Prolapsed disc anyone?

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MimiL4L5

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Maybe the doc meant I'd suffer from bulging disc anyway as I aged??! Perhaps! Never thought about it that way. Thanks!

What is really getting to me is not getting a real night's sleep. I toss and turn and although my husband has been quite understanding so far he is growing less patient. He too is dreaming of a good night's sleep! I wake up every hour. When I took painkillers it was the very same. Any advice?

Thank you so much again!

Mimi-who-is-very-frustrated-this-am
:(
 
Hi!

Suffered from prolapsed disc (L4, L5) in 2003. Never thought I'd have to go through that -a-g-o-n-y- again. But here I am... Excruciating pain only ( ! ) lasted about 7 days this time and I'm walking now, and off painkillers and muscle relaxants for 2 days now (they made my blood pressure shoot up) and I don't want to jump off a bridge because of the pain. I can sit. I can live again...!!! :angel:

When I told my doc I'd get through this he said... "Your back is finished. This will get worse and worse". At this point he is sending me to a pain management clinic.

Needless to say I'm not happy with him. :mad: I'm doing physio and getting better every day (unlike back in 2003, it lasted 3 months). I am about to take up Pilates again. It really helped but I was so busy I kind of stopped going stupid me. I know I'll have to be careful with my back for the rest of my life but sheesh! I don't feel my life is over. Athletes suffer from back pain too!

To you prolapsed disc sufferers... do you think your life is over? Do you think there is hope for you still? What works for you? I found lots about pain management etc but what about when you're feeling down? What helps?

Thank you very much!

The very best to you.

Mimi
 
After a little while on different medication for pain I woke up one morning to a blood pressure of 200/115 and pulse at 150. I woke up my husband shouting : 'I am going to have a stroke!!!!' --- He almost had one himself right there and then :D

That's the main reason why I ditched the meRAB to be honest. I was already skipping my afternoon muscle relaxant and sometimes even skipping pain meRAB. I guess being in pain for so long takes a toll on your body too because blood pressure is only getting better. Blood sugars too as a matter of fact. Funny how everything goes out of wack.

Feeling really REALLY good this am.

Good day to all!

Mimi
 
Hi Mimi,

Glad you are feeling better. Sometimes time is the best solution when it comes to disc problems.

I hope your progress continues and you feel a little bit better every day.

xx M:wave:M
 
Hello Mimi,

Welcome to the board. You are lucky that you made it from 2003 without any reoccurance of back pain! And you are lucky that once again it seems to have resolved on its own.

For others reading this, in the US, we more commonly call a prolapsed disc by the term "herniated" disc. You are right to keep as active as possible. In the past it was recommended to go to bed and rest for several days or longer, but now they find that causes more harm than help.

I wouldn't pay too much attention to what your doc said and I wouldn't bother getting into PM unless you feel your pain is becoming chronic.

You are right to keep active, doing sensible activities, of course. You should always be aware of posture and body mechanics, being very careful how you lift, and avoiding activities where you are twisting. Also watch your position while sleeping.

Have you had a recent MRI to see if you have other discs that are bulging? I'm searching for a reason why your doc would have said that your l"back is finished."

Please keep posting with your comments and questions.

xx M:wave:M
 
Mimi,

I wanted to tell you about a book that I found helpful. Pilates for Fragile Backs: Recovering Strength & Flexibility after Surgery, Injury or Other Back Problems by Andra Fischgrund Stanton. It is written for people who've had back surgery to get started again with a Pilates program.
 
Degeneration of the spine actually starts in our twenties. If everyone had a MRI at age 50, most would show some sort of herniation. No one's back looks "perfect" by the age of 50. And the majority of those people would not have any symptoms and would be shocked to learn there was anything "wrong."

I slept in the guest room prior to my surgery. I didn't want to keep my husband from getting his rest. I'm afraid I don't have any briliant ideas for you in this area. Some people have some luck sleeping with a variety of pillows propping them up into a comfortable position and keeping them from rolling out of it. You should not be sleeping on your stomach at all, as it puts your spine into an extension position. Sleep on your back only if you have pillows under your knees (to take the pressure off your lurabar discs). The best position is on your side with a pillow between your knees-- so your top leg is more or less at the same heigh as your hip joint which should be in line with your top shoulder. Again, multiple pillows will help hold you in this position. It is a chore to turn over to the other side during the night!!

Some people ask their docs for some sort of sleeping medication, or you can go to the healthfood store and get some valerian. It has been used for over 1,000 years to aid sleep.

My husband ruptured a disc 15 years ago the day before Christmas. I served him Christmas dinner on the floor. He was home for about 2 weeks and then returned to work. He found it most comfortable to stand whenever he could. It made others uncomfortable when they would come in to meet with him, and he'd be standing, but it's what worked for him. At the beginning I went to the office to carry his briefcase!. I think it took about 6 weeks until he started feeling slightly human again.

Since that time he does his back exercises faithfully (as in never misses), and is careful how he uses his back. He was able to resume running and has not had any recurring problems.

I think many people give in too soon to having surgery. They can't deal with the pain and don't realize that surgery is not a quick fix...that it can make things worse. Luckily my husband went to a couple great surgeons who told him he was not a candidate for surgery...yet, maybe never if he took good care.
 
not exactly the most optimist doctor i would day. have you checked out my thread

t
 
Hello there Mom!

Had an MRI in 2003 and again 2 weeks ago. It's L4 and L5 again but on the left side and only bulging. In 2003 in was the right side and they wanted me to have surgery. I refused.

I do not know why he says my back is finished. The first herniated disc (sorry! was diagnosed in England the first time and they call it 'prolapsed' over there) was due to a fall from a cliff while hiking and this one from trying to break someone's fall and catch them. It hasn't happened just out of the blue.

My doc never listens to what I say. He's big on speeches though. My BP was never higher than 115/75 and pulse 70 and with meRAB it shot up to 194/125 and pulse 125... and I was in bed!!! Sorry but I was worried about strokes. Recent MRI also revealed cyst on left ovary and fluid in fallopian tube. He ignored all my concerns. It's hard to find a doctor who accepts new patients but I am hoping I will one day find one.

Where do you guys find emotional support? You know, when you have a bad day and you could just scream your frustration...??!

Thanks again!

Mimi
 
Thank you so much for the book suggestion! :) Yesterday I was looking for another book that was highly recommended to me but it's so popular I must order it as they are all out of copies. It will take about 4 to 5 weeks to get it apparently. At the public library I'm 8th in line for the book. I wasn't a happy bunny.

I'm off to the book store later on! Thank you so much again Mom.

Mimi
 
Hello Tony. Which thread are you talking about? Sorry, my back went and my brain followed soon after :)

Doing much better. I move better, I can stand for longer than 1 minute, I can manage to walk in the house, go up the stairs... but it seems walking outside is the next challenge. Can't manage 'long distance' more than 10 minutes or so, the painnnn at the hips is so sharp. Doing physio 3 X a week + lots of exercises at home too. Not always in the best of mooRAB but emotionally doing better too. Cooked dinner a few times so that made me feel really good.

What I'm going through at the moment is the sheer fear of hurting my back again and going back to square one.

I decided that I -m-u-s-t- have hope, whatever the doc says. Very important what goes on between the ears I say! I believe it's 50% of the recovery.

The very best to everyone!

Mimi
 
Another good book is Living Well with Back Pain: What your Doctor doesn't Tell you...That You Need to Know by Robert B. Winter, M.D. and Marilyn L. Back, PhD. It goes through which specialist to see for what (of course this is written for a US audience so it may be a little different in Canada...) It goes through all the various back and spine issues, explaining them in laymen's language, a chapter on exercises, a great glossary, a section of references including websites, books, organizations, etc. I highly recommend it to keep on hand as a reference for when the next time you have a little back issue!:D (Chances are, there will be a NEXT time...:mad:)

Try one of the online book sellers -- I buy my books on the used section and can pick them up cheaply...and postage is cheaper than gas these days!!
 
Don't say "sorry." I was just clarifying for those who might not know the term "prolapsed."

Some people come to this board for support, because they have found that while everyone says they have back pain or knows someone who has a back problem, most people, including spouses, boyfrienRAB, etc. do not understand the pain of a pinched nerve or a herniated disc.

In a way that's to your advantage that your prolapse was caused by an accident. Unlike being told you have a degenerative disease, hopefully your one disc will be the only one affected.:)

Sorry you are not getting satisfactory support from your doctor. Many in this country are eager to get a healthcare system like Canada's, but when I read various posts on this board from our neigrabroadors to the north, I am glad that I can choose any doc I want, get an MRI within a day, etc.

If you can resume Pilates, it will ultimately make your pelvic girdle stronger and more supportive of your spine. It sounRAB like you are an athletic, sporty type.

Hopefully others will have ideas for you regarding support systems.
 
You are not alone with the side effect of high blood pressure. I was taking celebrex for arthritis when I developed high blood pressure. As for one bulging disc most people walking around have bulging disc especially as we age. If that is the case to say your back is finished is an exaggeration unless there is
something more significant.
 
What I'm going through at the moment is the sheer fear of hurting my back again and going back to square one.

I hear ya on this one, and am experiencing the same anxiety.
 
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