I've recently been diagnosed with a herniated disc, lumbar region. I was always pretty active, but this kind of pulled the rug out from under me. Has anyone else experienced this? I was living with pain for 2 months before seeing the doctor, I assumed it would just go away, as most minor injuries do. Started swimming this week as that's about the only thing that doesn't aggravate it.
I would say try to keep as active as you possibly can. Regular movement of the muscles is good for them and may help the injury not get any worse. Warm water is also good to soothe the muscles. I would suggest a nice warm bath to help with the pain. Of course none of these will completely get rid of your injury but they may help it a bit and help it to not get any worse.
I do not have a herniated disc, but I do have spinal stinoses, upper and lower regions. My pain comes from the inflammation in my spine, and that can squeeze the nerves leading to my arms and legs, causing further pain. My back gets to the point of not being able to support me, and the pain is severe. Controlling the pain comes from controlling the inflamation. Mild exercise with frequent relaxation periods does help, but you will need to study your injury for a spell to be able to judge when the inflamation starts. I have found that to be the trick to managing the pain. Stop all exercise as soon as you detect your first twinge of pain. You can always resume your activity as soon as the swelling goes down again. I was first hospitalized for arthritis when I was 25, so at this point I have to use a pain medication. If your lucky, an over the counter pain aid should help you, but be careful with them, they can have some weird side effects. I hope this helps you Rufus.
Back in 2005 I herniated two discs in my lumbar spine. I tried to lift the garage door and it jammed, I heard my back make aloud pop sound and had instant incredible pain. At the time I was a newly divorced single mom. i had to go get my son from his father because he was being his usual self. I tried to walk it out and went inside to lay down. After awhile I managed to drive in considerable pain to get my son. As it so happened he had a large tote of stuff I had to wrestle in the trunk and then back out when we got home. I took a hot shower and went to work. I mentioned it to the doctor and he said that it was a pulled muscle. So I figured well it will clear up. When I would get up in the morning I could not straighten upright, It would take awhile and I noticed sleeping was very painful. The arches of my feet hurt so bad. After five months I mentioned it again and was told it was probably just aggravated. I don't think that the nurse PT believed me when I said it was bad. As fate should have it I ended up with a large abscess on the base of my spine. It came up fast and the doctor sent me right away to a specialist. I thought oh well that must be whats ailing my back. i went on a Friday and was scheduled for surgery on the following Tuesday but this abscess broke before that. My back still hurt and I told the specialist who ordered an MRI to make sure there was not something like a bone bit or something in my back. The MRI revealed I had a 2 herniated discs and 3 bulging discs. I also found out then they felt it was spondolosis. I was in PT over a year and in pain up until about two years ago. I had a serious car crash. The result was now my cervical spine was compromised as well. 4 herniated cervical discs and two bulging discs, one bulge laying right on my spinal cord. My back is a mess. I never had surgery on the discs, what happened is I found a new doctor that did not believe people should be in chronic pain. I was finally prescribed a mild pain medication that made it so I could start to do things I used to do. I went back to PT and after about 6 months I started to do walking then decide I wanted to try low impact Zumba to try to drop the weight I had gained. I did drop weight and I admit had it not been for pain meds I would not have been able to do the exercise. Last June I went back to the gym but hired a trainer. I lift weight I never thought I would be able, I have no back pain at all, if I feel my back or muscles starting to spasm or slip out the trainer does an adjustment and changes the routine to strengthen whatever is slipping out. I do not take any pain meds except ib to keep inflammation down. DO NOT give up Rufus I know from first hand experience how bad you can hurt. For me losing weight and physical exercise helps me be able to have a somewhat normal life. In fact this month I had to work a lot of extra hours and skipped working out. Sure enough I had my hips fail then my lower back. Stick with swimming and do whatever you can to elongate your spine, Stretch works great, learn the yoga cat/cow move it works fantastic and is easy. Drink fluids and try not to let yourself get depressed. You can get to a point where it will get better! I find heat helps me.
Wow Jenn, What a story! Seems like you've been through a lot with your back. I know the pain you're describing. Luckily I had the MRI scan only 2 months after I felt the initial pain. And in that time the pain has gotten less, but is still too bad to sleep. The Neurologist doesn't want to have surgery, just to wait until it gets better. Strengthening sounds like the key here. I have an appointment with a physio in a couple of days, I'm going to ask them to help me with a workout plan. I'm no stranger to the gym, so it should be easy for me to start something directed at strengthening my back. Swimming is already in my regime, and adding yoga was something I planned before this injury, but stretching is still really painful, do you think I should start anyway? Also depression has been a tough thing to handle. Living everyday with pain can really get you down. Not being able to sleep is one thing, but also waking and knowing that your day will be filled with pain just takes all the motivation out of your life. I'm glad you shared your success story. A glimmer of hope! Also Ina, The MRI showed signs of spinal stenosis, although the neurologist said the pain is from the herniation. How long ago were you diagnosed with this? Did it get worse rapidly, or take years to develop to the point of pain? Thanks everyone for your replies.
Rufus, My grandmother, my mother, as well as an older half sister had the same condition that I do now. When I was nine, I broke my lower back, and spent a year in the Shriner's hospital here in Houston. I was paralysed from the waist down, but a year physical therapy got me to standing position again. So I knew what was coming before I was diagnosed at the age of 25. My grandmother ended up in a wheelchair, and I have a scooter that I use when the inflammation is in full force for a period of more than a week. It can be very bad, but then again I have period of almost normalcy. I do use a prescription muscle relaxer and a pain med, but very sparingly. The pain had started to raise my blood pressure, and the meds are for that as well as for my back. I have recently started using a Gazelle exerciser, and I find that to be a great pain reliever as well. So, if you have just recently been diagnosed with spinal stinoses, your continued exercise regime should help you with that. Pain can be managed with the right cocktail of factors.
Thanks Ina, it sounds like a very unfortunate childhood accident, I'm sorry you had to endure that.. I'm not aware of any of my family that had this condition, but I'm also unaware of any of them who have had a scan to detect it. Is it possible to have this condition and not feel any effects of it? I'm glad you're mobile now and are in control of your pain levels to some degree. Right now I'm focusing on the hernia, I see a physical therapist in a couple of days, so will develop a plan with them to get me back to full capacity. Thanks for your story Ina, it's nice to hear from someone who has been through what I'm likely facing now.
Yes and it might help if you ask the doctor to give you an anti inflammatory. I found when I really pull my back out - you know so bad that no matter what you do you can't move without excruciating pain- a combination of Predisone, Flexril and Loritab always releases the inflammation enough that I can click the spine back in place within 48 hours. Usually just turning over in my sleep does the trick. Last time I pulled it out bad was by reaching for a sock that missed the laundry basket. My back spasmed right up and then went out. When you start with the physio they will probably do some leg movements that will stretch out your sciatic nerve, they might also do some pushing on your hips. It might hurt while they do it but take my word it will feel fantastic the next day. Practice doing the stretching they show you, it will help you. I know some schools of thought say cold compress, I never could stand that, I find heat works. Try using a heated pad over that area on your back just for a few minutes. When my muscles tense up it does help make me not so sore the next day. In regards to stenosis, everyone gets it eventually, at least that's what I was told. It is a narrowing of the openings in the spinal columns that can cause compression on the nerves. Sometimes it is cause by arthritis, sometimes it is congenitive, sometimes it is due to facet joints getting larger as we age. Do not let this worry you, it is just a part of natural aging and a bit different then what Ina has experienced although it feels the same I am sure. I think it is great we can support each other, it is something you have to experience to know how awful it can make you feel and how it can effect your life.
Thanks a lot Jenn, my doctor has prescribed me Tramadol, which seems to help a little with sleeping, although makes me a bit groggy when waking up. I see the physio tomorrow, so I'll see what they have to say about the stretching and rehabilitation program, but I think I'll start some stretching, maybe take a painkiller during the day and see if that has any effect. Thanks for the info on the stenosis, I was a bit worried about that one after some research I did, seems like a really debilitating condition, but like you said, probably a natural aging process.
Herniated disc can be caused by different reason but on thing in common is the inability of the body to repair it. One helpful thing is copper it is needed by the body for elastin the is the elastic fibers in the body the ability to return to normal after being stretched like herniated discs, varicose veins, hemorrhoids. The easily fix for this is a copper bracelet you can absorb the copper through your skin. Second take the pressure off the area if you are luck to have a slant board if not put a board under the foot of the bed so you head is lower than your feet and let gravity take the pressure off the injury.. Three get as much gelatin in your body as you can pure gelatin not Jello. Bone soup is a very good start. Gelatin is cartilage the same thing your discs are made from . Hope this helps
Hi Rufus, Sorry to hear of your discomfort. I have only had back pain one or twice but my quick fix was acupuncture. After a few sessions the pain just stopped. Of course my pain was caused by me lifting wrong or doing some other stupid event and not by a medical condition. However, you may want to consider acupuncture for pain management.