Disc Herniation at L4-L5

6 years ago I had a very severe disc herniation at L4-L5 and I had to lay flat on my back for 9 weeks  ...  Ever since, my body has never totally recovered and I now suffer from a permanent very heavy feeling in my legs, almost complete exercise intolerance, a lack of flexibility, and my left hand side always feels uncomfortable compared to my right.

I still, now and again, have bouts of mild back pain coupled with sciatica on the outside of my lower right leg and am worrying that the herniation has caused me some permanent damage, especially the spinal cord, and I also worry that the same thing could happen again.

Could someone help please.

Thankyou
Jackie

[Abhijeet Deshmukh, MD]

Hello.

The disc herniation pain can be really excruciating. Hope you are fine as you are reading this.

Can you mention if you had any treatment of the herniation at that time ? There seems to be some amount of nerve compression still going on.

If you have not yet consulted your orthopedic surgeon, this is the right time to do so. How about the latest MRI ?

Regards

[Wondermum]

Hi Abhijeet and many thanks for your quick reply ...

Im sort of feeling ok at this present time, but must say that recently I have started again to experience some lower back pain and sciatica, which has prompted me to create this post, because im so frightened its going to happen again.

I never did have any treatment for that herniation, apart from the bedrest  which I had no choice but to do because of the intensely crippling pain ... In fact I really couldn't believe that anything could ever hurt that bad, and I remember clearly crying out in agony and feeling absolutely desperate .. The only relief I could ever get was to ask my husband to pull my right leg, to create a sort of traction, which made the pain completely go away only to return when he released it.

I didn't have an MRI, only an x-ray which showed up the bulge, and no doctors seemed to think there was anything that could be done.  I was told to take it easy and that it would heal in time, which it did, but I think it has never completely healed.

Do you think I should now go to my GP to get a referral to an Orthopaedic Surgeon and get this investigated.  And just one last question ... If there is nerve compression, is there something that can be done to make it go away?

Many thanks
Jackie

[Abhijeet Deshmukh, MD]

Hello.

Yes, it looks like the herniation has returned. It may be only mild this time. But now, you should consult an Orthopedic Surgeon at the earliest. Please do not let this pass off on its own. The nerve compression can be relieved temporarily by traction. You can create a traction at home and sleep with the traction on. But it would be best if you go to the Orthopedic Surgeon and get an MRI of the low back at least.

Please keep me posted.

Regards

[Wondermum]

Thankyou Abhijeet,

I will make an appointment with my GP for as soon as possible.

Will keep you posted, and thankyou again.

Jackie