I herniated my L4-5 disc last week and my pain and muscle weakness are severe enough that I'm going for a microdiscectomy Monday am.

I've heard lots of bad stories and have seem bad results. Does anyone have a successful result or good outcome story?

Charlie

Man, that sucks.

All the best with your procedure and recovery.

We had a guy at work have a similar surgery a few years back. He was down for a while but eventually made a full recovery and is better than ever.

Good luck Charlie, let me know if you need anything.

I have been adamantly avoiding cortisone shots and back surgery for years.
I finally broke down last year and decided it would be worth it. Before I did though, a friend asked me to try out a piece of equipment called an inversion machine. He brought it over and set it up. I used it for 2 days and felt better than 3 months of physical therapy. My Pt said they were a waste of time but I swear by it.

So if you havnt tried these things yet please do before you think about surgery. http://www.teeterhangups.com/home.html

I ended up buying a knock off at kmart for $89
I cant even begin to tell you how good the releif of pressure from my lower back felt. It was almost as good as sex or landing a fish of a lifetime

I herniated my L4-5 disc last week and my pain and muscle weakness are severe enough that I'm going for a microdiscectomy Monday am.

I've heard lots of bad stories and have seem bad results. Does anyone have a successful result or good outcome story?

Charlie

Damn Charlie, did you do this on my boat?

Chuck, I am going in for a consulatation next week for mine, L4,L5, and S1 laying on my sciatic nerve some days I can not even walk. I had enough last week and decided to make my appointment. I am not sure that there is any hope for my back at this point since I have been dealing with it for many many years. I would try one of those inversion machines first. I think that is it too late for me.

Greg

I would seriously consider other options before a discetomy.

PM me if you want more info, but I had minimally invasive arthroscopic and it's like a new world.

I won't post the guy's name, but there are very few doing it. I was walking 1 hour out of post-op & drove home the next day.

I have been adamantly avoiding cortisone shots and back surgery for years.
I finally broke down last year and decided it would be worth it. Before I did though, a friend asked me to try out a piece of equipment called an inversion machine. He brought it over and set it up. I used it for 2 days and felt better than 3 months of physical therapy. My Pt said they were a waste of time but I swear by it.

So if you havnt tried these things yet please do before you think about surgery. http://www.teeterhangups.com/home.html

I ended up buying a knock off at kmart for $89
I cant even begin to tell you how good the releif of pressure from my lower back felt. It was almost as good as sex or landing a fish of a lifetime

I agree with everything Chris has said! Avoid surgery at all costs!
The human body has an incredible ability to heal itself.
I also second Grauwers recommendation on the inversion machine 100 percent! I have never found anything that has given me more relief than that machine. Since getting the inversion machine I have stopped going to the doctor, stopped going to the Chiropractor, and been virtually pain free for almost 2 years now. Ive also been able to resume high impact sports again.

BTW... my last MRI 3 years ago showed 3 severely herniated disks as well as major disk degeneration.

It was almost as good as sex or landing a fish of a lifetime

How would you know about either? :bringiton::smthumbup:

Traction, inversion, and a strong core. Make sure you try all "stabilizing" methods before you have the surgery... way too many possible complications once you start messing with the spine. Have two friends that just had their SECOND fusion surgery after the initial one failed to improve anything.

A balanced core(mid section) is the best preventative measure you can take to avoid/protect a compromised spinal column.

No one wants to hear it, but, SIT UPS, SIT UPS, SIT UPS. You don't have to have washboard abs, just strong enough to control imbalances in the lower back.

Place your knuckle together, like cogs on a gear. Bow your forearms out(convex then concave). Each time imagine there's a soft disk between those "gears". Notice the "pinch" points. These are created by imbalance, i.e. "truckers belly". Your stomach gets weak, your spine becomes imbalanced and you f-up a disk.

I've studied this a lot, as alll the men in my family have had bad backs. Not me. Keep your core strong.

Ramblings from a crazy man...

Traction, inversion, and a strong core. Make sure you try all "stabilizing" methods before you have the surgery... way too many possible complications once you start messing with the spine. Have two friends that just had their SECOND fusion surgery after the initial one failed to improve anything.

A balanced core(mid section) is the best preventative measure you can take to avoid/protect a compromised spinal column.

No one wants to hear it, but, SIT UPS, SIT UPS, SIT UPS. You don't have to have washboard abs, just strong enough to control imbalances in the lower back.

Place your knuckle together, like cogs on a gear. Bow your forearms out(convex then concave). Each time imagine there's a soft disk between those "gears". Notice the "pinch" points. These are created by imbalance, i.e. "truckers belly". Your stomach gets weak, your spine becomes imbalanced and you f-up a disk.

I've studied this a lot, as alll the men in my family have had bad backs. Not me. Keep your core strong.

Ramblings from a crazy man...

I can personally vouch for this approach... I screwed my L4 about 10 years ago and after several years of pain I got a personal trainer (cuz I waz out of shape) and he happened to also do sports injury rehab and put me on a special regiment of exercises, that was 4 or 5 years ago, still do the exercises and have not had a single problem since....

Thanks guys. I've been through the whole gamut with my L5-s1 disc, and avoided surgery for 20 years with the pain going away eventually after giving up beach volleyball
ive been dealing with my L4-5 disc conservatively for 2.5 years and limitting golf to once per week. Then I herniated a big chunk golfing in may. Continued with conservative therapy and quit golf. Then last Thursday extended my herniation and now have a pinched L4(& L5) nerve root on left side.
Aaron, not on your boat but diving all day Saturday didn't help. I noticed the weakness in my left foot after tourney that day. Good thing I got some glass!
so I tried another transforaminal ESI with tempoorary relief. But its back with a vengence, 2 percocets just to sleep. And ive never needed narcotics for any back pain. And I have a mild foot drop on left.
So I'm scheduled Monday for a minimally invasive microdiscectomy - short procedure and you go home 4-6 hours later.

Wish me luck. I don't want to miss the SPO.

And yes I have an inversion machine in my office. I work out and do crunches and core workout. I tried traction and my chiro helps tremenously. But this nerve compression is the worst its ever been.
C-

I herniated l-4 (3mm) and 5 (4mm) about 6 years ago during a HALO skydiving competition. I had shooting pains down both legs. Before seeing an orthopedic I visited a chiropractor, which only made the problem worse.

The orthopedic gave the choice of trying PT before surgery, and I am glad I went that route. It took over several before I could really tell significant difference.

Today, aside from the occasional day here and there (rain\snow when traveling) I am as good as new. I still have to do some of the PT and inversion on a regular basis (few times a week, 5-10 min per session with my inversion table) has saved me from being sliced and diced.

The pros of seeing a PT is the fact it's not invasive, and you will eventually put your care in your own hands and listen to what your body tells you.

Once you fully understand your PT regimen, you can do it all in the comfort of your own home or gym. A good inversion table is a couple hundred bucks...

The keys are:
-following the PT routine to a T long enough to see results (most people give up too soon... being a Marine i enjoyed the pain)
-remember to keep good posture. (how many times have you gotten out of your car or office chair to a sore, stiff lower back?)
-strengthen core muscles (abs and lower back)
-flexibility, flexibility, flexibility- particularly your hamstrings and glutes.
-obviously, if you are overweight, try to lose a few pounds as I will say having lost 54 Lbs over the last 7 months has made a plethora of difference for me in am myriad of ways.

I agree with Rich, never cut anything before exhausting all resources! Once sliced, it will never be the same...

Good luck and God speed to recovery!

I noticed the weakness in my left foot after tourney that day...I have a mild foot drop on left.

So I'm scheduled Monday for a minimally invasive microdiscectomy - short procedure and you go home 4-6 hours later.


Neuro deficit is an indication for surgery. I would have no hesitation about proceeding w/ surgery if you have a drop foot. You are doing the correct thing.

Good luck.

I herniated my L4-5 disc last week and my pain and muscle weakness are severe enough that I'm going for a microdiscectomy Monday am.

I've heard lots of bad stories and have seem bad results. Does anyone have a successful result or good outcome story?

Charlie



I had this done about 8 years ago. I dealt with the L5-S1 for to long and then had the surgery. I was wheeled into the hospital but walked out the next mourning. Left leg/foot pain then no feeling. I dive mostly BIG doubles and have had no problems since the surgery. YMMV.
Get all the information you can and make an informed decision.

Dago.

Thanks guys.

My herniation measures 6mm x 11mm x 9mm - big chunky one.

Traction, inversion, and a strong core. Make sure you try all "stabilizing" methods before you have the surgery... way too many possible complications once you start messing with the spine. Have two friends that just had their SECOND fusion surgery after the initial one failed to improve anything.

A balanced core(mid section) is the best preventative measure you can take to avoid/protect a compromised spinal column.

No one wants to hear it, but, SIT UPS, SIT UPS, SIT UPS. You don't have to have washboard abs, just strong enough to control imbalances in the lower back.

Place your knuckle together, like cogs on a gear. Bow your forearms out(convex then concave). Each time imagine there's a soft disk between those "gears". Notice the "pinch" points. These are created by imbalance, i.e. "truckers belly". Your stomach gets weak, your spine becomes imbalanced and you f-up a disk.

I've studied this a lot, as alll the men in my family have had bad backs. Not me. Keep your core strong.

Ramblings from a crazy man...

Noah, you have seen my ab and I can do no more work with it.:FIREdevil:

My Dad has had two or three back operations for bad disks and never fully recovered. He was in his late fifties when he had his first surgery so I am sure age has played into his recovery. After seeing what he went through and still goes through every day I would try everything possible to avoid surgery.

My cousin on the other hand had back surgery to also repair disk problems and was out of diving for over a year and still is very cautious with his back and he works out like a maniac to avoid injuries but otherwise is ok.

I ruptured 3 disc’s bank in 2001 at age 23. I did the whole PT and cortisone shots and finally got tired of not being able to bend over and tie my shoes. So I opted for surgery. DAMN glad I did. I was out of work about 3 weeks before I went back on light duty for 2 weeks. I have been glad every day since I had the surgery. Dr. told me I had to change the way I lived or I would be back into see him. As a Firefighter/Paramedic I had no real choice but to lift heavy patients in awkward positions and carry heavy equipment. I had to make changes in my daily routine. No more He-man lifting I get help now. I use my legs and not my back. If you want this surgery to be helpful you must listen to the DR. and do what he tells you and if it looks heavy and awkward get some help.

I have a herniated L4-L5 but nothing like the problems you describe. Mine actually got quite a bit better over time. The odd (or maybe not) thing is that it bothers me when I havent been fishing/on the boat. During the crappy part of winter I get kinda lazy and dont fish(work) much. My back gives me a lot of trouble. Come spring when I am fishing pretty much every day, or tarpon season when it is every day, I have no back trouble.
So, the EW solution to back trouble? Fish more!
I have had a couple clients that had some minimally invasive (2 inch scar on lower back) that seemed to report good results. In your case it sounds like surgery might be the only option. Then again,once they start cutting theres no going back. Good luck with it. Back pain and poor prognosises suck.

Place your knuckle together, like cogs on a gear. Bow your forearms out(convex then concave). Each time imagine there's a soft disk between those "gears". Notice the "pinch" points.
Ramblings from a crazy man...

Listen you crazy man...you've got me looking crazy now.:scratchhead::crazy:

The moral of the story is PREVENTATIVE measures. So little effort can avoid so much misery.

Marcus, what'd somebody walk by and see you playing knuckles with yourself?? :D

I can hear it now.. "WTF are you doing.."