I recently had ruptured disc removal surg. on my lower back...?
827747
I would definitely ask your surgeon for a referral to see a Physical Therapist.  If he/she will not give you one then you have some other options.  You can see your primary care doc and ask them or if you are in a state that has direct access you can see a PT without a referral from your doctor.  \n\nI hate to say this but some doctors, especially surgeons, let their ego get in the way of the best care for their patient.  There line of thinking is that my surgery fixed it so they don't need physical therapy.  This is ludicrous.  The success rate of spinal surgery is less than 30%!!!!!  It is essential that you go to physical therapy after surgery to strengthen your abdominal muscles and your legs (this is way more important than strengthening your back for the average individual) and to learn proper body mechanics for your work and functional activities.  Wish you the best of luck.  You can use the "Find a PT" on the APTA website to find a physical therapist in your area.
771017
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.
740176
Your condition is not so common for someone your age, but it does happen. Surgery wouldn't be the answer especially bone fusion. That's a pretty big deal and usually a last resort, mostly done in patients with instability in their back, or severe disc degeneration. Trust me, you don't want to go there. \n\nThe first step I would take is to go and see a chiropractor regardless of what your MD thinks. You may receive full pain relief without the cost of injections and pain killers. Someone your age will recover quickly if you are in descent health already, i.e not over weight and inactive. \n\nIf you are opposed to that try massage therapy or physical therapy. Most recent research has proven that chiropractic is better for long term pain relief of lower back pain than physical therapy or massage therapy.\n\nThere is a company offering free massage via a table using jade rollers and intense heat. The name of the company is ceragem. The web site is www.ceragem.com  Check for a location in your town. They are not everywhere so if you are in a small town you are out of luck. \n\nIf you must have surgery please visit this web site www.laserspineinstitute.com It is the only type of surgery to consider if you are a candidate for it.\n\nGood luck and ask a friend for a good chiropractor in your area. It could make all the difference in the world\n\nA quick note on spinal decompression:  It is covered by insurance if you find a DO or MD with the unit. Chiropractic offices that have them are overcharging as it should only be 2 to 3 grand for the proceedure. It is effective but also not 100%. Try manipulation first. If thats not successful try decompression but do it at an MD or DO's facility for insurance sake.
352766
Check for Dr. Zenko Hrynkiw in Birmingham, AL.  He did a discectomy on me in 1991 and I haven't had any problems since.  Although his name sounds foreign, his parents were from Western Europe, he is very much a regular guy.  He's a graduate of John Hopkins, and very highly regarded in his field.
865760
Ive got a simillar problem to Yours! I have to bulged disc's #3 and #5 in my lower lumbar, and let me tell you there is no quike fix. I got hurt at work last Jannuary 2006 and after 7 epidurals I am now slated for a full blown back surgury! I feel for you! I have chronic back pain, and have run the gauntlet looking for relief, I've tried, Perscription drugs, Loratab 10's 5 a day!(Same as Vicoden but no acetemetphen/Tylenol) Alchohol (Makes it worse (The pain). I most recently am using pot! I dont smoke it, but rather leach out the THC into butter and use it as a spread for toast or abit in my morning oatmeal whatever, And I by God Works. But I am going in for surgury on the 27th of this month. And at this point, Though I have heard all types of horror stories about back surgury, I welcome the promise of relief. Good luck to you!And hang in there
1161107
That must feel awful, all the time. My heart goes out to you. There are two ways, which occur to me, and I'm 63 years old. The first is pills. You can probably find some pills from your doctor, and if you take enough of them, they might "take the top off" the pain (ease it somewhat), but you are asking for a cure. And cure is a different animal. When a person has "pins and needles," something is being impinged upon inside your body. Something is tangled up that needs straightening out again. All I can do is strongly suggest you see a chiropractor. Why? I dislocated my back over twenty years ago. I actually dislocated L-4 and L-5 (two lumbar vertebrae, lower back). In the very first visit, my chiropractor managed to clear that injury OUT. It has never since come back, over twenty years later, so you can see why I would be inclined to advocate for chiropractic. I fully realize it is not for everyone, and the good news is, one visit and you will probably get a gut feeling about whether or not it is for you. But the alternative, in my opinion, is twofold: pills or surgery. What does your doctor tell you about all this? I am just a layman. Well, I really hope this helps you come to decide some course of action to repair your body. It must be awful to have that nagging at you all the time. I wish you complete success with this issue, no matter what course you choose, and I will be holding strong and positive thoughts on your behalf, knowing something much better will be on the horizon for you and this issue before the leaves begin to drop off the trees in October. Sent to you with love from G. in South Portland, Maine, U.S.A.
488225
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.
330327
When i first hurt my lower back, the idiot military doctors thought it was just a strain, but when i actually had a MRI done, it was reveal that i had one herniate disc and another disc that was protuded.  So i would seek medical attention, even if nothing ever comes up it.
295756
Herniated Discs. are usually due to the intervertbral disc becoming compressed. If the disc has ruptured the center (gel substance) is pressing on your spinal cord and causing pain. If the disc has ruptured there isn't much that can be done outside of surgery. If the disc is not ruptured yet, it can repair itself, but will take a good while. The steroid shots try to reduce the inflammation and swelling and keep that disc from pressing on that spinal nerve. One good way to prevent FURTHER injury and let the disc heal is to build up a certain muscle that most of us don't use well. Inside your back there is a sheet like muscle called the transversus abdominis muscle. It attaches to the spine and wraps around your whole waist. It forms a cynlinder and keeps the spine straight so you can work and lift effectively. This is what weight lifters try to simulate with a weight belt. If you notice the good ones, they won't use one. Why? They know how to exercise there OWN weight belt (transversus abdominis muscle and don't need one. When you exercise your transversus abdominis muscle it will feel weird, because you usually don't exercise it. It is a hard muscle to exercise because you usually don't use it much. Check the link below to an article on how to exercise it. If you build this muscle up really good, you should see a dramatic decrease in back problems. Good Luck!
714720
I can tell you from first hand experience it's no fun. I ruptured L5-S1 many years ago and had to have surgery. I'd say I recovered to about 95% after wards. There are some new techniques now that you may have a better chance of staying healthy than I did. I have since ruptured L3-4 and had another surgery. Now I have degenerative disc disease and have to take meds every day. I tried a Chiropractor with no success. I'd do whatever the doctor said if I were you. See a good neurosurgeon.
727980
OH MY GOD\n\nthose bring back possibly the worst short term pain memories of my life. I had the same problem. Two severe herniated discs. I went through a year of physical therapy, swimming, strong back muscles, no activity, lots of activity, braces, pills, basically anything you can think of. \n\nI went to the doctor at one point and said that I have two options. Surgery or epidural steroid injections. I took the ESI like anybody would and it was done in a rush after they got the doctor who performed this right before he left to go home. I dont know if this was normal but they only put 3 numbing needles. Then I easily went through the worst pain of my life. The needles into the epidural space are just immensly, undescribably painful. I was put in a wheelchair afterwards and then they said it will get better worse before it gets better. After 2 or 3 days it did get better to some extent, I could walk longer, stand longer, etc. In the end, the ESI did not work for me. They only served as an immense surge of pain. \n\n\nSince your husband already has 4 discs herniated, I would go for surgery. It is painless, quick, just so much better. I would much rather live a full life rather than a half life filled with steroid injections
407293
well i know first hand what he is going thru, i also had surgery in L4 and now the scar tissue is hardened and pushing on the nerves, it really does hurt, i was told that further operations would only further the scaring, he could try going to a pain clinic and get the injections in his back, i have done that but it didnt help me much and other people i have talked to swears by it,i also took the soma and codien among other crap like that,i now have 4 discs in my back shot due to an injury last summer, but the pain clinics can and do help, they know what is best in your personal situation, and give proper meds that dont make you feel crapy, as far as the tens meters they only annoyed me, and did nothing to ease the pain,i have lived with pain since 1993 and all one can do is to try and cope with it,one has a hard time sleeping when u hurt so bad\ni would suggest he go to a pain clinic cos they are so much more advanced nowadays\n\ngood luck\n\nADD;\ni also have two discs in my neck removed and held together with a titanium plate, ,i waited to long to get medical help, i hope he dont keep putting this off cos it will only get worse
939194
I would ask the doctor if running a MRI on her to see if she has any back disc problems, then if she does physical therapy is good, if that dosent help with the nerve being pinched she may need to see a nurosurgean for more options, I had the same problem, waited to long and now have a fused lower spine,
562860
Go to an orthopedist, not a chiropractor.  See a medical doctor who can take x-rays of the area of the pain.  A chiropractor may or may not take x-rays and may, instead, choose to 'correct' your back which could make the situation far worse.\n\nOnly an orthopedist will be able to determine exactly what the problem is.\n\nAlso, if the masseuse did damage to your back, you may have a legal case against them (depending on waivers you may have signed).  But, get your back looked at first.
638361
Yes it can. Since it does not seem that it was treated, the damage to the disc was increased through continued movement and lifting (if you did any lifting). Left untreated it is possible that the disc degenerated over 2 years. 2 years is a long time to walk around with a ruptured disk in your lumbar region.
776308
I am an expert on back problems.  Not because I am a nurse, but because I have the same problem.  Has he ever had an MRI?  He may have herniated discs by now.  If these are not checked out, they can lead to ruptured disc and that is very, very serious.  I had surgery eventually.  Meantime, use what I have been telling everyone.  Apply heat to the area for about 10-15 min a session, followed by ice for the same amount of time.  I really don't condone acupuncture especially if he has bad disc.  I believe it could make it worse, that's just my personal opinion.  Tell your dad I will be praying for him.  I hurt just thinking about him.  By the way, I still have 5 more herniated discs and It hurts.  God bless your dad, and you for your concern.  You must bve a wonderful son to your parents.
751090
You should go back to your physician.  You could have a displaced tailbone. I would not recommend a chiropracter at this point.  Let your doctor look into it and if he recommends a chiropractor then go.  But I would ask your doctor to do any x-ray of your sacrum and coccyx bones to see if they are in position (those are the medical names for your tail bone).