Three! herniated discs

[Beau Vine 54049]

L2-3, L4-5, L5-S1

Don't know what went right with L3-4...

[Fat Bastard 596]

As someone who just had laminectomy/discectomy of L4/L5 compression 2 days ago, I feel your pain. Worst pain of my life when it acutely herniated and deadened my entire left leg

[NWBuck 8549]

7 hours ago, Beau Vine said:

L2-3, L4-5, L5-S1

Absolutely read this in his voice 

[Hate 20104]

I read it in this voice.

[Onboard 2.0 9083]

I think the word we're all looking for here is FUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUCK !!!!!

[Beau Vine 54049]

9 hours ago, Fat Bastard said:

As someone who just had laminectomy/discectomy of L4/L5 compression 2 days ago, I feel your pain. Worst pain of my life when it acutely herniated and deadened my entire left leg

They told me 5-10 years ago that I had degenerative discs, and the weird thing is that I have been in a lot more pain than this.

[bernorange 8351]

Sorry to hear that BV.  I've mostly recovered from my ordeal seven years ago.  Hope you find similar relief/healing.

[Best served cold 150]

I had a laminectomy in 2013 by Dr. Rose in Austin at Seton Hospital. I'm not sure if he's still practicing, but I haven't had an issue with it since. He gave me my life back

[Newdoc 3437]

It’s all relative. Herniated in itself is not painful. It’s what the herniated disc presses on is what makes it painful. YMMV.

[Bevo 13534]

It is hard to keep track of all this for bets on the inaugural Surly track meet. 

[Your Mom 4803]

7 hours ago, Newdoc said:

It’s all relative. Herniated in itself is not painful. It’s what the herniated disc presses on is what makes it painful. YMMV.

This right here.  I herniated L5-S1, had the discectomy, herniated it again, another discectomy, and never had a moment of pain in my back.  Sciatic nerve down the back of my leg was a whole other story.  

[Braff Zacklin 13480]

49 minutes ago, Your Mom said:

This right here.  I herniated L5-S1, had the discectomy, herniated it again, another discectomy, and never had a moment of pain in my back.  Sciatic nerve down the back of my leg was a whole other story.  

Well, if you'd learn to flare and put 'er down gently instead of slammin' 'er down like a carrier pilot ...

[Your Mom 4803]

Hey they pay to get from point A to point B.  Anything more than that costs extra.

[Murfdogg21 4412]

Was there something traumatic that caused this or just gradual degradation with age, weight gain, and lethargy? Some can benefit from weight loss, stretching, and strengthening neighboring core muscles. Others require a discectomy. Beg your surgeon (go neuro over orthopedic spine) to preserve as much of the annulus as possible. 

[Your Mom 4803]

Prepare your annulus!

[Braff Zacklin 13480]

On 10/3/2020 at 2:54 PM, Your Mom said:

Hey they pay to get from point A to point B.  Anything more than that costs extra.

Delta pilot, eh?

[Beantown Express 2.0 6556]

Bumping this thread since I also have 3 herniated disks in my lower back (one has a tear apparently).   Been in pain since July.  Did the steroids and anti inflammatory oral meds and then had a epidural steroid injection 3 weeks ago.  Still having the pain and it goes down my hamstrings.  No idea what to do next since it doesn’t seem to be healing at this point like it used to in the past when it would go away in a week or two and it’s not like I am golfing or anything to aggravate it.  Was looking at stem cell injections and was curious if anyone had experience with those or anything else.  Chiropractor?  Acupuncture?  I’m at a loss and don’t want to have actual spinal fusion surgery or anything like that.  It hurts to sit at my desk, sit on an airplane, etc… and I don’t think I can stand and walk for the rest of my life without sitting.  

[Your Mom 4803]

I hear lots and lots of people say that they absolutely won’t do the surgery. The surgery changed my life. I had to do it twice, but that was my fault because I came back too soon from the first one and re-ruptured the same disc. 

My understanding, as someone posting from a Holiday Inn Express, is that once that disc is fully herniated or ruptured you’re not going to physical therapy it back into place. You could do that with a bulging disc but not one that’s completely herniated already. The gel from inside that disc is pressing on your nerves and causing pain and it’s like toothpaste from a tube. You’re not getting it back in.

I’m sure everyone’s situation is different and lots of people can get by without the surgery. But if you need it, it works great. I’m 51 years old, several years removed from the discectomy, and I have no problem going to the gym and doing squats, launching my mountain bike off a 4 foot drop, running, sitting all day at work.. all the things that used to cause me pain I can do easily today because of the surgery  

 

[Bevo 13534]

8 minutes ago, Your Mom said:

I hear lots and lots of people say that they absolutely won’t do the surgery. The surgery changed my life. I had to do it twice, but that was my fault because I came back too soon from the first one and re-ruptured the same disc. 

My understanding, as someone posting from a Holiday Inn Express, is that once that disc is fully herniated or ruptured you’re not going to physical therapy it back into place. You could do that with a bulging disc but not one that’s completely herniated already. The gel from inside that disc is pressing on your nerves and causing pain and it’s like toothpaste from a tube. You’re not getting it back in.

I’m sure everyone’s situation is different and lots of people can get by without the surgery. But if you need it, it works great. I’m 51 years old, several years removed from the discectomy, and I have no problem going to the gym and doing squats, launching my mountain bike off a 4 foot drop, running, sitting all day at work.. all the things that used to cause me pain I can do easily today because of the surgery  

 

 

This sounds about right.

[thunderlounge 7778]

I was told I was the “perfect” candidate for disc replacement. Then right after the doc said that it would last about 10 years, then have to do it again, rinse and repeat. Advised that if I could live with it through lifestyle changes, holding off at least one cycle, then I’d be better off in the long run.

That was 20 years ago, and so far (knock on wood) I’ve lived with it. I’ve figured out my triggers, and avoided as best/much as I can.

Combined with chiro (he’s methodical, not a rack-em crack-em), as well as massage, it’s worked for me. That’s with a bulge half hanging out, as well as a dead disc from degenerative disc whatever it's called.

I still have a bad day now and then, when I can’t avoid certain things, but I recover in a day or two. I’ve found when doing something that I know can trigger it, I take overly-frequent breaks.

Surprising enough to me, it works. There are times when doing that where I’m not down for days, and maybe just a little sore that evening.

 

Now, someone in a real bad spot, that probably isn’t going to work. But for less extreme cases, it’s worth giving a try first.

Along with stretches, and some mild core strengthening, you can live pretty good. I play golf, fish, hike, and all that jazz. No real issues, provided I don’t overdo it. 

[Beantown Express 2.0 6556]

5 hours ago, Your Mom said:

I hear lots and lots of people say that they absolutely won’t do the surgery. The surgery changed my life. I had to do it twice, but that was my fault because I came back too soon from the first one and re-ruptured the same disc. 

My understanding, as someone posting from a Holiday Inn Express, is that once that disc is fully herniated or ruptured you’re not going to physical therapy it back into place. You could do that with a bulging disc but not one that’s completely herniated already. The gel from inside that disc is pressing on your nerves and causing pain and it’s like toothpaste from a tube. You’re not getting it back in.

I’m sure everyone’s situation is different and lots of people can get by without the surgery. But if you need it, it works great. I’m 51 years old, several years removed from the discectomy, and I have no problem going to the gym and doing squats, launching my mountain bike off a 4 foot drop, running, sitting all day at work.. all the things that used to cause me pain I can do easily today because of the surgery  

 

Is discectomy the same thing as fusing the discs together?  That is the surgery I want to avoid.  The fusion.  I have read about microdisectomy where I think they shave off the part that is hitting the nerve but not sure I am a candidate.  Golf was my one hobby and I played every weekend and haven’t been able to since July so I am pretty angry right now.  Not to mention being in constant pain.

[thunderlounge 7778]

With golf, you’ll potentially have to change your swing a bit, and not coil your core so hard.

It took me a few years to get back to regular golf.

[Spur08 381]

Where do you live?

[Beantown Express 2.0 6556]

Dallas.

[Saint Tacky 1610]

On 10/7/2024 at 8:47 AM, Beantown Express 2.0 said:

Dallas.

I'm scheduled for a discectomy in December. In the interim, I'm going to give rehab another try until my "go" or "no go" date. My back doctor is at Carrell Clinic Dr. Andrew Clavenna 

Discectomy is removal to create space, while a fusion is joining vertebrae to promote stability. Discectomy is less invasive and has a much shorter recovery time. That's my Holiday Inn version. DM me if you have any questions.