Comments on: i have been told i have 2 bulging disc and one is pressing on my scatcia nerve. i have been told surgery why? http://bulgingdiscsurgery.net/i-have-been-told-i-have-2-bulging-disc-and-one-is-pressing-on-my-scatcia-nerve-i-have-been-told-surgery-why/ Breaking News, Expert Tips. Get the Answers You're Looking On Bulging Disc Surgery. Sat, 24 Apr 2010 03:56:24 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.0.3 By: Chris L http://bulgingdiscsurgery.net/i-have-been-told-i-have-2-bulging-disc-and-one-is-pressing-on-my-scatcia-nerve-i-have-been-told-surgery-why/comment-page-1/#comment-55 Chris L Mon, 29 Mar 2010 04:35:20 +0000 http://bulgingdiscsurgery.net/i-have-been-told-i-have-2-bulging-disc-and-one-is-pressing-on-my-scatcia-nerve-i-have-been-told-surgery-why/#comment-55 Depending on the severity of the disc bulges surgery may or may not be recommended and it depends largely on the surgeon. If the surgeon was recommending surgery without any conservative treatment besides and epidural, find a different surgeon. The stats on successful back surgeries really depend on the procedure, but they are typically anywhere from 20-70%. I'll quantify that too, "Success= return to presurgical status" So that means a surgery may not get you better, but it has been successful if you didn't get worse than you are now. Has the doctor figured out why you have two bulging discs? Because that in itself is the most important question, especially if it wasn't a sudden onset. Most good surgeons who are up on the recent literature, and who are seeing enough people that they don't have to worry about their new boat will recommend a trial of conservative care (chiropractic, physical therapy or both) before going to epidural or surgery. If those methods don't work after 6-8 weeks, you are more likely to be a surgical candidate. If chiropractic or physical therapy were not even mentioned as options, I would suggest getting a second opinion, and if you do end up getting the surgery, make sure it is done by a neurosurgeon and not an orthopedist. Most orthopedists are excellent with knees, hips, shoulders and extremities, but I would never let one near my spine, unless he/she does that exclusively, whereas neuros do much more with the spinal cord and back surgeries. Depending on the severity of the disc bulges surgery may or may not be recommended and it depends largely on the surgeon. If the surgeon was recommending surgery without any conservative treatment besides and epidural, find a different surgeon. The stats on successful back surgeries really depend on the procedure, but they are typically anywhere from 20-70%. I’ll quantify that too, “Success= return to presurgical status” So that means a surgery may not get you better, but it has been successful if you didn’t get worse than you are now. Has the doctor figured out why you have two bulging discs? Because that in itself is the most important question, especially if it wasn’t a sudden onset.

Most good surgeons who are up on the recent literature, and who are seeing enough people that they don’t have to worry about their new boat will recommend a trial of conservative care (chiropractic, physical therapy or both) before going to epidural or surgery. If those methods don’t work after 6-8 weeks, you are more likely to be a surgical candidate. If chiropractic or physical therapy were not even mentioned as options, I would suggest getting a second opinion, and if you do end up getting the surgery, make sure it is done by a neurosurgeon and not an orthopedist. Most orthopedists are excellent with knees, hips, shoulders and extremities, but I would never let one near my spine, unless he/she does that exclusively, whereas neuros do much more with the spinal cord and back surgeries.

]]> By: Oldwhiteguy2earth http://bulgingdiscsurgery.net/i-have-been-told-i-have-2-bulging-disc-and-one-is-pressing-on-my-scatcia-nerve-i-have-been-told-surgery-why/comment-page-1/#comment-54 Oldwhiteguy2earth Mon, 29 Mar 2010 03:37:33 +0000 http://bulgingdiscsurgery.net/i-have-been-told-i-have-2-bulging-disc-and-one-is-pressing-on-my-scatcia-nerve-i-have-been-told-surgery-why/#comment-54 The back and nervous system are amazing creations. Back surgery is risky. If you would see how all the nerves come from your spine and go through your pelvic bone, you could see how easy it is for them to get pinched. I had sciatic problems so bad I couldn't walk 15 steps. I couldn't stand or sit for long and I was in agony even when I was laying down. I lost the ability to control my leg muscle, so that I fell flat on my face several times. I thought I would need a crutch for the rest of my life. That was six years ago. Without surgery, I can do heavy labor, walk, and run now. (I still have to be careful when I run because my leg buckles occasionally on me.) I would think twice before I ever had back surgery. I bought a TENS unit to help me through the pain of sciatic nerves. The back and nervous system are amazing creations. Back surgery is risky. If you would see how all the nerves come from your spine and go through your pelvic bone, you could see how easy it is for them to get pinched. I had sciatic problems so bad I couldn’t walk 15 steps. I couldn’t stand or sit for long and I was in agony even when I was laying down. I lost the ability to control my leg muscle, so that I fell flat on my face several times. I thought I would need a crutch for the rest of my life. That was six years ago. Without surgery, I can do heavy labor, walk, and run now. (I still have to be careful when I run because my leg buckles occasionally on me.) I would think twice before I ever had back surgery. I bought a TENS unit to help me through the pain of sciatic nerves.

]]> By: PA http://bulgingdiscsurgery.net/i-have-been-told-i-have-2-bulging-disc-and-one-is-pressing-on-my-scatcia-nerve-i-have-been-told-surgery-why/comment-page-1/#comment-53 PA Mon, 29 Mar 2010 02:56:13 +0000 http://bulgingdiscsurgery.net/i-have-been-told-i-have-2-bulging-disc-and-one-is-pressing-on-my-scatcia-nerve-i-have-been-told-surgery-why/#comment-53 You would be having surgery because you have a disc pressing on a nerve probably causing pain. They will remove the part of the disc pressing on the nerve and hopefully relieve the pain. We usually try one or two epidurals to see if you get relief from that. The disc may heal with time and you can avoid the surgery. You would be having surgery because you have a disc pressing on a nerve probably causing pain. They will remove the part of the disc pressing on the nerve and hopefully relieve the pain. We usually try one or two epidurals to see if you get relief from that. The disc may heal with time and you can avoid the surgery.

]]> By: Star http://bulgingdiscsurgery.net/i-have-been-told-i-have-2-bulging-disc-and-one-is-pressing-on-my-scatcia-nerve-i-have-been-told-surgery-why/comment-page-1/#comment-52 Star Mon, 29 Mar 2010 02:37:54 +0000 http://bulgingdiscsurgery.net/i-have-been-told-i-have-2-bulging-disc-and-one-is-pressing-on-my-scatcia-nerve-i-have-been-told-surgery-why/#comment-52 to relieve the pressure on the nerve.Bone may be pressing on the nerve and surgery would be needed.You really should have your Dr answer your questions before you have it done. to relieve the pressure on the nerve.Bone may be pressing on the nerve and surgery would be needed.You really should have your Dr answer your questions before you have it done.

]]> By: chip193 http://bulgingdiscsurgery.net/i-have-been-told-i-have-2-bulging-disc-and-one-is-pressing-on-my-scatcia-nerve-i-have-been-told-surgery-why/comment-page-1/#comment-51 chip193 Mon, 29 Mar 2010 01:43:41 +0000 http://bulgingdiscsurgery.net/i-have-been-told-i-have-2-bulging-disc-and-one-is-pressing-on-my-scatcia-nerve-i-have-been-told-surgery-why/#comment-51 The goal of the epidural is to see if the steroids can reduce the inflammation of the disc can be reduced without operating on your back. If it works, you can put off surgery for months, years, or even forever. The cause of your pain is that the discs are pressing against the nerves that go down into your leg. Being a betting man, I'd take a guess on L4-L5 and L5-S1 for your disc problems. The goal of the surgery is to make more room for your nerves to come out of the spaces between the vertebrae. Generally, this is done through a laminectomy, where the lamina of the affected vertebrae are shaved off a bit. The disc may also be cut down a bit too. Good luck with your back. Let us know how it goes. The goal of the epidural is to see if the steroids can reduce the inflammation of the disc can be reduced without operating on your back. If it works, you can put off surgery for months, years, or even forever.

The cause of your pain is that the discs are pressing against the nerves that go down into your leg. Being a betting man, I’d take a guess on L4-L5 and L5-S1 for your disc problems.

The goal of the surgery is to make more room for your nerves to come out of the spaces between the vertebrae. Generally, this is done through a laminectomy, where the lamina of the affected vertebrae are shaved off a bit. The disc may also be cut down a bit too.

Good luck with your back. Let us know how it goes.

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