Living with Disc Issues

[GoToHealth]

Hi all.

So i herniated my L4-L5 lumbar disc (and minor abnormalities from L2 to L4) from doing too much weight on an inclined leg press and bad form. I also somehow caused bulging discs in my neck (cervical vertebrae, can't remember which ones) from either years of scrunching my neck during workouts or having my head pointed downwards for very long periods of time while working.

Both started out with very strong, radiating nerve pain, numbness, tingling etc that was horrible. For the neck, it was the side of the head, in the shoulder, and down the left arm. For my leg, it was in my left hip, down my left leg and all the way to my big toe. After anywhere from 2 to 5 years of seeing countless doctors, physical therapists, research, etc, i've finally been able to find solutions to my pain that got it down to a very manageable level.

So i've been using a combination of an inversion table, an inflatable neck brace that pumps up and stretches the neck, various exercises that involve pulling my shoulders down and back and laying flat on the ground with my chin flat too, and taking Omega 3-6-9/Borage oil supplements for inflammation.

The neck seems to require constant work, i'm on the inversion table one to two times a day for about 15 to 30 minutes if i can swing it (best amount of time i've found), and the supplements seem to work anywhere from 60% to 80% of the time.

I'm just looking to see if there's possibly anything else I can do to help this pain go away and get these discs to finally heal in place or stay in place so i don't need to keep doing this constant upkeep.

Can anybody give any advice if there's anything else that can be done?

[Emma2017]

Hi there, I had horrible nerve pain down my left left leg into my foot to my small toes which suddenly went completely numb. Long story short I had 3 micro discectomies and then a fusion of the l5/s1 disc which helped a lot. It did not take everything away and I was left with issues. I had physio and some other therapies prescribed by the consultant but it left me with constant pain. What helped me get back to where I am now was the alexander technique. I had a lady that was very very good and basically taught me to get into the correct posture (sitting and standing) and walking as that is everything. Plus she gave me some exercises. Its very important though to get a very good teacher as there are lots of them around but few good ones. Its worth a shot I would have thought. The other thing that helped me was a musceloskeletal guy that helped me to also concentrate on the correct posture but in a different way. The two combined proved right for me.

[GoToHealth in reply to Emma2017]

Did you get MRI's done? And how bad were the herniations? I got mine checked, but no sports medicine doctor or neurosurgeon ever suggested i get surgery done. The only options I was ever given were for physio or a steroid injection.

Even without surgery and posture correction, I've gotten to a pretty good place with my pain with exercises and an inversion table (plus the supplements as extra help).

I've been tempted to consider a discectomy or a fusion, but I don't want to be left with more pain than I have right now. Did you try anything else before getting the surgeries like physio?

[Kjun54321 in reply to GoToHealth]

I had my L4-L5 fused and my C5-6-7 fused. I have no issues with my neck, but I still have chronic lower back pain. I can feel bulging disc above and below the fusions and I have degenerative disc disease. I feel like I hurt where the bolts were in place. I also have a spinal cord stimulator which helps tremendously with nerve pain, but not so much with muscle pain.

[GoToHealth in reply to Kjun54321]

That's where i'm afraid with the fusions. They'd probably cause the discs above and below to overstretch and cause more issues. Don't know if I have a degenerative disc disease, but a lot of mine seemed to have started having issues around the same time.

[Kjun54321 in reply to GoToHealth]

I was told that with a fusion, the area above and below can deteriorate within 5 years. I do have bulging discs and an annular tear in L3. I am probably due for another surgery but was asked to wait by the doctor who put in the stimulator. I guess to give it a chance to work. I do have pain but am taking different medications to help it subside so I can continue working at my desk job.

[Emma2017 in reply to GoToHealth]

Hi, I had physio first which did nothing then an xray guided injection which again did nothing. I was then referred to a neuro surgeon who took one look at the MRI and sprung into action as it was a slow onset CE and within a few days I had the first microdiscectomy. This one worked but after 1 and a half years it did the same so had the second microd which unfortunately failed within 2 weeks so had another one. This all went fine for another one and a half year after which it started going wrong again. I apparently have very large discs which is good and bad obviously. This time he said there is nothing else but a fusion left. I mulled it over for a while but then went for it as I could not go on like I was, at the same time I had a laminectomy higher up.I have no regrets as it stopped the horrendous nerve pain down the back of my leg. I had physio afterwards and was recommended AT which has been a live saver as it got me to where I am now. I am walking about 4K a day which seemed an impossibility a few years ago. I do get tired in my back especially if standing still in one spot for a while. I also got a thera gun which is great in relieving muscle tension which I do get a lot.

[GoToHealth in reply to Emma2017]

So it sounds like a fusion is pretty much the best thing. So you don't have any residual pain from the fusion? Or nothing new that you could feel from it? Also, what's AT?

I've also heard of laminectomy, but not sure if i'd like to have a large chunk of bone cut out from a vertebrae. Not sure how that affects the spine structurally.