I have arthuritis and 2 buldging discs, colapsed discs, also central spinal stenosis as well as degeneritive disc disease. A double fusion was recomended. I am 51. Did it help you if you had it, and for how long? I am in the chicago area.
206762
I am a radiologic technologist, and I do a whole lot of MRIs.  Weekly, I scan people who have already had the spinal surgery which is going to make them "all better."  Yet, here they are back at radiology having more scans because they are no better off and sometimes even worse off.  I do not see the same phenomena with neck surgery.  But, for some reason, lumbar surgery has a high rate of failure.  I also have 3 HNPs with DDD and spinal stenosis.  The only time I would consider lumbar spine surgery is if I thought only death could be worse.  I would make sure I have tried EVERYTHING else....physical therapy, exercise, water aerobics, massage, acupuncture etc.  Once you have spinal surgery, you cannot "take it back."  You are stuck with your decision.  Of course, I could be biased, because I never see the patients who have had successful surgery.  They don't come in for scans because they are "better."  But I have seen enough to know that I would really have to be bedridden and totally out of options to consider surgery.  Good luck to you!
395056
Bulging lumbar discs are usually associated with decreased pain with walking and increased pain with prolonged and improper sitting.  There is up to 200 times the normal pressure in a disc when we remain seated.  Getting up and walking reverses the curve in our spine that occurs with sitting...allowing the disc to resume a more neutral position.  \n\nIf you already have a documented back condition, I suggest following up with a physical therapist who will perform an evaluation as to which exercises are the most appropriate for YOU (rather than guessing which ones MIGHT be good)!  \n\n...but keep up the walking if it decreases the pain...and limit your time sitting to 20 minutes at a time.
49056
You should find a good chiropractor. If it is a problem with a disk you may not be able to do anything except going through surgury. Surgury is usually extremely painful so you have to weigh your options and decide if it is really worth it.
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
472837
My Dr. and I just discusses this last week. Not all people who go through that are going through it due to being lazy. I have limited things i can do as of exercise as i was a passenger in a car accident that almost broke my neck. My feet are bad and i can't walk much or use a tread mill.\n\nDr. talked about this due to trying to help me lower my blood pressure, diabetes, high cholestrol, ect.\n\n I will review all the info here and all the sites you listed and talk to my Dr. again. Thank you Ziggy for your information.
161285
The findings on the MRI could be incidental. If we scanned everyone we would see mild disc degredation and mild curvature problems. That having been said, there is the small chance the disc degredation is related. The curvature problems may be coming from mal-alignment due to muscle spasms. The throat discomfort is likely unrelated. As far as who to see, I would start with your primary care physician or a primary care sports medicine doctor. In this case, preferrably a DO versus and MD based on the possibility you may need a little manipulation (similar to what a chiropractor does).\nGood luck
109007
I have had Cervical Fusion for C5-6 and C6-7 in September 2004.  I have 6 Titanium screws and a small metal plate in my neck.  With my surgery they went in through the front of my neck which left a pretty noticeable scar.  When they cut the front of your neck as opposed to the back, the procedure is called "Anterior Cervical Fusion".  I was in such a tremendous amount of pain I really had no other option but to have the surgery.  \n\nI was so scared I can't even put it into words.  When I woke up from the surgery the pain was horrendous, I will never forget that moment.  I was scared to move my head.    The first thing I did was wiggle my toes to make sure I wasn't paralyzed.  (the chances of that happening are very slim and I knew this but still had to check) :) \n\nBelieve it or not, I went home the next day.  I was very careful about everything I did (which was not much for a long while)  It took me alot longer to recover than most people because I am a smoker.  When you are a smoker they have to take bone from the hip to do the bone graft.  I had to have lots of Physical Therapy and walking was difficult to say the least.  \n\nI recovered in about 1 year but again that is not the "normal" recovery time.  Now my neck does not hurt and the procedure was a great success.  I have a great Orthopedic Surgeon!\n\nMake sure to do your homework...\n\nHere are some good links:\n\nhttp://www.spine-health.com/topics/surg/overview/cervical/cerv03.html\n\nhttp://www.espine.com/diagnosis_acf.html\n\n\n\nFeel free to message me through Yahoo if you need more information.  Good luck and God Bless!
531493
first, you will be in my  prayers... second, my dad was diagnosed with a very rare form of MD (supposedly only him and 2 other people in the world have it) and he has had multiple biopsies. generally, it took about a week for his pain to go away, and that was with doing exactly what the doc said, rest, pain meds as prescribed, nothing strenuous... i saw the size of the plugs they took from my dad and i think he did amazingly well to be walking within a week! good luck and again, you'll be in my prayers...
505805
i too have a herniated disc. the dr told me that if I had the surgery there is no gaurentee, that the problem will not return. so I opted not to have the surgery. yes I have numbness, not in my feet but my legs. I was told that if you can bend at the waist, arms reaching for the floor in front of your toes, legs must remain straight as possible in order for the back to pop, that your back will pop and it will help relieve the pressure and discomfort. often it works, but there are times i have done too much and this treatment doesnt work it is a hit and miss type treatment
59769
Since no one else has answered you, and I have had a similar injury, I thought I'd offer you my experience. I am not a medical expert, just a survivor. My injury was L3 L4, and the disc blew up! In other worded it was not your standard slipped disk. They could not do the laser surgery on me, partly because it was not yet approved but mostly because of the number of disk fragment sthat they had to remove. Prior to the surgery I spent 8 weeks flat on my back while they figured out what was wrong with me, i.e. orthopedics, medical and finally surgical. I had lost all use of my right leg, including the feeling from the hip down, and was starting to loose bowel function. They did the full laminectomy, and sent me home from the hospital the next day. I asked for PT or some kind of rehab but they refused. For the next five years I had to fight on my own to regain use and control of that right leg. For ten years I had a noticable limp. To this day there are certain movements I just cannot do. And the hip is still bad with rampant arthritis. Three years ago I had a relapse, and after the same surgeon did the x-rays and MRI's he said he could not do anything to help me, and that I no have spinal stenosis from L2 down. You should see how little bone mass there is in that picture. It's scary! Anyway, I went to my local gym who has a healthy back program, using Medx equipment. I rehabbed with that program, and am as functional now as I was 5 years after the surgery. If you have a program like that I would seriously check it out before agreeing to surgery. The program at my gym has prevented a lot of surgeries, and has an 85% success rate. They train surrounding muscle to support the bones, and carry the weight. We once trained a dog the same way who was born with hip dysplasia bad enough they wanted to put him to sleep in his first year. He lived to 17, and passed away as a result of an auto injury, not his hips.\nSorry this was so long but your husband needs to know there are options to surgery, and not just PT. Good luck and feel better. I do understand your pain and confusion.
59820
It sounds like you have a bulging disc compressing on the layers that surround your spinal cord.  But, it seems to be very small.  Obviously, as with anything, wait to hear what your doctor says about it.
275524
The thing here is that there was probably some reason why your back was thrown out in the first place.  It's weak and/or you over did it, you have a bulging disk because your back is out of alignment or because you have some chronic infection or degenerative condition.  Get into better shape and consult a doctor if you still have problems later on.  Remember, though, whatever kind of doctor you go to, that's what kind of treatment he/she will recommend...  Get their advice but think for yourself before you start popping pills, go under the knife, or pay someone to dance around on your back once a week for the next 2 years.
466233
I did work as first assist for 3 years with a spine surgeon. If you had a two level fusion done, from the front, they will often use bone graft to insert where the bad disc was removed. The best bone is your own. Then cadaver grafts can be used. Your own body will heal these in place. It means wearing a brace to minimize motion of the bone as it heals. Often, a metal plate with screws will be placed over the 3 vertabrae, to hold it still as it heals. There is a 10% per level chance of non-union, that is not healing together. Much worse in patients who  continue to smoke. If you are still having pain, I would look for a non-union. If all your pain is in your neck, then you might be having arthritis pain, at levels above or below the fused segments. This neck surgery is good for those with nerve pain, that's to the arms, not too good for neck pain alone.
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.
321147
I have had a spinal tap, and several spinal anethesia's for surgeries. I know that if you have many, you can cause even more pain, as I now have low back pain from them. I'm just curious, have you been to a chiropractor for your problems? I know that if your vertebre are misaligned, that can cause massive pain, and numbness. Also try some massage to see if that helps, if you can. I hear you on the surgery though, I wouldn't do it either unless it was absolutely necessary. Good luck and I hope you feel some relief soon.
222673
Years ago, one of the world's leading spine surgeons made this statement at a large medical conference in Las Vegas, Nevada:\n\n"Your first back surgery is your best chance, your second back surgery is your last chance."\n\nYou are done with surgery.  It hasn't solved your problem  (in fact, it may be the cause of your continuing problems).\n\nCouple of suggestions.  First, how many Chiropractic evaluations/consults have you had?  A good Chiropractor may be a very valuable resource for you.\n\nSecond, there is a wonderful book available that explains the many unappreciated causes of chronic pain and how to effectively treat the causes to relieve the pain.  If you read this book, you will understand the many ways that surgery and even pain medications can actually aggravate and cause long-term chronic pain.  \n\nThe book is written by Sherry Rogers, M.D. and is called: "Pain Free in 6 Weeks".  It is available at Amazon.com or from the publisher at 1-800-846-6687.  I highly recommend this book.\n\nBest wishes and good luck.
343827
I also have ddd, cervical (neck), had surgery, fusion, metal plate & screws.   2 years later, 3 more herniated discs and have read, searched, asked, etc. for a solution.  I know, it's a miserable condition.  Google degenerative disc disease or herniated discs.  Some material says they may heal on their own (not my experience), but something I was informed about through this site but haven't tried is papaya injections. No, not making it up.  Also, google laser spine institute where you will find animated info that clearly demonstrates and explains what happens to the nerves, spinal chord and spine.  Good luck, I really feel for you.