ruptured disc

[MidasKnight]

Spent 11 hours in the ER today. MRI showed a ruptured disc in my lower back. This is the most painful ailment I've experienced. Nine years ago ( in a two year period ) I went through four major abdominal surgeries. Those where not easy to endure and very painful as well but this pain is so intense.

I am on narcotic pain management now, expect to go through two or three epidural injections as well as a couple months of rehab. Getting older ( 49 ) and 25+ years of physical labor related employment has caught up. One day at a time I guess.

*Update:

Was able to talk to the Spine doctor this morning and I have a very large rupture L3/L4 . They also see Spinal Stenosis that I was born with apparently. That condition alone makes the area where the nerve root is very narrow. With that information, I can take the steroid shot or surgery for a discectomy. Giving these conditions, I've opted for the surgery as it might give me the best chance to return much sooner to work. Truck driver here so I do heavy lifting among other labor type activities as well as the driving 500 to 600 miles dailey. There is a real possibility that regardless of the outcome, I may not be able to do my job anymore. We'll see.

 

[John Connor]

I have several herniated disks. Once I had to have my sister tie my freaking shoes because I couldn't.

The sciatic nerve is a bitch!

 

[Grooveriding]

The period of initial injury is most painful. Expect about 3-5 days for a noticeable ramp down from extreme pain. Then several weeks for walking around to seem doable and reasonably comfortably. From there six months to a year for as much of a full recovery as possible, you're waiting for the nerves in your spinal column to adjust to the pressure. You'll always need to watch it and take care as it is easily aggravated again once you've ruptured the disc.

Be as conservative as you can manage with the pain medication. In my opinion many physicians react poorly to disc injuries and prescribe excessive doses of synthetic opioids for the injury. It is exceedingly painful, but you really only need at most 2 weeks of narcotics and then step down to acetaminophen, and if the pain genuinely is still too much, an acetaminophen/codeine mix. What is more important to target the injury is a strong anti-inflammatory; a dose of 500mg naproxen twice daily for several months is a good choice.

Physio will make a big difference and help recovery and prevent future injury. Stretching and building strength in your core. The core strength can be a challenge to develop with your injury because the exercises that target those muscle groups put your disc injury at risk. A good PT can make a good difference for your recovery.

Good luck, it's hell at first, but it improves quickly. Getting on your feet and doing as much physical activity as you can handle asap makes a large difference in recovery time.

 

[BoomerD]

Welcome to my life. I have 3 herniated disks in my low back. My only option would be to have them fused...but the neurosurgeon says there's too much damage in too many places for that to be a viable option. "Learn to live on pain meds," he told me. Fuck that. Pain is just weakness leaving the body.

IME, the epidurals will help somewhat...for a short time, and MIGHT help to shrink the bulge of the disk so it doesn't impinge on any nerves...just make sure the doc who does the injection gives you a nice "cocktail" in the IV...it's the best part of the procedure.

 

[kranky]

Best wishes for a speedy recovery, OP.

 

[John Connor]

Welcome to my life. I have 3 herniated disks in my low back. My only option would be to have them fused...but the neurosurgeon says there's too much damage in too many places for that to be a viable option. "Learn to live on pain meds," he told me. Fuck that. Pain is just weakness leaving the body.

IME, the epidurals will help somewhat...for a short time, and MIGHT help to shrink the bulge of the disk so it doesn't impinge on any nerves...just make sure the doc who does the injection gives you a nice "cocktail" in the IV...it's the best part of the procedure.

I keep seeing a commercial here about laser surgery and I'm tempted. Cut that crap off so it won't touch the nerve again. And hope it stays that way.

 

[MidasKnight]

Appreciate all the feedback people

My breakfast for the morning : oxycontin & RedBull

 

[John Connor]

Careful with that oxycontin. My friend got hooked to that shit and wound up in prison.

 

[Fritzo]

Oh God, I feel for you

My wife had 5 of them at once and got a spinal fusion. It ruined her mobility for a while, though she's gotten better with another surgery this year and dropping a lot of weight.

Take care of yourself!

 

[lk2500]

I tore my disc about 2 years ago (I'm a 49 yo male). I know it doesn't seem like it right now, but there is light at the end of the tunnel.

I hate taking opiate pain killers so I took lots of otc stuff. My initial pain diminished greatly with oral steroids, then more with the epidural shot. (I only needed one)

Then 15 weeks of PT - day one I could barely even arch my back a 1/4" without extreme sciatic pain down my left leg. I left there doing some pretty nice workouts. Now I'm pretty much back to normal, running 5 miles 3 times a week, riding roller coasters, etc...

Do the PT and then do your exercises/stretching every day religiously. Hope you're feeling better soon, hang in there!

 

[stormkroe]

I have a full page of damaged discs just in my neck, haven't had my back scanned but I'm sure it's the same. 2 weeks ago I had to mount a 385lb fused disconnect 16 inches off the ground on a wall by myself. Work will kill you, tgankfully I'll be done with that kind of thing in less than 3 years.

 

[MidasKnight]

Careful with that oxycontin. My friend got hooked to that shit and wound up in prison.

Yes. Thanks for the heads up. I am aware of the addiction that can happen. My Doctors will keep a close eye on my intake. Will be seen Monday and will be looking for any help I can get without the harder drugs. I'm hoping I can get the shot asap.

 

[ethebubbeth]

My best friend went to the ER on Thursday.... she's had progressively worse back issues for several years and it just got to the point that she couldn't move at all.

An MRI revealed two consecutive bulging discs that had shifted to opposite sides of their respective vertebrae. They removed one disc and fused three vertebrae. She's already feeling better than before surgery.

Best of luck to you OP. Back problems are nasty.

 

[dave_the_nerd]

Damn.

Hang in there. This isn't fixable, exactly, afaik, but with the right surgery and a crap-ton of PT, you'll be alright.

 

[MidasKnight]

Some updated info in my first post. Thanks to those who have chimed in