i've had it all my life, like everyone else who has it has-so i was born with it. but, after a recent infection from a cyst on my tailbone that spread to my back and didn't completely heal correctly, i've been diagnosed with acute spinea bifida. i'm not really sure what it is, or what it does. all i know is that it's non-curable. i don't really know what to think about any of this. does it get worse as i get older?
120274
spina bifida is a congenital defect characterized by a defective closure of the spinal canal through which the spinal cord and meninges may or may not protrude.....it may cause a stunt in your growth and or problems with the bones in your legs...you may have to wear braces and may or may not be able to walk at all.....if you can walk you probably wouldn't be able to stand for long periods of time.....
454934
Treatment options are critical at this point.. You apparently have a structural problem (even at your young age), perhaps familial or congenital. Is something quite routinely seen, in the doctor of Chiropractic office. \n\nIt appears to be involving the sciatic nerve. You don't want it to grow into a full blown sciatica..as it is much worse than what you are experiencing at the moment. Suggest you take care of is asap.. as it will only progress..as the inflammatory process is already evident.\n\nBeen there, done that!!
324111
I also have DDD, and the pain is ongoing. You have to be really careful with this disease because the vertebrae are very brittle. On an MRI or CAT scan, the bones will look black where the degeneration is. Sometimes you can have surgery but not always and sometimes surgery will cause the disc above it to crumble so you never know. Pain meds, anti-inflammatory meds, and if you are having a hard time , antidepressants kind of help
42717
I think you should seek a second opinion.  Sometimes pediatricians are quick to dismiss b/c they see so many of the same things all the time.  It could be something more serious (though I have no idea).  A friend of mine is in the process of getting over an extremely rare disease, and he wasn't properly diagnosed until he was taken to one of the best hospitals in the country.  Sometimes it takes some insistence and a clean pair of eyes to get to the root of the problem.  Best of luck with your kids!
582696
If you're talking like rods and pins and fusion...seriously get a 2nd opinion.\n\nMy sister has had 3 unsuccessful back surgeries.  It's ruined her life.
292315
I have scoliosis & found out in the 5th grade--I am now 33. I have been able to do anything that I want to. \nYou may want to use a back brace &/or start practicing now for good posture to prevent future complications, but many people have curvature of the spine and most of those who do don't even need medical supervision for it. \nRemember, thru God, all things are possible!
441446
So sorry to hear about your pain.  It seems to be in the acute stage.  Herniated disc must be in lumbar spine, since that's where the 3 sciatic nerve roots emerge (one pair at each of 3 levels).\n\nYes, I've been there.  MRI showed 5 herniated discs, with 2 described as "very large and severe causing severe spinal stenosis," and there were complications as well.  Couldn't stand more than 30 minutes.  Sitting down was an agony as firm chair seat compresses the lumbar spine.  Even morphine did not help.\n\nFlash forward one year.  No surgery, no painkillers these days at all, do own gardening & housework, can easily walk 2 miles.  Only residue is a back that starts to complain fairly easily, so must cease whatever activity is stressing it (too-strenuous gardening, etc).\n\nIt wasn't luck.  It was a lot of very hard work plus a determination to get better plus the ability and the resourcefulness to find extremely effective if somewhat unusual treatment modalities.\n\nThese are:\n\n1) For the acute pain stage, a diet that will lower inflammation throughout the body.  This is quite complicated.  In a nutshell it means mostly vegetables and fruits for a short period of time (about 2-4 weeks) and elimination of all foodstuffs known to trigger inflammation.  I've studied nutrition, my professor helped me individually in his private practice.\n\nImprovement was dramatic.  This approach helped much more than morphine.  Within 2 weeks I began to be able to walk, farther & farther each week.\n\n2) supplements to reduce inflammation.  These are mostly omega-3 essential fatty acids.  Surely you've read about these, there's amazing research coming out about their role in healing/stabilizing inflammatory diseases, everything from cardiovascular disease to Alzheimer's.  The typical US diet at present contains too high a proportion of omega-6.  What's missing are the omega-3 and, for anti-inflammation, the EPA (eicosapentanoic acid) component of the omega-3 EFA.  The high EPA will suppress the inflammatory prostaglandins and encourage the body's production of the good or healing prostaglandin.  Where does one get high-EPA omega-3 essential fatty acids?  Best source is molecularly-distilled fish oils.  Read label for EPA and DHA proportions, you'll need a high EPA count and these products are hard to find.  You should try for 1 gram of EPA a day at first, for about a month.  Can take less later.  Yes, molecularly-distilled high-quality fish oil capsules are expensive, but it's still a lot cheaper than powerful prescription painkillers or surgery.\n\nThere are 4 other supplements I took, all available at health food stores.  Two involved collagen (spinal discs are made of collagen) in interesting new formulations that render the large previouslyi-indigestible collagen molecule into a form that can be assimilated by oral ingestion.  The other two were anti-inflammatories.  It was said that one of these, based on turmeric and other herbs,  is as effective as the controversial prescription cox-2 inhibitors (Celebrex and the banned Vioxx).\n\n3) the 3rd treatment modality is perhaps the most important since it involves permanent rehabilitation of the lumbar spine.  This is physiotherapy.  I live in a country where a new approach to lumbar spine injuries is being taught by leading physiotherapists who work with our national Olympic sports teams. Many sports involve repeated battering or smashing of the spine, as in horse jumping, hurdle racing, downhill ski slalom racing, etc, and many athletes wind up with herniated discs.\n\nThe physiotherapy involves identification by the patient of the transverse abdominus muscle and a long program of exercises to strengthen this muscle.  The trans ab is the deepest abdominal muscle.  It sweeps around the lower abdomen and attaches to the spine at rear.  Picture a basket at the bottom of your abdomen that holds upright all your organs - bladder, uterus, lar
442789
I do not have it, but I have a condition that can lead to it.\n\nI hope your mom has been diagnosed early... for her, and for you and the rest of your family.  \n\nLook it up on the net.  Web MD whatever, Google it, Wikipedia.  I dont want to tell you anything, you need to read it for yourself *and this d*ck telling you your mom is going to die... GO TO HELL MAN! what a jerk*\n\nI dont know how old you are.. but regardless.  Read what you can, understand as much as you can absorb... and love your mom and be a good girl :) \n\nGood luck to your family, I wish you the best.
403492
I was diagnosed with this after an especially painful bout of it. The pain eventually stopped, after a couple of weeks, and I was fine. I had one minor recurrence afterward but since then I haven't been troubled with it.\n\n<Costochondritis is a relatively harmless condition and usually goes away without treatment.> More good info found here: http://www.emedicinehealth.com/costochondritis/article_em.htm
444001
I have the same condition in my 5th and 6th cervical vertebrae. I'm 52 now, was diagnosed 15 years ago. I had an exceptional orthopedist. He is one of the top surgeons in my area, and he advised AGAINST surgery. I had extremely limited range of motion, and he prescribed exercises to improve it. I did the exercises and they worked. My range of motion is still nearly normal, and I have almost no pain or discomfort, just occasionally.\n\nHe advised against the surgery because it is not a cure for the condition, it just relieves it for a time. In several years, you will need surgery again, and gradually the surgery is less and less effective. \n\nIf you are willing to try the exercises for awhile, you might find they help you. Ask your doctor about it, and if he is hesitant, find another doctor. And before ANY surgery, you should always get a second opinion.\n\nGood luck!!
593794
Although I am not male, I think disc problems are the same.\n\nI have had ruptured discs at L4, L5 & S1.\n\nFirst doctor tried medication, did this for 2 years and I only got worse.\n\nNext I went to a pain center (by this time I was in a wheel chair).  I was starting to get better with therapy and disc injections, but then I had a set back.  Pain doctor sent my to a surgeon and by this time my left leg was completely numb.  He did a lamonectomy (not sure if I spelled it right).  This is where they remove the herniated part of the disc.  I was back on my feet in about 3 days and coaching little legue ball.  I was fine for about a year and then it happened again.  Doctor said he could not tell me why, but part of it had to do with my genes. (I am 3rd generation on both sides with the same disc problem.)  This time he did a spinal fusion.   This is where they remove the bad discs and fuse the vertebrate together.  That has been over 5 years ago and I have not had one single problem with my back. \n\nI will tell you , like I was told by many people that had the same surgery.  You will have problem with your hip where they get the bone to fuse the vertebrate.  I am like a human berometer (sp).  LOL
93207
I see so much misinformation thrown out there, and it is pretty frightening.  I think this is a very useful forum in certain situations, such as "I have been diagnosed with condition X by a doctor.  Where can I get more info?  Or what is your experience with this disease?"\nBut too many people are out there asking to be diagnosed by strangers who are in no way qualified to do so.  I have been known to throw out this comment from time to time (I actually have it in a folder on my desk top so I can copy and paste it!):\n"With all due respect, you should not be looking for a diagnosis on this site.  I am in the medical field, and I am constantly horrified by the amount of totally wrong information/suggestions that I see here on a hourly basis.  Even if someone says they are a nurse or doctor, you have no idea if they really are or not.  On the internet, you can be anything you want to be.  There are resources out there.  Go to your doctor, or at least call your doctor.  Many offices have nurse practitioners who can return your calls and answer questions.  Call the nurse at your city/county Public Health office.  Many insurance companies have a number where you can speak with a nurse, so see if your insurance company provides that service.  At least you will know that you can trust their expertise.   I believe this site is useful for things such as…I have been diagnosed with such and such disease/condition, what is your experience with it.  OR  where can I find more information of such and such.  But asking people to diagnose you here is just plain dangerous……"\n\nIf the person is asking something that I feel qualified to answer, I will.  Or I can research for sites where they can educate themselves.  I have also come to realize that we, as parents, are not doing enough to educate our young people.  Their lack of BASIC knowledge of their bodies is appalling.
428476
Have any of the Drs. ordered any tests? If it is a bulging disc or bone spur, an MRI would show that. If an MRI comes back negative, then it is something else. \nAsk your Dr. for a referral to a neurologist. That will be the best bet in getting accurate testing, diagnosis and treatment. \n I have a bulging disc and bone spur and it is horribly painful. My family Dr. was unable to find a problem, but the neurologist immediately ordered an MRI and the problem was spotted. \n\nGood Luck!
377471
OK I will tell you what i know...don't know all of it...Narrowing of the disk..is something all people get when they get older..sorta like arthritis.See number 3 on impression\n\nmultiple disc bulging means the fluid sacs between your spinal cord are bulging out of place pushing on nerves...Very painful but no life or death serious..See impression 1\n\nSpinal stenosis is a narrowing of spaces in the spine (backbone) that results in pressure on the spinal cord and/or nerve roots. This disorder usually involves the narrowing of one or more of three areas of the spine:The narrowing may involve a small or large area of the spine. Pressure on the lower part of the spinal cord or on nerve roots branching out from that area may give rise to pain or numbness in the legs. Pressure on the upper part of the spinal cord (that is, the neck area) may produce similar symptoms in the shoulders, or even the legs. See impression 3\n\nAnd evidently you have a fracture on your t12 which is in your thoracic cavity like in the middle of your back caused from osteoporosis...\nI'm no doctor, but that's what i understand from it.
252258
It's usually a degenerative process.  Normally, your spine is made up of blocks called vertebrae.  They are cushioned by a gell-like material called disks.  When you get older (in some people it starts in the 30s), they can get smashed and push out against some nerves.  It normally doesn't bother people until the nerve becomes inflamed.  It can be aggravated by injury.  It usually gets better with pain medicine and rest.  It sometimes gets better with surgery.\n\nBut if you look at all the people with back pain and all the people with abnormal disks on MRIs,  you'll see a lot of people with pain where the MRI is normal, and a whole bunch of people with abnormal MRIs without pain.
591292
you just answered one of my questions and decided to check out some of the questions you posted, which iam now glad i did. when i was 17 , me and my twin were diognosed with scoliosis( curvature of the spin) we both needed to have the harringtons rods put in to staighten our spines. which were placed on either side of our spine about a foot long apeice. it was a tramatic sergury but i thank god everyday i had it. no more pain, i can do anything no limitations except for now i sit up real staight ...ha ha.., and yes if i hadnt had the surgery i wouldnt be here today. the  curve was starting to push against my heart and liver and if that happened i wouild have died. so i thank god everyday for doctors.
334549
My daughter just had spinal surgery for Scoliosis (March 15th) and she felt the same way.  She cried, started staying in her room, didn't want to eat.  But we kept talking her through it.  I don't know what kind you're having, but if it's the same kind, she's now happier about how she looks, as she kinda looked chubby before-- but it turned out it was her spine pushing things in directions they weren't supposed to go.  She's taller now.  She doesn't hurt as much (she had a severe curve).  She's wearing different clothes because she's proud of herself, some now.  Just remember that if it won't make you better, they wouldn't be wanting to do it.  They only do back surgery if it's warranted.  It also doesn't take as long to heal as it used to, so you will be up and around ASAP.  It's scary, but in the hands of good doctors, you'll be better than before, so look forward to it and keep your chin up.  Talk to your family and ask for a hug when you need one.  If you can't sleep, find out who you can talk to when you need some one on one in the night or maybe even ask your doctor for some meds to help, if possible.  Good luck and blessings!