Herniated Disc
 

I herniated my L5-S1 and L4-L5. Pain is brutal. I've been doing physical therapy which has helped but it seems like results are mixed so far. I'm set up for a steroid shot in the back tomorrow and was looking to see if this has helped anyone with a similar injury. If this doesn't work I'm looking at surgery so wish me luck!!

Thanks in advance

I hope the shots work out for ya. Never had back problems hopefully never will but I am only 30

Oh man, I've felt that back pain before after a crushed vertebrae!! :wow:
Best of luck with the shot tomorrow and the rest of the recovery!!

Thanks, brutal isn't it.


Thanks, I hope they work too. I'm not a triathlete but up until my injury I ran 3 miles 3-5 times a week at 7-8 minute pace. Point is be careful, don't lift and twist while balancing yourself on a latter.....By the way I'm 29.

I have had the same thing on many occasions. I never considered surgery though. I took a lot of vicoden and saw my chiropractor, and used a lot of ice. Heat will make it worse. All the doctor would do is perscribe vicoden, and the chiropractor treated the problem.

If you have not already, try spinal decompression. It saved my old man from having surgery.

L5-S1 For me. DONT DO SURGERY! Its just not worth the risk of making things worse. Ive had three surgeries and I still have a TON of pain. Im 34 and have two rods and screws in my back. I also have a full disk replacement. My back will never be the same. I now have upper back cramping so bad theres days I just cant take the pain. I feel for you but if I had to do it all over again I would have just lived with the pain I had.

Stick with the physical therapy and take it very serious. In the long run that will help more than anything! It sucks...I know! Once your done keep going and working the areas that need it the most.

Best of luck to you!

most of the time it will limit it self and surgery wont be nesecary, most of the pain you are feéling isnt from the herniation but from the resulting swelling from the inflamation, so the steroid shot will help greatly and bring fast relief....

and surgery is somthing you should do if its nesecary, if you loose bladder or rectal sphincher controll its acute and surgery should be done within 24 hours if you want to regain contenency.... so its not a do or dont issue, but before you let a surgeon talk you into surgery (its his job and he had house payments to pay) be sure that its needed...

anyway, i wish you a speedy recovery

The shot will help. As the others have said yes continue the PT and do so for the rest of your life! I ruptured a disc when i was 22 visited a chiropractor for months then went to a Orthopedic surgeon who prescribed PT and Pain Management. After 6-months of this did not get any better so surgery needed to be done. I'm 39 now and have since had 2-discs removed and fusion since then. The disc removal/degeneration/fusion was a result of the original ruptured disc. In my case both operations were necessary. I got 3-opinions B4 making the decision on both surgeries. 1 thing that was discovered was that i had a narrowed spinal column that when there was any inflamation/swelling i would feel more discomfort than the average person. Keep up with the PT and follow the Dr.'s orders in regards to lifting, sitting etc. Also one thing that the chiropractor told me and i still do to this day is to no longer carry your wallet in back pocket but front pocket. Sitting on your wallet throws off the balance of your spine.