Alternative to Diskectomy

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tford13

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Hi

Since July this year, I have had burning pain from my left hip down the top of my thigh, over my knee and down my shin. MRI and Back doc said herniated disk between L4/L5. I have tried, bed rest, ice/heat, PT, 3 Epidural Steroid Injections, deep tissue massage, stretching and exercising (walking, spin bike, elliptical) - very limited due to pain.

Planning on trying acupuncture starting this week.

Does anyone have any other suggestions or ideas? The pain is steady and flairs up daily and I really do not want to have surgery based on other postings feedback.

Any ideas/help would be appreciated.
 
There are a lot of successful surgical procedures. Keep in mind that many of us here have multiple problems or are the ones who haven't done as well. Those who do well tend to leave these boarRAB as they need the resource less and less.

I have a variety of spinal issues and am so glad that I've had each surgery. Each has relieved a great deal of my pain and kept me moving all these years.
 
I'm in the same situation. L4/5 herniation with compression since July. Sucks don't it. Keep plugging away. I am seeing a nuerosurgeon today because I have done the same treatments you mentioned with little or no good results. Except for the epidurals, I consider those a bandaid and not a fix. But that is based on some neck injury I had 4 years ago. I 'll post what options the surgeon provides me. Good luck and keep trying to get better.
 
After ESI, best choice is minimally-invasive spinal surgery. Good surgeon will not do any harm to you with MIS procedure.

RegarRAB
 
I too am from Bucks Cty.. did this at U of P in Phila 10 days Monday... things are great did 25 min on Stepper yesterday I hit the gym every day... read below!!!!
Just had my microD (L5-S1) on Monday 12/21/09. went home tuesday Morning. Must say things are marvelous. No pain at the wound site or down my right leg as before (since April 2009 when I had the herniation). Doing walking now and feel great, but NOTHING ELSE.
As info up I'm a Soccer Referee at very high level (Pro, Amature, College, High School) and I am in excellent shape up until this thing in April 2009 and diagnosis by MRI (L5-S1). I know the game I did it in, and was pretty much crippled from Sciatic nerve pain after that. I went for 4 epidural steroid injections (usual is 3 ) and 1 piriformis block injection AND Accupuncture, all of which relieved alot of Sciatic pain, I was able to Referee Pro & College games thru the summer and fall with discomfort mostly after the games. I fractured my foot during a game in early October, but finished my season in Noveraber and a Noveraber MRI revealed that no additional damage was done by continuing to Officiate my games, at which time I scheduled to see a Neuro surgeon for options to relieve the sciatic nerve pressure and pain hopefully for good. I was close to trying one of the Percutaneous Discectomy ( spine wand or nucleoplasty) but was convinced by my last surgeon that the only cure for my herniation was the microdiscectomy because of the size of the herniation. Scheduled and completed on 12/21/09, and as of today I just completed a 3 mile walk with absoutely no pain or problems. I'm doing everything they say for days 1-7 and hopefully can bike and swim after 10 days.:
 
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