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Nerve block or surgery

A injury to my back lead to having a protruding dis between L4-L5,  four months ago.  Started PT and my back was actually feeling better.  But for almost 2 months now i started having pain when i walk or sitting down to watch a movie with numbness to my left leg.  I was told the dis is sitting on the nerve just at the right angle.  At this point i can't even do my spinning classes or walk even if only for 10 minutes, it hurts so bad at times and i am tired of taking pain medications and tires of laying around.  When i work i take half of my vicodin.  I was told i should try a nerve block ( once only) and then if it doens't work then have surgery.  I am very nervous about this since i am a Type I diabetic and having my leg go numb scares me.  When the leg pain starts my back hurts and my butt feels like it's on fire.  So i am feeling this is getting worse than when i injured it in the first place.   I can't seem to do my normal activites anymore and am very frustrated.  Is it better to do the nerve block first.  I haven't met anyone who didn't have surgery after the nerve block.  It didn't work for anyoen that i know.  What are your thoughts on this.
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Avatar universal
Id try every non-invasive method first. Have u tried chiropractic care, acupuncture, foot zoning, etc???
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Avatar universal
i had nerve blocks for back and leg pain they worked for me about 6 weeks at a time then wore off i had one surgery with relief of leg and back pain
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Avatar universal
I never had injections for my leg and back pain. Mine was so bad; I had to have surgery right away, so it was never really an option for me. But you're right, most people I know that have had them, have gone on to have surgery, but a few people did say they helped for a while.

I think its worth having one, it might lessen your pain and allow you to increase your activity level. Increasing your activity might decrease the pressure on the nerve and protrusions do reabsorb over time. Back surgery is such a major procedure and also a gamble, so any thing you can do to avoid it is definitely worth a shot.

The fact that you’re a diabetic is another concern, have you spoken to your Endocrinologist about it, it might ease your mind a little?


Take Care
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