Back Pain Forum - I Have a L4 L5 Ruptured Disc, What Should I Do?


I Have a L4 L5 Ruptured Disc, What Should I Do?

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cannonmw

New User, Becoming EHEALTHy

Joined: 27 Jan 2004
Posts: 2
Location: Houston

I Have a L4 L5 Ruptured Disc, What Should I Do? Posted: 01-27-04 13:07pm


I am 28 years old and was very active. Four months ago I injured my back at work and just learned I have a ruptured disc l4 l5. I am soon to get epidural steroid injection and was told by my doctor that I would probably have to have surgery. If there is anyone out there with any other recommendations I would be grateful. I am going through moderate nerve pain down my left leg. This is not debilitating but does keep my from my normal activities. Should I try physical therapy? The pain is bad enough that I dont want to live with the rest of my life but I could. I view surgery as the last option. Please respond with any info. Thanks, cannonmw

bootsie840

Experienced User , Rather EHEALTHy

Joined: 28 Nov 2003
Posts: 113
Location: pennsylvainaia

Posted: 01-27-04 18:40pm


I know what your feeling, I have a herniated disk l4 l5, besides having severe pain, I also suffer with rectal and bladder pressure due to the damage, I have gone through physical therapy and I would leave there feeling worse than when I went, I feel it dont help it just makes it worse, I have had therapy on my neck, I have herniated disks there and also had therapy on my hands I had carpal tunnel in both hands. It has not helped with that. I have been going to a chiropractor for my back he does electrostimulation, flexion distraction therapy, and I have a tens unit that I use everynight, along with stretching and 400mg of ibuprofen, im really not sure which one of them is offering me relief, but I do feel a little better, you can always try the physical therapy if you find its not helping then maybe try a chiropractor, if you got injured at work and your using there insurance, a doctor can write a rx for a tens unit, and the insurance should cover yhe exspense, I get great relief from using it, good luck and if theres anything else I can help you with pm me or email me, there are so many things that I have gone through and its nice to offer help to someone. Bye

miscille

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Joined: 02 Feb 2004
Posts: 5
Location: Timmins

Ack Pain Posted: 02-03-04 15:30pm


I did the same thing when I was your age, 15 years later it is no better but I can cope with it. Avoid surgery unless you can get guarantees. It won't be that bad all the time. I can deal with it but when something else hurts, I lose the coping ability. I did change careers tho, mine was an on the job injury too. Love that wcb (canada) good luck and chin up

steve_again

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Joined: 05 Feb 2004
Posts: 1
Location: New England

S1 L5 And Vax-d Posted: 02-05-04 17:26pm


I'm also dealing with this radiating pain down the left leg. So far i've tried pt, drugs, rest and a number of doctors. There is a treatment i'm considering, it's called vax-d. The treatment is supposed to decompress the disk and allow it to refill with fluid. I've been told that the pain is from the nerve contacting the bone or the disk is protruding and pinching the nerve. Anyone have any experience good or bad with vax-d?

davidmackinnon

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Joined: 20 Jun 2004
Posts: 2
Location: U.K.

Surgery to Have Or Not to Have That Is the Question Posted: 06-20-04 19:27pm


Hi there I am not sure if things are different in the usa from here in the uk but in 1997 I had a prolapsed l4/l5 disc and had (under medical advice) a micro discectomy since then I have spent very few days in my life without severe back and leg pain and due to complications during surgery (idiots gave me anti-inflamatory knowing I was alergic) I have spent most of the 7 years useing a wheelchair or crutches. Now after 7 years I have learned after another mri scan that I have the same disc l4/l5 bulging (came as a hell of a supprise to me I was told by my surgeon they had taken the whole disc away). If you decide to go ahead with the surgery may I make a suggestion that you insist that they remove the whole disc to prevent further surgery being needed on the same disc as is the situation I now find myself facing (with terror) hope this helps with your dilemma.Ps this is the first time I have every done anything like this before so excuse any ranting

davidmackinnon

New User, Becoming EHEALTHy

Joined: 20 Jun 2004
Posts: 2
Location: U.K.

As Above Posted: 06-20-04 20:00pm


sorry I probably should have said I am a 35 years old male now and was a 28 years old working male nurse when I first hurt my back (see told you not done this before).

algosdoc

Experienced User , Rather EHEALTHy

Joined: 23 Mar 2004
Posts: 186

Options Posted: 06-21-04 00:27am


First of all, no surgeon will take out the entire disc. If they do, it will lead to disc space collapse and compression of the nerves as they exit from the spine. Therefore, when an extensive discectomy is considered, it should not be done without fusion, dynesis, or artificial disc implantation. Other more conservative options include traction at home (inversion table 20 min 2 times a day, or a sit up board at 60 degrees angle from the floor), chiropractic, vaxd (expensive, and insurance does not cover this in many cases), coblation nucleoplasty or lase (minimally invasive techniques using a needle instead of open surgery), pt, or selective endoscopic discectomy in addition to the usual surgical techniques of open laminectomy/discectomy and microdiscectomy.

algosdoc

Experienced User , Rather EHEALTHy

Joined: 23 Mar 2004
Posts: 186

Options Posted: 06-21-04 00:27am


First of all, no surgeon will take out the entire disc. If they do, it will lead to disc space collapse and compression of the nerves as they exit from the spine. Therefore, when an extensive discectomy is considered, it should not be done without fusion, dynesis, or artificial disc implantation. Other more conservative options include traction at home (inversion table 20 min 2 times a day, or a sit up board at 60 degrees angle from the floor), chiropractic, vaxd (expensive, and insurance does not cover this in many cases), coblation nucleoplasty or lase (minimally invasive techniques using a needle instead of open surgery), pt, or selective endoscopic discectomy in addition to the usual surgical techniques of open laminectomy/discectomy and microdiscectomy.

cannonmw

New User, Becoming EHEALTHy

Joined: 27 Jan 2004
Posts: 2
Location: Houston

Just Had Microdiscectomy Posted: 06-21-04 09:02am


Well on the 17th of june I had a microdiscectomy. The surgery went well and think I am starting to feel better. I still have some radicular pain in my left leg but the doctor said that this in normal for the length of time since my injury and that is should subside with time. I am praying it will go away. I can already tell that it is going to be better. I was very hesitant about surgery. I have researched via the internet for hours upon hours for different procedureds and alternative methods. My wife is also a physician so I also had her to help with advice. I waited for 9 months before I had surgery. I wish I wouldnt have waited so long. If your are having severe pain that is effecting your way of life and have tried all non surgical options my advice would be to find a surgeon you trust and get somehting done. I saw 4 orto. Surgeons before i finally found the right one for me. Im not %100 sure that I will be better but even now I feel it was worth the chance.

kei20

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Joined: 09 Jul 2007
Posts: 1
Location: flint mi

Re: I Have a L4 L5 Ruptured Disc, What Should I Do?
Posted: 07-09-07 17:33pm

cannonmw wrote:

I am 28 years old and was very active. Four months ago I injured my back at work and just learned I have a ruptured disc l4 l5. I am soon to get epidural steroid injection and was told by my doctor that I would probably have to have surgery. If there is anyone out there with any other recommendations I would be grateful. I am going through moderate nerve pain down my left leg. This is not debilitating but does keep my from my normal activities. Should I try physical therapy? The pain is bad enough that I dont want to live with the rest of my life but I could. I view surgery as the last option. Please respond with any info.

Thanks,

cannonmw

I have a bulge disc at l5 s1and at l4-l5 my doctor just gave me somelyrica 75mg he does not thing I need surgery. Idea

MyGirlFriday

New User, Becoming EHEALTHy

Joined: 06 Apr 2007
Posts: 2

Re: Just Had Microdiscectomy
Posted: 09-08-07 19:46pm

cannonmw wrote:

If your are having severe pain that is effecting your way of life and have tried all non surgical options my advice would be to find a surgeon you trust and get somehting done. I saw 4 orto. Surgeons before
i finally found the right one for me. Im not %100 sure that I will be better but even now I feel it was worth the chance.

Several people who have had surgery have told me this......I pray it is true! I'm set for this surgery on Oct 9th!

mgf~

daves8

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Joined: 07 Sep 2007
Posts: 7
Location: FTR

Posted: 09-09-07 14:21pm


Actually only the herniated part of the disc is removed during the operation. If the disc itself is not deformed to much and the nerve roots are not damaged to severely you should be able to return to your daily activities in a month or so. And the pain should be gone.

wcolli

New User, Becoming EHEALTHy

Joined: 08 Sep 2007
Posts: 3
Location: San Diego, Ca

Posted: 09-12-07 01:17am


I have a very herniated L4/L5, and a ready-to-pop L5/S1. In 2003 I lived with severe right leg pain for 4 months, which went away with PT and Chiro. July of 2007 it showed up again, but on my left side and not nearly as bad for just 3 days (but follow on numbness/weakness). It then shifted to my right side again a month later for a few days, and is now just a scary reminder of what could be. I have had several X-rays showing a healthy back, but last week I had my first MRI which showed my situation indicated above. My surgeon expected to see me crawling in on our first consult, and hearing that made me feel good for some reason. I guess I am holding out for hope that I can be healed without surgery. My daily routine does not involve a lot of pain (relatively speaking), but the knowledge that I have disc material lurking around my nerves makes me feel delicate, and at my young age of 37, I still want to maintain my 35 miles a week running, and being active. While I am not sold on Chiro, I have seemed to improved my situation by hanging upside down for about 5-10 minutes a day lately (only 4 sessions so far). This may be just a matter of time healing, but I am going to continue. The only concern is the physics of un-hanging, it requires an un-graceful hanging crunch to support myself with my arms while I un-hook my ankle braces. I am worried I am negating any good gravity has done. I wish there was a clear cut answer to corraling the disc back into it's home, and it is easy for me to entertain options that offer dramatic activities or results. I think this forum is a good one, especially if folks who get better don't forget where they were. Thanks for all your input, and I hope we can all put our socks on with out pain again some day.

Nanabee

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Joined: 15 Sep 2007
Posts: 5
Location: ,

Back Surgery Posted: 09-15-07 13:35pm


I have chosen not to have any type of back surgery. I choose to just get trigger point injections when the pain is not tolerable. I have know too many people that have had surgery and seemed worse off than before the surgery.

amylaporte70

New User, Becoming EHEALTHy

Joined: 04 Apr 2008
Posts: 1

L4-L5 Posted: 04-04-08 15:27pm


i am 37 years old and also have a ruptured disc at L4-L5...i went and seen my neuro surgeon and he recommended that he perform a TLIF also known as "Transforamianl Lumbar Interbody Fusion." the doc removes bone or degenerative disc that may be pressing on the nerves or your spinal cord causing pain.It allows the doc to fuse together the bones in your spine that may be causing instability of your spine.Your doc will use instrumentation like titatium rods and screws to hold the bones of your spine in place while your spine is growing together or "fusing". Fusion usually takes six weeks to begin to occur!! i am going to get this surgey done soon so i will let you all know how it goes!! i am scared to death but i am also sick of being in pain and i taking presciption pain pills to cover the pain... so what have i go to lose???