Bulging spine discs: ~Any one had treatment for bulging... - NRAS

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Bulging spine discs

allanah profile image
9 Replies

~Any one had treatment for bulging spine discs and nerve involvement Axx

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allanah profile image
allanah
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9 Replies
rab333 profile image
rab333

Hi Allanah

I had surgery in the end and had the disc removed and the vertebrae in that area fused. The disc had been pressing on the nerve giving me pain down right leg into calf. I have been much better since and still suffer from mild backache occasionally...

allanah profile image
allanah in reply to rab333

Hi rab thanks for the answer. Was it a major op, how long was recovery? Was it due to ra or trauma? Would u go through it again and did it involve lots of mri scans (I have a real ..irrational phobia of the!!)Thanks axx

rab333 profile image
rab333 in reply to allanah

Allanah

it depends on the surgery you need, whether it is a decompression..or a fusion a but these days it is not as major as it used to be...you will be out of bed and on your feet next day...I recovered really quickly because I had a positive attitude and although I had surgical pain it was no where near as bad as the sciatica...I had one MRI scan...I would go through it again if need be...

allanah profile image
allanah in reply to rab333

thanks for that, yep i do need to chill now and get on with it, just got a shock on friday when they phoned, thanks for the advice. Axx

joan_w profile image
joan_w

I have just had an integrated spinal fusion to sort out spondylolisthesis - where one vertebrae has slipped forward on top of the one below causing the spinal cord to bend and trapping nerves, due to the facet joints being worn and crumbling. I also have a slipped disc higher up, the consultant said he has never seen one that bad in the position it is in - it is nearly out of the vertebrae.

He said at first that he would sort out the disc after the spinal fusion as they were too far apart to do in one operation but when I last saw him I said it didn't seem to be causing any problems so we are leaving it for a bit.

I believe it is not a really big operation, certainly not as big as the spinal fusion. I had no problems with the spinal fusion (except for an RA flare but that is standard for me after any op). The only frustratiing thing is you cannot do a lot of things for 6 months afterwards. Don't think it is as bad for a disc.

I did have to have an MRI but that was to determine what was causing all my back pain. If they already know it is a disc then maybe you won't need that although I don't think discs will show up on any other scan. I only had to have one MRI.

My Rheumy said that it was most likely osteoarthritis that had caused the problems not RA. I do have osteoarthritis in my knees so perhaps RA isn't responsible for my spinal problems.

I would certainly have the op for the disc if I need it and would also do the spinal fusion op again if needed. I was walking quite bent over and straight away after the op I was standing up straight. The pain straight after the op is not bad and pretty soon goes away. As I say the most frustrating thing was all the things I had to do and not to do. You have to be careful to keep in a straight plane for some months as much as possible. Try not to twist or bend from the waist, which is actually easier said than done.

If the disc is causing you pain or any other problems then do not hesitate to have the operation. My hospital called in a specialist consultant who is not actually on their regular staff. He specialises in degenerative conditions of the spine and I had complete faith in him.

Hope you get this sorted soon.

Jo

allanah profile image
allanah in reply to joan_w

Thanks Jo, that's given me a lot of help thankyou, And will have a long chat with them Axx

in reply to joan_w

They may suggest wallace implants, but 6 week in bed and little movement is not good, my best mate had it done but it did not work, now he has scaffolding holding his lower spine together, and is in so much pain he takes like 6 gabapentinn at a time, and consentated oral morphine, sometimes they do not know best, try EFT for pain, you tube and type in EFT FOR BACK PAIN.

SHAUN

missdiannedyas23 profile image
missdiannedyas23

Hi can anyone help i have a very bad back caused by disc bulge and 2 thats crumbled my gp said like a squashed fishcake (nice) i am morphine patches and tablets to ease pain when it really hits naproxen, propananol and catalapran maybe spelt wrong its a anti depression tablet,twice in 12 months its hit at it worse when i just could not move i got so hot i was illustrations and shaking i could not put one foot infront of another i peed oneself and when the ambulance came they did not no what to do at the hospital they thought it was kidney stones,apendix i was in 3 days the second time i rode it threw at home ut the pain was the same ,now i just have constent severe pain i had to put a shower in i could not get in bath i cant barley walk i have had the epidural with the steroids in and nothing i am now waiting for the drip to go in my hand with a slow release drug see if that helps,how as this happened to me please,i no its not going t8 get better but they will try and ease pain please help if you can ?

allanah profile image
allanah in reply to missdiannedyas23

I was very nervous too. But the painkillers steroids and operation which fused my discs, removed two and put a cage around the spine was not too painful at all! And the results were amazingly good, I have had no trouble now for two years. The scar looked like Frankenstein at the front of my neck initially BUT within a few weeks it added to nothing! I would trust the docs, get the painkillers etc and if they offer spinal surgery really do consider it, I can only speak from my experience that it helped me , the staff were amazing . Good luck and I really hope you feel less sore, scared and better very quickly , thinking of you xx

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