2 herniated disc with no relief. Advice Please!!

hello, i have had a herniated L3-L4 disc since nov 2011, in fact i've probably had it a lot longer. i had an mri in april to confirm it. i had 6 weeks of PT which really didn't do anything. i had 3 steroid injections, may, june and aug. it takes a few days for the medicine to kick in, but once it did, i felt much better. unfortunatey the medicine lasts 3-4 weeks tops, then the pain slowly returned to pre-injection levels. tomorrow morning (thursday) i have my 3rd appointment with a physician's assistant, who happens to be the only thing between me and the surgeon. i have accepted a long time ago that i will get it repaired surgically because there is structural damage. my pain is in my right knee cap and right thigh, which i always feel like there is a charlie horse there. i have tried to walk and even did a 5k in june. i finished the race but i was sore from the opening horn. i don't want surgery either, but honestly the pain is holding me hostage from doing things i want to do. i have about 80-90 lbs i want to lose (which i'm convinced makes my problems worse), and get so frustrated because i am in a lot of pain just walking from my car to the entrance of my ymca. i will go in there tomorrow and just tell her the truth about the pain, and if it means surgery, then i want to do it asap so i can enjoy the holidays and get back to the things i want to do. i wish you all the best with whatever happens and let me know how it ends up, and i will do the same if you'd like. good luck, john

I ruptured a disc and had another sever herniation lower, l5 and l6. I tried physical therapy, stretching, chiropractic, steriod injections and more over a 10-11 month period. Once I started having dead leg syndrome and tripping (your brain tells you to raise your foot 12 inches and it raises it 6 - getting nerve damage), I took charge of my care and forced the issue, seeing a neurosurgeon. I had a microscopic dischechtomy and he also cleaned off the fragments off the nerves. It was easily one of the best things I have ever done. The recovery was also pretty fast.

Steroid injections in my shoulder, back and knee have done nothing but I know people that have gotten months and even years of relief from them.

YMMV

I wouldn't waste your time with the other things. The surgery is the only thing that will help.
This happened to my dad and it took too long to fix it, now his right arm tingles and when hammering if hes not focus on holding it, it will fly across the shop.

I know others who have had it and surgery was the only way to help.

Accupunture all the way!!! Also, get a foam roller from the local sports store like ****s or Dunhams and go on line to see the exercises specific to your pain. Sounds too good to be true but it works like a charm. Have 2 ruptured discs in my neck...done traction, PT, shots, etc...accupuncture is the best, I am now able to attend an exercise class and play with my dog pain free. Good luck!

I worked with someone who had disc problems (I can not remember the specifics.) She was in so much pain, she had to work from home doing tech support. She had to lie down, stand up...couldn't sit much. She fought for worker's comp at a previous job (they kept trying to deny her). Finally, she won and they had to pay. So she went into surgery. After being in pain for so long, she let me know she had major relief. Today she is able to sit, stand and happy. She rides her motorcycle too everywhere.

I hope you can have such success.. I know everyone is different but my friend and another coworker (who had similar types of pain, couldn't sit long) both had great success.

I will pray also for you. Adding you so I can keep remembering to pray for you.

Not as far as the injection yet, I refuse to get it. L4, L5 & S1 are all done on my back. Have been like that for 3 years today. OMG 3 years today. Only time I get pain relief is when I run, I'm a little backwards like that.

I did the steroids and they worked for me. I did a series's of three. It's been 16 years and as long as I stay active and strong I don't have problems

I herniated L3-L4, and L4-S1 when I was 25. I didn't want surgery, because it was a new thing then. The injections helped, but it took a while for them to work. If you can, find a "McKenzie" trained physical therapist. They will work with you to see which direction the discs are herniated in and give you exercises to help fix the problem. I didn't believe it until I tried it! Everything they had me to was completely opposite what people were telling me. Also, start a good stretching program. They have exercises that are passive to the back, but help stretch your hamstrings. I used to lay on the floor, one leg straight along the floor, and the other straight up a wall. Just lay there and when the stretch becomes too easy...move your body closer to the wall, keeping your "wall" leg straight.

And, staying in shape and working on my core helped tremendously!!! Good luck!

Work with and have lived with spinal injuries. Herniated or ruptured will need surgery, typically a diskectomy. I have bulging L4-5 disks and series of three injections have been the best for me, over 8 years ago and counting. Had one flare up a few years back and oral steroids did the trick. I am more active now than ever, lifting weights and adventure racing! Surgery can be a painful recovery but also very effective. My favorite patients are the spinal neurosurgeries. Lots of new options out there now but I still vote for the old tried and true open procedures. If ruptured, please ignore that foam roller comment!! I feel your pain, nothing more humbling than back pain. Stay mobile, the couch and bed are not your friend unless your doc specifically says bed rest. good luck with everything. I also suggest finding an osteopathic physician, they have tremendous tricks and take a more holistic and manipulative approach. Allopathic physicians are great but are taught pills/surgery first, broadly speaking.

Someone mentioned an orthopedic dr did one surgery and neurologist the other. While orthopods do these procedures I would only ever go to a neurosurgeon myself. I have had many many patients from both camps and from personal experience have seen drastically better outcomes from the later. Not to knock them, but we jokingly refer to orthopedic dr's as the carpenters of surgery.

OK- I realize this is an old blog but I just had to add my post on here for anyone searching for advice. For starters, I am 22. I herniated my l4/l5 disc in my lumbar spine from using improper form when lifting. I am about 5'5 and 140 lbs, young, healthy and fit.

I first realized something was wrong when my leg started to get tingly and numb. After a few weeks of this, I knew I had to see a doctor. I started off with my campus health center, moved to the orthopedic group where I was sent for X-rays and MRI And finally diagnosed with the disc. Because of my age, weight and health, I was given a recovery date of about 4-6 weeks. They sent me to physical therapy to speed along the process. That was one year ago, and I am still working on recovering.

It is true, once you are a back injury patient, you are always a back injury patient and you will always have to be careful. But let me reiterate there are MANY options other than surgery. In the past year I moved on to see specialists, neurosurgeons, chiropractors, physical therapists, cortisone injections, massage therapists you name it I've tried it. I've done electrotherapy (which provides very good temporary relief), traction (which had some relief) and have learned the joys of relying on Aleve.

My doctors kept telling me that I had exhausted all of my options and that surgery was my only option left unless I wanted to continue to attempt conservative treatment. Trust me, there are many days I have broken down in tears or spent sleepless pain filled nights figuring this is it I am going to have to do the surgery. And let me tell you I am glad I haven't. Every person is different and every injury is different. My opinion? try everything. Certain things that people swear by gave me no relief, and other things really surprised me. A few tips and tricks, avoid sitting in the car, and if you do put a towel/something behind your back, buy yourself a mini pocket electrotherapy machine, amazing and sit on an exercise ball as much as possible. Try to at least take a walk everyday, sitting all day is not going to help your spine. Aleve has served me well in my time and I actually have a "sciatic pain relief" pill that I got at CVS that seems to help.

I ended up finally branching out and meeting with a holistic healer. I see a guy named John locally in NJ (Holistic wellness network, chatham NJ) They specialize in posturology and really working to understand what parts of your body are "jammed up" so to speak and get to the root of the problem. (they have youtube videos!!)

After one year, I spent a 1-hour session with John and walked out with ZERO back pain. I was literally mind blown. After we were done he asked me to walk and asked how I felt and I just laughed and laughed. I hadn't felt so great in almost a year! I have continued to see John and see improvement with my sciatic pain after every session. I have also started low level recovery pilates (through Stott) and John has been teaching me proper lifting techniques and breathing techniques.

I have stayed away from exercise for the most part. I tried exercising in the beginning but found it set my recovery back more than it helped. No running, no weights and nothing really high impact (jumping, squats, etc). I would do spinning (no leaning position) and have found that pilates or low impact ab workouts seem to be about the most I can handle.

Trust me, there have been days when I feel as if there is no end in sight. I am a geologist and I work outside, carrying equipment and sitting on the ground for 12+ hour days! With a little help from my holistic healers, an occasional massage and lots of ab work, I feel better every day. Try everything you possibly can, because you cannot undo a surgery gone wrong but you can always work to strengthen your back and your core and protect your spine. (A little disclaimer here: there are always exceptions to the rule, my herniation was not causing severe nerve damage. Some people do require surgery and you should work with your healthcare professionals to find the best treatment for you)

If you have any questions, reach out and contact me. I know what going through this process is like Good luck and remember, it will get better but it takes hard work!

Last year my L3 herniated but from L4 the rest of the way down...nothing there but bone on bone. I have a deformed vertebrae which is not only cutting the muscle but pulling out a nerve. HIGHLY allergic to 95% of pain meds available. Chances of surviving anesthesia before they even begin surgery is 25%. In constant pain, can only sleep on my right side, walking more now but very limited. Exercising is out. Stretching is a joke because I can't even stretch without screaming or crying. I am on 1500mg Robaxin 3 times a day and it is starting to not work as well as it used to. If I don't have it, my left leg pulls up where my heel touches butt and I can't straighten it on my own and it feels like someone is pulling the entire muscle from toes to shoulder out. Taking Diclofenac 75mg twice a day as well. Was first on patches but no insurance makes it hard to pay for them. The pills work and are how I am back to walking a little with a cane, but having the patches right over where it hurt was great for easing pain faster. Taking Neurontin 300mg 3 times a day to help with pain as well as I was having shooting pains into my brain straight up my spine when I tried to put weight on my left leg. I was actually told there is no hope for me where I live by a therapist. I am going to a different hospital and doctor now, but can't afford the neurosurgeon fees yet. On top of numerous allergies to medications, I have severe food allergies as well. I gained weight because of surgeries from the 80s and 90s. They had meds then I could take and be given then but thanks to pharmaceutical companies and dope addicts, those are not used or off the market in the US. There is this spray and roll on pain reliever that I get from WalMart called Max-freeze that helps when pain gets bad and I want to sit up or be up walking or basic life stuff. I do some things but for the most part if I do the next day or 2, I am laid up in pain. My doctor wants me to loose weight and start riding a stationary bike. I want to loose weight too and have some, but on top of these things I have 4 other health conditions. I pray and have faith every minute. {I am not promoting any religion just saying what I do. I know most everyone has a higher power they believe in and it more than likely is different than mine and that is fine with me.} I have been told since I was 14 years old I was going to die and there is no hope for me. That has been for the last 28 years. I am living on faith and borrowed time for sure. It has been 5 years come October 23 since the last time I was told I was going to die. I was told I had 6 hours to live and I proved them wrong. Now it has been a year since I was told there was no hope and if I didn't risk death to have surgery then I would not continue to walk. I am not saying I can walk much, fast or far but I am walking. I am slimming down but not able to loose the weight that I want to because I can't move enough daily. I keep looking for advice myself and still see everything that I can't do being said. I try to maintain portion control and have to force myself to eat to take meds because i am not always hungry. I have found that 5 small meals for the meds helps compared to the 4 small ones on a diet plan I was on. I have also found using different words instead of diet, and all negative type words help as well. I have found that on my really bad painful days that it is easier for me to be thankful for the pain than not. I am very thankful I wake up everyday and thankful for the pain because it proves I am still alive and fighting to be. I have too many friends that are not able to do that. I don't know if this will help anyone at all, but I hope that at least one little part of it does. I am here on a mission or I would have died long ago. I know if I allow what I am told to be true, then I will die. I don't say that I can't handle the pain. I do say I am going to beat the pain or pretend it isn't there. I can survive even though they have said I can't. I can change my eating habits and stop dieting because being on a diet makes me feel hungry and restricted. I can share my pain and my story so that it can be changed when someone else reads it and it helps them step back and look at their life differently. Hopefully it will help them see that they can deal with what comes at them, they can change what they need to. They can do anything they want to as long as they have faith in themselves.