Re: New to group and L4/L5 Herniation

[Guest guest]

There are other options to try. Numerous meds that can control pain long term.

You could go to a pain clinic who does the radiofrequency of the Ramus

COmmunicans. Have you tried different types of physical therapy, especially

aqua therapy?

wa3kf <wa3kf@...> wrote: Hi All,

I was dianosed with a herniated disc at L4/L5 about ten years ago. I

also went through a fusion at C7/T1 in 2000 that was very successful.

I lost use of my right hand partially and that was what brought on the

operation (not to mention the razor running up and down the inside of

my arm 24 hours a day! :-) ). This was highly successful - that is I

have had very little reminder of this operation after about a year of

recovery.

Anyway, I have lived with the L4/L5 herniation. I can not take oral

steroids or NSAIDs because they tear up my stomach (the NSAIDs I can

get away with for about 1 week). Anyway, I am a very active person

that runs, Ski's, exercises and weight lifts. Ihave concentrated

heavily on my nexk and abs and have been very successful. ABout once a

year, I'd have a back issue that would put me on my back for a week or

so. These events could be instataneously cured with an epidural (I

seem to be able to get away with this not affecting my stomach. These

events actually occurred more frequently and I started visiting a

chiropractor which seemed to help tremendously.

Unfortuneatly, I had an event in July that lasted a week. That is I

could not walk for a week until I got an epidural. Instant releif as

before. MRI showed that the herniation was not any worse. Starting

about 6 weeks ago, I started having problems again. This kept building

up until about 2 weeks ago I woke up and was not able to walk on my

own. Again, I went for an epidural and that got me walking, but the

pain was still there. Did another MRI and now am told that the L4/L5

herniation has gotten much worse and is now considered severe. My

regular ortho said that the choice is to live with it or have surgey.

I do not want to have fusion there due to the chances that it will

affect the other discs (move the problem somewhere else!). I see a

spine surgeon next week (Dr Rushton in Philadelphia - any advice

for spine surgeons in the Phila area?. The Dr who did the great job on

my neck will only do a fusion. I'd prefer to just get the junk cleaned

out and off the spinal column.

So my problem is that I have been very inactive for the last two

weeks. That has calmed things down considerably, but I can not live

being an inactive person. Once I see the spine surgeon, I plan to

start upping my activity level to see what happens. If the massive

pain returns (and this time there was not any muscle involvment - it

was just pain from the spine)I am really considering having the

herniation cleaned out. I understand the risks, but at 51 would rather

have this done now then when I am older. I am convinced that if the

pain level I had happens when I am 65, it would kill me from a heart

attach. I am at a crossroad here and am not sure where to go, but I

know that quality of life is very much an issue. I am also somewhat

clouded because of the very successful neck operation (yea there where

vocal cord issues and the like, but it has been very suucessful. I

find that narcotics do very little for the pain, but they do dull the

mind. I have not tried an Tens unit.

Anyway, I've reambled enough. Any advice out there?

Thanks,

Ken

---------------------------------

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[Guest guest]

Had that and L5-S1 done 16 months ago worked out real well,still have the

spasms in the legs but the baclofen 10 mg x4 and Lyrica 75mgx4 work real

well.have had a total of 7 surgeries in the past 16 months the last one done in

April was C0, C1,C2, C3 and C4 done I have spinal stenosis with Mylopethy and

fibromyalgia my skull slipped off my spine.

Mark from Bean Town!!

[Guest guest]

Oh sure when my chin was in the middle of my chest and my ears felt like I

had two freight trains running through them when they did the MRI the found my

skull had slipped of the axial something kinked my brain stem and that's when

they put me in cervical traction in the hospital for 7 days and then did the

surgery and after 15 days in the hospital I was sent home with a halo from

hell for an additional 19 weeks that sucked feel free to ask any more

questions did you see the pic of the last on done??

[Guest guest]

In ten years I've probably tried it all. I have never found anything

that effectively controls nerve pain. Muscle relaxers and narcotics are

out since they heavily affect my ability to think and I must work you

know. And I've tried many. Yes, for the last nine years I have

effectively controlled my herniation with physical activity. I have had

many different physical therapy sessions and incorporated what I learned

into my workout routines (which is typically done 6 days a week). The

problem is that the herniation had a major blowout and has greatly

distorted the nerves and spinal cord in that area. If I could get

through the pain, physical therapy would be a piece of cake. Too much

pain now. Also, when it is bad, I can not even walk on my own without

assistance. Outlook is not good for a non surgical outcome in my mind.

Ken

>

> There are other options to try. Numerous meds that can control pain long

term. You could go to a pain clinic who does the radiofrequency of the Ramus

COmmunicans. Have you tried different types of physical therapy, especially

aqua therapy?

>

> wa3kf <wa3kf@...> wrote: Hi All,

> I was dianosed with a herniated disc at L4/L5 about ten years ago. I

> also went through a fusion at C7/T1 in 2000 that was very successful.

> I lost use of my right hand partially and that was what brought on the

> operation (not to mention the razor running up and down the inside of

> my arm 24 hours a day! :-) ). This was highly successful - that is I

> have had very little reminder of this operation after about a year of

> recovery.

>

> Anyway, I have lived with the L4/L5 herniation. I can not take oral

> steroids or NSAIDs because they tear up my stomach (the NSAIDs I can

> get away with for about 1 week). Anyway, I am a very active person

> that runs, Ski's, exercises and weight lifts. Ihave concentrated

> heavily on my nexk and abs and have been very successful. ABout once a

> year, I'd have a back issue that would put me on my back for a week or

> so. These events could be instataneously cured with an epidural (I

> seem to be able to get away with this not affecting my stomach. These

> events actually occurred more frequently and I started visiting a

> chiropractor which seemed to help tremendously.

>

> Unfortuneatly, I had an event in July that lasted a week. That is I

> could not walk for a week until I got an epidural. Instant releif as

> before. MRI showed that the herniation was not any worse. Starting

> about 6 weeks ago, I started having problems again. This kept building

> up until about 2 weeks ago I woke up and was not able to walk on my

> own. Again, I went for an epidural and that got me walking, but the

> pain was still there. Did another MRI and now am told that the L4/L5

> herniation has gotten much worse and is now considered severe. My

> regular ortho said that the choice is to live with it or have surgey.

> I do not want to have fusion there due to the chances that it will

> affect the other discs (move the problem somewhere else!). I see a

> spine surgeon next week (Dr Rushton in Philadelphia - any advice

> for spine surgeons in the Phila area?. The Dr who did the great job on

> my neck will only do a fusion. I'd prefer to just get the junk cleaned

> out and off the spinal column.

>

> So my problem is that I have been very inactive for the last two

> weeks. That has calmed things down considerably, but I can not live

> being an inactive person. Once I see the spine surgeon, I plan to

> start upping my activity level to see what happens. If the massive

> pain returns (and this time there was not any muscle involvment - it

> was just pain from the spine)I am really considering having the

> herniation cleaned out. I understand the risks, but at 51 would rather

> have this done now then when I am older. I am convinced that if the

> pain level I had happens when I am 65, it would kill me from a heart

> attach. I am at a crossroad here and am not sure where to go, but I

> know that quality of life is very much an issue. I am also somewhat

> clouded because of the very successful neck operation (yea there where

> vocal cord issues and the like, but it has been very suucessful. I

> find that narcotics do very little for the pain, but they do dull the

> mind. I have not tried an Tens unit.

>

> Anyway, I've reambled enough. Any advice out there?

>

> Thanks,

> Ken

>

>

>

>

>

>

> ---------------------------------

> Access over 1 million songs - Music Unlimited Try it today.

>

>

[Guest guest]

Can you explain the " skull slipped off of the spine " part. I am only interested

because I have 3 herniated cervical discs and myelopathy and spinal stenosis. I

never heard of such a thing.

Phyllis

Immort1@... wrote:

April was C0, C1,C2, C3 and C4 done I have spinal stenosis with Mylopethy and

fibromyalgia my skull slipped off my spine.

Mark from Bean Town!!

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