Comments for Bad Back Blog - Herniated Disc

Comment on Update # (not sure where I’m up to) by Wolff

Wolff — Tue, 24 Mar 2009 23:09:37 +0000

I really feel for you.. i know too well the pain, and the mental fight of do I or don’t I have the surgery.

Best of luck, and thanks for the link.. I’ll have a read and might post something about it.

Great work on getting of the meds… it’s one of the hardest things I’ve ever had to do.

Keep us posted on your progress.

Cheers
Matt

Comment on Update # (not sure where I’m up to) by cr

cr — Fri, 06 Feb 2009 23:17:00 +0000

Matt,

Thanks for your blog. When I read your story I thought I was reading my own. I also have a herniated disc on L4 and L5 and a ruptured disc on L5 and S1. The pain was the most excruciation pain I have ever experienced in my life and I was ready to do surgery because I couldn’t take the pain.

Many people encouraged me to try as many alternatives as possible before surgery. I am only in the first two months of the process. I am trying steroid injections to reduce the inflammation and pain. They have reduced the pain from a 10 to a 1, and I am no longer on any medication at the moment and will hopefully be able to make a full recovery without surgery.

Although you are in Australia, Check out the Palomar Pain Management Center http://www.painassociates.com/PhysiciansStaff.asp for more information on this process.

Thanks for giving me some encouragement.

Comment on Update # (not sure where I’m up to) by Sandra McFaul

Sandra McFaul — Tue, 30 Sep 2008 01:24:44 +0000

Hi Matt,
It is always interesting to hear and read ones journey about herniated discs.
Not sure whether you are aware of a speciality of physiotherapy called the McKenzie Method. You have included McKenzie’s books “Treat Your Own Back” on your blog.
I have a McKenzie clinic in Sydney.
Cheers
Sandra McFaul
McKenzie Physiotherapist

Comment on L4-L5 herniated disc – Back Pain Update #7 by Robert Morgen

Robert Morgen — Thu, 15 May 2008 00:50:44 +0000

I shattered a C-5 in my neck in ‘92, so I really feel for you.

Glad you seem to be doing well with it.

Comment on Herniated disc, ruptured disc? Need to pass the time? by Tanya

Tanya — Tue, 29 Apr 2008 00:41:38 +0000

Hello, I just found this site, it is Monday April 28th, I am trying to take it all in. I have a scheduled MRI this Wednesday to confirm a herinated disc in the L4 L5 region. This is all new to me, it started with a mild back ache a month ago and has grown to just trying to manage the pain on a daily basis. I am only 31 and have 3 kids that are trying to help their poor mom but this SUCKS!! I teach dance and run like it is a religion so this has put a huge STOP sign on my life. Any advice would be great and very much appreciated. I meet with a neurosurgeon on Monday the 7th, the waiting game is the hardest. You can find me at: rtgiard@rof.net Thanks in advance

Comment on Most viewed posts on the bad back blog for 06/07 by John

John — Mon, 07 Apr 2008 04:22:18 +0000

I just wanted to say “thank you” for the time and effort you have put into this blog. I am currently dealing with some severe back pain, after a trip to the ER today I was told that it is most likely at L4 herniation or rupture. I have found a lot of common ground reading through your posts and when my back allows I plan on reading everything. I am in my 4th week of the injury and was originally told it was just a pulled muscle. I am unable to stand for more than 3 minutes before my quad, hip flexor and or glute goes into SEVERE painful spasm. Sitting down had relieved the pain up until today when nothing would work. the ER doc gave me percocet and am trying to schedule an MRI for this week.
Again – thank you.

Comment on Herniated Disc L4 L5 – latest update 1-22-2008 by Jamie

Jamie — Sat, 05 Apr 2008 00:54:26 +0000

Hi I was involved in a car accident back in September of 2007 I would be interested in chatting with you I have my MRI’s and X-rays I have some of the same things on mine I was never “diagnosed” with Scheuermann’s disease but the MRI to quote it exactly “Signal intentsity from the thoracic vertebrae demonstrate mild dessiccation of the discs and Schmorl’s nodes involving the lower thoracic spine consistent with a mild degree of Scheuermann’s disease” of course there is more but I have been to a number of Dr’s and am “trying” to work through this as best I can at work but am struggling greatly.

Comment on L4-L5 herniated disc – Back Pain Update #7 by Cheryl

Cheryl — Mon, 31 Mar 2008 20:14:31 +0000

I have just been diagnosed with a herniated disc L5/S1, I have had this pain since November that has taken over my life. The pain is almost at times unbearable, it is a relief to hear that I’m not the only one in this world with this problem. I am at the point that I can’t drive any more because the pain from sitting now drives me to tears, I have never had a pain like this before. I have just seen my surgeon today, and have been booked for surgery, I’m hoping someone can leave me a blog on the surgery and recovery time, which my Doctor tells me is 12 weeks and 3 weeks of complete bed rest? I want my life back @ the age of 38 and hoping very much that this works. All I do now is take medication and try to sleep. Any info would be helpfull…Thanks

Comment on Herniated disc l4 l5 update 11 – back pain by DENNY BOWLES

DENNY BOWLES — Sat, 22 Mar 2008 02:06:45 +0000

THANK YOU FOR SHARING YOUR HISTORY. I LIVE IN A TOWN OF 124,000 AND THE MOST RECOMMENDED BACK SURGERY STILL PERFORMS THE WAY IT WAS DONE 15 YEARS AGO. 6-12 MONTHS OF RECOVERY. I READ ON THE INTERNET OF MINIMALLY INVASIVE TECHNICHS THAT HEAL MUCH FASTER WITH LESS POST-OP PAIN. I FOUND OUT, SINCE I’M A RETIRED ORAL SURGEON, THAT NONE OF THE M.D.’s SEND THEMSELVES OR WIVES TO HAVE LOACAL BACK SURGERY. MY HERNIATED DISC IS BETWEN L-4 AND L-5 AND THE BONY VETREBRAE RUB AGAINST EACK OTHER AND YOU KNOW WHAT IT DOES TO THE NERVES. GOOD LUCK TO YOU, DENNY

Comment on 10 things you should try before you have back surgery on your herniated disc by Linda L4/L5 Microdiscectomy

Linda L4/L5 Microdiscectomy — Tue, 18 Mar 2008 11:52:04 +0000

Hi everyone – Suffered just like Texan for five weeks. Found a neurosurgeon to operate on Super Bowl Sunday-I could not take the pain for one more minute. I am glad I had the surgery but am totally depressed from the recovery. Stayed home for 3 weeks, went back to school as a high school teacher too early. I have constant moderate pain in lower back, top of left thight on the outside and occasional pain (mostly when lying down) on left front side of my shin. On sunday I threw myself into a swimming pool with a gravity belt and walked, jumped and stretched. I expected to come out of the water pain free but was again disappointed. Thanks for listening, any ideas.

Comment on L4 L5 Herniated Disc – Bulging disc by jasmine

jasmine — Thu, 06 Mar 2008 15:32:24 +0000

Do you have any suggestions for someone who is suffering from chronic backpain? I have been having ongoing trouble with my back for the last 4 or 5 years and I am desperate for relief.

Comment on L4-L5 herniated disc – Back Pain Update #7 by Olu

Olu — Wed, 05 Mar 2008 22:18:33 +0000

Great blog! I herniated L4/L5 some 5 weeks ago deadlifting, however this is not the first time, it took almost 2years for me to get over the first time..(which was as a result of deadlifting a lot of weight) I am quite an active person but for the first time in 5 years I had to call into the office sick today, I am still trying to train through the pain which I have found in the past to be the best solution for me, but reconsidering as I think I inflammed the nerves last night following a leg training session, I feel excruciating pain in my butt and this pain travels down my hamstrings ending up in a painful knot in my left calf, I am getting these massaged and doing the core muscle building excercises and these have worked for me in the past, never ever round your back! the cat stretch is bad with this type of pain, I find that the best stretch is pulling your knees to your chest and holding it for 20secs at a time. I am happy I found this site and it’s definitely helped me with dealing with the pain.

Comment on Herniated Disc L4 L5 update by Sam Jones

Sam Jones — Sat, 23 Feb 2008 04:03:40 +0000

Hi,
Thanks for your blog. Really helps. Doctors too “busy,” most physical therapists and support staff too incurious, unobservant to provide solid info so far. Mild rear-end car accident, I was in passenger’s seat, xmas 2007. 1 or 2 days not too bad, then 2 weeks shrieking lumbar pain with sharper still blasts of pain, then specialist (orthopedist) in top east coast city practice, spontaneous “improvement” to just bad pain led doc to say here’s your home “PT” sheet (including damaging touch-your-toes stuff, it turned out), 1 1/2 mos. of PT, still in pain, staying the SAME for last month, level 2 always, w/level, say, 5 spikes. WHAT WORKS to help HEAL THE DAMN THING, in your belief? i have to sit for work, use support, get up, stretch, but not really “living” now… MRI shows “very” mild protrusion at L4/L5 into nerve area. obviously the culprit. that and/or associated annular tear (not visible on MRI). can’t take NSAIDS (allergy). refused steroid (a chiro told me it is “bad for healing of connective tissue”) your thoughts at this point? thank you — s.

Comment on L4-L5 herniated disc – Back Pain Update #7 by Danielle

Danielle — Tue, 19 Feb 2008 02:56:29 +0000

Thank God I found this blog! I can’t tell you how much of a relief it is to read about your experience. I thought I was just going crazy and it was all in my head. I’m out of surgery going on 6 weeks now and I still feel the same pain in my back as the day I went in pre-op. I originally herniated L5 and S1. I did physical therapy for three months, then low and behold, the other side of my body was hurting. My second MRI showed that due to me herniating the lowest discs, they couldn’t support L3 and L4, so those collapsed too! My recovery has been very long and painful. One week after surgery I checked myself into the ER of my local hospital because the pain was so great and I hadn’t slept for three days. I was and still am on a lot of muscle relaxers, lidocaine patches, vicodin, dilodid, lyrica, diclofenac etc. I ordinarily take quite a few meds anyway, so adding about five more scares me. I’m going in for a spinal injection tomorrow because after my post-op appointment with my surgeon he felt my pain was still just too great and I was crying begging for some kind of relief. Talk about this injury messing with your mind. All we have is time on our hands to think. I’m a single woman, never married and all I can think about is if I’ll ever be able to carry a child to term without being on bed rest for nine months! I have a woker’s comp claim in place, so I’m getting paid, but it still doesn’t seem to justify or compensate for all the pain and suffering I’ve endured. All I want, and I think we all want, is some relief from pain. It’s been seven months since my injury, I’m anxiously awaiting!
Your blog entry and all the others really have helped. I’ll be trying cold packs versus the heat that I’m constantly sitting on. I’m not sure why I didn’t know that ice was better than heat? I’ve also been on limited activity, but I’ve been taking small walks lately and if anything, it’s getting the endorphones going. I’ll also be trying those stretches! I feel a lot more normal than before I logged on. Thanks so much!

Comment on Herniated Disc L4 L5 – latest update 1-22-2008 by Karen

Karen — Sun, 10 Feb 2008 04:03:25 +0000

Woolff interesting re the cane etc, you are right! but re the parking permit, I thought you had to be considered permanently disabled, is that correct? I didnt think my GP would consider me in that way as its a back problem and I’m young? thanks Karen

Comment on Herniated Disc L4 L5 – latest update 1-22-2008 by Wolff

Wolff — Sat, 09 Feb 2008 13:12:38 +0000

Well, if you’re after a spare cane, I’ve got one They’re totally awesome because most people will give up a seat for you on a train/bus/tram. They also make more room for you when walking down the street etc – ie you’re less likely to be pushed or bumped. I’ve had old ladies look at me like I was an ass for sitting in a seat, and then they see the cane and almost look at you with pitty… a few times I’ve forgotten the cane and I sit there, and older people look at me like I’m a turd and you kind of feel like saying you’ve got a back problem.. but that would be weird.. after a while you just say to your self “stuff it”, I’ve got serious back/leg pain, they can’t see it, but it’s not my problem.. deal with it.

Also, I recommend anyone who can’t walk (like me) should just ask their doctor for a disabled permit.. they’re sooooo frigin awesome, and you have to get over the fact that you look normal so maybe you shouldn’t have one… just do it, love it, and save the cash on parking, and NEVER feel guilty. you know you’ve got major pain.

Comment on Herniated Disc L4 L5 – latest update 1-22-2008 by Karen

Karen — Sat, 09 Feb 2008 08:18:20 +0000

Matt..37 year old female, living in Melbourne. I have read all your posts and really found comfort in your journey. I have also seen Gary Speck many times over last ten years of back pain.I have another new episode now – large disc bulge at L5 S1, Left leg symptoms when standing or walking. But coping as can sit at work and am very flexible.
Anyway very interested re the cox technique as have never heard of it and never had courage to see a chiropractor before, but now attacking it all from many angles, and spending all my money!! I would like to know who you saw in Melbourne and moreabout the relief. I feel that if I could get some relief when standing I could do more exercise and even get the train to work!! I loved that you said using a cane for the tram/train helped, that is my biggest fear that I wont get a seat so now driving into the city every day which is soo expensive!!
please let me know who you saw. I live in the St Kilda area and work in the city, big thankyou again, Karen

Comment on L4-L5 herniated disc – Back Pain Update #7 by Mike

Mike — Sat, 09 Feb 2008 03:17:16 +0000

I have a bulged L4-L5 disc space which I have tried chiro,phys therapy,epidural injections,trigger injections,facet injections,Vax -D, and surgery(which was a failure and made matters worse). The only thing I ever tried that relieved my pain was Vax-D. Unfortunately I was one of the few that didnt recieve perm relief but many others did. Vax-D is a traction device that stretches your vertabrae apart which relieves pressure on your disc and the negative pressure actually pulls the disc back into its normal position relieving pain. If you dont know what else to try and would like to avoid surgery this may be your answer. It works for alot of people and it actually relieved much of my pain but unfortunately it didnt last for me and my pain cam back in a month-but it does last for many-maybe you will be one of them. Best wishes.

Comment on L4-L5 herniated disc – Back Pain Update #7 by srf

srf — Thu, 07 Feb 2008 21:37:06 +0000

Great idea putting this site up to share your experience with others. I injured my back 7yrs ago deadlifting alot of weight…MRI confirmed l4/l5 herniation but I was able to recover doing core exercises 3-4 times a week. Unfortunately I lost my mind one day and tried to lift/push my van out of a snowbank and really damaged myself. That was several years ago and I just haven’t been able to recover. Pain is always there and sitting is the worst. Tried every therapy there is…too many to name. Starting prolotherapy with a very good doctor. We’ll see if it works. My advice; stay active, adjust your lifestyle, don’t give up searching for a solution/practioner that will help, read sarno’s book, find a good trigger point masseuse, try an ART (active release therapy) chiropractor.

Comment on L4-L5 herniated disc – Back Pain Update #7 by Damion

Damion — Tue, 05 Feb 2008 15:29:11 +0000

Hello Wolff, just curious if you have an update on your condition?

My herniated disc has so far ruined my life/lifestyle. I am a very active 36 year old male, I (used to) ride dirtbike on weekends and love playing with my 3 year old. I haven’t picked up my son in almost a month now, everyday he asks me if my back is better, then gets bummed out when I tell him no.
I can’t sit for more than 30 seconds straight. So I sit on the floor on my knees for dinner. I can’t drive more than a kilometer. The only thing I can do that actually feels relatively comfortable, is pace around the house for 18 hours a day. I sleep for 1 or 2 hours, then wake up because I rolled onto my side (I have to sleep on my stomach, otherwise the pain is excruciating) or something. Once awake, the pain kicks in and I am awake for at least an hour. My doctor prescribed Gabapentin and Tylenol3 for the pain, which did help with the nagging afternoon pain I felt, but nothing he prescribed works on the pain I experience when I wake up. After my 2 hours sleep, I wake up to the feeling that someone is tearing the muscle out of the back of my right leg, I have this pain for about the first hour after I wake up. Lucky for me, I was experienced in smoking marijuana before my injury, THIS IS THE ONLY THING THAT RELIEVES MY MORNING PAIN. Why it’s not more widely used for this purpose is totally beyond me, I’m not saying people with pain should start, I’m just relaying what worked for my pain. My Doctor has yet to prescribe any treatments for my problem, he feels it’s better to wait for WCB, this is why I am going to get a new doctor this week. And WCB is taking their sweet time coming to a conclusion about my claim. I can re-roof a house in 2 days by myself, yet it takes them 3 weeks to look at a CT scan.

Comment on Herniated Disc L4 L5 – latest update 1-22-2008 by padzer

padzer — Fri, 01 Feb 2008 00:58:06 +0000

Alright, i think i was talkin to ye before…glad to hear its goin well for ye. I had my 2nd discectomy l4 l5 on monday just gone and i must say its feeling great at the moment. I can actually do a straight leg raise, which was impossible before and when walking around it feels fine, just a little sore where the scar is. Lets hope we can be rid of the pain, ive been in bits for the past 6 years. il let u know how im doing in a while..best of luck.

Comment on A comparison of different treatments for a herniated disc by larson

larson — Wed, 30 Jan 2008 02:26:07 +0000

Sweet blog and thanks for highlighting chiropractors in the article. Indeed chiropractic medicine has a variety of opportunities to help people in such circumstance. Just wanted to let people know that a good chiropractor isn’t about forceful bone popping and reckless treatment of the human body is anyone is nervous about that. Seek out one that is not just low-impact, but also has a holistic plan so you won’t need constant treatment the rest of your life. That is the goal, after all.

Comment on L4-L5 herniated disc – Back Pain Update #7 by Trish

Trish — Mon, 21 Jan 2008 13:06:40 +0000

I was glad to find your website. I have had back problems on and off for over 15 years. I am 37, so that will tell you how long. Finally, by xray and MRI, I was diagnosed just two years ago. I have a bulging disc between L5/S1, facet joint arthritis on L3/4/5 and S1, degenerative disc disease in the thoracic spine, anterior wedging of the T7/8/9 and spondolylisis. Right now I am trying to get it service connected and 100 percent disability. It has taken seven months and still no word. I am already 60% disabled. I have not been able to work for seven months. I am on three medications, percocet, naprosyn and flexeril. Two of these I rarely take. I want to get off all the medication but my only refuge for this is to have major back surgery. The wedging in my spine is so bad, that if I lay on the floor I cant breath and it is now starting to radiate into my ribs. The problem is that I also have thoracic outlet sydrome, bilateraly and vascular (the rarer form), carpal tunnel syndrome in both hands and severe temporal madibular joint dysfuction on both sides. Not to mention arthritis in my hands, feet and hips. Yes, I am only 37. The military tore me up. So, because of all this they have diagnosed my with fibromyalgia. Any helpful hints on what to do with my back???

Comment on Herniated Disc L4 L5 update by Johnny5

Johnny5 — Sun, 06 Jan 2008 12:15:12 +0000

Thank you for your postings. I have had problems similiar to yours for the last 3 years. Its off and on, and right now, I am recovering from another “attack” which happened about 2 months ago. I can give you some of what I learned, which is BE CAREFUL. You don’t want your disc to screw up further. I went for a solid YEAR with zero pain, until I started a jogging program. I ran about 2 months, and the pain slowly but surely returned. This is just one example of something that I did wrong. Good luck, and I hope to see an update soon.

Comment on L4-L5 herniated disc – Back Pain Update #7 by Myriam

Myriam — Tue, 01 Jan 2008 04:27:23 +0000

HI, I WAS GLAD TO HEAR THAT THERE IS HOPE FOR HERNIATED DISCS. MY HUSBAND HAS BEEN IN PAIN FOR ABOUT 4 MONTHS. HE WENT TO SEE HIS DOCTOR AND WAS RECOMENDED TO GO THROUGH THERAPY FIRST. HIS SECOND OPTION IS TO TAKE AN EPIDUROL SHOT, AND THIRD OPTION THE SURGERY. SO FAR HE IS GOING THROUGH THERAPY ONLY. YET, HE IS NOT GETTING BETTER. HE FEELS A LOT OF PAIN ON HIS LEFT LEG. HIS MRI SHOWS THAT HE HAS A HERNIATED DISC IN HIS L4-L5. HE IS THINKING ABOUT GETTING THE SHOT, HIS SECOND OPTION. WE ARE NOT SURE IF IS THE RIGHT CHOICE. IF ANY ONE CAN GIVE US AN ADVISE ABOUT OUR OPTIONS, PLEASE LET US KNOW.

Comment on L4-L5 herniated disc – Back Pain Update #7 by Myriam marin

Myriam marin — Tue, 01 Jan 2008 04:25:04 +0000

Comment on Herniated Disc L4 L5 update by MM

MM — Sat, 29 Dec 2007 21:56:24 +0000

Matt,

I have been checking out your blog once in a while during the last few months. The reason being, I too got a herniated disc and I appreciate your blog and the info that you have posted here.
I am going through some of the sufferings caused by herniated disc and believe me, I totally understand what those pain means.

Anyways, Good to know that you are getting better.
Life’s good and things will be back to normal. All the best !

Comment on L4-L5 herniated disc – Back Pain Update #7 by Felicia

Felicia — Thu, 27 Dec 2007 05:26:02 +0000

Hi, I am only 36, and I have a herniated L4-L5. I had a cortisone shot in my back in June of 06 which saved me because I was in so much pain that I would, at times, just lie on the floor paralyzed with pain. I was in so much pain before the shot that I lost about 10 pounds and I was actually losing my hair! I couldn’t find anyone on the Internet at the time, so it’s nice to finally read some comments from people who know what it’s like. I did intense physical therapy for 3 months after the shot which really helped because I built up the muscles around my core. This is really important. You have to do the exercises even at home. Unfortunately, I got busy at work this year and have really slacked off, and now I am paying for it. I wake up every morning in pain. I can’t “sleep in” anymore because I have to get out of the bed. The pain goes away once I move around a bit. So my advice is to keep up the exercises and not be like me. You should not bend, lift, or twist basically. You should only arch your back by sticking your butt out. Do backbends, but do not flex your back in the opposite way (as in the cat pose that one person described). If you haven’t gotten a cortisone shot, I highly encourage you to think about it. It made it possible for me to stand up straight and walk!

Comment on MRI for herniated disc update l4 l5 by Joanne

Joanne — Tue, 27 Nov 2007 00:41:12 +0000

Hi Matt

Just wanted to let you know that I had surgery with Mr Speck a couple of weeks ago, for a severe disc bulge at L4/5, and it was a success. I still have a lot of work to do on my nerve, because it became badly squashed up to the time of the operation (it was being pushed against bone, and was quite swollen and irritated), but I have no leg pain at all, which is just wonderful. I’d recommend going ahead with the surgery – a nurse friend recommended Mr Speck, and I’ve since been told that he’s ‘the best in the industry’, and I certainly felt in very good hands, from the anaesthetist (Mark Langley), the assistant surgeon and the physiotherapist who assisted my post-op recovery. Things are looking really good at this stage (I can stand up straight!), and I’m starting to walk a lot, which is what the doctor highly recommends. My situation was so bad that I could barely walk, and I was squashed in earlier than my planned appointment, so I feel very, very fortunate that I was able to have the operation. Best of luck with whatever you decide to do! Regards Joanne

Comment on L4-L5 herniated disc – Back Pain Update #7 by jolio

jolio — Mon, 12 Nov 2007 11:18:05 +0000

hi all , i made operation (slip back dick remove l5-)from one year ago and now i am trying to do some exercise can any one advice me what can i do without effecting on my back ?