Blown Discs
Seasoned HDF Member
Joined: Oct 2007
Posts: 56,052
Likes: 88,324
From: Western South Dakota
Take the shots. They will give you 3 shots, 1 a month for 3 months.The first 2 will probably not work, but the third one very may well take. If that don't fix/get the problem then you don't have any other options. Been there done that and the shots worked for me.
Extreme HDF Member
Joined: Jun 2011
Posts: 10,216
Likes: 224
From: Glendale AZ
The tramadol has been keeping my pain in the 4-5 range but I feel pain more than I did the last time I posted. Has anyone tried a Laser procedure from the Laser Spine Institute? I was trying to delay an L4/L5 fusion & wondered if its worth the expense of a large out of network deductable? Things (the economy/world etc) are way too uneasy and having a full blown fusion at this time makes me more uneasy.
Elite HDF Member
Joined: Apr 2009
Posts: 3,542
Likes: 161
From: Booming metropolis
good time for this old thread to come up...
I'm sideline with a herniated L3/L4.
Left leg has been pretty much numb from the hip down since mid-July--- numb except for when my hip hurts like "wow".
and sometimes my leg feels like warm fluid is running down it ( luckily it's only nerves and I'm not peeing.
so 3 steroid injections- the first in Zurich...a CTscan machine guiding a robot with the needle, looked cool on TV.
Here at home xray & dye method--- but man I can tell when the needle hits the right spot.
Surgery in about 3 weeks hoping for the best- they'll go in with a nibbler and take off the part of the disc that's causing the nerve problems
Mike
I'm sideline with a herniated L3/L4.
Left leg has been pretty much numb from the hip down since mid-July--- numb except for when my hip hurts like "wow".
and sometimes my leg feels like warm fluid is running down it ( luckily it's only nerves and I'm not peeing.
so 3 steroid injections- the first in Zurich...a CTscan machine guiding a robot with the needle, looked cool on TV.
Here at home xray & dye method--- but man I can tell when the needle hits the right spot.
Surgery in about 3 weeks hoping for the best- they'll go in with a nibbler and take off the part of the disc that's causing the nerve problems
Mike
Elite HDF Member
Joined: Jul 2005
Posts: 3,968
Likes: 34
From: Lockport Township, IL
Started planning the trip to Sturgis 12 months ago. New Hammock seat, rain gear, luggage ect. 5 weeks of vacation time to wander the Midwest. This weekend I managed to blow 2 discs in my neck. Trip in the crapper. If you've never had herniated discs in your neck, pain takes on a whole new meaning. Cervical nerves are constantly pinched. The orthopedic surgeon has told me that there are only 2 options. Epidural injection and surgery. I can't ride the bike around the block, let alone 5000 miles. I would like to know if any of you out there have had a similar problem, and how long did it take before you could ride again? Thanks.
DJK
DJK
1. My advice is to see a neuro surgeon, not an ortho! they will be working on the spine with lots of delicate nerves all over the place.
2. I had the spinal epidural injections (three of them) and they were a complete waste of time in my case. Can't say they don't work for some, but did not work for me.
3. I had c5/c6 fused with cadavor bone 10 years ago. Tthis past fall, I started having issues again. After seeing six doctors in a six month period, they decided that the fusion I had done 10 years ago did not properly fuse and needs to be re-done. Also, they said I need c/4-c/5 and c/6-c/7 fused as well. They also say I need rotator cuff surgery on both shoulders and Ulnar nerve surgery on both elbows. Sounded to me like I would be recovering from various surgeries for the better part of a year. In desperation, I visited an acupuncturist. (I always thought acupuncture was a bunch of voodoo BS, but WTF - I tried it.) Long story short - the acupuncture was a god-send. Immediate relief from the pain. (Don't get me wrong - I still have neck, shoulder, and elbow problems, and the acupuncture ain't fixing those, but it DOES help me to manage the pain, and I got a whole summer of riding and golfing in without surgery.)
Elite HDF Member
Joined: Nov 2006
Posts: 3,647
Likes: 11
From: Stockbridge, GA (Atlanta)
after 45+ years of Basketball, Baseball, Tennis, Bowlling, football and kickball my back finally gave out to the point where if felt like electric shocks from the back to the feet. took three shots epidurals straight in the back -- after three - four weeks it was like nothing ever happened; that was 15 months ago. I no longer play sports; I do run/walk 12 - 15 miles per week either on the treadmill or the stationary bike. Today I am still reminded of my back problems with an occasional twinge nothing serious or painful.
Elite HDF Member
Joined: Jul 2005
Posts: 3,968
Likes: 34
From: Lockport Township, IL
after 45+ years of Basketball, Baseball, Tennis, Bowlling, football and kickball my back finally gave out to the point where if felt like electric shocks from the back to the feet. took three shots epidurals straight in the back -- after three - four weeks it was like nothing ever happened; that was 15 months ago. I no longer play sports; I do run/walk 12 - 15 miles per week either on the treadmill or the stationary bike. Today I am still reminded of my back problems with an occasional twinge nothing serious or painful.
My doctor told me that the epidural injections would help some people, but not everyone. I have no issues with the treatment. The doctor was honest and up-front and let me know it might not be of much benefit for me. He was right. It did not benefit me at all, but it is still a great thing to try before the more invasive approaches, like surgery. I suggest keeping an open mind - try the least invasive treatments first, including acupuncture. My acupuncture treatments only cost $40.00 each and even if they had not helped, it was a small price to pay compared to all the MRI's, CT scans, X-rays, EMG's I had. I was lucky though and the acupuncture did help for a quite a while. I was able to delay surgery and enjoy my summer.
Cruiser
Joined: Apr 2011
Posts: 184
Likes: 0
From: Hadley MASS
I have had a herniated disc actually2 but am loaded with arthritis, have to have shoulders, thumbs,knees,injected every 3 months or so. Also have si injections to keep pain from pinched nerves in hip area done 4-6 months apart and are on morphine and percocets to function as a carpenter have been in that trade for 28 years. This combo has kept me riding for the last ten years. Meds are not to strong that I cant function if they become so, guess I will have to face the music and possibly give up riding.
Road Warrior
Joined: Dec 2010
Posts: 1,904
Likes: 8
From: Indiana
Oh man, sorry to hear that!
I had two ruptured discs (L4 & L5) and they would not operate, too dangerous and could not guarantee surgery would work. There were times I could not put any pressure on my left leg, the pain was so bad. I could not believe they wouldn't operate. My doctor put me in a brace and for 3 months I couldn't do anything, just rest. What he did was cause the jelly like substance to retract away from my spine and the tears scarred over. He said at the time I was looking at 1 year to completely heal, as long as I didn't re-injure them which I didn't. He was right, roughly a year later my back felt pretty good again.
I had two ruptured discs (L4 & L5) and they would not operate, too dangerous and could not guarantee surgery would work. There were times I could not put any pressure on my left leg, the pain was so bad. I could not believe they wouldn't operate. My doctor put me in a brace and for 3 months I couldn't do anything, just rest. What he did was cause the jelly like substance to retract away from my spine and the tears scarred over. He said at the time I was looking at 1 year to completely heal, as long as I didn't re-injure them which I didn't. He was right, roughly a year later my back felt pretty good again.
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Road Captain
Joined: Oct 2006
Posts: 658
Likes: 23
From: South Florida
Been there - done that!
1. My advice is to see a neuro surgeon, not an ortho! they will be working on the spine with lots of delicate nerves all over the place.
2. I had the spinal epidural injections (three of them) and they were a complete waste of time in my case. Can't say they don't work for some, but did not work for me.
3. I had c5/c6 fused with cadavor bone 10 years ago. Tthis past fall, I started having issues again. After seeing six doctors in a six month period, they decided that the fusion I had done 10 years ago did not properly fuse and needs to be re-done. Also, they said I need c/4-c/5 and c/6-c/7 fused as well. They also say I need rotator cuff surgery on both shoulders and Ulnar nerve surgery on both elbows. Sounded to me like I would be recovering from various surgeries for the better part of a year. In desperation, I visited an acupuncturist. (I always thought acupuncture was a bunch of voodoo BS, but WTF - I tried it.) Long story short - the acupuncture was a god-send. Immediate relief from the pain. (Don't get me wrong - I still have neck, shoulder, and elbow problems, and the acupuncture ain't fixing those, but it DOES help me to manage the pain, and I got a whole summer of riding and golfing in without surgery.)
1. My advice is to see a neuro surgeon, not an ortho! they will be working on the spine with lots of delicate nerves all over the place.
2. I had the spinal epidural injections (three of them) and they were a complete waste of time in my case. Can't say they don't work for some, but did not work for me.
3. I had c5/c6 fused with cadavor bone 10 years ago. Tthis past fall, I started having issues again. After seeing six doctors in a six month period, they decided that the fusion I had done 10 years ago did not properly fuse and needs to be re-done. Also, they said I need c/4-c/5 and c/6-c/7 fused as well. They also say I need rotator cuff surgery on both shoulders and Ulnar nerve surgery on both elbows. Sounded to me like I would be recovering from various surgeries for the better part of a year. In desperation, I visited an acupuncturist. (I always thought acupuncture was a bunch of voodoo BS, but WTF - I tried it.) Long story short - the acupuncture was a god-send. Immediate relief from the pain. (Don't get me wrong - I still have neck, shoulder, and elbow problems, and the acupuncture ain't fixing those, but it DOES help me to manage the pain, and I got a whole summer of riding and golfing in without surgery.)
DJK
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