Discussion
Yes, been there lifting something I shouldnt have been and losing my balance
Mine was at L4/5, I felt it 'squelch' at the time and had awful pains into my butt and hamstrings
A surgeon told me 90% of acute discs settle on their own which mine did after 2-3 weeks of voltarol and whisky
Good luck - I didnt bother with the MRI, it was obvious what happened
- **If you get any weakness or bladder probs go to hospital ASAP though ****
It is actually quite difficult to 'slip' a disc, often the pain is muscular and even if it isn't most back pain settles down within 6 weeks or so. Go to the doctors to get heavy duty pain killers if required, though some of the OTC stuff like nurofen plus and paramol is pretty strong.
As previous poster said, weakness, bladder problems or numbness around the bum/crown jewels are red flags requiring immediate hospital visit.
Stay as active as possible, if you lie around doing nothing you will seize up.
As previous poster said, weakness, bladder problems or numbness around the bum/crown jewels are red flags requiring immediate hospital visit.
Stay as active as possible, if you lie around doing nothing you will seize up.
I had one last year. A new world of pain....
What fixed it was a nerve root block:
http://www.spine-works.com/our-services/inpatient/...
The disc seemed to be sitting on the femoral nerve, so I couldn't walk properly for a while. I still have back problems, but fortunately not a repeat of this agonising episode!
What fixed it was a nerve root block:
http://www.spine-works.com/our-services/inpatient/...
The disc seemed to be sitting on the femoral nerve, so I couldn't walk properly for a while. I still have back problems, but fortunately not a repeat of this agonising episode!
gaz1234 said:
2 months on. Back not so bad but bum, ankle is. Problem, pain is down the leg 
Sciaticish pain is, well, a pain but can be endemic of a disc issue. As above they can fix themselves but it will take a lot of time. A bulging disc can cause this - the body will do its best to fix the issue but sadly what can take weeks to cause can take months to fix(caveat - if anyone DOES have a quick fix - please let me know)...
gaz1234 said:
2 months on. Back not so bad but bum, ankle is. Problem, pain is down the leg
Have you seen anyone medically qualified yet?At risk of causing offence if I had symptoms 2 months down the line I suspect Id want to see a Dr who had been to doctor school and not a lay person as you seem to have done
numtumfutunch said:
Have you seen anyone medically qualified yet?
At risk of causing offence if I had symptoms 2 months down the line I suspect Id want to see a Dr who had been to doctor school and not a lay person as you seem to have done
I agree with this.At risk of causing offence if I had symptoms 2 months down the line I suspect Id want to see a Dr who had been to doctor school and not a lay person as you seem to have done
You need an MRI scan. It might be a disc, it might not.
PS discs don't slip, they bulge and can press on the nerves which run through the spine causing sciatica and the like.
numtumfutunch said:
Have you seen anyone medically qualified yet?
At risk of causing offence if I had symptoms 2 months down the line I suspect Id want to see a Dr who had been to doctor school and not a lay person as you seem to have done
Yes. Within a week of pain I saw physio. She diagnosed herniated or degenerative disc. I also then saw chiro for a couple of weeks, using acu and ultra, but they sat on the fence a little. Only after a few visits they agreed a disc issue. At risk of causing offence if I had symptoms 2 months down the line I suspect Id want to see a Dr who had been to doctor school and not a lay person as you seem to have done
I then stopped going as seemed to not be improving and getting costly. Doc refered me to specialist.
They now say it will fix itself. They won't book me in for scan.
I can't sit without pain.
I'd like MRI but don't think I'll get it.
Nine months on and I still have a right pain in the arse and down the back of my thigh, I thought it was getting better but the little bugger must have been a Brit POW in a past life and on the escape committee.
A sneeze or picking the mail up from the doormat and the little s
t is trying to get out again.
I'm hoping it heals soon as my bikes are sat there gathering dust and I have a newborn. You'll be fine in six weeks they told me when it happened!
Strange about the MRI, although the leg raise test confirmed the diagnosis I had an MRI right away.
A sneeze or picking the mail up from the doormat and the little s
t is trying to get out again.I'm hoping it heals soon as my bikes are sat there gathering dust and I have a newborn. You'll be fine in six weeks they told me when it happened!
Strange about the MRI, although the leg raise test confirmed the diagnosis I had an MRI right away.
Are you guys doing the daily exercises for a prolapsed disc?
I've had a of a summer. Tendonitis in my elbow, prolapsed disc between L2 - L3 vertebrae and my gallbladder out 3 weeks ago. When I went to physio about the disc, I couldn't stand up straight due to burning pain in upper left leg and groin. 5 sessions and daily spine-opening & hip flexor exercises I walked out of physio standing up straight and not a bit of bother since.
I was told to stay the fk away from anyone who wanted to manipulate the spine/vertebrae.
I've had a
of a summer. Tendonitis in my elbow, prolapsed disc between L2 - L3 vertebrae and my gallbladder out 3 weeks ago. When I went to physio about the disc, I couldn't stand up straight due to burning pain in upper left leg and groin. 5 sessions and daily spine-opening & hip flexor exercises I walked out of physio standing up straight and not a bit of bother since.I was told to stay the f
k away from anyone who wanted to manipulate the spine/vertebrae.My MRI was on the NHS, I've had physio, injections (never again) and nothing has helped, I've point blank refused an op after talking to people that have had it, not many had a good thing to say about the outcome.
The main thing for me is managing the pain, keeping mobile helps as does st loads of pills (that's until my leg falls out of bed in the night then the people in the next town hear the screams) weird thing is my back has never hurt only my leg from my arse to my heel.
To be honest I'm getting used to it, some days are better than others, some days my foot is just pins and needles and it feels like someone elses, I work in IT so I sit down most of the time and they recommended I change jobs or wink wink go on the sick. As I said the biggest thing for me is keeping mobile, I go for a walk around the office every hour.
The main thing for me is managing the pain, keeping mobile helps as does s
t loads of pills (that's until my leg falls out of bed in the night then the people in the next town hear the screams) weird thing is my back has never hurt only my leg from my arse to my heel.To be honest I'm getting used to it, some days are better than others, some days my foot is just pins and needles and it feels like someone elses, I work in IT so I sit down most of the time and they recommended I change jobs or wink wink go on the sick. As I said the biggest thing for me is keeping mobile, I go for a walk around the office every hour.
My sis has just had surgery for a herniated disc, diagnosis confirmed after MRI. It was very low down and pressing on her nerves so was losing feeling in her legs and constant pins and needle/numbness, she could not sit/ stand properly etc and initially they thought it could be sciatica but it was because the disc was pressing on the nerves.
Since surgery a couple weeks ago she feels a whole lot better. She had a great dr who pushed for specialist appt asap for her due to seriousness of her symptoms, horrendous pain she was in and the fact she had 3 kids under 4yrs old to take care of!!
They tried steroid inj's initially but only offered a very temporary and minor relief.
This was in Australia but it was touch and go to know if insurance would pay it.
Since surgery a couple weeks ago she feels a whole lot better. She had a great dr who pushed for specialist appt asap for her due to seriousness of her symptoms, horrendous pain she was in and the fact she had 3 kids under 4yrs old to take care of!!
They tried steroid inj's initially but only offered a very temporary and minor relief.
This was in Australia but it was touch and go to know if insurance would pay it.
Edited by bexVN on Wednesday 3rd September 23:46
Mckenzie extension exercises help me greatly when I slip a disc. Immediate relief and seem to pop small slips back into place straight away. I've had a couple of major episodes and a few minor ones. I wouldn't suggest doing anything without advice from a decent physio first, but given how simple and effective I've found them, might be worth looking into.
Sheets tabeur - I had surgery for a herniated disc and got relief for a bit until it degenerated and I had follow up surgery to fuse. That was 2.5 years ago. I still have so,e symptoms but I'm mountain biking, had skiing lessons, learnt to fly, and have done track days. Prior to the surgery I was nearly house bound.
There are lots of successful outcomes so maybe worth thinking about, if things are that bad. I understand the fear though!
There are lots of successful outcomes so maybe worth thinking about, if things are that bad. I understand the fear though!
I did mine about 2 years ago. All I will say is don't rush to have surgery on it, a friend did and had to have multiple operations and it's still not right to this day. My back is mainly ok now, I think you learn how to look after it. I did lots of swimming which helped. Also try and stay off the voltarol... Yes it works but you'll end up doing more damage to you back as you'll think it's miraculously got better.
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