advice about micro discectomy

[kickazzmom]

I have been suffering with pain for 5 years. L4.L5 and S1 are either herniated or degenerative.
I have tried chiropractic care, acupuncture,decompression, and epidural injections.
While my symptoms have lessened I am still struggling with radiating pain in both legs (alternatively).
I have been stretching, taking nutritional supplements and using acupuncture to get to where I am now. Is a micro- discectomy something I should consider after all of these things ?

[Adept Ali]

Hello! I wanted to tell you I completely agree with Muffin04 I am 23 years old and underwent microdiscectomy on Tuesday for a herniated L5/S1. When I was 22 I threw out my back and after a few months began seeing a chiropractor; well this caused everything to worsen and by March of 07 I was suffering from shooting leg and back pain, leg weakness and numbness and severe cramping in my buttock. A MRI confirmed that I had a herniated disk that was putting pressure on my sciatic nerve. I tried every thing: cortisone shots (twice), massage therapy, physical therapy, yoga, nutritional help and a lot more. Finally I saw a neurologist who ran test on my nerves and noticed that the disk was causing deteriation in my nerves down my left leg, he suggested a microdiscectomy. Still scared of going under I met with a specialist in prolotherapy. This doctor examined my MRI"s and explained to me that she never, never suggest surgery to her patients but that in my case she agreed it was the only option. I am now six days into recovery and the pain in my leg for the most part is gone, I still have common pains and aches but have been told to be patient and they will get better. So, the meaning of all this is while it is great to jump around and see what alternatives are out there; don't chance nerve damage and permanent problems, surgery might be your best bet.

[muffin04]

My Opinion, is dont go to a chiropractor for anykind of  adjustments until you have it looked at, or even talk to a doctor. In 99 I was 17 and had part of a ruptured L5 disc removed after injections that were completely useless on top of therapy, and traction, and nothing but surgery helped, I was only down for about 4 days, but then again I was young, and then I also had it this past january, due to picking up something to heavy and rupturing the same disc this time they removed another portion and put in a dynamic stabilizer in which is semi-new ( very costly) to the us and hasnt been done like some of the other options, but I was in alot of pain after surgery and I recovered this time in about 5 weeks, mainly my point to begin with is dont have any adjustments till its looked at because I think in 99 when I hurt my back, it might not have been as bad if I hadnt let a chiropractor mess with it, there are a few different options, and would probably want to try them first, but there are some of us who believe surgery is the way to go , it may have a lot to do with my age, but then again maybe not!! Good Luck-1.Start with a physician and referal to a neurologist for a MRI I used a neurologist this time because I was a littler smarter, especially messing with your nerves and spine!

[Stephen Ryu, MD]

You don't want to be thinking about surgery without all the facts and information. I don't know if you have been images, but if you have not, you need an MRI. A microdiscectomy might be right for you but based on what you have written, it is impossible to know. Once you have your imaging, have a spine specialist go over your images with you and examine you to see if you are even a surgical candidate. Then, start talking specifics.

For the RIGHT patient with the RIGHT MRI findings with the RIGHT exam findings and the RIGHT history, lumbar microdiscectomy (WITHOUT FUSION) through an endoscope, microscope, or open technique is a very good and 90+% successful operation. You miss any of those RIGHT indications, and it can result in poorer outcomes.

[8 and 7 years]

Try to make it as long as you can i had arthroscopic diskectomy with fusion improper surgery ,its better to have it done (open) so that everything can be seen to be repaired. Sounds like your doing all the right things to stay mobile ,whatever decision you make be positive if your unsure get 25 opinions ,in all i had 6 opinions in all  3 surgeries later i would do it again because that nagging!!! pain down both legs is better, no pain pills for1 month and counting.

[mike1105]

just some advice-- be as sure as possible that your pain is coming from disc issues, as most back pain is not from disc but rather muscular. just becasue there is a finding on your MRI does not mean this is the cause of your pain. Most people over 30 or so will have degeneration, herniations etcc... ALso-- not all disc problems are good candidates for a microsurgical procedure. i'd get a few opinions from different nue=rosurgoens, every case is different