Bulging Disc: Surgery or not?

[Iggy82]

About 2 years ago, I started feeling classical symptoms of sciatica - pain radiating down my right leg, all the way to the knee, mostly on the side of the leg. This happened right after I made about 10 consecutive jumps. A year later after that episode, I had MRI done. It showed that I had 2 bulging/herniated discs and 1 herniated disc. The bulging/herniated discs are at L1-L2 and L2-L3 position. The mildly herniated disc was at L5-S1 position. My leg pain is always there, however, its severity is on and off. It's never extreme, such as inability to get out of bed or not go to work. However, at times it's distressing resulting in inability to exercise at gym or do various physical activities fully.

I am 25 years old and sports has always been a somewhat large part of my life. I have a gym membership for 10 years, I play basketball, tennis, soccer and other sports recreationally. This pain has inhibited some of those activities and I had to cut out many of the exercises that I used to do in the gym (squats, back rows, military press and etc.)

Recently I had 2 epidural injections done, about 3 weeks apart. The first one helped for about 10 days and the 2nd one I had done less than a week ago and the pain has already come back almost fully.

I have seen 2 surgeons and both recommended surgeries after first trying more conservative treatment. I have been prescribed by one surgeon to undergo a PT course for 6 weeks. While I didn't start it yet, it's unlikely to help in my view.
The first surgeon recommended a laminectomy and the 2nd one microdiscectomy.

Is it worth going through one of these surgeries given my age and somewhat nagging pain, should PT fail (as I predict it will)? If so, how successful are these surgeries in terms of pain relief? Will I ever be able to go back to gym again at at least 80% of how I used to? In other words, do the benefits outweigh the costs of recovery, pain and some risk?
Is PT any help in situations like these where the pain is chronic and according to MRI and X-Ray, I have some bone spurs and somewhat degenerated discs?
Thank You for your time and attention,
- Igor

[kprinss]

My mother had the same problem bulging/herniated disks a few years ago.   She is in her 50's and very active.   WOrks out with a trainer 5 times a week.   Her doctor reccommended PT too and her pain persisted because she ended up shattering her disk.   SHe had the surgery and is back in the gym, skies, plays golf, you name it.   If you have to choose between the 2 surgeries the microdiscectomy is a smaller incision and quicker recovery but make sure you have  an neurosurgeon who is well versed in this surgery.   Good luck.

[Iggy82]

That's interesting because I hear mixed results from different people and even doctors. My primary physician recommended me a good surgeon, who did a surgery for one of her patients and she said the patient has not complained of pain and is the 70's and doing much better. Yet she would rather me avoid the surgery given my age.
Other people say that surgery is extensive and is very long to recover from and has some risks.

What surgery did your mom have and how quickly was she able to recover? Walking? Workout? And etc.?

I will probably start PT next week, but honestly, I don't hope for nor expect any improvement.

[Billsdaughter]

My sister had a blown lumbar disc that disabled her, the surgery really helped. She's not into sports but does vigorous work. I think you may find alot of variation in results, maybe each person is different. I know one who had a fusion and has never been right since. Something I thought of reading this is an injection therapy called prolotherapy or something like that, think it is hyaluronic acid, not sure I recall the details exactly. I remember a holistic MD who did that and saw an article by the previous surgeon general Everett Koop advocating it. Just a thought as you sound like you are not eager for surgery yet. I have read things that imply not much difference for herniated discs whether you have surgery or not, maybe you could get some objective stats on that. It sounds like your quality of life is not affected alot as you are very active so it may be worth waiting or trying alternatives for awhile longer. Maybe acupuncture would help with the pain?

[sassy706]

I had disc surgery on C-6 and C-7. All the radiating pain is GONE!!! It was the worse pain ever. The worse part of the surgery was the morphine. I had the surgery and was discharged the next day by noon and was at my friends for dinner that night. Of course PT followed and is very important. I recommend the surgery.

[Iggy82]

My quality of life is somewhat affected, just not to a very high degree. Some days it's worse than others. But you are right, Billsdaughter, I am not lying in bed nor struggling through each day. I have been recommended to do PT for 6 weeks by the surgeon and I will probably start this week and see how it goes. But given that I have at least 2 moderately bulging and herniated discs, I doubt it would help very much. I do think that at the end, I will likely go with the surgery. I guess my biggest question is how long does the recovery take, for me to be active, and will the surgery renew me to the degree that I would be able to go to gym and play sports normally again, without severely restricting myself?
But thanks for input guys!

[Billsdaughter]

Hi, how are you doing? are you trying the PT and is it helping? I'll bet a sports med doctor could answer those questions for you. I hear there is a good spine clinic in the San Francisco area who has worked on well known football players.

[Runnomore]

I am in the same boat.  I am 31 and I have three bulging discs.  My left leg is always numb, my buttocks aches, and my back throbs.  I hurt my back running.  My weekly mileage was @70, with a lot of speed work.  My doctor says I can never race again, or even run.  

I have had three epidurals, all with no effect.  My L5 is crushing my S1 and the only option is to have surgery.  My L3 and L4 are also bulging. So much for staying in shape.

I do not want to be on NORCO pills my whole life. I think if you have an injury especially in your 20's to 30's and all options have been exhausted then surgery needs to be done.  I cannot live with this pain for the next 40 years only for it to get worse every year.   They say that these bulging discs heal in 5 years with no intervention, yeah right.  Mine will heal then I will lean down to tie my shoe and blow my disc again. At least if the surgery is done I can possibly mtn bike again, or continue rafting.  

I do not know much about the surgery but I am at the point where I have no other option.  I cannot take the pain any more.

[milkshakebabe]

I know excatly what you are going through my husbnd has a buldging disc ,
  he has been in hospital for 1 week so far after suffering at home for 5 weeks he is now at the stage that he cant stand or sit and has to lie down constantly,his whole left leg is completely numb and has tingling in his arms and leg and foot.
   he is in agony and has become very down, because he cant support me and our three children , he just wants the pain to stop and to get his life back .
    He had a spinal block injection last week but has had no effect, the doctors are just talking about pain management through pills and have said that it is not yet bad enough for surgery how bad does it have to be to get a operation?
  He has already had a operation on the same disc 10 years ago.

[needrecovery]

Hey run no more.  I am somewhat in the same boat.  i was a jogger ( only about 15 miles a week) and I have been playing rugby for the last 10 years, I"m 29.  I have been diagnosed with S1/L5 and L5/L4 disk bulges/herniations.  I just receieved my first opinion and it was to have surgery.  Have you had any surgery since January?  Where are you at now?

[lisa309]

I'm in the same boat here too. I'm 44 and since May I've been having excruciating pain that runs from the side of my left hip down the front of my leg to my knee or below.
Often, I have complete muscle weakness in both legs. I've not been able to walk (usually 4 to 5 miles a day), sit on the floor with my kindergarten students, or sleep for that matter!
My dr had me go for an xray and then an MRI in Aug and I have bulging disks on my L2 and L4. An old sacral bone fracture has not fully healed correctly which is also causing issue.
I'm in PT right now but find the day after, I'm in more pain due to aggrivating the issues with the exercises.... anyone know if the PT is supposed to make it worse before it gets better?
I feel like I don't want to go through all the PT in order to hear time for cortizone shots in your spine.....been there done that with tendonitis in my elbow and ended up with surgery after a year of PT and shots!

[cin818]

My mother is currently going through the same thing & what really annoys me is the way that her doctors are educating her.  I do not believe that they are NOT knowledgeable, but they are incapable of thinking outside of their own box... and often times, there are alternatives out there!
I work for a leading national health insurance company and have had first hand experience as to what type of "inabilities" that doctors have when offering and referring care.  Generally speaking, a medical doctor (primary care, specialist, etc) is trying to make a buck and only trained to do one of four things: diagnose to the best of their ability, medicate, refer out to a specialist, or cut.  There are other non-surgical options that are available that your doctor is NOT telling you about.  Often times when your have a bulging/herniated disc, there are other problems that lye within your spine that your doctors are not addressing.  My mother's one vertebra is completely misplaced, which caused her disc to slip to begin with.  Her doctor and surgeon want to go in and fix the disc; not address the misplaced vertebra - because that is outside of their realm of expertise.  The end result may not even fix my mother's issue and her pain may persist; especially if they are fusing things together to correct the disc surgically.  Fixing the symptom does not fix the problem, it may create more stress on other discs, other areas of your back may start hurting because they are compensating for the problem that still persists, and your surgeries will become cyclical.
My thought... try everything first.  Back surgery (or any surgery) is a serious, serious thing.  I understand that PT can be painful and cause further problems, but I urge you to see a back doctor - not a primary care physician, an orthopaedic surgeon, voo doo, or witch doctor... see a chiropractor and ask about DTS before getting cut.  For many people this could be an option and will allow your body (with a little help) a chance to do what it does best - and heal itself.  Most health plans offer 20 visits per calander year and more if medically necessary.  I urge you - get a referral and go.  

I found one link that I thought was good:
http://www.ewerspecific.com/DTStherapy.aspx

google it, use your resources, talk to a chiropractor and see if this could be an option.  

[selmaS]

Thank you for ur prospective on this issue which I agree is a biggy...especially since I will most likely be facing that option.....however, a chiropracter is not always a safe choice...it depends on what other "things" r going on in ur spine....such as chiari malformation, which manipulation would not be a wise choice......but there r other non surgical ways to reduce pain.....

Again thanks for ur insight.

Godspeed
"selma"

[jz723]

you think you have it bad, I have buldging disc's in my NECK.  Yep, from gardening last summer.....it started with a pinched nerve then I found out it was 3 buldging disc's in my neck.  They are the "C" disc's.  It is now winter here in Chicago and I'm not able to help my husband shovel the sidewalk....and that brings me to you.....I'm looking for answer's and hope from someone that surgery for buldging disc's works!!
I am 56, love to work out and be outside.   Any neck movement aggravates it.  Even something as simple as driving and looking both directions for traffic (pretty soon, I'll have to turn right only) or shopping aggravates it to,  (to much neck movement).....I'm hoping to find answers for help so I can get my life back to normal.  It's embarrassing and I feel like I'm handicapped.    I'm ready to undergo the knife to get my life back.

Anyone had neck surgery for buldging disc's?  In Chicago?
Thanks,
jz723

[InPainInSiouxCity]

I just found out I have bulging/ruptured discs in L3&4, L4&5, L5&S1.  I've been refered to a surgeon who specializes in cervical/lumber spine surgery...but I am afraid.  I am only 29 and have lived a very active lifestyle up until now.  I am in extreme pain but have only been given Lortab (which has not helped at all with the pain) and 800mg motrin.  Anyone out there with positive stories about surgery or other options? Pain relief?  Thank you for your time.....

--In Pain in Sioux City

[lightsong3]

I came across an interesting website by a PT who advises not just PT exercises but understanding how what you do and how you position yourself might be affecting/reinjuring your disks. Interesting info and seems to have helped a lot of people with disc pain to avoid surgery and feel better. The site is: www.drbookspan.com/ May be worth a look.

[Dtechnet]

L1 -2 = medium sized disc protrusion centrally extending to the right side which is markedly extruded superiorly producing encroachment upon the thecal sac and RT. neural foramen.... Thats what they are telling me, it hurts like hell but not sure what it means

[OMG_ouch]

Hello all. I’m 33 and I had a discectomy w/ laminectomy surgery to repair my L5-S1 disc about a year ago. It was the WORST mistake I have ever made in my life. I would not recommend back surgery to anyone, ever, unless you are facing possible paralysis and surgery is your last resort. I started out with getting cortisone injections and nerve blocks and when that did not have any long term benefit I opted to have a relatively minor outpatient surgery (microdiscectomy) and things just got worse from there.  This was all in an effort to get back to “normal”. It’s really hard to know what to do when the doctors that you trust are recommending this procedure and that procedure, but don’t forget…they make the most money on surgeries…of course they are going to recommend them. If you opt to have all the tests, scans, procedures and surgeries and they FAIL, the most any doctor or surgeon or specialist can offer is a 5 minute pity consultation and a prescription for pain killers. I wish so much that I would have tried adjusting to my limitations instead of jumping into invasive medical procedures on my SPINE.

[CJsBack]

I would like to know if anyone else out there has a central disc bulge/ herniation.  that is when the disc is bulging in the central area of the spine causeing pain on both legs and at different times. while also pinching off nerves and compressing the spinal cord.  that is what is happening to me right now and i am in quite abit of pain and cannot bend that well at all.  My Pt has sent me home cause after seeing my MRI was fearfull that any excercises will make matters worse and he did not want to take that chance.  In 30 years this is his worse case ever.  I have tried everything including the spinal decommpression, im lost and have no idea what to do next.  Is Surgery my last resort and if so what am i too expect,  I m in a very physical profession and i need to hear that im going to be able to continue working.  Can someone please give me some advice?

Last Resort

[renee399]

Hello out there
My recent MRI shows a large bulged disc in my lower back.  Can anyone recommend pain relief (this issue is killing me and I am now off work) that does not increase chances of constipation?  I have had 2 surgeries for anal fissures and cannot risk getting constipated.  I have been on morphine pills for 1 week and it is not taking the edge off and it is slowing my whole system down.  
Thanks for any suggestions.

[Thesilverfox]

I'm 26.  Very active, used to be a body builder.   Suffered a bulging disc at L4-L5 when I was 25 and deadlifting at the gym.  Hurt BADDD!

I refuse to have surgery and get cut open unless I have to.

There are numerous supplements that DO WORK that I have tried/am on right now.

For the pain, look into this
-----Curamin
Their main website is "http://www.curamin.com/"

To help restore joint/disc health look into this
----Glucosamine/Chondroitin/MSM supplement (24 hour release is best)
Here's the one I took  "http://www.iherb.com/Now-Foods-Glucosamine-Chondroitin-240-Capsules/568?utm_source=gb&utm_medium=f3&at=0"


To help restore fluid within the discs and also help with inflammation, look into this.
----Hyaluronic Acid.
I'm taking one called "Baxil" but I can't find the link on the web.  Regardless, look into it b/c the discs in your back are made up of this acid.

Most of all, Stretches.
http://www.spineuniverse.com/article/back-pain-exercises-4413.html

I do the "pelvic tilt" and the "knees to chest" stretches morning and night, and they really seem to help and it feels good.

Good luck to everyone.

--J

[backhurtsbadly123]

ok i am 18 years old. i was in a severe car accident when i was 17 and a fourwheeler accident when i was 14. may 09 i was moving furniture for my mother and the next day i was in so much pain i could not even walk. i went to my family physician and he told me all i have is a sore muscle, so he gave me a narcotic pain killer and a muscle relaxer. after a week my pain still persisted so i went back to him, same thing over again. my pain never gave up. finally he sent me to a neurologist, he sent me to 5 weeks of physical therapy, he said he did not want to order me a MRI because he didn't want to flag me at such a young age. Therpy did nothing but make it worse. he prescribed me some more narcotic pain killers. i had the MRI and found that i have a severe budging disk. my dr said he would not like to do sugery once agian my age. he ordered me a epidural, which did nothing. i went back to him and he said we will do one more, well i had the last one 2 days ago and i still feel no relief. now i know i am young but i dont think i can handle this severe pain, i cant do anything with my friends, the only thing my back will allow me to do is lay in bed, everything is way to painful to live with? should i have sugery? anyone have any ideas for me?????  

[ffdengine127]

I have stumbled upon this forum and very interesting. I'am 31 have 3 children and my career is a firefighter/emt I hurt my back in june and at first it was tollerable. I took off wrok for about 2 weeks and then went back only to work only for it to get worse. My job fianlly put me out on medical comp and now trying to get it taken care of. Last diagnosis was a bulging disk. Well I for one don't want to be on meds for any length of time and realy can't given my career. I'am going to go to doctor today to find out what my options are. I now have alot of insight from this forum to bring with me! Thankyou all and good luck to all. Back pain ***** and can stay with you for EVER!!

[Kelabela]

I have a buldging l4/l5 disc with a tear.  This dosnt stop me working, when i hurt it i get inner thigh pain, leg pain, lower back pain and stomach pain.  its not to bad, its just uncomfortable and constant.  i hurt myself and am in pain for a month, then i get better for a couple of weeks and do it again, it seems impossible to avoid hurting it.  I have been re hurting it for about a year now.  seeing a nuro specialist on Thursday and getting some advice on what to do.  I am scared to have an operation, i dont get a lot of back pain, just pretty much every where else, i am scared the operation will give me back pain.  every time i left something and reach i seem to do the injury, i think it might be the buldge getting squished and iritated. I feel like i shouldnt get surgery because i am not stuck in a bed, but i swim 1k everyday, walk an hour everyday and still have pain and sciatic to my foot, i feel like my right leg is getting weaker and i have had to stop doing alot of things because it causes pain.  I have been wanting to have a baby soon with my husband also but have been putting it off due to this back issue.  i am only 25 and it seems very unfair, but thats life i guess.

[Floppydiscdude]

Wow, reading this forum is so interesting.  I don’t usually write anything, but this time I feel I have some ANSWERS to offer.  I worked at a certain package moving facility (which I am not at liberty to disclose the name of due to the terms of my $5.32 settlement to help pay my insurance costs) Anyway, I was 21 and I started having pain in my leg.  Doctor, specialist, MRI, … herniated disc in my L4,L5 and a bulging disc in L3,L4 I think.  The pain was bad enough that I couldn’t sit for long periods, I couldn’t run, I couldn’t sleep very well.  My MRI showed a large herniated/ruptured portion pinching my sciatic nerve going down my left leg and my specialist didn’t think conservative measures would work.  I’m not a very patient person sometimes so, I opted for the surgery.   I’m not afraid of surgery… I guess it’s my mechanic mentality… Just fix it!
The pain was GONE! I followed all my doctors’ instructions and it was 2 months before I was myself again!  

In order to understand your best option though you really have to know how the disk works.  Educate yourself online if you have to, but treat it all skeptically and check multiple sources.  There is a tough cartilage outer shell to the disc called the annulus I believe.  This is the outer shell of your disc.  The inside is a softer jellylike material that has a lot to do with absorbing shock.  For me, I have degenerative disc disease in my family which makes me prone to this type of “jelly coming out of the donut” thing.  What my surgeon did was go in and trim the jelly off and set the outer shell back together.  Now THIS IS IMPORTANT, they can’t “fix” the shell, it just heals back together on its own. So I was on a five pound weight restriction for six weeks while that disk shell the annulus was healing back together.  YOU FEEL BETTER right after surgery, but you MUST let that disk heal, or you’ll just blow it again!  No mowing your lawn a week later!  The other thing is that the disk will never be the same again, and it will be easier to damage because you’ve compromised the integrity of that outer shell.  Now, …. Stupid is as stupid does… I’m now 26 and decided to pick 130 pounds tool box out of my trunk several times on a row…  I hurt my back a little, then I hurt it again, then I fishtailed on my motorcycle by accident and finished it off I think.  I’m going in for an MRI in January because I have crippling pain down my left leg again.  I’m lying in bed writing this right now.  I’m waiting until January because I have a 2grand deductible.  I’ll be very interested in seeing if it is the problem is with the “fixed’ disc or the bulging one that he didn’t do anything with.  I’m on Vicodin on the mean time.

I here lots of people going with conservative treatments and them not working, and then finally getting surgery and ending up with nerve damage because of how long the stuck it out.  On the other hand people would tell me once you start surgery you end up having more and more, which I thought I could avoid, but hear I am again.  Still, I don’t see the point in being miserable for 20 years and destroying your body with pain meds until you’re “old enough” to justify surgery.  If it’s broken you should do something to actually address the problem, not just mask the symptoms.  People need to have kids, their legs need to work.  Why postpone the inevitable?

I’ve never heard of anyone having success with a fusion… I watched one on youtube and I would never let them do that if I were …. Me I guess.  I would go with a disc replacement before I would let them fuse anything.  Your insurance may not cover that yet though. This just puts more pressure on the other discs anyways.  And it’s so invasive; people are never right after it.  If you have surgery…,.. be smart and give up the dead lifts, squats, and have a friend help lift your GD toolbox out of your trunk!!!!  It’s a good option if you’re willing to live a more thoughtful life….. at least you can think without all that pain.

One more thought.  Check out the website www.regenexx.com I found that today and what they do is take stem cells from your bone marrow and grow them in a lab and inject them into the disc wall.  Then the cells rebuild your disc wall and make it strong again.  It’s your own cells so there’s no risk of some funky rejection thing happening.  It’s too new to be covered by insurance and it costs like 7 grand, BUT it’s the rest of your life.  I think this is the future.   I’m seriously looking into this while I’m waiting for my MRI.  I have no idea how I would pay for it though… life of crime I guess  : )

Sorry, I’m long winded, hope it gives you something to think about.  

Remember, a good surgeon is harder to find than a good mechanic, so take your time and get second opinions and don’t worry about hurting their feelings…. They get to walk home at the end of the day.  

[Uggjbmb27]

Hi people:) I'm 15 and I have a buldge between the 5th and 6th disc. I hurt my back skiiing about a year ago and ever since then It has gotten worse.I can't play my sports anymore because it's to painful... I'm going to see a specialist soon to see what the want to do about my back. I'm just nervous because I am very young with a bad back already. Like sometimes I'll just be walking and get a shooting pain that makes me fall and I always have pain in my back and in my butt or buttocks whatever you call it. I've already been through the chiropracter and had several xrays and MRI's.. So if anyone has any adice I would realllllllllly like to hear it !  Thank you(((:

[polarbearma]

Uggjbmb27, Good luck sweetie.
Floppydiskdude, thank you, the information you gave was very interesting/informative and helpful
I am 50 years old, back in August I was sitting up in bed, reading and got a stabbing pain in my back.  I got into my doctor a couple of days later, got pain meds, muscle relaxers and a list of exercises to do.  Two weeks later I was back at the doctor, no improvement, different pain meds and muscle relaxers and added steriods to the mix, but to add to it, I was experiencing pain in my knee.  

Doctor's diagnosis I was favoring my back and tore/pulled the cartilidge in my knee.  More pain meds, a cortisone shot in the knee and a back x-ray (NOT an MRI).

I have had two therapy appointments - the first one he had me doing extension exercises and after that first one I told the therapist I wanted to hunt him down - I was in more pain.  The second therapy was on Friday and he changed the exercises and tried some light traction.  I am still experiencing more pain, and tonight I was driving home, a dog ran out in front of me and when I hit the brakes (didn't hit the dog - which is good), I started having the stabbing pains again.  Came home, took another Percocet and hit the bed for the evening.

PT is doing nothing for me except causing me more pain.  I am calling to try to get an appointment with an ortho doctor asap.  My family doctor is not doing anything for me except keeping me supplied with pain meds and I really want the pain to go away.  

[narenn]

I have had a herniated disk for 3 years now (L5). It started with severe pain in the left leg all the way from lower back to the toe!  Tried PT,  medications and even micro surgery. Nothing has helped. Docs not suggest a disk replacement! My pain is manageable but i am concered about the long term consequences. I am also noticing my left leg is thinning.  Any idea why? What are the long term consequences of this. I am 43.

[c00lwithall]

am 22 years old and i had the herniated disc problem for 8 month now, my MRI said am in a desperate need for a surgery, which i had 2 weeks ago on the hands of 3 of the best German doctors around, they had used a new type of surgery , which they explained as removing my herniated disc and replacing it with with a one peace artificial disc, they did this surgery on many others before me, most of them are athletes, which gave me confidence to do the surgery, they say the surgery was successful and i have to wear a back brace for a month which i dont really mind as long as i get better, the pain in my leg before the surgery was leading to a disabled right leg which i dont want to, now my back is fine, my leg is fine but i have a new problem, my right foot is in unbearable pain .  it started it with a weak numbness just like anyone would feel on their lips after having their teeth drilled at the dentist (my English isn't so good so i dont know how to describe it better than that). now just 3 days ago, the numbness is gone but i have this terrible pain which is as if i ran on broken glass in a snowy  day n kept running till my feet got infected and i can no longer stand, the only different is that my foot look perfectly fine, blood going throw it n all, but the pain just wont let me sleep, anyone please help me with your knowledge

thank you for your time

[backhurtsbadly123]

i posted a comment in aug. well after the post things for me got way worse. i had been to two orthopedic surgeons, both telling me you are to young for surgery. i had been taking alot of pain meds to help with the pain and nothing was working. i was so worried about getting hooked on the meds. one of the orthopedic surgeons sent me to a pain management specialist. my pain doctor was the best and nicest dr i have ever met. he tried several methods of pain treatment with me, 4 epidural injections, did not work. so then he started me on some other narco pain meds. by the time i got to him i had a very high tolerance for the drugs so it was hard for him to find me something for the pain. well i got really tired of being in pain and taking drugs, so my family physician sent me to a neuro surgeon. well he wanted too do a bunch of test very painful test, a disco gram, and several spinal taps and nerve taps. don't be afraid to ask the Dr doing the precidure  for medicine to put you out, i was and i will never do it again. well the neuro said the same old thing i don't want to cut on your back. that is how i make my money and put food on the table for my family. not good news. well the first week in oct i was working doing some heavy moving and lifting on my property, i heard a loud pop and a fell to the ground my leg went numb. the next day i could not walk. so i went to see my pain management Dr who i had become friends with. he was very confused. day after day the pain became more and more worse, down in both of my legs arms and back and neck. i went to my neuro again so he could clearly see that i was in a ton of pain. he told me i was a drug addicted and to leave his practice. i went back to my pain Dr and he said the same thing and he called several rehab programs. i knew i was addicted but the pain i was in was not from addiction. i laid in bed for 5 weeks not being able to move. i was in so much pain i could not urinate. well i called my pain Dr everyday and then he told me to come in because he has been studying my folder and xrays and MRI. he ordered a MRI for me, which they are not supposed to do. he stayed in his office for me until he got the results for the MRI which was at 1 in the morning, well i woke up the next morning to my mom in my room packing a bag and getting stuff together. i had completely blew my l5 disc out and it was sitting on top of 4 nerves on top of another disc. he sent me to the hospital and met me there and told me i need surgery. he said i have called the best back surgeon in ga which come to find out was the first Dr i went to about my back. well i got good news and bad news that day. the surgeon was out of town for a week, so i laid in the hospital for a week getting shot up full of dilaudid every hour and a half and some other pain drugs. yet i was still in pain. i had my surgery 3 days before thanksgiving. i was in surgeon for 8 hours, the Dr said he had never seen anything like it before. it was so inflamed and my nerves had cuts and tears all over them, along with the disc jelly that when it exploded it shot it up wear my skull connects to my spine. pretty nasty. i went home the next day after sug. today im still in some pain but not alot. i am no longer taking narcotic pain drugs. i am taking a drug called suboxone, it is wonderful. i was very depend it on the oxycodine and i had no withdraws because of the suboxone. before you have sugeroy educate your self and make sure you need it. me being so young and it being my senior year i had to. good luck to everyone!

[ferrbear]

have had bulging disc l5-s1 for the last 3 years,have had all the injections and treatments and still no difference.im considering back surgery,doctor say there shouldnt be a problem with playing sports after as long as i follow the p.t instructions and rehab correctly.please god this works cant take this anymore im only 24 and its killing me not to be active and play the sports i love...

[blajr1]

I'm a 54 year old, very active guy, who has had lower back problems for about 25 years.  In Nov. 2008 I herniated L4-L5 and went through the usual stuff like muscle-relaxers, physical therapy, then steroids.  MRI in 1st week of January 2009.  Spine
DR. said try to live with it and see what happens.  By July of 2009, the back pain and
left side sciatica were horrible so my Chiropractor set me up with an Orthopedic surgeon, who was a friend of his, to consult.  He looked at the MRI and recommended
a Lamenectomy  ( I think ).  I had the surgery on September 1, 2009 and immediately felt better.  I took it very easy for the last 5 months and continue to do just fine except
that I still can't lift anything over 30 pounds without noticing back pain.  As for getting
rid of the constant agonizing pain, I still recommend the surgery.  I'd like to hear from people that have had surgery and regained most or all there strength.  Especially interested in how long the process has taken them.  Good Luck.

[laborlawchick]

Hi,

I am 47 and almost 6 years ago I had L5-S1 laminectomy and diskectomy.  I also made the mistake of getting a neural stimulator implanted with a rechargeable battery from Medtronics.  (that is another story) anyway before the surgery, I was extremely active and had a standup jet ski, rode motorcycles, camped and hiked.  After my injury  I had left back and leg pain that traveled below my knee and into the side of my foot and toes.  Following surgery,  I had good relief for about 2-3 months.  I did have residual nerve damage and as they all say "Nerves heal slow"  and that is true.  It took years and a lot of water therapy and such to get back what I have and correct the atrophy I had in my left leg.  I found out afterwards that since I was so active and had a physical job, I should have had my L5-S1 fused to protect the discs above and handle the activity I was used to.  Did they fuse your L5-S1? if they did, you may have limited motion, but you will have a better chance of not herniating others.  Unfortunately I later made the decision to have a medtronics neuro stimulator implanted in hopes of eliminating the need for pain medication.  That failed and set me back, but time definitely helps the nerve pain.  Unfortunately, you will be more likely to have future back problems.  The best thing you can do is exercise but exercising safely.
My PT's rule of thumb for me was - do any exercise you want as long as you can do it while lying on your back, lots of walking and lots of swimming.  I hope you do well, with some adjustments, I find I can do most of what I want to do.  But, have been told that approximately 5 years of the first surgery, many reinjure (because they feel better and start not protecting it as much)  I made it past that, take little pain medication now. Unfortunately I also have Sjogrens and Lupus or MS (still getting diagnosed).  

Take care and good luck!

Carly