degenerative disk disease & Herinated Disc

About 18 months ago my back began to bother me..  Had xray and was told I had degenerative disc disease. Then in
september of 08 it was so bad I couldnt bend over to put clothes in the dryer.. I had another xray and was told it had progressed a little more.. In October, still in pain I had an MRI done. Was told I have in the lumbar region low to the butt I had a small herinated disc.. Are they the same problem.. I went to physical therapy with a little relief while I went. But the type of work I do , Lifting, behaviors, Wheel Chairs etc , it doesnt seem to get better.. I now am scheduled to see a nurologist..  Are degenerative disc & herinated disc the same or do I have 2 different problems going on?                                                 Janetmh

[jpaul119]

I am not an expert, but have similar back problems.  I had DDD which is herniated disk.  I have about 11 herniated disk in the cervical, thoracic and lumbar.  It has limited my mobility extremely.  I used to run short races.  Now, I can not walk a mile.  This change occurred over a 2 year period.  I have had one surgery on the cervical disks.  I may need surgery either in the thoracic or lumbar.  I just had my third MRI.  Some things they can do is steriod injections to reduce inflamation (inflammation) and restore full use.  If the herniated disk are causing cord compression and mobility is greatly effected, surgery may be the best option.  Be patient with the Drs and get your followup.  I wish you well.    

[janetmh]

Thank you for this information.. I go to see a neurologist on May 1st for some type of testing and I guess I'll take it from there.  I'm very sorry to hear that being on your feet is causing great pain.  Did your first surgery help at all?  Was your problem caused by running the short races?  I have no idea how I obtained the herinated disk..
The worst I think is when your legs feel like they are no longer going to hold you up and you must sit.  I even try to remember not to bend over, I am in pain for days at a time if I do this.. Good luck on your MRI.  I also wish you well.

[Lil333]

Herniated discs can be very painful especially in your neck. I had an injury to my neck a year ago. I had a fusion and am doing great. Before the fusion, I had two epidurals which helped. I was scared of having surgery, but I do not regret it. I am doing well, still recovering. I cannot do heavy lifting yet. I can play my violin thou, something I thought I was not going to be able to do. So, go for it if you need to. Trust your physicians. Good luck to you.

[fluffypurrcat]

Hi, sorry you are in pain, I have very similiar thngs hapening to me. I have hernated disks at L4-L5, and bulging disks, L3-L4, and also Degenerative changes SSI and Facet joints and pain in the buttucks is one of the symptoms. I hurt my back on the job in 1999 and was laid off in 2000 because I couldn't lift. I worked as a preschool teacher and also did inhome health care with the elderly. Of course I lost all my employment as it all involved lifting, wheelchair transfer, helping elderly in and out of bed, or helping lift children.
            I tryed the Epidurals, Facet injections and SSI Injections. In my case they didns't help, or only for a week or two. Some people get releif from them. I also am waiting to see a neurosurgeon on next Monday, April 20th as I have been having this constant pain for ten years and I am tired of CONSERVATIVE treament. I take Methadone everyday and am still in pain.
       It is funny when you mentioned the pan you got from putting clothes in the dryer. It is not really funny, but the last time I did that at a laundromat, I suddenly was in extreme pain, and ended up in the emergency room for a shot to releif the pain. as for your question as to whether the Degenerative disk disease and hernatied disks are the same, they arent but is very common for them to go together. We all have some degree of Dengenerative Disk disease as we get older, it is a normal sign of aging, and may people have herniated or bulging disks on MRI scans and don't even know it untill they are told. The difference is that not everyone who has a bulging or hernated disk feels pain, and sometimes the smaller hernations can hurt more than the larger ones, everyone feels pain differently and different treatments work for some and don't work for others. I hope your appt goes well. Let me know how it goes. I have myne next week and will post here how myne goes. I am hoping I can get some type of surgery, something that will take my pain away. Take care.                fluffypurrcat