Hi, Yes the horror stories that you have heard are actually true in some cases. At the moment i suggest you take absolute bed rest as that would help in healing. Local moist heat and massage helps relieve tenderness and pain, OTC pain killers for pain. If the condition does not improve you can consider a soft collar and physical therapy 3-5 times per week for atleast 3-5 luck! How are you feeling now? It's really sad that you are going through all this. There are many different terms used to describe spinal disc pathology and associated pain, such as "herniated disc", "pinched nerve", "bulging disc" and "disc protrusion". The bones which form your spine are called as vertebrae. The space between two vertebras is cushioned with disc. It can happen in any region, but more common at lower back in lumbar region. Yes, I think you should start on physiotherapy for muscle strengthening, pain killers and pain management specialist for initial conservative management. But if this fails, the option left is surgery.
I feel like i havent slept for 10 years!!!
YANMD. I am having surgery in March to correct a horrendously slipped disc (or two or three; I'm unclear thus far as to exactly how much they're operating). I have many questions, some of which I will be asking my neurosurgeon. Some questions here will help me with that conversation; I'm looking for feedback from people who have undergone this, and from medical folks who know about this sort of thing. Details inside. For a few months I've been having really awful symptoms--difficulty walking, numbness, tingling, burning, hypersensitivity to heat/cold/touch, etc--that finally, after a pretty solidly sedated MRI, have been nailed down as: (quoting from my discharge summary) 1) At C3-4 level there is a small right intraforaminal disc protrusion causing minimal narrowing of the right neural foramen. 2) At C4-5 level, there is a small osteochondral bar, partially effacing the ventral thecal sac but with no evidence of cord compression at this level. Minimal narrowing of the bilateral neural foramina is seen at this level.
What is Spinal Fusion Surgery? Spinal fusion is a major surgery and medical procedure used to treat back injuries. The surgery includes using rods and screws, and bone grafts to stabilize the spine. This surgery is usually a last resort after other treatments have been tried and failed. Why would someone need Spinal Fusion Surgery? In general the surgery is performed to help stabilize the spine, so any major back injury that may reduce stabilization may benefit from this procedure. Spinal injuries can be acute like a fractured or broken back from a severe car accident or as a result of degeneration of the disk in the back over time. Common symptoms that may cause a doctor to consider spinal fusion include: Sharp or severe pain in the buttocks, legs, back Weakness in one or both legs Tingling in one or both legs Numbness in one or both legs What to expect after spinal fusion surgery? Spinal fusion is performed with a general anesthetic so you will be unconscious during the procedure. After the procedure you will typically stay in the hospital for 2 to 3 days depending on the area and type of spinal surgery performed.