Bulging Disc Surgery

Protrusion or bulging disc in L5S1: What can I do? Pilates,Osteopathy?Ozonotherapy? 3 DMM Technology m?Surgery?

admin — Sat, 24 Apr 2010 01:51:50 +0000

I have had the problem for 20 years but 6 month ago It got worse becouse I couldn t walk straight for nearly three weeks. Now it is OK but only because I stopped going to the gym and playing any sports but swimming,and not much because it bothers when I swimm a lot. Since I am very gym and sport oriented it is really hard for me to be away of action, and I am also afraid it could also affect my sexual life. I really need a solution, and fisiotherephy and medicine had been very temporary and not effective solutions. At present I have rigidity in the back,stiffness, and sometimes after being seated need to give a few steps to walk straight.
It is really annoying not to be able to enjoy life, waiting for the problem to heat hard again, as it has happenned almost every year.
Thanks very much for any effective idea you could have.I really need it and appreciatted it.

Will losing weight help to shrink my bulging disc problem?

admin — Thu, 22 Apr 2010 01:02:03 +0000

Okay since my last question I’ve received the results from the MRI which shows that I have a bulging disc. I’ve gained a lot of weight in the last year and am now dieting to lose it. Will this alleviate the pain and/or shrink the bulging disc? It takes a month to get an appointment with my doctor and I’m just wondering now. I’m scheduled for a visit with the neurosurgeon and want to avoid surgery if possible. Any advice? Please help. I weigh 225, am a female at 5′6 and just take 30 minute walks for exercise to help release some of the pain I feel. I was 195 lbs. but gained the weight after pregnancy which ended in miscarriage and depression. I’m back on track now but afraid. I know that the weight didn’t cause the problem but I’m wondering if losing weight will resolve it somewhat. The pain radiates down my right leg but feels better after I walk…sitting makes it feel worse. I’m 43 years old and a teacher. I used to wear heels to class everyday but won’t do that again.

should i have herniated disc surgery with no neurological symptoms?

admin — Tue, 20 Apr 2010 00:47:43 +0000

Hello,
I am a 22 y/o college student, decent shape no previous injuries, ailments, or bad back genetics.

Pain started with sitting for long periods of time, eventually shorter periods of the time, and finally until i couldn’t sit for more than 15 minutes. I had an MRI 6 months ago that showed a bulging disc at L4-L5, but no real neurological symptoms other than a pain in my right buttock when sitting. As long as I’m standing things are fine, bending over not so hot, but sitting is the worst.

I have gone through the course of PT, epidurals, and a little traction with the only improvement being loss of straight leg raise, but little to no relief of pain.

Considering it’s been 6 months, and i can’t have a normal life without the ability to sit, should i look at surgery even though im not an ideal candidate. Anyone have a similar dilemma before?

i just cant really put my whole life on hold forever waiting for this to heal

PLEASE HELP , Should I have surgery for my bulging discs or not??

admin — Sun, 18 Apr 2010 01:04:26 +0000

I woke up about 4 weeks ago with very bad pain in my left shoulder and arm. I also noticed numbness in my left fingers. I went in to see my family doctor and had an MRI done. He said that I had a bulging disc in my C-7 and C-6 with #6 being the lesser of the two. Anyway he gave me some pain pills and referred me to a neurosurgeon. I went to the surgeon 4 weeks after my first signs of pain. Well by then my pain had subsided to where I did not even need any pills, I still have the numbness in my fingers is all. Well almost as soon as he took one look at my MRI’s he started talking about fusion surgery and using some donor bone from a cadaver. He said that the whole operation would take less then an hour and a half and that there were very little risks, that I would be all better in one month. Now all I have read on this says that doctors only use surgery as a last resort. That the first thing most prescribe for my condition are nonsurgical treatments such as physical therapy and the like. I am 38 y/o and in otherwise pretty good health, not over weight ect. The surgeon also said that if I did not have the operation that it would come back sooner or later and that the pain going away could either mean it’s getting better or it’s getting worse. I am not sure of anything, the guy just came off more like a car salesman then a doctor and I’m not very comfortable offering up my neck on “slick willies” operating table ya know? Can someone please give me some advice? Thank you very much in advance, the ppl at this site have been just so great!!! God bless those kind people that help others.

What are the dangers of a bulging disc?

admin — Fri, 16 Apr 2010 01:16:50 +0000

I had an MRI the other day, and it showed some protrusion/bulging. If I don’t have surgery, what are the drawbacks and consequences…if any?

Has anyone ever used Laser Spine Institute to resolve a bulging disc problem?

admin — Mon, 12 Apr 2010 00:48:39 +0000

I have 3 bulging discs in my neck. 9 months ago, had steroid injections to neck which helped, but still battled numbness in my shoulder. I feel the pain in my upper back coming back. Not sure if I should look into surgery or continue to get injections. Should I see a neurologist?

How do you treat a bulging disc?

admin — Sat, 10 Apr 2010 00:47:51 +0000

i have a bulging disc in my neck and my doc wants to operate immediately. Is there anything I can do to avoid surgery?

Help with bulging cervical disc C-6 and C-7 (surgery?)?

admin — Thu, 08 Apr 2010 01:14:34 +0000

Short history: I have been a healthy 35 year old up until one year ago. I have had migraines for over 1 year, and I have a lump in the throat (or so if feels like it when I swallow, all tests done came out negative). Now in the most recent time starting back 9 weeks ago I went to my doctor for scapula pain. The doctor said it was a muscle spasm. Gave me muscle relaxer and sent me on my way. 5 days later I went back in and saw a different doctor (same clinic) and she advised me to start physical therapy and take Percocet for the pain. 20 days later (after doing 3xw PT) I went back and saw yet a different doctor (same clinic) and I had to beg them to get me a MRI (not once, did any of them do an x-ray) MRI of the T-spine came back negative. They wanted to send me to a pain clinic for pain management. I said no and asked to be sent to a spine specialist. 11 days later I saw the spine surgeon who did an x-ray and noticed I had degenerative disc disease. He ordered a same day MRI of my C-spine. One day later I have been diagnosed with a bulging disc.

My question: What is the best treatment? Has anyone had good luck with just physical therapy and steroid injections? What is the future going to hold if I have (A) infusion (bone graph) (B) artificial injection (metal?)
I forgot to mention, I did several visits of chiropractor before I went to the doctor the first time.

Is Discectomy Spine Surgery Right for My Sciatica?

admin — Tue, 06 Apr 2010 00:58:56 +0000

A discectomy is an invasive surgical procedure that removes herniated disc material that is protruding into the spinal canal and pressing upon nerve tissue. This pressure can cause numbness, weakness, tingling, or mild to severe pain in the back and leg.

Discectomy surgery is a common treatment for herniated or ruptured discs of the lumbar spine and may be used for back pain sufferers who have not responded to traditional non-surgical treatments such as anti-inflammatory medication, physical therapy, traction, spinal decompression, and epidural steroid injections.

Herniated Discs

Here is a simplified explanation of what happens with a ruptured or herniated disc. The disc itself is kind of like a soft jelly-filled donut. The outer wall of the disc is called the annulus fibrosus and the inner part of the disc — the jelly part — is called the nucleus pulposus. When the outer part of the disc becomes weakened, it can tear and allow some of the inner nucleus pulposus to leak out. When this inner jelly presses on the surrounding nerve tissue it can weakness, tingling and pain in the back and legs.

What Happens In A Discectomy?

In a traditional discectomy — often referred to as an open discectomy — an incision is made in the patient’s back over the herniated disc region. Muscle tissue around the herniated disc is removed and a retractor may be used to keep the muscle tissue and skin out of the way which gives the surgeon better access to the surgical area. In some cases, some of the vertebrae bone — called the lamina — may need to be removed to allow the surgeon better access to the disc. This procedure is called a laminectomy. Once the herniated disc fragments have been removed, the muscle tissue is put back and the surgical incision is closed with sutures.

Microdiscectomy Alternative

A newer, less invasive form of discectomy is also now available. This procedure is called a microdiscectomy and uses special magnifying and muscle-spreading instruments to allow the surgeon to view and operate on the herniated disc region. The surgeon can then perform the procedure through a smaller incision and cause less damage to the surrounding muscle and tissue.

As a result, the patient can experience less pain and a quicker recovery. Not all patients are able undergo discectomies or microdiscectomies. A lot has to do with the particular nature of the patient’s herniated disc.

Before being considered for either type of surgery, the doctor will typically have an imaging study performed such as an MRI (magnetic resonance imaging) or a CT (computed tomography) scan in order to help diagnose the specific cause of the problem. Discectomy and microdiscectomy procedures are normally done in a hospital under general anesthesia. In some cases discectomy can be performed in an outpatient surgical center.

This article is not meant to replace the advice of your personal health care provider. Be sure to consult with your physician to explore all your back pain treatment options before taking any medical course of action.

Any information on bulging disc with nerve impingement?

admin — Sun, 04 Apr 2010 00:57:40 +0000

I have a bulging disc with nerve impingement in my lumbar spine. Other than surgery is there anything that can help with the pain tried epidurals last a week at most pain returns.