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husband medical issues-bulging disc
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<blockquote data-quote="slsh" data-source="post: 176282" data-attributes="member: 8"><p>Kjs,</p><p> </p><p>I inherited my dad's bad back (thanks, Dad, LOL). In the summer of 2006, I started having excrutiating back pain. I also do not see doctors but it was bad enough to actually bite the bullet and go in. I had a bulging disk and various degenerative changes in my lower spine (L1-L5). I'm not a fan of any type of medication, so I got an rx for PT with Atilla the Hun. After the 3rd session and my back felt *worse*, I told Atilla I was done. His philosophy was no pain, no gain - which I absolutely do not agree with when it comes to backs. I then started seeing a chiropractor and doing a walking program (2.5 miles a day). It took about 6 weeks but gradually the pain decreased and things got *much* better.</p><p> </p><p>Unfortunately I got really complacent last summer, quit walking, quit chiropractor, lifted Boo too much, cleaned out basement after a flood, and ended up herniating L3/L4 disk. My right leg and hip were unbelievably painful - I mean... I'd rather give birth daily without an epidural than have that pain again! My leg was also numb from knee to ankle on the front. Interestingly - there really wasn't any back pain. Long story short, I ended up in hospital #1 where surgeon recommended diskectomy but I also am terrified of surgery, so I talked him into trying an epidural. Left hospital #1 because of staffing issues (without epidural) and by the time I went to hospital #2 two days later, I would have agreed to amputation of lower half of my body! </p><p> </p><p>Had the diskectomy and had *immediate* relief of pain though the leg was still numb. Really no pain from the surgery itself. Surgeon said it was one of the worst disks he'd ever seen - had to remove 2 "large" pieces. Unfortunately, I sneezed about 8 days later and reherniated the same dumb disk - I had been good, no lifting, gentle walking, following directions to the T, but no one had warned me about sneezing. So we did surgery again. Good news is I have no disk left in L3/L4 to herniate. Bad news is I have no disk left, LOL. If I have problems at that level again, I'm looking at a fusion unless I'm more comfortable with artificial disk results, which I'm not comfortable with right now.</p><p> </p><p>It took about 3 months for the leg numbness to go away - it still pops up now and then but just for short periods. If I overdo it or move the wrong way, my back lets me know. The pain from the nerves is very different from muscule pain.</p><p> </p><p>Just my opinion and it really depends on what level the herniated disk is at (mine was lower, sounds like your husband's is higher up since he has arm numbness too) - while pain medications are good for temporary relief, conditioning the body is essential. Rebuilding core strength, losing weight if that's an issue, and *sticking with* exercise. Epidurals do work for some people but in my mind that's a temporary fix - it just covers the pain. In my lay opinion, surgery is the one sure fix if it's a significantly herniated disk...*but* I do believe that strengthening the core muscles helps to support the spine and does relieve the pain (eventually) if you are really religious about the exercise regimen. I also think if it's a more mild herniation, anti-inflammatories help reduce the swelling and irritation while you work on strengthening. I think if I had stuck with it and been more careful about my lifting last summer, I could have postponed the whole nightmare for years. Again, just my opinion. <img src="data:image/gif;base64,R0lGODlhAQABAIAAAAAAAP///yH5BAEAAAAALAAAAAABAAEAAAIBRAA7" class="smilie smilie--sprite smilie--sprite2" alt=";)" title="Wink ;)" loading="lazy" data-shortname=";)" /></p><p> </p><p>Sorry husband is going thru this (ain't middle-age grand???). I hear you about the medical bills. My surgeon's fee alone for the surgery was $10,000 a pop!!! Thank goodness for insurance!</p></blockquote><p></p>
[QUOTE="slsh, post: 176282, member: 8"] Kjs, I inherited my dad's bad back (thanks, Dad, LOL). In the summer of 2006, I started having excrutiating back pain. I also do not see doctors but it was bad enough to actually bite the bullet and go in. I had a bulging disk and various degenerative changes in my lower spine (L1-L5). I'm not a fan of any type of medication, so I got an rx for PT with Atilla the Hun. After the 3rd session and my back felt *worse*, I told Atilla I was done. His philosophy was no pain, no gain - which I absolutely do not agree with when it comes to backs. I then started seeing a chiropractor and doing a walking program (2.5 miles a day). It took about 6 weeks but gradually the pain decreased and things got *much* better. Unfortunately I got really complacent last summer, quit walking, quit chiropractor, lifted Boo too much, cleaned out basement after a flood, and ended up herniating L3/L4 disk. My right leg and hip were unbelievably painful - I mean... I'd rather give birth daily without an epidural than have that pain again! My leg was also numb from knee to ankle on the front. Interestingly - there really wasn't any back pain. Long story short, I ended up in hospital #1 where surgeon recommended diskectomy but I also am terrified of surgery, so I talked him into trying an epidural. Left hospital #1 because of staffing issues (without epidural) and by the time I went to hospital #2 two days later, I would have agreed to amputation of lower half of my body! Had the diskectomy and had *immediate* relief of pain though the leg was still numb. Really no pain from the surgery itself. Surgeon said it was one of the worst disks he'd ever seen - had to remove 2 "large" pieces. Unfortunately, I sneezed about 8 days later and reherniated the same dumb disk - I had been good, no lifting, gentle walking, following directions to the T, but no one had warned me about sneezing. So we did surgery again. Good news is I have no disk left in L3/L4 to herniate. Bad news is I have no disk left, LOL. If I have problems at that level again, I'm looking at a fusion unless I'm more comfortable with artificial disk results, which I'm not comfortable with right now. It took about 3 months for the leg numbness to go away - it still pops up now and then but just for short periods. If I overdo it or move the wrong way, my back lets me know. The pain from the nerves is very different from muscule pain. Just my opinion and it really depends on what level the herniated disk is at (mine was lower, sounds like your husband's is higher up since he has arm numbness too) - while pain medications are good for temporary relief, conditioning the body is essential. Rebuilding core strength, losing weight if that's an issue, and *sticking with* exercise. Epidurals do work for some people but in my mind that's a temporary fix - it just covers the pain. In my lay opinion, surgery is the one sure fix if it's a significantly herniated disk...*but* I do believe that strengthening the core muscles helps to support the spine and does relieve the pain (eventually) if you are really religious about the exercise regimen. I also think if it's a more mild herniation, anti-inflammatories help reduce the swelling and irritation while you work on strengthening. I think if I had stuck with it and been more careful about my lifting last summer, I could have postponed the whole nightmare for years. Again, just my opinion. ;) Sorry husband is going thru this (ain't middle-age grand???). I hear you about the medical bills. My surgeon's fee alone for the surgery was $10,000 a pop!!! Thank goodness for insurance! [/QUOTE]
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