Herniated Disc Help

Saturday, June 19th, 2010 at 10:58 am

herniated disc help
Herniated Disc?

I have a herniated disc and my doctor recommends surgery. I had it six years before. While it made me feel better right away my chiropractor said that since they take some of the disc that slips over that causes your bones to rub together. Anyone else decide against the surgery? Why or why not? He said he didn’t think physical therapy would help.
The herniated disc is in my lower back. I believe it is L4. It’s above the one that I had surgery on six years ago.

It’s distressing when physicians will not even attempt physical therapy prior to surgery or narcotics.

Of those with herniated discs, good candidates for physical therapy include those whose pain is intermittent (meaning symptoms might be there frequently, but there are at least a few instances when pain does not occur, or pain only occurs with assuming a particular posture or movement), or does not extend below the knee and changes with different movements and positions. This demonstates that the disc has the ability to change position…physical therapy is the key to finding the right movement to induce the right changes.

Conversely, constant symptoms (meaning there is never a moment of relief…), symptoms that worsen and stay worse with all movements, symptoms that extend below the knee and presense of a shift in the spine towards the side of symptoms generally leads to a poorer prognosis. Not that people who have these symptoms can’t be helped, it’s just that the more of these you have, the more likely you will fail with PT.

A sudden inability to contain your urine or significant focal weakness (such as a footdrop) are the only real true indications to go immediately to surgery.

I would really speak to your doctor again about physical therapy, and if he/she agrees, I HIGHLY recommend you see a physical therapist who is trained and/or credentialed in the MDT method. You can get a list of accrediated providers at: http://www.mckenziemdt.org

Disc Herniation

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