I have a bulging disc in my neck, going on three months and still in pain! How long for this to heal?
961514
first of all, disc problems do not heal themselves.  you must do something for them in order to restore them back to their normal orientation.\n\ni am a chiropractor and specialize in spine related injuries. the disc acts as both a cushion and a spacer between each vertebrae. if a disc is bulging/herniated, that bulge can put pressure on the nerves exiting between each vertebra which causes a "pinched nerve." also if the disc is wearing out (getting thinner) you lose the space between the vertebra, which leaves less room for those nerves to exit--and again can pinch a nerve. the nerves in your cervical spine (neck) go all the way down your arm while the nerves in your lumbar spine (low back) form the sciatic nerve which runs all the way down your leg. if any of these are "pinched" they can cause pain, numbess, tingling, weakness wherever these nerves go (down arms/legs).\n\nas a chiropractor i see this type of scenario on a daily basis. for those who have degenerative disc disease, disc herniation, disc bulging, etc.--normal chiropractic care can usually help with those problems. but there are also many people out there that have had this problem for many years and can't find relief with anything they try--including chiropractic. \n\nbut now there is a treatment that is perfect for your situation and the best part is: it's non-surgical and non-invasive. if you haven't heard of it yet it is called spinal decompression. this type of treatment focuses on disc injuries and the problems they cause. i use the DRX9000 spinal decompression system in my office and it works wonders for people with these types of injuries (approx. 90% successful). the DRX9000 is fda approved and is the best decompression system available (there are cheap knock-offs that don't give the same results). \n\nmy recommendation would be to see a chiro, especially if you've never tried it before-just to see what they have to say. also do some research on this treatment and then contact someone (usually a chiro) who uses it in their office. i would just google "DRX9000" to find info on it and doctors in your area who may have it. this treament is able to encourage the disc to go back to it's normal orientation and also rebuild its height--which then takes the pressure off whatever nerve it is compressing. pain meds, cortisone shots, epidurals won't do anything to solve the problem--all they do is cover it up and they become less and less effective over time. surgery AT BEST is 50% successful and usually doesn't solve the problem since most people need another surgery 5-10 years down the road for the same issue. it's typically a viscious cycle. remember: surgery is always an option, so try something prior to surgery to see if you can avoid it--cause once you do the surgery there is no going back.\n\nthis treatment is extremely effective for degenerative disc disease, disc bulging, herniation, etc. and also sciatica type of cases, especially if you haven't had surgery yet. i've had many patients who were scheduled for surgery, tried this treatment as a last resort, and then ended up cancelling their surgery altogether after treatment was completed. it really does work and that's what my recommendation would be for you. good luck and hopefully this gives insight to others experiencing similar problems--there is a solution!!!
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.
939512
You have ruptured a disc at some point, at L3 to be exact, if I understand everything correctly.  A herniated nucleus pupolsus- HNP- is the cartilage pad that separates and cushions the discs of the spine give way, and buldge out through the membranes which cover them.( the infarction in your L3 vertebra)  The area where it is bulging is what they are refering to as the lesion, and from what you wrote, that has stayed the same- neither getting better nor worse.  The granulation/fibrous tissue suggests your body is trying to heal or at least stabilize things.\n  You have neither cancer nor TB.  This is a physical injury of the spine, usually caused by lifting extremely heavy items or lifting incorrectly.  So far as solutions, thats a subject between you and your doctor.   They can do surgery sometimes, and the type repair they do depends on the surgeon and what your particular situation is.   They also do traction in some cases.  It can take months to recover, and it's hard to say how much better you will get with treatment.  Usually there is a good deal of pain relief, but chronic back pain will still probably be with you periodically for life.  If you opt for surgery, called a laminectomy, the discs above and below the herniated one are fused together.  That will cause you to lose some range of motion- how easily and how far you will be able to turn side to side, etc.\n  It's not possible to say if you are getting better or worse, since there's no way to do a physical exam via the web- and you really wouldn't want to be trusting strangers you can't see with judgements on your state of health.  You really need to discuss this all with the doctor who is treating you, and ask him/her to give you an in depth explaination, in plain English so you can understand it all.  You can also search the web for more info on HNP of the lumbar spine, which is what you are describing.   That will give you loads of information and access to other people who have similar problems.   They would be able to give you a far better picture of what you are looking at in terms of impact on your future.  I suggest you do some searching and make up a list of questions for the doctor and you to discuss at your next appointment, when I presume you will also be going over the results of your latest MRI.  You'll be in a better position to participate in your own treatment, and can make more informed decisions with your doctor if you do this.  Good luck with your back, I hope what ever treatment you decide on that it works to help relieve your pain and get you back on your feet.
404724
It took my aunt several months (approximately 9 months) to recover. She did experience pain in her face, neck and along the sides of her left arm. The Doctor prescribed her very good medication but had no information to offer her as to why she had the pain. Hope you get well soon! God Bless!
385400
He'll need to see a doctor or a chiropractor. My mum has had a slipped disc for 20 years and it still hurts her, it really is something he should see someone about soon as.
714561
i am a chiropractor and specialize in spine related injuries. the disc acts as both a cushion and a spacer between each vertebrae. if a disc is bulging/herniated, that bulge can put pressure on the nerves exiting between each vertebra which causes a "pinched nerve." also if the disc is wearing out (getting thinner) you lose the space between the vertebra, which leaves less room for those nerves to exit--and again can pinch a nerve. the nerves in your cervical spine (neck) go all the way down your arm while the nerves in your lumbar spine (low back) form the sciatic nerve which runs all the way down your leg. if any of these are "pinched" they can cause pain, numbess, tingling, weakness wherever these nerves go (down arms/legs).\n\nas a chiropractor i see this type of scenario on a daily basis. for those who have degenerative disc disease, disc herniation, disc bulging, etc.--normal chiropractic care can usually help with those problems. but there are also many people out there that have had this problem for many years and can't find relief with anything they try--including chiropractic. \n\nbut now there is a treatment that is perfect for your situation and the best part is: it's non-surgical and non-invasive. if you haven't heard of it yet it is called spinal decompression. this type of treatment focuses on disc injuries and the problems they cause. i use the DRX9000 spinal decompression system in my office and it works wonders for people with these types of injuries (approx. 90% successful). the DRX9000 is fda approved and is the best decompression system available (there are cheap knock-offs that don't give the same results). \n\nmy recommendation would be to see a chiro, especially if you've never tried it before-just to see what they have to say. also do some research on this treatment and then contact someone (usually a chiro) who uses it in their office. i would just google "DRX9000" to find info on it and doctors in your area who may have it. this treament is able to encourage the disc to go back to it's normal orientation and also rebuild its height--which then takes the pressure off whatever nerve it is compressing. pain meds, cortisone shots, epidurals won't do anything to solve the problem--all they do is cover it up and they become less and less effective over time. surgery AT BEST is 50% successful and usually doesn't solve the problem since most people need another surgery 5-10 years down the road for the same issue. it's typically a viscious cycle. remember: surgery is always an option, so try something prior to surgery to see if you can avoid it--cause once you do the surgery there is no going back.\n\nthis treatment is extremely effective for degenerative disc disease, disc bulging, herniation, etc. and also sciatica type of cases, especially if you haven't had surgery yet. i've had many patients who were scheduled for surgery, tried this treatment as a last resort, and then ended up cancelling their surgery altogether after treatment was completed. it really does work and that's what my recommendation would be for you. good luck and hopefully this gives insight to others experiencing similar problems--there is a solution!!!
442801
Sometimes, but usually after 3 -6 months of pt, if your condition remains the same or worsens, it may be a significant sign of a worse spine problem. You may want to try getting an MRI if your condition does not get any better. For this you may want to see your Orthopedic doctor.
38492
I had a L5, S1 herniated disc.  I tried 6 months of physical therapy which helped to a point, but I was still in severe pain at times.  I went ahead and had the surgery and I'm so glad I did.  It took a while after the surgery for the pain to completely go away.  I'm told it took so long (about 9 months) for the pain to away because my sciatic nerve was so emflammed for so long.  Once the disk was removed from the nerve, the pain was eventually gone.  I feel so much better now (2 years later).  I only get minor aches from time to time (mainly in the morning or if it rains outside -- strange I know).  These pains are much more managable than the constant shooting pain I had with the herniated disc.  I definitely recommend the surgery for the long-term.
387770
Yes. Fortunately, your friend has been diagnosed before the discs have ruptured. The esi will hopefully help with the inflammation of the tissue and the disc will retreat back into the vertebrae thus relieving any pain. Problem is that its not extremely successful. Some people never have problems again, some have no improvement at all. Those who have some improvement should have another esi within two weeks. Now that the disc has been damaged though, your friend will need to be more cautious in the future to avoid repetative injury.
86694
Has she tried therapy?  One friend has 3 herniated discs (C5, C6 and C7).  She just started out on 2 month program of physical therapy.  Another friend has a 2 bulging discs in the lower back.  He does not want to go for surgurey, even though that is an option.  Instead, he is always popping Vicodin.  Probably not a good long term solution.
918728
see a doctor and get examined to make sure it is not serious. They'll X-Ray you to make sure. If they don't find anything wrong and you still have pain then you are probably out of alignment. This never goes away, you need to regularly do things to prevent it from flaring up. \n\n-Exercise a minimum of every other day, at least by walking but yoga and pilates is excellent for neck/back pain too. This alone could cure the pain if done regularly.\n\n-See a good chiropractor; if you don't know one ask friends for recomendations. An adjustment once a month will keep the pain at bay. If you don't like the chiro try another-there are many chiropractors there, all have different aproaches. Many chiros practice complimentary holistic or eastern medicine, if yours does not seek one of these specialists out to try accupuncture. Accupuncture is excellent. The only thing that avoided surgery.\n\n-Massages are good for stress reduction, but I never got pain relief from them. Stress reduction is my main source of recurring neck pain 10 years after my initial injuries being hit in a 5 car pile-up, and if I control stress I feel no pain.\n\n-Reduce swelling to control pain & inflammation Swelling lessens blood flow in the swollen or inflammed area(s), blood brings oxygen and carries away toxins from the muscle, which cause the knots and pain in the first place.\n\n -Alleve and Advil are OTC anti-inflammatories that work well even by taking 1/2 the recomended dose. \n\n-Ice works better or as well as Advil, together they work excellent. apply ice pack to the painful area for 15 minutes on and 15 mins. 2-3 times. Ice reduces swelling. \n\n Sleep! That's the only time your body can repair itself.
137161
I have 2 slipped discs in my neck and was using a heating pad.  I found out that made it worse.  Now I use an ice pack.  It takes the swelling down around the nerves and helps with the pain.  Just remember not to leave it on very long.
1163361
A lot of people had and they regret. The best treatment is walk and physiotherapy. The disc herniates due to several reasons, the most imprtant being the relaxed muscles which can not hold the disc in place. So please gradually start walking and ncreas the distance and duration and speed if you can.
179325
I had an MRI. Those  discs sure hurt, don't they? Mine is L4 and L5...what is yours? I am so sorry that you have this too.
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.
968565
It will probably take weeks if not a few months for it not to be sore any longer, an ex of mine did this once and was in pain for a while after getting it fixed.  Now he didn't have these but maybe there are some pt (physical therapy) exercises you can do to help it heal.  Good luck hope you feel better.
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.