hernieated Disk

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leslie123

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I have a hernieated disk at L5, S1. I truly don't want to have surgery and am looking for ways to avoid it. I have talked to a Neurosurgeon and also a Dr. that specializes in alternatives (injections, physical therapy, etc.) I did have and injection last Wednesday and it feels somewhat better. (It doesn't hurt when i cough!). Is there anyone out there that has tried alternatives and/or surgery and could give me some infor on their experiences? What if I pospone surgery and try alternatives and then find out down the road 6 to 12 months that surgery is necessary. What are the complications then? Thanks for your help.

Leslie:confused:
 
I am sorry to hear about your herniated disc. My L5 disc has herniated twice in the past couple years. I had to have surgery for the first herniation because I was pregnant and could not live with the pain and could not do any other treatment. The pain was immediately gone after surgery. Then a year later it herniated so badly that my neurosurgeon said it was the largest herniated disc he had ever seen. I was in so much pain and my right buttock and the back of my right thigh became nurab. My right groin area is also a bit nurab. I was told if I did not relieve the pressure off those nerves, I could have permanent damage. Well, I had the surgery but guess what.....I am still nurab and the pain is even worse!!! The nerves were severely damaged and now they are telling me it might be permanent.

So, I guess what I am trying to say is listen to your body. If symptoms continue to get worse, you might want to think about surgery. But I know many, many people who have had herniations and never had to have surgery. Be very careful about lifting and good luck!
 
Hey Leslie,
Welcome to the spiney club!
My thought is this.....if you are not having pain down your leg, in your groin, buttock or foot, then I would continue doing what you are doing. Try some physical therapy, get another injection if it helps, strengthen your core muscles with exercises that the PT can give you and take it easy for awhile. If you start to experience symptoms of nerve pain like the pain above....then see a surgeon. I herniated L5-S1 with a free floating piece that broke off and was on the L5 nerve root. Within 1-2 weeks I had leg pain, foot drop and nurabness. I had surgery but I now have scar tissue and permanent nerve damage that I will live with forever. For most people surgery corrects the problem and they move on with their life. For others even when the problem is corrected the pain doesn't go away. So I would keep surgery as your last resort unless the pain suddenly gets a alot worse. Good luck!

Deb
 
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