I have a herniated disk in my lower back and need help. Read on..?
113398
I had a herniated disk in my neck at the C4/C5 level. I lived with it for 7 years. In those seven years, I went to acupuncturists, chiropractors, went through physical therapy, had medical massages, and many, many pain pills.\n\nWhen the pain gets to the point where you can't sleep through the night and you are having a hard time walking, then it is time for surgery.\n\nAs with any surgery, do your research. With this surgery, the surgeon is dealing with your spinal cord. Find the top 5 neurosurgeons in your county or state (depending on how big your state is) and go to one of them. I was fortunate. My surgical team consisted of two of the top 5 in NY state. The whole team and hospital were wonderful.\n\nBecause I waited 7 years...I have permanent nerve damage that I wouldn't have if I had gone sooner. Do you have pinched nerves because of the herniation? You don't mention how long you have dealth with the pain, so just keep this in mind.\n\nAlso, I'm not sure if surgery on the lower back is the same as on the upper back/neck area, but I had to pretty much learn how to walk again after having my neck worked on. It was very slow at first, but when I went home from the hospital, I had to go up three flights of stairs to get to my apartment, not an easy hurdle. \n\nThey cut through the front of my neck to get to the back, pretty freaky thought, huh? Honestly though, the surgeon said that from a surgeon's point of view, it was easier and safer to do the surgery that way.\n\nI wish you the best of luck and hope you at the very least consider having an MRI to see how close the herniation is to your spinal cord. You do not want to be paralyzed just because you were trying to prevent surgery.
1124462
There is another solution without operation: Go for a manual one-time treatment called Atlasprofilax. The effect is, that the pressure on the discs is distributed much better - so the herniated discs may recover completely.\n\nJust - the treatment is available in California and Europe only, costing approx. 220 dollars. It's really worth travelling far.
76248
Assuming it is mechanical back pain, try ice or heat, with Anti-inflammatory, tylenol, and relative rest, see doctor if it continues.
223294
try heat 1st...it helps relax the muscles in case you may have a pinched nerve (which is kinda what it sounds like) or maybe some bengay, but if it goes longer than about 3 or 4 days...go to the dr...you may have done something worse...perhaps a herniation or a slipped disk.
302551
You could try some accupunture sessions. My nursing instructor used them for chronic back pain and she said after about 4 treatments she hasn't ever had the pain again. You should also see a chiropractor to check for any nerve compression, bugling discs, hernia, etc.
1174
The initial treatment for a herniated disc is usually conservative and nonsurgical. Your doctor may prescribe bed rest, or advise you to maintain a low, painless activity level for a few days to several weeks. This helps the spinal nerve inflammation to decrease.  herniated disc is frequently treated with nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory medication if the pain is only mild to moderate. An epidural steroid injection may be performed utilizing a spinal needle under x-ray guidance to direct the medication to the exact level of the disc herniation. Your doctor may recommend physical therapy. Therapy may include pelvic traction, gentle massage, ice and heat therapy, ultrasound, electrical muscle stimulation, and stretching exercises. Pain medication and muscle relaxants may also be beneficial in conjunction with the physical therapy. If these conservative measures do not help, then usually surgery is indicated.
464528
go to a wellness center, with a chiro, and massage therapy, i was very skeptical but got great results.  its nice to get out of pain  and treat it so it doesn't come back.  my lower back/legs no longer hurt.
164355
wow 2 good answers and one stupid one.  I'm not sure what the first guy meant when he brought up the uncommon pyriformis syndrome, but I can vouch as a doc and a patient that occasionally, after the sciatica goes away, you get weird leg pains which are actually muscle cramps due to being out of shape.  These can be muscles you don't usually think about or worry about, like the pyriformis muscle.  \n\nMost herniated discs heal on their own without treatment.  It's no surprise ppl make claims that they took zero medications and they're fine.  However, inflamation is not always the best thing for the body to do (example: seasonal allergies are inflammation to innocuous things like dust!), and so anti-inflammatories are appropriate for something like a herniated disc.  Also, if they can reduce a little bit of the pain so you can get up and be active, so much the better.\n\nDo's and Don'ts...  Physical therapists are experts in this regard.  They help get you out of bed and back to activity.  They teach you positions to avoid and how to lift, sit, sleep, get up, etc.  It really depends what is the cause of your sciatica though.\n\nFor herniated discs, you want to take the stress away from your discs.  Proper lifting technique (or avoid lifting).  Strong abdominal muscles to take the load off the disc.  Be careful when jumping, crouching, kneeling, tiptoeing.  Spine extension exercises.  Avoid spinal flexion.  Stay active so that all your muscles help to unload the disc
43654
Try wearing a back support that you can buy at wal-mart or any decent pharmacy,   see if this helps with the pain.  \nImportantly, you should see a doctor, to make sure you don't have a more serious problem, involving your lower back.  \nIf you are healthy, you might try stretching exercises, and sit ups, to strengthen your lower back muscles.
657782
Without knowing anything else about the situation it seems that you have an low back problem. Find yourself a good chiropractor--someone your friends or family know and trust. Check out the website below for more information and possible Dr's to help you out. In the meantime work on stretches for the low back and legs.  Also use ice on the part of your low back that seems to be involved.  Avoid heat.  I hope this helps. \n\nhttp://www.gonsteadseminar.com then click on referrals and find your state
753663
Hey. Im a MA at a pain management clinic and you're right. All this basically is, is that you pulled something in your lower back. If you have a primary care physician ( PCP ), get a referal to see a pain managment dr.. If this pain does come and go, then you wouldn't want it to be anything major in the long run by keep putting it off. A pain management doc she be called in for this. We have alot of patients come into the clinic with this type of problem and the dr orders physical therapy to work the kink out. By this being only a problem from exercise and not fibromyalgia, you should be fine with a little light back work-out to work it out. But, still, go see a pain management doc to give you direct orders.
920150
I delivered 7 kids...(6 natural, 1 with an epidural)...THEN found out I had scoliosis! I also have fused disks in my lower back. I dont know how bad the curve of my spine is..altho I have had two different drs tell me I have the most crooked spine they have ever seen. You may just need to give your back time to heal since you just had a baby a few months ago. Also doing yoga stregthens the back muscles, which could help if you decide to have another baby. Since you dont have insurance maybe you can find a Health Department or Clinic that would be able to see you. GOODLUCK!
151237
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.
698909
MAN I FEEL FOR YOU I HAVE BEEN DEALING WITH R.S,D FOR YEARS NOW . WHICH IS A NERVE DISE. I,M GOING IN DEC.1 TO HAVE ASPINAL CORD STIMULATOR PUT IN TO SEE IF IT WILL CUT DOWN THE SOME SO I CAN GET OFF THE PAIN  MEDS OR CUT DOWN ON HOW MUCH I,M TAKING A DAY.IT SUCKS BUT WHAT CAN YA DO .E MAIL ME AT ICDDPPL1995 @YAHOO.COM.GOOD JUCK
884623
1.  What level is the herniated disc?  Is it cervical, thoracic, lumbar, or sacral?\n2.  How severe is the herniation?\n3.  Do you think that physical therapy will help with this?  \n4.  What options do I have for recovery?\n5.  Do you think that surgery will be necessary?\n6.  What options can we try before surgery?\n7.  What is the success rate for pain relief with the surgery?\n8.  If the dr wants you to take pain medications, make sure you know the side effects of the drugs and what to report when taking it.\n9.  Do you think anti-inflammatory medicines will help with the swelling around the disc?\n10.  What else should I know about disc herniations like the one I have?  \n\nHope this helped.
749712
I had a herniated disc between c-5 and c-6 . I went to bed fine and woke up the next day as it had ruptured overnight. I suspect the area was weakened from a lot of heavy lifting the prior day . I had it operated on they cut a slit in my throat and went in from the front and replaced the disc with a piece of bone from a cadaver. The operation took an hour perhaps slightly less . The scar completely disappeared in no time. I do still have no feeling in my right  thumb from nerve damage but the pain is gone except for a bit of arthritic type pain on cold rainy days.
701027
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.