back surgery for herniated/fragmented disc?

[swamp]

Complete with numb lower leg and foot drop.

Yes or no.

[Deleted]

Can you see a good chiropractor first? 

I don't know much about this myself. A friend says her chiro husband has saved several people from back surgery... 

[swamp]

I am doing both chiropractor and PT treatments. Foot still numb a month later.

[Deleted]

Yoga? 

[swamp]

Jul 15, 2014 9:52:55 GMT -5 oped said:

Yoga? 

Starting Piyo next week. Also have been swimming. I think I'll give it 6 months.

[Deleted]

I had tingle/numbness in one hand's fingers. I could feel a vertebra not right in my upper back, almost neck. Chiro helped, but it was 7 yoga classes in 2 weeks that finally put everything back. If you can find a restorative yoga class... Take it! 

The word fragmented though? 

[swamp]

Jul 15, 2014 9:58:02 GMT -5 oped said:

! 

The word fragmented though? 

A part of the herniation is sticking out and poking the sciatic nerve.

[The Captain]

What does your doctor say?

I'm by no means a medical expert, but every one I know who went in for an invasive procedure did not get the relief they wanted and it took much longer to heal then expected.

Sounds pretty serious, not sure how much chiropractic adjustments or excercise will help.

[NomoreDramaQ1015]

I'd do A LOT of research on success rates of back surgery for hernias before you do it.

Also make sure you get the best spinal surgeon and hospital you can, cost be damned. This is one of those things you don't want to cheap out on.

[Cookies Galore]

I believe the numbness and foot drop makes you a strong candidate for surgery. Give the yoga/PT some time, but I wouldn't completely lean toward no surgery. Especially on advice from people who live in your computer!

Good luck!

[swamp]

Jul 15, 2014 10:01:30 GMT -5 The Captain said:

What does your doctor say?

I'm by no means a medical expert, but every one I know who went in for an invasive procedure did not get the relief they wanted and it took much longer to heal then expected.

Sounds pretty serious, not sure how much chiropractic adjustments or excercise will help.

I'm at the docs waiting. Just looking for something to pass the time.

[Deleted]

Jul 15, 2014 9:50:09 GMT -5 swamp said:

I am doing both chiropractor and PT treatments. Foot still numb a month later.

You might consider changing your chiropractor. I found there to be a world of difference between them.
Sis has this same problem, went through surgery, it helped a little, but she still has a lot of back pain and is now addicted to pain meds. She went through hell with the surgery and said she'd rather spend the rest of her life in a wheelchair than to go through it again. I hope if you do have the surgery you have a better outcome. Back pain sucks, I know.
Sorry, no help with making your decision. 

[Deleted]

Oh, have you tried the inversion table? I used it when my disc was bulging and it does help.

[Cookies Galore]

Wait. Your chiropractor prescribes blow jobs for your DH! She's terrible at her job! :-P

[mmhmm]

I don't think I'd wait 6 months, Swamp. I'd give it another month; especially, if you're noticing foot drop. If it's not vastly improved within 2 months, I'd be looking more seriously at surgery - and surgeons.

[swamp]

Jul 15, 2014 10:08:36 GMT -5 @lonewolf said:

Oh, have you tried the inversion table? I used it when my disc was bulging and it does help.

I do traction at the chiropractor.

[Deleted]

Jul 15, 2014 10:09:02 GMT -5 @anne81 said:

Talk to some people who've had it.  Have you talked to a surgeon?  I was completely against the idea at first because most people I knew who had back surgery had more problems years later.  The techniques have changed a lot though.  The people who I spoke to who've had the surgery in the last few years and completely replaced the disc seem really satisfied.

I do PT, yoga and chiro fairly constantly.  It's diminished the pain but I'm certainly not 100% functioning and won't ever be.

Is there something new that they are replacing the disc with? 

[Deleted]

Jul 15, 2014 10:11:35 GMT -5 mmhmm said:

I don't think I'd wait 6 months, Swamp. I'd give it another month; especially, if you're noticing foot drop. If it's not vastly improved within 2 months, I'd be looking more seriously at surgery - and surgeons.

What is foot drop?

[mmhmm]

Foot drop occurs when someone is bed-bound, or off their feet because of injury and the foot isn't used in the normal way, or at all. The toes begin to point downward and, finally, the foot can no longer be held in a position that will facilitate walking. It's very common in the elderly and infirm who are unable to leave their beds. One thing that can help is a high-top tennis shoe on the injured foot. That will help hold it in an upright position when lying down if supports are used on each side. However; when someone is able to walk but one foot tends to drop forward, there is increased danger of falls (tripping). This is even more a danger when the foot is numb.

[swamp]

Jul 15, 2014 10:16:22 GMT -5 @lonewolf said:

Jul 15, 2014 10:11:35 GMT -5 mmhmm said:

I don't think I'd wait 6 months, Swamp. I'd give it another month; especially, if you're noticing foot drop. If it's not vastly improved within 2 months, I'd be looking more seriously at surgery - and surgeons.

What is foot drop?

Foot muscles don't work right due to nerve issues. It kind of "slaps" instead of strikes the way it should when walking.

[Deleted]

Jul 15, 2014 10:18:56 GMT -5 @anne81 said:

Is there something new that they are replacing the disc with?

Artificial discs.  A lot of the back surgery horror stories are from when they fuse the discs which moves puts pressure on other areas of the spine which can lead to more problems.

So how long have these artificial discs been out there. I have a relative who needs ALL his discs replaced. He swears they deteriorated from a lifetime of having consumed gallons of Coke. 

[muttleynfelix]

My SIL and DH both had lower back surgery for disk issues.  

My SIL's back problems was because she actually had a piece of the disk broken off and was pressing against her spinal cord.  She had the surgery and it was a success but the recovery was longer than expected. This was 2010 when she had the surgery

This is going to sound horrible, but I don't remember the exact diagnosis for DH's back problem (don't judge, he agreed to have the surgery while I was 6 months pregnant, but it didn't actually happen until DD was 4 weeks old).  He had numbness in his legs and severe pain. I think he had a herniated disk and it was pressing on the spinal cord.  Anyway, they did the surgery and he woke up in so much pain.  I have never seen him in so much pain. They were able to do the surgery without cutting the muscles.  They just move the muscles out of the way. The recovery from that means the muscles were spasming as they got use to being back in place.  Once he got over the first couple days, it seemed like it was a good idea. 2 weeks into his recovery he slipped an fell on the ice.  He did no damage, but it set him back a lot.  There have been other issues with DH.  I think it was a good idea to have the surgery.  (18 months later).  He still has pain issues back there.  They say it isn't scar tissue. I dont' know.  DH says he's done with them. He can at least move without being on Narcotic pain meds, so that is a plus. 

For your problems, I would probably say go for it.  The first couple weeks of recovery are going to be harder than you expect - and it will take longer to feel better than you expect, but long term quality of life will be improved.  The plus that you have is that your youngest child is not a newborn (my DH) or a 2 year old (my SIL).  My brother had go home from work to change his youngest's diapers because my SIL couldn't do it while recovering.  DH wasn't suppose to lift our DD for a couple weeks.  The doctor's did say well, you can lift her even though she was consistently about 2-3 lbs over what they wanted him to lift. 

[alabamagal]

My mom had back surgery 30 years ago.  She had similar problems to you, no back pain but trouble walking and leg pain.  She worked for one of the best neurosurgeons in her city and he did the surgery.  The results were awesome.  After recovery, she was back to normal and has no problems 30 years later.

When you have serious problems with the nerves from spinal cord, surgery is often the only answer.

[The Walk of the Penguin Mich]

Jul 15, 2014 10:03:04 GMT -5 NomoreDramaQ1015 said:

I'd do A LOT of research on success rates of back surgery for hernias before you do it.

Also make sure you get the best spinal surgeon and hospital you can, cost be damned. This is one of those things you don't want to cheap out on.

I would start doing research on back groups.  I suspect that there are groups out there and some of the best info about good and bad surgeons is word of mouth through them.

i don't think I'd let anyone cut on me immediately, but don't sit on this too long.  If your nerve is impinged too long, the foot drop can become permanent.  

[swamp]

So, the doc gave me 6 weeks to get better. Then he recommends surgery.

[swamp]

Jul 15, 2014 10:58:50 GMT -5 The Walk of the Penguin Mich said:

Jul 15, 2014 10:03:04 GMT -5 NomoreDramaQ1015 said:

I'd do A LOT of research on success rates of back surgery for hernias before you do it.

Also make sure you get the best spinal surgeon and hospital you can, cost be damned. This is one of those things you don't want to cheap out on.

I would start doing research on back groups.  I suspect that there are groups out there and some of the best info about good and bad surgeons is word of mouth through them.

i don't think I'd let anyone cut on me immediately, but don't sit on this too long.  If your nerve is impinged too long, the foot drop can become permanent.  

I'm at the best group in central ny.

[Deleted]

My Mom had surgery for a herniated disc maybe 5 years ago. It helped her. I don't remember how long her recovery was. She has another one  now, but surgery is not an option because of where it is.

[Opti]

Jul 15, 2014 9:47:00 GMT -5 swamp said:

Complete with numb lower leg and foot drop.

Yes or no.

Probably yes.

Do the research, but I haven't heard of Chiro and PT being able to fix or manage this entirely.

Had a friend who had disk surgery and just needs to be careful now.

[The Walk of the Penguin Mich]

Jul 15, 2014 11:18:41 GMT -5 swamp said:

Jul 15, 2014 10:58:50 GMT -5 The Walk of the Penguin Mich said:

I would start doing research on back groups.  I suspect that there are groups out there and some of the best info about good and bad surgeons is word of mouth through them.

i don't think I'd let anyone cut on me immediately, but don't sit on this too long.  If your nerve is impinged too long, the foot drop can become permanent.  

I'm at the best group in central ny.

You should be at the best group in the US.     

Consider I was at the best medical center and for every single surgery I have had on my hips, I have traveled to another location because there was a much better surgeon there.  From San Antonio, I traveled to Houston.  From Lexington, I traveled to Vanderbilt and Seattle.  It wasn't that there was not an adequate surgeon where I was, but the surgeons that I went to were some of the best in their field.

[Deleted]

Not implying that you're overweight, but I have a friend who told me that losing weight made a huge difference on her spine issues.