Diagnosed with large thoracic herniated disc impinging the anterior chord?
It is going on 2 years and finally saw a neurosergeon and he is going to operate in dec. this year, but my symptoms are bad like constant burning in the low back and stomach, chronic nausea,groin pain,leg and foot pain, depression,kidney pain, bladder pain, and constipation. does anyone know how to cope until surgery please help
I’m really sorry that you must endure this terrible illness my friend.All I can offer is maybe asking your doctor for some pain medication until you have your surgery this Dec.I’m sure that he can offer you something for the terrible pain/nausea.I hope you feel better soon my friend………..
So I just suffered a herniated disc in my lower back a few days ago and the major problem is golf season is right around the bend. So any recommendations to get over this or just help the pain go away quick enough for golf season?
If you suffered a herniated disc in the lumbar region, you will most likely have problems if you continue to golf due to the rotation of your spine during the swing. If you are unsure exactly what a herniated disc in that region involves, learn a bit more about it and see how it is aggravated by rotation. I work with many people with lumbar injuries and golf often triggers another onset of pain once they begin playing again.
As a physician specializing in treating athletes, Dr. Vijay Vad has spent years researching how to cure back pain using medical yoga and Pilates. Profiled in The Wall Street Journal, his program requires just fifteen minutes a day for eight weeks to restore flexibility and prevent future injuries. Offering a proven alternative to invasive surgery, Dr. Vad’s Back Rx provides the best of min…
Four days post op and most of my symptoms are still with me, pain in
legs when standing, sitting, one numb foot and calf.? The nerve pain when sitting on the loo and cleaning ones teeth is terrible. The only improvement is no pain in inner thighs and groin. Where part of the incision was made I have a small lump which is very painful(like a spot). The rest of the area where the incision was made about two inches is fine and healing well. I’m going to the doctors tomorrow just in case it’s a infection.
Am I expecting to much so soon for all the nerve pain to disappear or will this go in time.?
I went for a walk today which was very difficult,painful and had a shooting pain from the ankle up to the calf, motor functions not normal. Surgeon said he had to take away a large portion of my disc. Bladder,bowls normal and male function operational (thank you!!)
I am sure that the surgeon told you this but just in case he or she didn’t. The reaction to the disc pressing on the nerves was swelling and if there long enough scar tissue. There are two sides to a nerve. The top portion or the side that is closest to the back is for sensation and the bottom half is for motor. In your case the pressure was on both indicative of a larger disc problem. If the problem was there for a long time it is equally going to take time to repair if the nerve can recover. The rule of thumb is that it takes about on inch per month for recovery. That means that it is one inch from the site of the operation down to the tip of your big toe. Now in reality it will not take that long for all function to return but it is going to be quite a while. As for what is happening now you have the swelling from before the procedure plus any and all swelling from the procedure. Give it time but within a few days there should be a reduction in your complaints. That doesn’t mean recovery just a start of a lessening of symptoms. You didn’t state what kind of procedure was done and if there was any fixation devices implanted. Different procedures make a difference in the way the body reacts and if any fixation devices were used then it is going to take longer. So the big thing is that you have control over bowel and bladder and your male functions. The motor functions are going to take time to return. Sensation is going to be interesting for you. The body has overlapping sensory inputs so you should be able to feel things sooner than the motor responses. Follow the surgeons instructions and keep moving.
The Herniated Disc Treatment Guide reveals in a concise, easy-to-understand manner the truth behind the dreaded back pain diagnosis of herniated disc… and how to recover from it fast.The authors, Dr. Robert Duvall, DPT, MPT, ATC, MGFI; Fitness Expert and Post Rehab Specialist Jesse Cannone, CFT, CPRS; and Sports Massage Therapist Steve Hefferon, CMT, PTA, CPRS of the Healthy Back Institute have …
Chances are either you or someone you know is in back pain right this minute. They are suffering from what is commonly called a herniated disc, something that can be very painful and downright debilitating. Essentially, the discs in your back have become inflamed and are letting you know in no uncertain terms that this has occurred.If you are reading this, you are probably looking for pain relief;…
You’ve probably heard people say they have a “slipped” or “ruptured” disc in the back. Sometimes they complain that their back “went out”. What they’re most likely describing is a herniated disc. This condition is a common source of back and leg pain.
Discs are soft cushions found between the vertebrae that make up the spinal column (your backbone). In the middle of the spinal column is the spinal canal, a hollow space that contains the spinal cord. The nerves that supply the arms, leg, and torso come from the spinal cord. The nerves from the neck supply the arms and hands, and the nerves from the low back supply the butt and legs. The discs between the vertebrae allow the back to move freely and act like shock absorbers.
The disc is made up of two main sections. The outer part (the annulus) is made up of tough cartilage that is comprised of series of rings. The center of the disc is a jelly-like substance called the nucleus pulposus. A disc herniates or ruptures when part of the jelly center pushes through the outer wall of the disc into the spinal canal, and puts pressure on the nerves. A disc bulge is when the jelly substance pushes the outer wall but doesn’t completely go through the wall.
What do you feel?
Low back pain will affect four out of five people during their lifetime. The most common symptom of a herniated disc is “sciatica”. Sciatica is best described as a sharp, often shooting pain that begins in the buttocks and goes down the back of one leg. This is most often caused by pressure on the sciatic nerve that exits the spinal cord. Other symptoms include:
Weakness in one leg or both legs
Numbness and tingling in one leg (pins & needles)
A burning pain centered in the low back
Loss of bladder or bowel control (seek medical attention immediately)
Back pain with gradually increasing leg pain. (If you have weakness in both legs. Seek immediate attention.)
How do you know you have a herniated disc?
Your medical history is key to a proper diagnosis. A physical examination can usually determine which nerve roots are affected (and how seriously). A simple x-ray may show evidence of disc or degenerative spine changes. An MRI (magnetic resonance imaging) is usually the best option (most expensive) to determine which disc has herniated.
Why do discs herniate?
Discs are primarily composed of water. As we become older (after the age of 30), the water content decreases, so the discs begin to shrink and lose their shape. When the disc becomes smaller the space between the vertebrae decreases and become narrower. Also, as the disc loses water content the disc itself becomes less flexible.
While aging, excess weight, improper lifting and the decrease in water in the discs all contribute to the breaking down of discs, the primary cause of a herniation or bluge is uneven compression and torsion that’s placed on the discs.
This uneven pressure is caused by imbalances in muscles that pull the spine out of its normal position and then your body is forced to function in what I call a physical dysfunction. Every human being develops these dysfunctions over time and eventually they cause enough damage to create pain.
The best treatment options
When it comes to treating a herniated disc, there are traditional treatments such as ice/heat, ultrasound, electrical stimulation, cortisone injections, anti-inflammatory medications and even surgery. While these may deliver some relief, it will usually be temporary if at all.
But the major problem with these traditional treatments is that they can’t fix or heal a herniated disc as they do not address the actual cause of the problem. For example, even if you were to have a surgery and get some pain relief, the fact is the dysfunctions that caused the disc to herniated in the first place are still there and if not addressed, they will continue to place uneven pressure and strain on the discs and sooner or later you will likely have another problem with that disc, or others.
Without identifying and addressing the underlying cause of the problem, which is the physical dysfunctions caused by imbalances in muscles, you will likely continue to suffer with this condition and the continuous flare ups for years.
Unfortunately, most doctors, chiropractors and physical therapists don’t spend time or focus on identifying the physical dysfunctions that are responsible for the condition so most people end up jumping from one useless traditional treatment to the next and suffer for months or years unnecessarily.
If you have been diagnosed with a herniated disc, or are wondering if your back pain may be caused by a herniated disc, either way you must identify and address the physical dysfunctions that are causing your pain as part of your recovery.
About the Author
For more information on herniated discs and how to treat them effectively, read the latest Back Pain Advisory from The Healthy Back Institute. You can get a free copy of it here: http://www.losethebackpain.com/herniateddisc.html.
The Herniated Disc Treatment Guide reveals in a concise, easy-to-understand manner the truth behind the dreaded back pain diagnosis of herniated disc… and how to recover from it fast.The authors, Dr. Robert Duvall, DPT, MPT, ATC, MGFI; Fitness Expert and Post Rehab Specialist Jesse Cannone, CFT, CPRS; and Sports Massage Therapist Steve Hefferon, CMT, PTA, CPRS of the Healthy Back Institute have …
Chances are either you or someone you know is in back pain right this minute. They are suffering from what is commonly called a herniated disc, something that can be very painful and downright debilitating. Essentially, the discs in your back have become inflamed and are letting you know in no uncertain terms that this has occurred.If you are reading this, you are probably looking for pain relief;…
A Herniated Disc – is Immediate Relief Possible? 4 Steps to Take Right Now!
So you’ve been diagnosed with a herniated disc. How will you cope with possible surgery? The good news is more than likely you won’t have to!
Being a former herniated disc patient myself, I wondered why or how I led myself to have this much pain in my back and left leg. The physician that diagnosed this condition said that I may need to have surgery. I was a little worried and wondered how I got this debilitating condition in the first place and wanted to find any alternative treatments if possible instead of surgery.
Not wanting to ever get a herniated disc again, I studied intensely into the causes of herniated disc and found a few leading factors that bring this condition on and what may have caused my herniated disc.
It was interesting to find out that it is more common to see this condition in people aged 35 to 55. Being overweight can put extra pressure on the discs and even smoking can cause degeneration in the disc. Lifting heavy objects the wrong way by twisting suddenly is a more obvious cause. Not eating enough nutritional foods such as fruits and vegetables and drinking 8-10 glasses of water daily can really have an impact. We are always reminded that our health relies heavily on what nutrition our bodies get on a daily basis.
The bad news is that sugar depletes our body of vitamins and minerals. It causes your body to not effectively absorb calcium and magnesium. Both are vital to bone strength. So it is important to watch our intake of sugar, which can be tough for me when chocolate comes to mind!
Stress contributes as well. It’s really difficult to think happy thoughts when you have this condition, you want to stress more, but just know that there are very effective ways of eliminating the pain of the herniated disc that don’t have to be as drastic as surgery.
What was extremely helpful in my recovery was stretching and strengthening exercises and a traction machine that I rented from my doctor. This type of therapy relieved the pressure from the spine and muscles, ligaments and tendons surrounding it. So the pain significantly decreased and I my back was feeling more flexible again with less pain and eventually pain free.
About the Author
Verona Raymond gets results when dealing with herniated disc pain. Learn her secret to eliminate herniated disc pain and get her 7 step action plan. To receive your own free 7 step action plan, visit: http://www.herniated-disc-treatment.com
The Herniated Disc Treatment Guide reveals in a concise, easy-to-understand manner the truth behind the dreaded back pain diagnosis of herniated disc… and how to recover from it fast.The authors, Dr. Robert Duvall, DPT, MPT, ATC, MGFI; Fitness Expert and Post Rehab Specialist Jesse Cannone, CFT, CPRS; and Sports Massage Therapist Steve Hefferon, CMT, PTA, CPRS of the Healthy Back Institute have …
Chances are either you or someone you know is in back pain right this minute. They are suffering from what is commonly called a herniated disc, something that can be very painful and downright debilitating. Essentially, the discs in your back have become inflamed and are letting you know in no uncertain terms that this has occurred.If you are reading this, you are probably looking for pain relief;…
The spectre of a herniated disc refers to the fear factor which has been build up in the back pain patient population relating to the common occurrence of bulging and ruptured intervertebral discs. There are no more frightening words in the orthopedic community than “herniated disc” and the effects of these words uttered during back pain diagnosis are far more damaging than one might expect.
When most people injure their backs (or perceive injury to their backs) one of the first ideas which comes to mind is…
“I hope I did not herniate a disc!”
Most patients do not know that herniations are incredibly common, especially in the lumbar and cervical spinal regions. In fact, herniations at L4/L5, L5/S1, C5/C6 and C6/C7 are so prevalent in the patient population, many doctors routinely anticipate finding them on MRI studies whether or not the patient has any history of back pain whatsoever.
The fear of having a herniated disc may just be one of the causative processes involved in many diagnosed disc pain syndromes. When a person suspects a disc injury or actually has disc damage confirmed via CT scan or spinal MRI, they almost always suffer a downward spiral in their condition. Most patients report symptoms get worse upon positive confirmation of a herniated disc. This has been studied exhaustively and has been attributed not to any structural reason, but instead to what is known in psychology as the nocebo effect.
The majority of affected disc pain patients have never heard of the nocebo effect, even though they are likely to be suffering from it. Everyone knows what a placebo is… Well, the nocebo effect is exactly the opposite. While a placebo is a entity which provides a positive effect through completely psychological suggestion, the nocebo provides an equal negative effect through psychological means alone. This is part of a much larger theory of non-structural based pain commonly called mindbody medicine.
Research statistics show absolutely no correlation between mild to moderate disc issues and the incidence of back pain. This has led many top doctors to theorize that herniated discs are normal in most cases and have been taking place in the human spine for countless millennia. They were rarely blamed for pain in the past, since without advanced diagnostic imaging; there was no way to know they existed… Now, with modern technology, the Cartesian philosophy of back pain is more prevalent than ever in the treatment sector, since structural evidence of supposedly “serious spinal problems” could be presented to each patient. This would ensure fear, anxiety and continued pain, leading the sufferer to seek ongoing and sometimes drastic treatment for their symptoms, despite the horrific curative results offered by these very same therapies…
There is no doubt in my mind that the only thing keeping the purely Cartesian medical model alive is the extreme profitability of back pain treatments. It is a well known fact that dorsopathy sufferers rarely recover and usually move from doctor to doctor and treatment to treatment. Continuing therapies, like chiropractic, are wonderfully profitable over the long term, while “big ticket” treatments, like spinal surgery, are fast and profitable in the short term. If a non-structural causation of back pain was widely accepted based on the ever growing evidence, it would mean the end of all this medical nonsense… Translation: no more easy money!
The bottom line on the spectre of herniated discs comes down to this simple advice… Unless your disc issues are extreme, or have been shown without a doubt to be causing pain, do not buy in the hype. The majority of diagnosed herniated discs do not cause pain or related symptoms and a comparative analysis of expected symptoms versus clinical presentation will prove this in most patients. Learn the facts for yourself. After all, there has to be some answer to the usual question,
“How come my back still hurts, even tough I have been in treatment for my discs for years?”
It is common sense. The disc is not likely the source of the pain.
About the Author
Sensei Adam Rostocki suffered with recurrent back pain for 18 years. Sensei Rostocki is the author of popular self help book, “Cure Back Pain Forever” (ISBN 1-59971-997-5). His Herniated Disc website provides easy to understand information about a wide range of disc concerns, as well as effective treatments.
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