask for a second opinion....

Good luck!

 

[4nana]

I feel your pain!!

It is a very common problem that unfortunately many suffer with.
I have been thru ups and downs for years. I think it depends on the extent of herination. Some H's are small and only flare up here and there. Others, like mine, are larger or leaking and pinch the nerves, therefore causing leg, foot pain and numbness. When it does, you think your time has come! If it ruptures completely, you lose control of bladder and bowel.

I have tried several types of therapy thru out the years, but been most satisfied with chiropractic. I also walk and do exercises to try and keep my back strong. I wish him luck, tell him to hang in there, as we all know it can be very disabling and somewhat depressing.

I agree, I would get several opinions.

~ Sandie

 

[shortbun]

32 years ago my mother found out she had herniated discs.She opted for excersize. She's been faithful 2X a day since then and
has never had surgery. there have been a few occasions of
flare up but nothing she couldn't work through. I have a friend
who has been excersizing and getting deep tissue massage as
well as chiropractic work done since finding out about hers
3 years ago. She feels great!

 

[LJC1861]

I had a badly herniated disc at the C6-C7 level several years ago. I fell while attemptng a jump during a figure skating lesson. After a few months I was in agony. At my Dr.'s advice tried both chiropractc and physical therapy. While both helped initally, eventually I was jut in too much pain and experiencing loss of feeling in both arms and hands. I finally decided on the surgery. Here is my advice....

Find a surgeon who does nothing but backs. They are out there. There are new techniques that they can use to minimalize a lot of the risk. They did mine through the front of my neck almost orthoscopically. I literally have a 2 inch scar on my neck. I had 100% feeling back immediately after surgery. After gettting my brace off I managed to regain 100% motion and have been fine ever since.

I would get a second opinion and by all means exhaust all your options before surgery. Also, if your surgeon is a good one he or she will ask if you have tried all other options before they operate.

Good luck and keep us posted.

Linda