Herniated/Bulging Disc - Surgery, Pain Management, Other Treatment Options?

[Roselvr]

I'm a light-weight with pain medication. If I was not, I could take more and probably not be in pain. lol

I'm originally from North Jersey, live down by Deptford now

[flamin-gitaur]

I also have have a herniated disc (L4-L5). I injured my back in my early twenties lifting the wrong way. I've done the physical therapy, taken just about every possible anti-inflamatory, and pain medication known to man with no avail. Finally after 17+ years dealing with this, about 2 years ago I started receiving epidural injections in my back. Fortunately it's something that works great for me, I can now resume the active lifestyle I used to have. I run 20 miles a week, and my back feels great. Before I started these treatments, I could barely move at all. It was very frustrating not being able to do even the simplest of things. I wouldn't wish back pain on my worst of enemies, it's a horrible thing to have to live with. Good luck to you, hope you find relief from the pain.

[erinmichelle]

My friend is 37 years old. Unfourtuanty she was born with an abnormalty an had to have a fusion on C5 and C6. It has been three years since that surgery and her arms are going numb again. She went back to her neurosurgion and he told her she had to have the same surgery on C-4-5-6-7. Now i know there is other options there such as the Dynesys System. So why isn't her doctor telling her about these options. Also, can anyone give me advice on other treatments for her? I cannot let her go through another surgery. Please help!

[seethelight]

Originally Posted by tao

I just got my MRI results back and found out I have a severely herniated disc and I'm going to need surgery. I would love to hear from anyone who has gone through the same thing. What can I expect after surgery? Is there anything I need to know that I might not be thinking about? I know nothing about all this, just that my disc is herniated and I need surgery. Will I have to sleep on my stomach after surgery? What's the recovery time?

Thanks in advance for any help or advice.

I had back surgery in May for two herniated disks along with a spinal fusion. I was walking in the hospital the next day and by the end of two weeks I was walking about a mile and I stopped taking pain pills, because the pain had gone.

Don't be one of those people that won't take pain pills because you may get addicted. I honestly don't even remember that operation at this point and the pain I was in which wasn't that bad. Yes, I know I had the operation but it's not that big of a deal. You are out when you are being operated on, you take pain pills until the pain goes away and then, you go on with your life.

I slept the normal way I sleep, so that wasn't an issue. I think the biggest problem people have is thinking too much about the surgery, both before and after. The more you focus on the operation the more you are thinking needlessly. Of course anything can happen, but you have no control over that.

I have had many operations, all successful and helpful, so I have a perspective from experience.

Seriously, worrying doesn't ever help. I like a quote from Mark Twain... " I have had many problems in my life, most of which have never happened."