Prolapsed (Slipped discs)

Pablo Sanchez

Good to see the new forum up and running.

Just wondering if anyone has had treatment for slipped dics in the past and how did you get along in the aftermath?

Over the next few weeks il be getting some steroid and pain killing injections in my back due to a couple of slipped discs and i wanted peoples advice weather this is a effective treatment?

All horror stories etc are welcome!

Lil' Smiler

Hmm... could see this one being locked if people are not careful!

So, suffered from 3 prolapsed discs last October.. a 8 days 'til the year anniversary in fact.

Had been walking around since the mid summer with what I felt was Sciatica (an impingement on the Sciatic Nerve as a result of a prolapsed or herniated disc, pain radiates down the legs and buttocks..also confused with pain from Piriformis Syndrome). So figured I'd get a few massages from a classmate and a small bit of gentle exercise (swimming, stretching) and even though I hate them..Anti Inflammatories. I had been in college studying Sports Injuries, so was massaged every single day of the week, bar weekends, so figured it had come down to laziness and the lack of massage keeping my muscles in excellent condition.

So I fought on through the summer, at one stage I had a very sharp pain in my back whilst getting out of the shower, when I was getting dressed, realised there was instant bruising down my side. When vanished the next day when I went to see my physio. At that stage he said my back wasn't in as good condition as normal and to be careful of it.

After this treatment, a good bit of massage with movement and rhythmic techniques and mobilisations to the spine I felt grand. So I then picked up some gymnastics training again as I'd taken a break whilst my back was feeling dodgy.Come September, I had gone back to college and was being moved about for massage movements in certain ways etc.

I remember it very clearly, because I was standing in my gym club coaching the girls and was standing by the beam, leaning against it when I went numb from the waist down. This TERRIFIED me, I didn't know what to do, I have never experienced anything like it. it wasn't sore, I was just numb. Luckily we were finishing up for the night so I somehow managed to drive the short distance to my home and don't remember getting in the front door. Apparently I passed out on the couch in front of my parents. my dad has long suffered from back problems, so between his experiences and my knowledge we knew between us what was going on. I went to bed for the night and waited until the morning to visit my physio.

I had 3 prolapsed discs, 1 Cervical (C6/C7) and 2 Lumbar (L4/L5). it really was horrible because 1) I was only 21 and 2) it affected my lifestyle and my profession. I was in bed for all of October and most of November. I'd insist that I got out of bed to spend a few hours in the gym to even sit and coach my gymnasts, spending endless hours in bed was something very new to me.

I began to get back on my feet properly in March this year but have had a few near relapses so am very careful of what I do. During the summer I started to do some gymnastics again which has built up my confidence a little but at this stage because I saw the effect it had on my Dad, his way of life and our family, I am very very cautious of what I do.

Not all that a traumatic story, and I'm sure others have worse involving surgery but for me it was the most traumatic event I have experienced. I thought it was only "old people" who got back problems, really didn't think I'd be affected at 21!!

What was most frustrating for me is that I knew all I could do is wait!

I'd love to hear some of the surgery stories though.

PS.. I is a wimmins so I have just invaded your forum :P

holdfast

I have a large central right bulge on l4/5 for the past eight weeks. I find it very hard to walk any great distance with pain in my foot and ankle. I am not in to much pain otherwise. I would think these symptoms were not in keeping with a back problem but they were confirmed as prolapsed disc following the MRI results. So much so the physio was treating my ankle for the past two weeks before the results. It’s been a nightmare I have been so limited in what I can do.

Maybe put up your symptoms and see if they match someone else’s. It’s hard to find someone exactly the same. That the best way to see IMO, if a treatment work for them it will with you as everyone nearly has a different story.


I am going to see a specialist today and see what he says. I went to a chiro last Friday and found it relived the pain in my foot. I also have tried a physio and osteopath but no good. I think if you throw enough sh*t at the wall some will stick so I would try them and see if they help.

Best of luck, I will let you know what the specialist said. There was a thread like this in the fitness section only two weeks ago

Lil' Smiler

Lil' Smiler wrote: »

Had been walking around since the mid summer with what I felt was Sciatica (an impingement on the Sciatic Nerve as a result of a prolapsed or herniated disc, pain radiates down the legs and buttocks..also confused with pain from Piriformis Syndrome).

Ah I re-read my post... i meant to say piriformis syndrome instead of sciatica.. i got confused typing!


Holdfast,

That sounds really really nasty! Sorry to hear that!

Yea let us know what the specialist says!

Good Luck!

holdfast

Welll Lil Smiler

Went to the specialist he said I was not bad enough to operate yet but if I dont improve in the next four to six weeks he would reccommend a microdiscectomy. As prolapsed disc over this 3 months tend not improve they tend to drag on. Its not too bad just cant really walk to far but improving everday hopeful by the months end I willl be able to walk 10 mins without a break.


Has any got over this and manged it using pilates, alexnder technique etc. I would love to hear

YogaChick

Hi,

I had great success with helping my low back pain with Rolfing. I dont think so many people know of Rolfing in this country, it is very well know in Germany, Switzerland and within the yoga community.

The main web site is http://www.rolf.org and I found this on their site http://www.rolf.org/press/pdf/pr19.htm

Strengthening your core with yoga/pilates would be good but make sure that you take it really easy at the start and that the chronic pain is eased.

YC

Pablo Sanchez

In anticipation of the steroid injection to my back, my consultant told me that Pilates and Swimming are the things to work a treat.

Currently im on a cocktail of tablets to enable me to walk around and have a normal life! Has your doc offered you anything?

I know if i was without them at the mo i would be immobile and attached to my leaba!

DapperGent

I slipped a disc at the amusingly young age of 17 which presented as severe pain radiating down my left leg which was only alleviated by walking hunched over after being treated for a hamstring strain (lol) my folks brought me to an orthopeadic surgeon who diagnosed me in about 30 seconds. I was put in a neck to ass body cast for a month or two so I could do my leaving cert and then had about a month of traction followed by physio.

The traction and physio helped but I was still taking strong painkillers and anti-inflammitories through repeating (obviously) my leaving cert and college. I ended up putting on a good bit of weight which really really didn't help the situation but it was pretty difficult to keep it off while being unable for most proper physical activities (I'd played rugby and swam a good bit beforehand) and liking pints and chocolate bars. I lost most of the weight in my early twenties and quit the painkillers around the same time and have mostly been fine since with the odd sciatic flare up to keep me on my toes. My back gets aches when I don't respect it too but I've learned to be protective for example I don't feel like I could ever run (for regular exercise) as anything that jars has been a no go in the past, I've struggled to find an exercise regime I like besides swimming and with that I can't stand the chlorine. My posture is still really poor so I need to take up yoga or something to fix it before that becomes a problem too.

In general though I feel pretty well recovered and most of the time it doesn't cross my mind that my back is a bit on the weak side. One piece of advice I could offer is that you should go into a longterm painkiller regime with your eyes wide open, taking large amounts of codeine every day for four years and then stopping is a non-hilarious experience.

brianthebard

Apparently my back pain is not muscular but a herniated disc. the chiropractor says its not fully "slipped", its only in the early stages so I should be happy about that I guess. also he reckons I will be able to go back to lifting again although I don't know when serious heavy lifts will be possible. How long have you guys been dealing with the slipped disc and have ye had to change daily life in many ways? for instance seating positions or lifting things off the ground. Is there a point when you can, if not go back to normal bad practises, at least feel like being over isn't a big deal?

kipple

I second the therapeutic benefits of Rolfing especially for improving posture.


For those considering yoga take a look at yin yoga. In yin yoga the poses are held longer in the region of 3 to 5 minutes.

I do a yin sequence focusing on the spine and sacrum once or twice a week because it helps me a lot. The sequence I got from a yin yoga DVD by Paul Grilley. I play the DVD when I practice because hearing him talk about the poses makes it less boring. I recommend this to all but complete beginners at yoga and yin yoga is really quite simple once you know even a little yoga.

What yin yoga and rolfing do is to focus on getting length and space in the fascia and connective tissue of the body. Yang yoga (normal yoga) focuses more on muscle.

stapeler

I had the steroid cocktail injection into L4/L5 about 4 yrs ago. It made an enormous difference having had problems for 2-3 yrs. In addition I started a bit of exercise and lost 2 stone which I think was a huge help. Occasionally I get a wee twinge but only I do some stupid lifting which I try to avoid.

brettmirl

I had prolapsed discs when I was 21. At the time, was given the option of surgery - spinal fusion or epidurals and manipulation.

Decided I was far too young for surgery on the spine.

The epidurals worked alright. My back does get sore still. Sometimes pretty bad, but like other posters, it's usually my own fault...slouching at the desk at work too long, lifting things that are too heavy or picking things up incorrectly.

The odd time now I get physio or accupuncture if I find it starting to get achey again.

One other thing I found quite good was a TENS machine I got in boots. http://www.boots.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/ProductDisplay?storeId=10052&productId=2828&callingViewName=&langId=-1&catalogId=11051
Which is handy for instant pain relief.

I've heard about the rolf technique before. Must look into it more. Have terrible posture!

davmol

A mate of mine,whos only 22, worked in a warehouse and suffered from a slipped disc.He took painkillers and lay falt on his floor(apparetnly it relieves the pain) and after a while the pain eased.It came back thoug a couple of months later and he saw a doctor in beaumount hospital.
The doctor sent him for othr treatments that didnt work and it was a terrible sight seeing him constantly bent over walking.He had to sit in his living room on a straight backed chair watching TV and i always wondered with all teh medical advances we have now is there nothing they could do for him.
Anyway after a year or so he got a second opinion was put on a waiting list ,had an operation.HE was then on his back for 5-6 weeks with light walking or limited movement but now hes back doing everything again,even planning on going skiing in dec/jan.

I knwo surgery is risky but surely it has to be a better altrnative than constantly popping pain killers /walking around in pain?!!and after all is massage and rest really reinserting teh disc to its proper position?No i dont think so!

aicushen

Has anyone been treated by a physio or chiropractic for a badly bulging disk in neck and had success
Patient in excruciating pain at present and has been for 2 months
Neurologist is willing to operate but I'm hoping not to go this route. He has also suggested injection but this is only going to kill pain and not solve problem
Had the worst night of pain and am desperate at present
Any advice gratefully takin on boaard

Otis Driftwood

We cannot give medical advice here and please do not bump old threads.