RE: Prolapsed disc... and in a lot of painnnnnn
Hi all
New to all this so bare with me if i'm doing this wrong.
Just had the results of an MRI this morning and I have a prolapsed disc in the lumbar portion of my back.
I'm 28 and I suppose a little anxious about the next step which is seeing a Neuro-Surgeon to discuss options, one of which my GP says is surgery. This is very scary.
I have read other messages which suggest the outcome is good but it is still a bit scary especially as I have not had any operations before.
The pain was immense in November and after 3 weeks of being on the floor, hardly able to move and immesurable pain when trying to use my bowels (sorry) the pain subsided somewhat. However, it is starting to come back again. My right foot is a bit numb, my groin hurts and the pain is shooting down the leg.
I don't know what i hope to get from telling you all this, maybe i want someone to tell me about a similar experience and that there is nothing to be anxious about.
Thanks for taking time to listen
RE: Prolapsed disc... and in a lot of painnnnnn
Hello Jason.
I was the one who started this thread. At the time, I was in painnnnn and desperate.
I wasn't so keen about an operation nor steroids injections because at some point, I could see progress each and every day. Oh! Little progress but progress still!! The thing is, you must be patient. I sure wasn't.
The biggest mistake I made was to stay immobile for so long. As soon as I started to hobble around the house (with excruciating pain at first mind you) I started to see improvement. But it takes a long time.
I've tried gentle yoga, I still take supplements (glucosamine and lecithin)... Oh! Warm baths with Epsom salts worked wonders in my case (took away most of the pain, at least for a few hours). I heard athletes have those for extreme muscular pain. It really works!
If I'd have to face the same situation again ---and saw no improvement whatesoever--- I'd go for steroids injections first. Some have said the operation was a success but since we're all different I'd rather try anything else before surgery. The operation just takes care of the pain by the way. Never heard it made someone's condition worst but unfortunately some also told me the pain was the same... and they had to recover from the operation on top of it. This is a big decision, not to be taken lightly I suppose.
How about a second opinion? Did your doc talk about the operation straight away? Some are rather keen on the scalpel...
Hope you will recover soon. Take care! Marie
RE: Prolapsed disc... and in a lot of painnnnnn
Hi Marie
I'm sorry it has taken so long to let u know how i was gettin gon, but after i got better, i couldn't find the bleedin site ha ha, i've got it now though.
An update...my op was actually arranged incorrectly, so was canx, however i was taken in to hospital ,the end of october anyway as i though my back had actually snapped, i couldn't stand ,and was taken by ambulance to the local hospital, where i was kept in till my operation was re scheduled for Nov 13th( i must add the begining of my life again).
I had th eop on that day, i was very scared but in so much pain, i wsa desperate. I was admitted to the hospital on two sticks bent over like a old woman. I came out 4 days later(a bit sore) but perfectly straight and able to walk. My god, i can't believe the difference to my life.
I always promised myself i'd put an update on here to give hope to people like myself who have been in such pain. I always used to come on here to give me a bit hope that one day i'd be normal again, sometimes there was a lot of negativity, but speaking from my case .... WHAT A SUCCESS...and i'm so happy, if anyone has had the same problem as me i'd be happy tp speak with you to put your mind at ease and give you a bit hope.
LIFE COULDN'T BE BETTER,,,APART FROM THE REGULAR HANGOVERS I NOW HAVE HA HA !!!!
jO XXX
RE: Prolapsed disc... and in a lot of painnnnnn
Hellooooooooo Jo!
So glad to hear you're doing absolutely wonderful. You certainly have deserved to be freed from this pain! Seems people take infinite pleasure in telling you all these horror stories about how wrong an op has gone wrong. I must say, I thought it didn't turn out well for you. Well I can't tell you how happy your message has made me; you are doing great now!!! Yep, there is hope to beat this. We're both the living proof. Take care now... and enjoy yourself! Marie 🙂
RE: Prolapsed disc... and in a lot of painnnnnn
Hello,
I am new to this forum. I am Atul, from India, 45 years of age. I was diagnosed with disc prolapse about 6 months back. May I share my experiences?? I really feel sorry to hear the pain which many of the members have and are going thru. I wish them well in the various therapies which they pursue. I hope Marie, Jo, Stu, Jason, Sara, and Delvin are doing fine.
In my case, I didn't have severe pain as described by the members here. I used to have a slight pain in my left hip especially when I would try to change sides while sleeping at night. The X-ray and later MRI findings showed slip disc. Since then I am avoiding any forward bending. I took anti inflammatory + pain killers + muscle relaxants for 2 months then stopped them though my doc still prescribes them. I now only take Neurobian( nerve strenghthening medicine ) and Glucosamine( for past 2 weeks which my physician friend suggested...... my ortho specialists didn't suggest Glucosamine ). I started with two exercises and now do only one. One is lying on my back and raising the chest up.....hold for a count of five.....release.....do it ten times twice a day( this one I am avoiding as it is straining my neck pain which I recently developed ). Other is the Shalbasana as suggested by Tammy...the locust posture. This helps. You can feel the back and lower back muscles strengthing. Recently, my Ortho specialist has added two more exercises which I haven't started coz it sacres me a bit. One is again as suggested by Tammy in which while lying on the back, legs are raised up alternatively one at a time as far as possible and then released. Next is lie down on the back with legs outstretched.......fold one leg and try to bring the knee towards the chest by holding and trying to press the knee towards the chest. Then relase it and do it with the other leg too. The reason why I am scared is because these were the very same postures for which my ortho was always checking whether I had any pain or not. I somehow feel doing it might aggravate the pain. Is there any member who has tried the last of the two exercises while having slip disc. Could some members share the exercises they do?? I agree with Marie and Stu that moving about helps. Recently, since the past one month I walk for about 2.5 kms in the morning and the same in the evening too. It helps relieve the pain. Presently, I feel little pain while tossing about in the bed especially if I have sat for 6-7 hours continously. Lying down for about an hour or so relieves the pain. Initially, the pain used to subside in 2-3 hours and that too after just 2 hours of sitting. With walking, it is better.
Marie, I am taking 1500 mg of Gulcosamine+MSM etc per day. How much mg has your doc prescribed to you and how long are you suppose to take it. I am also taking some homoeopathic medicines.
Stu, it is surprising that the pain came back to you. Could you please tell if it just happened on its own or you were lifting something heavy or bending forward ??
Tammy, is it safe to do the exercise of lifting the leg perpendicular to the floor in case of slip disc.
BTW, in my case I also find that if I have 2-3 pegs of whiskey sometime in weekends then the next day the pain is slightly more for a day or two.
Take care n best wishes.
Atul.
RE: Prolapsed disc... and in a lot of painnnnnn
Hello fellow sufferers,
I'm an Irish woman, age 57 with arthritis in both knees.
I woke up with that "I must have slept funny" feeling in my lower back on 11th Feb 2004 and by Friday the 13th (!!) I was in agony. Prolapsed disc was diagnosed by doc - opiates, valium, and anti-inflammatory prescried and bed rest for as long as it takes to get better. He said it was not necessary for me to stay on my back in bed; I could turn on my side or I could move into any position where I got relief. It was just necessary to prevent any body weight pressing on the area. Doc also mentioned that the medication would cause constipation and to eat lots of fibre to prevent this.
My family was terrific. They rallied round and took good care of me. My husband constructed a gadget to allow me to drink while lying on my side and I didn't even try to sit up. Anticipating a visit to the bathroom brought me out in a cold sweat. The medicine made me sleepy but after serveral weeks I was whimpering amd moaning with misery.
I had no appetite and the inevitable happened, I become constipated so badly that the pain of this was nearly worse than that of my back.
Having watched a tv programme about children with terminal illnesses I began to be very ashamed about my whimpering and moaning.
After four weeks I emerged from the bed, gradually for an hour here and there, but found any effort very tiring.
It is now 19th March. I'd say 90% better. (Little bonus 8lbs lighter!!) Im trying to balance the day with a little time walking, some sitting, some lying down. I've done some light housework - not carrying, bending, etc.
My doc says I'm a model patient who did what I was told and stayed in bed and attributes this to the huge improvement. He says my problem would not benefit from any manipulation. But recommends physiotherapy to learn strengthening exercises for my lower back, etc. My first session is on Monday next.
From reading all the contributors to this discussion I feel that I have been lucky and I will remain optimistic for the future.
I leave you with one thought - don't allow yourself to become constipated!!
And to all of you who are still suffering, my very best wishes.
Just had an operation.
:)Good Day to all.
I am new to this forum, it is a relief to find a forum where people understand the pain. In September of 2003 I was at work and began getting pain in my left calf. Low and behold I had a polapsed disc at L4/L5 my third in 10 years. I spent 4 weeks in bed on valium and anti-inflammatory pills, there was no improvement my body began to shut down.
I was referred onto a neurosurgeon and operated on twos after the inital appointment. I had a new operating procedure called the wallis. The operation was in October and I nowfind day to day activities pain free but I am suffering some pain whilst sleeping.
If there is anyone who has also had an operation I would be interested to hear your story.
Dd
RE: Just had an operation.
Hi - I want to share as much as I can about this debilitating condition. I have had about 5 or 6 prolapses on the L4/L5 disk. The last time was 3 months ago, and I was unable even to get up for 1 month. I understand it is the speed at which the nuclear disk material shoots out onto the spinal cord which determines the severity of the damage.
Before all this happened, I had enjoyed 3 pain-free years, and had no problem riding a bike or taking a train. But I had gradually gained weight from 75kg to 85 kg. During a spate of work when I had spent the better part of 24 hours working at the computer without sleep or exercise, every day for 1 week or so, the cat came in and started jumping on the scanner and fax machine. So I took the cat with both arms and threw it into a chair. This sudden, forward movement blew the disk, and left me unable to walk properly. The next day, however, thinking it was getting better, I got up in the morning and straightaway sat in the chair to work - and man, did that disk blow! It was excruciating.
This time I was totally unable to walk, so I crawled to bed and stayed there for 1 month. Therefore, I have not left my house in the last 3 months, save to walk a few steps around it last week. Following this, I have gradually been getting used to moving about, but the disk is still bulging near to the nerve. Occasionally, if I move the wrong way, it touches the nerve and threatens to cause another spasm similar to what happened on the last occasion when the disk herniated. Over the last month, there has been the "disk bulge" pain when I get up (during the day). This lasts only for about 30 minutes or so, after which I have no pain. I suppose the disk is more swollen after sleeping, and it takes some time for this water to be extruded by standing up so that it recedes away from the nerve. I also think the facet joint around the disk has become a bit arthritic, and it takes some time and movement to produce any synovial fluid in the joint. But normal activity is no longer possible.
What am I going to do about it, a friend asked? Nothing, I replied. At least, nothing drastic. As for surgery, I have read that it shows no advantage in the long-term over conservative care - with the exception of "cauda equina" syndrome where muscle control and sensation are lost, and surgery must be performed within 3 days if total paralysis is to be avoided. In addition, surgery can be disastrous, as in the case of one woman here who died on the operating table (she was 37). As for VAX-D motorized traction (not available in the UK), a case recently surfaced where winch and pulley traction actually made a disk protrusion worse - so painful that "urgent microdiscectomy was performed" (although VAX-D deny that the traction involved here was VAX-D).
What does that leave us with?
It leaves us with other invasive options such as chymopapain therapy or prolotherapy, both of which involve painful injections of material into the disk.
It also leaves us with non-invasive options including, but not limited to, osteopathy, acupuncture, shiatsu, infrared lamp treatment, soft laser tissue treatment (e.g. the "Terra Quant" device sold in the UK), cod liver oil, calcium orotate, glucosamine, joint supplements, aminoacid supplementation, proanthocyanidins, magnesium lotion, jojoba oil, avocado oil, and hypericum oil "for people with shrunken disks".
At this time, I have started to take Icelandic cod liver oil and calcium orotate,
and am waiting for the glucosamine and avocado oil to be delivered. The glucosamine product is a liquid glucosamine containing 11 other ingredients and will be delivered together with a "glucosamine roll-on". The hypericum oil massaged into the disks feels good, but it`s too early to say yet. I will keep this forum posted.
Best - Max
RE: Prolapsed disc... and in a lot of painnnnnn
Hi everbody,
Just found this site by chance and couldnt believe what i was reading. I knew i couldnt be the only person with this condition but i didnt know anybody personaly who i could discuss the problems.
After seeing my GP and being prescribed the usual a/inflams and pain killers, I was reffered to specialist at BUPA in leicester. two scans later and no improvement in pain down both legs, he sent me for epidural. Fantastic! no pain for 4 weeks. Then it returned, same pain, worse in the mornings of course.He is recomending the op. 4 inch cut, shave a bit off the spine around disc 4 & 5, and off work for 3 or 4 weeks.
The Dr has told me only a small chance of damaging the nerves to bladder and bowel but i am still really concerned that a) the op will be a sucess and b) the thought of inconntenence and a colostomy bag at 45 years old is dreadfull.
Has any body else had this op and come thru ok?
RE: Prolapsed disc... and in a lot of painnnnnn
Baxter... pain in both legs?!?? You have all my sympathy! Had it in one leg only and it's a good thing I couldn't walk because I felt like jumping off a bridge at one point...
I know you want to get rid of the pain, I know you want to get on with your life (pain free life that is!) and as soon as possible but if I were you (1) I'd try to get a second opinion and (2) I'd research the exact procedure well before going under the knife.
You also mention epidural. Has your doc offered you steroids injections? Could be worth a try before considering the operation?
Might be a good idea to ask the surgeon if you can get in touch with patients who already had the surgery.
And you may want to browse the newsgroups and such too because sometimes they offer a better/quicker answer. Especially if you want to get in touch with people who have had this kind of operation. You can find groups by doing a Google search, using the 'groups' function.
If you look carefully, in this thread, you will find that Jo has had surgery and she's feeling just wonderful. But each invidivual reacts differently to treatment.
45 is TOO YOUNG to suffer medical problems and such. I do hope you will recover soon and well and it goes without saying that I wish you the very best of luck. Hang in there!!!
Marie
🙂
RE: Prolapsed disc... and in a lot of painnnnnn
Marie
You said you are problem-free now.
I am not quite clear as to whether you had the surgery or not.
Anyway, here is a link you might want to look at: www.magiclaser.com
They use low power laser therapy to cure an impressive array of degenerative disorders such as symptomatic herniated disk and joint problems.
An economical home laser therapy device is the TerraQuant, which has a distributor in the UK. Although this device is Class 1M and should not present an eye hazard, I recommend using the protective goggles supplied with the device just to be on the safe side. It seems you simply direct the laser beam onto the painful area of your back with the hand-held unit. I am now waiting for delivery of the device. A local laser therapy clinic told me that for back problems, treatment for 10 minutes twice a week would be about right. They said that although individual response varies, the problem often completely resolves without surgery in 6 months. There are "in vitro" (lab dish) studies which show that the laser stimulates cartilage growth. In addition, the laser clinic with the "magiclaser" website above states that post-MRI confirm disk regeneration. Some hospitals here use this laser therapy for first-time hernia sufferers, but not for long-standing disk problems (such as mine) - when they recommend surgery. Nevertheless, I plan to start this therapy in conjunction with "Syn-Flex" liquid glucosamine, chrondroitin, cod liver oil and other herbal agents immediately. As another resource, there is also the "Andean Medicine Center" in London which has an armoury of 6 or 7 rainforest herbs specifically for herniated disk. Yet another resource is the MedX computerized feedback isometric back-strengthening machine in Harley Street which aims to strengthen the musculature around the disk, and thereby allow the disk to heal without interference. These approaches aim to reconstruct the failing disk, joint and surrounding tissue rather than surgery which aims to solve the problem by partially or completely removing it (at high risk), and therefore, these constructive approaches get my unequivocal support, first-timer or long-timer.
RE: Prolapsed disc... and in a lot of painnnnnn
Sorry. Sent that before i had finished!!
I was going to elaborate somewhat. I have spoken to several people who have undergone same or similar ops, the general concesus seems to be 80-20 in favour but i guess i am just a big baby when it comes to hospital!!!
I should have stated that the jab was a steroid and was fantastic for 4 weeks but then it wore off. At least the Drs were happy to know they were treating the correct area
I have seen the scan pics twice now and it is extremely clear that the two prolapsed discs are pushing against the spinal cord and despite continued physio this just does not want to go away.
I really dont know what to try next exept surgery, but i know at some point i am just going to have to trust this Dr. His name is Martin Newey from leicester if anyone has heard of him. He seems very knowledgable and has assured me that despite the small risk involved, he has never cased any long term damage to any patient YET!!
Thanks for the tips about groups. I will try it later. Are the medical profeesssion pro or anti surgery for this kind of op in Quebec ?
RE: Prolapsed disc... and in a lot of painnnnnn
Hello All,
I am new to this forum, I came across it whist lying in bed recovering from prolapsed disc - I have the laptop beside me but a bit difficult to use keyboard lying down.
I have had 3 or 4 prolapses of the same lumbar disc over the last 30 years, this latest, brought on by stretching awkwardly during some DIY (I should have known better).
So far I have avoided surgery and recovered each time with many trouble free years in between, although I have had to adapt lifestyle slightly. During the first attack (1975) I became very depressed, in hospital for weeks on what seemed to be unresponsive treatments: traction and manipulation under general anaesthetic, and then off work for months. However with bed rest I did eventually recover. After the second prolapse I had a course of epidural steroid/anaesthetic injections which brought quick relief from pain. This time I am sure I will recover again having done so in the past.
Best wishes to all fellow sufferes.
Peter
RE: Prolapsed disc... and in a lot of painnnnnn
Today, I spoke to a chiropractic clinic that has used the low level laser therapy for the last 30 years. They said I should use the home laser device to treat the hernia and joint for about 10 minutes twice per week. They also said I am looking at around 6 months of same until the problem is gone. Well, if the laser can really regenerate the disk and joint, it`s nothing short of a miracle, but that is exactly what they`re saying.
Peter, I would like to offer a "theory" about the nature of this condition.
As you said, people such as ourselves often suffer multiple prolapses of the same disk with several years without problems in-between. The fact that there are such pain-free intervals means that the disk does heal itself after each prolapse. But it gets weaker and weaker with each prolapse, as well as losing height which makes it more susceptible to prolapse under bending loads, until it has finally completely worn paper-thin. If the proponents of the laser therapy are correct in that it can gradually be rebuilt, the new disk material could be as strong as it was before the start of all these episodes. Since we now have the laser, this is surely a goal worth trying and worth aiming for.
RE: Prolapsed disc... and in a lot of painnnnnn
My experience with these repeated prolapses is that each one is less severe than the last and heals faster. I suppose it may because the more you have the more you adapt your lifestyle to prevent further prolapses and the less severe they become.
The second time I was fortunate in having a GP who had also had repeated prolapsed discs, it was he who recommended me to the doctor/osteopath who did the epidural injections, he also told me that as one got older that the body naturally tended to absorb the prolapsed disc material - I read somewhere that prolapsed discs over the age of 65 were rare - I have a few years to go yet!
Is this laser treatment non invasive?
Peter