Lower back disc protrusion?

[dja4260]

I understand everyone is different. However, has anyone been diagnosed with a disc protrusion/ slipped disc?

My initial x-rays show a "disc protrusion". I'm going in for a MRI this week and see a specialist on Saturday.

I'm a 32 year old healthy, physical active person. I've been fighting this pain for over a year. I'm thankful to finally have a definitive diagnosis.

Anyone have any insight or experiences that they have had and would like to share?

 

[El_Vato]

Dja4260,

I had similar issues with my lower back that was a result from my last deployment to Iraq back in 2008-2009.

I highly recommend you go with the least minimally invasive treatments first; physical therapy, pain management/back injections (cortisone), and RF ablation prior to making the decision to have surgery.

In my case, none of the treatments worked, so I opted for spinal fusion of my L4-S1 vertebrae. I'm glad I had it done; sciatica was decreased substantially, lower back pain also decreased, and I no longer walk like an 80 year old needing a walker.

But I do have some decreased mobility as those vertebrae are permanently fused. I can't pivot at my waist like I used to, can't sit on the floor for a long time, not as fast as I used to be, bending down to pick something up off the floor took some adjusting. But living relatively pain free can't be beat.

Recovery took about a year, with the first three to six months being the worst and most painful as your body is adjusting to having to relearn to use your back muscles. I did not run again until the one year mark, but I did start running again (with was one of the milestones my neurosurgeon told me to make for myself).

I've heard horror stories about spinal fusion, but I've also heard of success stories. Luckily, I ended up on the successful side of it.

FYI...If you do go down the surgery route, listen to your surgeon's post op guidance and don't skimp out on physical therapy.

Best of luck.

 

[bigt61]

If it's curable w/o surgery, the only thing I can recommend is rest and gentle stretching - especially the hamstring muscles which can really put the back under stress when they're tight. I injured my back a few months ago and it took about two months to get over it fully, but I could barely walk for a while. Stretching and rest - it can be hard when you have to work every day - lots of youtube stuff on back stretches.

 

[KrisZ]

I had back problems about two years ago, nothing as serious as a dislocated disc, but still I could barely walk for few days after I injured myself. I was sent to massage therapy and was given anti-inflammatory drugs by my doctor. Needless to say it accomplished nothing. After some reading and talking to my co-workers, I finally decided to visit a chiropractor that was recommended to me. In my case, it helped and I'm back to normal, well almost as I have to be more mindful now how I lift things.

 

[LeakySeals]

My dad went down in the driveway shoveling snow. Literally lying there moaning. We all thought he was having a heart attack. He had a minor surgery for a slipped disc, no problems ever after that. Years ago I had a slipped disc from a hockey check. Doctors wanted to cut me open, chiropractors said they could pop it back in. I tried the chiropractor route. Fixed in 3 sessions!!! A lot of insurance companies don't cover chiropractors which is too bad, cause its awesome! If your insurance covers I would go see them. Maybe they can pop it back in.

I've tried one like this, its pretty amazing. As I tilt head down.. pop..pop..snap..aaaahhhhh.. Might be able to DIY that disc.. https://teetertv.com/

 

[ARCOgraphite]

Been there big time.

X ray shows you pretty much Nothing, just like a You need careful scan of the lumbar spine area. Unless your legs are numb and you cant toilet, don't waste the time with MRI/CT. I think this is #1 or #2 biggest reson for going to doctor - lower back pain.

Ice pack on lumbar area, ibuprofen (if required - give me a hangover!) no heavy lifting (over 30lbs!), jumping. No Missionary pose

GOOD is: stretching, axially pulling leg (inverse hang on "monkey bars") shiatsu massage, Sleep on back (or cautiously on side in fetal position with NO DEGREE OF TWIST in the hips relative to your back plane.

You can gently exercise this out - just no impact. Don't be afraid of the pain - tell your body its playing tricks on you and to move the pain elsewhere.

Most often there is an underlying psychosomatosis and external stressor related.

Does the OP have stress? Sick relative? Big project?

Really DO NOT WASTE YOUR and others $$ and time if you do not have numb leg from the nerve irritation or obvious fracture. EVERYONE exhibits "degenerative spine disease" over age 40. Really. Fact of death. Know that the lumbar discs are dead after age 27 or so - just spongy tough tissue that fill and exude fluid.
Good luck.

 

[Dan55]

Think about getting one of these https://www.amazon.com/Teeter-Inversion-3rd-Party-Certified-Engineering/dp/B01BSCN9DS

 

[ARCOgraphite]

Chiroprators are Parlor tricksters. Garbage medicine. The bones are not misaligned but by tissue and musculature. You are not displacing or replacing dislocated bones. Your nerve would be severed if this was the case. Chiro hijinx are just fluid and air pocket racket - like "cracking knuckles". You may get results, but they are scheissers - PERIOD.
DR. Orthopaedic can be just as bad as the sore back guy is a "cash register ringer". Maybe if you have a good sport medicine ortho in the area he might give you the rehab route without all the "hey, lets get this boob to help pay for our CT scanner!"

 

[dja4260]

I have excellent health insurance. The MRI and specialist won't cost me anything out of pocket.

I've been going to physical therapy twice a week, for the past 2 months.

I'm going to see what the specialist say and get a more detailed diagnoses and explore the options.

I've been told that inversion tables are helpful. Already found one on Amazon.

I'll update this thread when I know more.

 

[Sayjac]

About a decade ago, had a lumber disc protrusion flair with back and associated sciatic nerve pain into the butt. Was put on oral steroids from my GP which did nothing but have side effects. Finally was able to get an MRI which showed the area of the bulging disc, L3-4. The ortho back doctor suggested trying a spinal steroid injection first. Using the MRI as a guide and a fluoroscope ortho administered the injection. I was skeptical but 48 hours later the pain was completely gone and has never returned, knock wood. I'm physically active and don't worry about it now.

The worst part was the waiting with limited activity and pain. The time it took to see the doctor, get the MRI and then injection was 8-10 weeks.

My advice, exhaust alternative options before agreeing to any type spinal surgery. Good Luck.

 

[Tdbo]

Been there, done that, bought the t-shirt.
I have had back problems, and received Chiropractic care for years. The years 2011 and 2016 were especially bad.
I have worked with a specialist for years. I know that some time in my future, according to my specialist, I will have to have a spinal fusion or I will end up in a wheelchair.
However, surgery is a last resort for me. I personally know people who have had the surgery and it has turned into a cycle of surgeries that do not end well.
In 2011, my back totally went out. I had one injection and found instant relief. I ended up having a second later that year when symptoms started to mildly reoccur, at the insistence of my specialist and personal physician as a preventative measure.
I largely was able to control the issue from that point on through pain management and chiropractic care on an as needed basis until January of last year. At its worst, I was unable to stand straight or walk more than 25' at a time. Went in for one injection and it didn't make a dent. Went in for an MRI and it verified the other issues of the first MRI in 2011 plus a disc protrusion. They recommended surgery to "trim" the disc, I refused it. I ended up taking a second injection and found some relief. My specialist wanted to send me to PT and I intially refused that because I had been before and did the exercise regimen they provided regularly. He convinced me to go at least twice for the purpose of traction.
After the first application of traction, I felt a huge difference and had not stood straighter in years. After the second, I felt such a huge difference, that I purchased what I call "poor man's traction."
I went out and bought a Teeter inversion table. No, I do not hang totally upside down. I adjust it at just enough of an angle that it provides spinal decompression. Five minutes at a time 2x a week has provided a difference. Even though I still utilize some pain management and experience some tingling in my left leg on occasion, I have more mobility than I have had in years and have not been back to the chiropractor since.
I still am very careful and thankfully I am retired and not pounding concrete floors 12 hours a day in dress shoes. Fortunately, this is the best that I have been in a long time and this is as good as it is going to get, one day at a time.

 

[Tdbo]

Originally Posted By: Dan55
Think about getting one of these https://www.amazon.com/Teeter-Inversion-3rd-Party-Certified-Engineering/dp/B01BSCN9DS



+1. The Teeter is really overbuilt and is a nice unit. I have the 960, but our local Costco has a number of the 560's in store right now for $229.

 

[Ojustracing]

I guess we all have back issues at some point. In my case I have issues at L5s1, L4 and L2. L5 is the major issue for me. Complete numbness from the middle butt cheack down the back of the left leg to my two small toes. L4 is issue under certain body positions(numbness on the front right of leg down to the big toes. The cramps, limp, loss of muscle strength and stiffness stink but are manageable. But the odd thing for me, the Doctors/surgeon are no pain what-so ever. They would do surgery but zero odds of a fix and they can make it worse. I chose to live with it all while waiting for the pain to come. After 2.5 yr its just the new me. Please try every avenue prior to surgery. For me chiropractor worked to keep my lower back flexible, injections didn't work and inversion table didn't do anything. Your results may vary.

 

[Oldmoparguy1]

Originally Posted By: dja4260
I have excellent health insurance. The MRI and specialist won't cost me anything out of pocket.

I've been going to physical therapy twice a week, for the past 2 months.

I'm going to see what the specialist say and get a more detailed diagnoses and the options.

I've been told that inversion tables are helpful. Already found one on Amazon.

I'll update this thread when I know more.

Sorry for your back problems. I'm in the middle of similar problems. Get the MRI. There may be other problems, you never really know.

Good luck

 

[BigD1]

The Laser Spine Institute is advertising on TV a free MRI if you are a candidate for back or neck surgery. Don't know nothing about them, but thought I would mention it.

Back about thirty years ago I had a good friend that had bad discs. He had surgery, and said it was the best he had felt in a long time. He had to wear custom shoes because he said one leg was longer than the other, or something like that. Don't know what they do now a days.

 

[Merkava_4]

I don't know if this could be beneficial to the OP, but I thought it may be worth posting. Polyethylene is some very tough material. Have a white cutting board at home in the kitchen? That stuff!

Total Disc Replacement Video

 

[dja4260]

I think surgery would be a last resort and after I exhausted all types of therapies.

I bought an inversion table and will continue my PT exercises.

I'll know more Saturday.

 

[Mr Nice]

Yeah, lots of surgeons will persuade you to have surgery with little to no benefit.
Might make things even worse.

 

[2002 Maxima SE]

I have neck issues from staring down at a computer screen for years before ergonomics were a service offered by employers. I HIGHLY recommend the McKenzie Method. There are two books, one for neck and one for lower back, that teach decompression techniques. Essentially, the "hunched over" (lower back) or "looking down" (upper back and neck) creates pressure that causes the herniation. Until it's corrected, the herniation will not resolve.

For me, if I feel a bit of pain in the area, the exercises will cease it almost immediately. It's life long management. I had an episode about 4 years ago and resolved it with McKenzie and PT in about 3 months. Prior to that, it was a 9 month journey to relief. I really feel like the exercises recommended in the book helped.

 

[Mr Nice]

Maybe the guy on here with chiropractor wife can offer some advice.