Bulging discs..

hi jane

not sure whether you know but i have had two discectomies both failed as i have re-herniated the same disc i too have other bulging discs which causes terrible back pain the same pain as you are describing,

i understand what you mean by back pain being your only symptom that's what i was like a couple of years ago i too had epidural it lasted a few weeks but pain came back worse plus weakness in leg numbness etc,

i would not want to put you off surgery i have just been very unlucky looking ahead to having a fusion done on both levels, just have a chat with your surgeon to see what the best options are for you if your not coping with your back pain then i think you should give it a go.

iv'e been looking to go private to get this fusion done quicker i thought the new tabs were working but i spoke to soon i can't straighten up im walking around like a 90 year old
but i think it would cost far too much so ill just have to wait but it means further time off work as i can't see myself going back in the near future.

you didn't say whether your off work due to pain what tablets are you on and are they helping.

keep me posted how you get on and i hope if you do decide to have op that it will be a great success xx

clare

Hi Clare

Thanks for your reply. Glad to hear my pain isn't unusual, from reading other posts I seemed to be in a minority!

I guess I'm lucky as I've got private medical insurance. I was taking diclofenic to help me when I was feeling particularly bad, when exercising (I run). But I've stopped running at the moment as its too uncomfortable. It's just weird as given that its pressing on a nerve, the pain isn't like others describe and very localised to the area.

hi jane

if the scan has shown your disc is on your nerve then i think it's only a matter of time before you get the awful leg pain or it could just go to the point where you get numbness pins and needles foot ankle pain. so i think you should go for the surgery before more damage is done, the pain in your back is caused by inflammation that comes from your disc that's prolapsed but bulging discs can cause pain in back so you may be still left with back pain but it may not be that bad.

i can't comment on recovery because my disc has re-herniated but it does take a while in some cases i know emlou is still in a bit of pain but some people recover a lot quicker, there's a girl i know at the school who recovered almost straight away it depends

because you have already tried the epidural and you have been in pain for over a year sometimes surgery is the only option left, even though it's not worked for me i still would have gone for it because i still could not have carried on the way i was im just very unfortunate.

take care clare x

Jane, I am a remedial massage therapist based in London and I come across a lot of clients with "bulging disc" type syndromes.

A client of mine (aged 60) had crippling sciatica. He couldn't walk for 30 yards without having to stop and do some contortions to alleviate the symptoms briefly. His scans told him that his lumbar (lower back) discs were totally compressed, 25% of the thickness they should be. He was told that even surgery wouldn't work (that bad) and he should resign and prepare himself for a lifetime of persistent pain. A friend recommended Gyrotonics, which is kind of similar to Pilates. He found a place in Ladbroke Grove in London where they do it one-on-one, tailored to the needs of each individual client ([url]Kinesis Studios[/url]). He said that within nine months he was totally pain free. And when he had his next scan, they told him that his discs had rehydrated and seemed almost normal.

Now every person is different. And my client was really dedicated in his commitment to Gyrotonics (twice a week for 9 months). But your discs are bulging for a reason. The operations can be hugely successful... or not. The issue is... what is causing the discs to bulge in the first place? Your posture? Your lifestyle? Genetics? I guess what I am saying is (like him) maybe you might be able to find something (like Gyrotonics or something else) that helps you change/adjust your body enough to stop them bulging?

Regards

Henry

hi happyfingers

just to ask would anything like work for me rather than having to go through a fusion, ive already had 2 discectomies that have failed and ive re-herniated the same level?

thanks x

Well i've been for a follow up today post epidrual, and obviously he was quite disappointed, as I am, that this hasn't worked. Apparently it works in a third of people, a third it helps and a third it doesn't have any effect, that's me!

We talked about different options, including IDD, which he was very open to and said he would support what ever i wanted to do. A question he had about IDD was how long lasting it was, and as I have a weakness and, in his opinion, am more genetically predisposed to this problem, his concern is that it might offer a short term solution.

The reason i'm not experiencing sciatica or pain into my legs is because the discs affected are not low down in my back, which most people suffer from, but the higher part of the lower back (still didn't note which vertebrae!), and the pain i'm experiencing is what I should expect and I won't get the sciatic problems, which is a relief!

He said he would like to refer me to a surgeon for an initial discussion as he will have a better view and opinion on whether surgery would be appropriate for me and he also does other injections into the disc and would be able to talk about those, as well as the IDD.

So that's where I am at the moment!

HP - I have done pilates and yoga for some years now and unfortunately I had to stop where my lower back and core has become weaker, where i'm not using myself as I should because of the pain, this area has weakened and I find it actually is uncomfortable. Hopefully, once I get this sorted, I will return and get stronger and more flexible again 🙂