Blown disc L5/S1

Keye · 08-29-2007, 01:39 PM

Major blowout according to MRI and neurosurgeon.

Doc says he does not think anything but surgery will really help. He is willing to try other options.

Happened in late May. The worst thing I did was go to PT for 5 weeks. Stopped PT about 3 weeks ago and things have been better. Do most anything I want while standing but can't do anything that requires sitting.

Anyone had the microscopic type surgery. The Doc said I should be back in the shop in 3 to 4 weeks and back on a horse in 6 to 8 weeks. Is this to optomistic?

Based on his credintials the Doc I am seeing should be able to walk on water with only minor water damage. He is in Charlotte.

DavidF · 08-29-2007, 01:43 PM

Originally Posted by halfblind

Major blowout according to MRI and neurosurgeon.

Doc says he does not think anything but surgery will really help. He is willing to try other options.

Happened in late May. The worst thing I did was go to PT for 5 weeks. Stopped PT about 3 weeks ago and things have been better. Do most anything I want while standing but can't do anything that requires sitting.

Anyone had the microscopic type surgery. The Doc said I should be back in the shop in 3 to 4 weeks and back on a horse in 6 to 8 weeks. Is this to optomistic?

Based on his credintials the Doc I am seeing should be able to walk on water with only minor water damage. He is in Charlotte.

I had a hip replaced some years ago and was back horse riding (dressage) in 12 weeks so anything is possible. I hope it all goes to plan.

NCPete · 08-29-2007, 03:55 PM

Originally Posted by DavidF

I had a hip replaced some years ago and was back horse riding (dressage) in 12 weeks so anything is possible. I hope it all goes to plan.

Dressage???? Why on earth did you have the horse wear a DRESS???

DavidF · 08-29-2007, 05:08 PM

Originally Posted by NCPete

Dressage???? Why on earth did you have the horse wear a DRESS???

Because he had to match my top hat and white gloves of course!!

OriginalChong · 08-29-2007, 05:27 PM

I feel your pain, brother. 9 years ago I had a herniated disc. I still remember the doctor who fixed me. A Dr. Irwin Abraham. Saved my life. Hit me without warning and the next thing I know, I'm in a wheelchair. I had a steroid injection. A concoction of some voodoo including a steroid (to shrink the disc), mild hydrochloric acid to dissolve the herniated fluids, and a novacaine to dull the pain. I was up and walking in a week, walking a quarter mile without stopping after 2 weeks, and I was running after a month. The pain was so bad I was taking 3 vicadin every three hours just to keep the pain down. My toes went numb and it was considered low level-paralysis. When I coughed, I'd collapse on the ground. Chris (if you're reading this), you'll remember. I would wake up in the middle of the night the pain was so bad so believe me when I say, "I feel for ya'".

Your situation is even worse. If it's blown, I can't imagine anything would hurt it even more. So, why not go for the surgery? Microsurgery's come a long way and I would definately recommend it rather than the alternative. Best of luck to you.

You said you were still doing PT. Are you airborne? I heard a bunch of guys get hurt from not landing right. I knew a former 13F from the 82nd who blew out his L5/S1 that way.

Keye · 08-29-2007, 05:34 PM

PT- physical therapy in a clinic and I have stopped.

Why would anyone jump out of perfectly good airplane?

JackLeg · 08-29-2007, 07:27 PM

Amen!

Rod · 08-29-2007, 07:50 PM

I blew L1 & L2 in '96 or '97 and was in the bed for a month...and haven't been at 100% since I might add. Of course that was 10 years ago and I imagine the technology is better and all that. Still I went to Bowman Gray.

My brother has 2 ruptured disks I think...at least one that I am sure of. He decided to go to an acupuncturist and says he's good as new...WITHOUT the surgery. He tried all sorts of message therapists, chiropractors, etc...

...just my 2 cents... good luck!
Rod

Rod · 08-29-2007, 08:01 PM

Originally Posted by lrb150

I blew L1 & L2 in '96 or '97 and was in the bed for a month...and haven't been at 100% since I might add. Of course that was 10 years ago and I imagine the technology is better and all that. Still I went to Bowman Gray.

My brother has 2 ruptured disks I think...at least one that I am sure of. He decided to go to an acupuncturist and says he's good as new...WITHOUT the surgery. He tried all sorts of message therapists, chiropractors, etc...

...just my 2 cents... good luck!
Rod

I can't get the edit feature to work...
I meant to say that I was in bed for a month following surgery. That's all...sorry.
Rod

OriginalChong · 08-29-2007, 09:03 PM

well, I also tried the accupuncture treatments the first time. It did work but it took 9 months. And it was a treatment a week for those 9months. I could slowly feel it working. It was half accupuncture, half chiropractry (sp?). Two years later, the same herniated disc came back. Not to say this will happen if you do accupuncture but this is what happened to me.

Dusty Sawyer · 08-30-2007, 12:14 AM

My advice is get second opinions. Not that surgery may be wrong, but get opinions on what is the best specific course of action. Another thing to consider is where you get it done; there are your general purpose hospitals and those that specialize in neurosurgery. I mean, it's not like its brain surgury, it's just pretty close.

Years ago I was victim of an attempted murder when I was pushed off a very high elevation. Below was a stand of pine trees. When I reached the top of the trees, the small branches broke, but further down the larger branches were not so forgiving. I bounced around on them for what seemed like forever and finally fell to the ground landing in a sitting upright position. Hitting those big branches actually saved my life. I don't know if it was the branches or how I landed, but I ended up with a nasty compression fracture of the T5 vertebrae.

Not getting the correct medical treatment at the time is something I will be living with for the rest of my life. I know all too well the pain you are speaking of and that it will not go away without surgery. Get opinions from several specializing facilities before making a decision. Having this done right the first time will eliminate subsequent procedures.

jeff... · 08-30-2007, 02:01 AM

In my mid 20's I ruptured a disk here (L4 / L5) doc said he went in to clean out the shrapnel (lamanectomy and diskectomy at the same time). Not a small hole, surgery was a big gapping long cut I had over 30 staples in my back. Felt better instantly and learned in PT how to lift, today I move big logs around and lift heavy wet lumber. Be kind to your back and it will be kind to you is what they taught me in PT.

You'll be better soon, you'll see - I'm praying for you...

cskipper · 08-30-2007, 06:51 AM

I haven't had the microsurgery, but have had two back surgeries. The recovery time for both was about 6-8 weeks. I could get up and walk to the shop, but couldn't do anything once there. Microsurgery would probably be better. Ask you neurosurgeon (IMHO, it must be a neurosurgeon) for some patient references. Most will have patients who were happy enough to talk about it. There are also some nationally reportable hospital statistics on-line - though I'm mot sure of the links. They rate hospitals, and maybe MD's for things like infections, complications. I'll try to remember to check for the links when I go go work today (but I suspect they will be posted by someone else before I get home). Second opinions are good regarding how they want to fix it. If the report showed a blown disc, that's you are really shopping for is the method and the neurosurgeon. PT won't fix it. Steroid injections may relieve the pain for a short while. Another major consideration is your confidence level in the surgeon. What is his post-op plan - home health, PT as an outpatient, short-term (a week or so) at an orthopedic inpatient center....?

NCPete · 08-30-2007, 09:33 AM

Originally Posted by halfblind

PT- physical therapy in a clinic and I have stopped.

Why would anyone jump out of perfectly good airplane?

ask Skysharks sometime, something like 450,000 jumps!

okay, not quite 450,000, but an awful lot, as I recall, it seems his jump log would start to resemble the Encyclopedia Britannica.

Keye · 08-30-2007, 10:23 AM

Thanks for all the posts and PM's.

Really helps me a lot.

Jeff, you are so right about taking care of your back. I thought I knew what not to do. One careless moment and I was flat on my back for over two months. I reached out to help start a log rolling by pulling on it. I now know that pulling incorrectly is just as bad as lifting incorrectly.

We were actually trying to salvage a hugh old oak tree that was down from a storm. Figured it had over 1,000 bd in it. Turned out it was really to big. If it had been something other than oak it might have been worth the money.

Retired at 50 so I could spend all my time in the shop or riding/training our horses. I was able to work in the shop all day yesterday without pain. Can't ride a horse ( or drive a car) because of the pain. If things don't improve off for micro surgery I will go.

Residency requirements