How did you treat your bulging disk?

[marymouse]

I'm going to have to agree with Jennasis on this one. A true herniated disc won't heal. It is broken. My surgeon basically described it as being popped like a balloon. You can treat the symptoms but it will never be the same disc again. I'm having my C7 herniated disc replaced with a plastic disc next Thursday. He says I'll be up and about for Christmas. While I am not excited about surgery, I can't live on pain pills and muscle relaxers for the rest of my life in order to function.

A bulging disc is a different story. Think of a balloon you are sitting on, it pushes out but doesn't pop. Eventually you can heal a bulging disc or it will herniate.

Good luck to your son, anything involving your back is scary and painful.

 

[BCDisneyFanatic]

I'm going to have to agree with Jennasis on this one. A true herniated disc won't heal. It is broken. My surgeon basically described it as being popped like a balloon. You can treat the symptoms but it will never be the same disc again. I'm having my C7 herniated disc replaced with a plastic disc next Thursday. He says I'll be up and about for Christmas. While I am not excited about surgery, I can't live on pain pills and muscle relaxers for the rest of my life in order to function.

A bulging disc is a different story. Think of a balloon you are sitting on, it pushes out but doesn't pop. Eventually you can heal a bulging disc or it will herniate.

Good luck to your son, anything involving your back is scary and painful.

I think you are talking about a ruptured disc vs. a herniated disc. My understanding is that a herniated disc is really just a large bulging disc that is impinging on the nerve. Many times, herniations can shrink over time, and although the material won't move back into the disc, it can be reabsorbed into the body. The disc will always be a 'weak' point, but if you can maintain your core strength and proper body mechanics you can live a long time without back issues. On the other hand, if the herniation gets large enough, though, and over time, the disc material can wear away resulting in a ruptured disc.

I had my C5/C6 and C6/C7 discs replaced with PERK discs filled with artificial bone this past January because of a whiplash injury I had as a teenager. Over the 25 years since the accident, the discs degenerated and I ended up with bone spurs, etc. I tried PT but it really didn't help because the discs were too far gone. During the surgery the doctor said my C5/C6 disc was basically like the shell of a deflated balloon. Good luck with your surgery...I am pretty much completely pain-free now, and don't regret it at all! Feel free to PM me if you have any questions .

 

[Robbi]

Op, my back is a mess between bulging disks, dessicated disks, and spondylosis. My neurosurgeon has told me this about back surgery:

1. Sometimes it works -30%
2. Sometimes it gets worse-30%
3. Sometimes it changes nothing-30%
His recommendation is that unless I become incapacitated or I'm getting close to it, don't have the surgery. Also, a previous neuro had said that I would be in a wheelchair by the time I was 50. I'm 54 and have not had an episode in 3 years and it had been 15 years before that.
My advice would be if and when your son is in pain, have him rest. In my case, the worst position is semi reclining because it puts pressure on the most sensitive area, e.g., the lumbar vertebrae.

 

[yoopermom]

Thank you EVERYONE for your replies. I wasn't at the apt, so will have to call the nurse and clarify if it's bulging/herniated/ruptured or ??.

I have terrible scoliosis and kyphosis, so believe me, I know that surgery is not the be all/end all, but I don't want him to ignore it and have it get worse.

I've got him into pt for the next few weeks, so we'll see if that helps.

Now to convince him to take the prednisone (he's heard horror stories, and isn't sure if he should...). I keep telling him it's only a week's worth, but...

Thanks again!

Terri